Lisa was washing the dishes after finishing dinner.

"I'll help you."

She was frightened by the sudden appearance of Carl Black and dropped the dish that she was holding to wash. The dish broke instantly, and the small broken pieces scattered on the ground. They both squatted and started cleaning the mess.

"I am sorry. Did I scare you?" His tone was gentle. He looked at her apologetically.

A small broken piece pierced her index finger.

"Hiss..." Lisa hissed in pain.

He held her hand immediately and pulled the broken piece out of her finger. Blood oozed out of the wound instantly. He pressed her finger tightly to stop the bleeding.

"Does it hurt?" His voice was hoarse.

She was feeling very nervous and couldn't respond. She blinked a few times before and gaze at him blankly. Her heart was beating faster and faster as if it was ready to jump out of her mouth. She was lost in words and kept staring at him.

While washing her wound, he asked, "Where is the first aid box?"

"In my room." Her voice was as low as a whisper.

"Let's go then."

They both entered her room. Lisa pulled the first aid box out of the cupboard, but Carl Black snatched it away from her. "Sit down. Let me help you."

He sat down on the bed and pulled her down beside him. First, he cleaned the wound with the disinfectant and then put a band-aid on it. He lifted his eyelids to look at her and said, "I am sorry. It was my fault."

"No, don't say sorry."

He pulled her into his embrace and said slowly, "Promise me, you will be more careful, and you won’t hurt yourself anymore."

Lisa's face turned red immediately. The warmth of his body caused an adrenaline rush in her veins, and her hairs stood up on her back. Her heart was beating uncontrollably. She remained still in his embrace.

"Promise me, Lisa." She heard him say again.

She stammered "I- I promise."

He slowly released her from his embrace, held her hands, and looked at her affectionately. He cupped her face, placed a soft kiss on her forehead, and whispered, "I don't want to leave you tonight, but you didn't give me any choice. Are you sure to stay alone?"

"Yes."

Carl Black reluctantly released her hands and stood up.

"Then I'll leave first. Take care."

He turned around to leave, which is when he heard her say, "Thank you. Let me see you off."

He glanced at her through his shoulder and nodded. They came out of the room. "I'll come tomorrow morning. Till then stay safe. Good night." He bid her goodnight.

"Good night."

Lisa was tossing and turning on her bed unable to sleep. She touched her forehead where Carl Black kissed her and felt like the place was still warm. She could even smell his cologne from her body. Her heartbeat was still fast.

'What just happened? Why am I feeling so restless?' She asked in her mind over and over again.

Without her knowledge, she started feeling good around him. She didn't feel uncomfortable when he touched her. Every action of Carl Black was curving deeply in her heart.

.........

The loud ringtone resounded loudly in the quiet dimly lit room. Daniel Brooke who was sleeping deeply felt annoyed by the noise.

He answered the phone lazily without even opening his eyes "Who the hell are you? Do you want to die?"

"Boss, it's me. Just now I got a call from the mysterious man."

Daniel Brooke heard his assistant's voice from the other end of the phone. He immediately opened his eyes, jumped off the bed, and asked, "What?"

"He told me that he wants to see you as soon as possible. He also said that once you reach 'Y' city, he will call again."

"Alright."

"I am trying to track the location of him."

"Did you book the flight ticket?"

"Yes. It's for tomorrow evening."

"Good. Keep tracking."

"Yes, boss."

After hanging up the call, Daniel Brooke thought something and headed straight to his study.

The next morning, he called Lisa several times to inform her that he was going to 'Y' city for a few days, but she didn't answer his call. So he came directly to her apartment to talk to her. He was waiting outside the apartment, sitting inside the car. He thought when she came out to go to her school, he would drop her and talk to her.

Half an hour later, he saw Lisa and Carl Black, coming out of the apartment. His blood boiled to see them together. He tightened his grip around the steering wheel and daggered his sharp glare at them. He saw her getting into his car. Before he could know anything properly, the car ran away from there.

Daniel Brooke started the engine and followed Carl Black's car. To his surprise, the car didn’t go in the direction of her school. He became even more furious and cursed, "Where the hell are you taking my girl? I'll kill you if you try to do anything to her."

After half an hour of drive, he saw Carl Black's car halted in front of the Bill Roth hospital. He was stupefied and mumbled, "What is he doing here?"

Carl Black came out first and opened the door for Lisa.

"I am getting late, so I will not go inside now. But I'll come in the evening. Hmm?" He smiled.

"Okay, you go first, and thank you for coming so early to pick me up."

"Don't thank me."

“Take care." He cupped her face and kissed her forehead.

Lisa blushed and lowered her head, pursing her lips into a thin line. She nodded and hummed shortly.

After saying goodbye to her, he drove to the college.

All these were seen by Daniel Brooke, and a volcano of anger was about to erupt. He came out of the car as soon as Carl Black left. He rushed towards her, grabbed her arm, and pulled her outside the hospital.

"What is going on Lisa?" He was so angry that he yelled at her.

Lisa brushed off his hand angrily and asked, "What are you doing here?"

Daniel Brooke closed his eyes for a few seconds to calm down only to open and looked down at her again.

"Why are you here? Is everything OK?" He tried to not raise his voice.

She glared at him and snapped, "Why do you care? I don't need you here. Just go away." She pushed him back.

"Lisa, what is going on? If you don't tell me how do I know?"

She cocked her head and looked at him contemptuously. "Do you really want to know? Do you really care?"

He sighed and said helplessly, "I do. Now tell me, why are you here?"

Lisa paused for a moment and said, "Dad had a heart attack the night you came to meet me."

He was shocked and stammered, "What? I- I am sorry. H-how is he now?"

"He is stable now. You know why I am here, so please go back."

He placed his hands on her shoulders and said tenderly, "I am sorry, baby. Can I see him?"

"No, you can't, please go back now."

Daniel Brooke swung his hands with frustration and asked, "Why are you chasing me away? You should inform me earlier. But no, you just avoided me. I called you several times, but you didn't answer my calls. I went to your house, but you didn't tell me that time also."

He crooked his head and asked fiercely, "By the way, why did Carl Black come out of your house? Did he stay with you at night? You tell him everything, don't you? But you didn't tell me? Is he now more important to you than me?" His inquisitive gaze focused firmly on her.

Lisa was so annoyed that she wanted to roll her eyes badly. She glared at him and said angrily, "You are the reason that Dad had a heart attack. That night you were drunk and created a scene. You insulted my Dad in front of me, and you think that I should inform you. Daniel, do you have any guilty conscience for what you have done?"

"I am sorry. I was drunk that night, and I lost control. I promise I'll never do it again, please forgive me, please." He stared at her with a pang of guilt.

"OK, leave it.” She sighed in dismay. “What happened has happened now. We can't change it. Now you go first. I have to go inside."

He didn’t respond immediately and kept staring at her in a complicated way. Then he changed the topic, "Listen, I am going to 'Y' city today. Please do answer my calls, okay?"

Lisa was surprised. For a few moments, she forgot her conflict with him. An unknown fear surfaced in her mind. She asked curiously, "Y city? Why are you going there?"

"I have to meet someone who is claiming that he has proof for the case I am working on. But, I don't know who he is."

She was stupefied and couldn't say anything for a moment. Hearing what he said, she couldn't help but worry about him. She thought for some time and asked, "You don't know him. Isn't it risky to meet him? What if it is a trap?"

Daniel Brooke chuckled and asked, "Do you care about me?"

"No, I don't care." She pouted and glared at him.

He laughed loudly, pulled her cheek, and said, "Sweetheart, don't worry, I'll be fine. But I am saying it again please answer my calls. I need you by my side, okay?" He then pulled her into his embrace and whispered, "I love you. I will call you at night."

He lowered his head and kissed her lips softly. But she pulled back quickly and said, "Daniel, please I am not in the mood. You go now and take care."

"I will, my love. Alright then, I'll leave first."