Fire and Ice

Fire and Ice XIV

Next chapter is up. I know your expectations... slowly building up towards it so hang in tight.  

Anyways, leave some comments and let me know what you thought of this one. 

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Gloom seemed to settle over her features as she stared at him with those innocent, wide eyes.

He was an idiot...the plan he had envisioned suddenly backfiring on him...

Because it had made her upset...

He needed that smile back on her face... hated the sadness that he had brought there...

"She's also my business partner... we've worked together for many years... but she's a very dear friend... she taught me how to cook..." he rambled quickly, only revealing the absolute truth. "If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be here today... wouldn't be able to balance my company so well... especially because I would choose to be with Ana..."

She stared at him stoically with a pained look in her eyes... though he could recognize a sense of understanding and empathy in them...

But dammit... she was still sad...

What the hell was he saying?

His words were hurting her... he could tell from the glazed look in her eyes...

He thought it would give him relief to know she was jealous... to know she was possessive of him... but it physically hurt to see her in pain...

"Is she... is she your girlfriend?" she asked in a small voice... her fearful tone breaking his heart...

He took a deep breath... impressed by her bravery to ask such a direct question... wanting to ease her from the pain...

"Just a friend..." he revealed honestly, no longer liking his stupid plan one bit. She blinked rapidly... the moisture slowly disappearing as she accepted his response.

She looked back down to her plate and continued eating the remaining food while he raked his brain to say something... anything to ease the uncomfortable tension between them...

Say something to make her smile again...

"So what business do you do together... with your friend?" she asked, a more defiant look in her eyes... attempting to hide the jealousy he could subtly recognize in them...

He smiled slowly, grateful to know she was no longer sad.

"It's a clothing business. The underprivileged women in my home town... they work in my clothing factory... making handcrafted traditional dresses, formal wear, and everything in between" he explained with joy... going down memory lane... "Efsun hanim supplies the raw materials while my company handles the production and the manufacturing. After I came out of my coma, I dedicated my work to benefiting the struggling youth and the women in my hometown. My past work had been illegal... only bringing pain and embarrassment to Ana..." he added, staring down at his food, too ashamed to elaborate his illegal drug dealing business in front of her.

Oh... what the hell... she probably knew that already...

What a disgrace he had been... dealing with drugs...

But life had been a rough uphill battle for him... hating the poverty in which they lived...

Ana working day and night to provide for them...