A Twisted Tale

Secret Admiration

Mark's POV

"Yes dad. I think this is the best idea. Meera too is one hundred percent in on this. I'll have people chalk up the terms of the partnership agreement. Meera can go through it and make sure everything is up to the mark." I said and finished the call.
I looked at my watch and wondered what took them so long. Meera hasn't shown any interest in Valerio this far. And that was a relief. But now I wasn't so sure because she was spending quite sometime with him. I resumed with my work and I was so engrossed that I didn't see her arrive until she sat next to me on the couch.
I asked her about dinner and hoped to God that it didn't go well. Looks like God too wasn't siding with me on this because she said she had a good time and that Valerio would be back again tomorrow.

I wasn't in a very good mood after that and just wanted to go back to London where it would be just the two of us. She may not have developed any feelings for me but I still knew that we had our moments. I was too much of a coward to do anything as I was scared that I'd lose her friendship if she didn't feel the same. So like a wuss, I waited for her to speak ill of her dates instead.
When she spoke of the women I chose to bed, it irritated me further as it didn't seem to faze her. I wanted to just go to bed and put my mind to rest as the whole marriage proposal had me reeling in the first place. Luckily, Meera wasn't one of those women to swoon at the sight of powerful, wealthy and good-looking men. If anything, she hated any man who would think of her as a dependent woman.
When I told Meera that I wanted to get some rest, she asked me about dinner. Actually, she reminded me about it as I absolutely forgot that I didn't eat anything. She was adamant about me eating something. Since I was exhausted, walking was out of option. I didn't want to drive either. So I employed a driver to take us to the restaurant. I realised how hungry I was after I took the first bite of the Panini. I dug into my food while Meera enjoyed her dessert.
I watched her eat the tiramisu and moan. She was a sight for the sore eyes. She had the most beautiful pair of dark brown eyes. And lips which were full. Almost as if stung by a bee. She had dark brown wavy hair. My thoughts went to her voluptuous hips and I was yanked out of my thoughts when the waiter asked us if we needed anything else.
We left the place and headed to the car. As soon as we got in, I told the driver to take us back to the penthouse.
I felt a pressure on my shoulder and saw that Meera had fallen asleep. She looked so peaceful and so beautiful that I couldn't help but kiss her on the forehead. I felt her shift a little and snuggle deeper to my side.

I was woken up by the driver on arriving at the apartment building. I thought of waking her up at first but then changed my mind. I lifted her and carried her bridal style into the building. We were getting a few looks from the people around us but I couldn't care less. She wound her hands around my neck and made a sound while being carried.
I expected the ding of the lift to wake her up but she slept through it as well. 
I took her into the bedroom and placed her carefully on the bed. I removed her boots and waited for the hired help to come upstairs to change her clothes. As much as I'd love to see her out of her clothes, this wasn't the time for it.
I made sure she was settled in comfortably and went back into to my room and fell face first on the bed.
I was woken up by a loud scream in the middle of the night. I rushed to the source of the wail and found Meera thrashing helplessly on the bed. She was having a nightmare.
"No! No! Please don't take me away!"she cried out in her sleep.
I tried calling her name but it didn't help. So I shook her awake violently. She opened her teary eyes and looked around. When she saw me standing over her with concern she hugged me. She was trembling with fear and it made me feel helpless. I hugged her even tighter and said "Shh... I'm here. You're okay. It's just a nightmare. I've got you."
I rubbed her back to soothe her and she calmed down a little more. I don't know how long we stayed like that. When I was convinced that she was okay, I pulled back to see her face. She let go of me reluctantly. I asked "Want to tell me what that was about?"
She took a deep shaky breath and said "I dreamt of the accident but this time, I fell into the water. I couldn't swim and I felt the water filling my lungs. I could see my parents trapped in the car. The car too was sinking alongside me. I..."
"Shh... You don't have to tell me anymore if it's bothering you so much. Just remember that you're safe. I'm right here if you need me. Now get some sleep, okay?"I said.
I was about to leave when she held my hand and said "Can you please be with me tonight? I don't want to sleep alone."
I couldn't deny her anything. Not now, not ever. So the very minute she said that, I decided to sleep next to her. I got on to the bed trying my level best to not make any skin contact with her and prayed that she does the same.  But again, God never really liked me enough to grant me my wishes. Meera took my hand and squeezed. I sighed and pulled her against me. As hard as it was to touch her, it was even harder to stay away.
All thoughts of her sleeping right beside me evaporated when I felt my tear-soaked shirt. It was replaced with concern. I hugged her harder and inhaled her scent to assure myself that she was with me and that she was okay. With that thought, I slept peacefully.