I'm Nothing Without You Chap 21

‘What are you doing here? Are you following me?’ I asked agitatedly at the guy standing comfortable beside my car.

‘Of course not.’ He said simply.

I’m not convinced. I have a feeling he’s been following me all day.

‘Now, can we talk?’

‘No!’

‘What now?’

‘I have to visit someone.’

‘Who?’

I stared at him. ‘My boyfriend.’

‘Can I come? I’m really interested in meeting YOUR boyfriend.’ He said lamely.

I looked at him. ‘Okay.’ I walked pass him.

‘What?! Hey wait, are you sure?’ he said holding my arm. ‘I was just joking.’

I looked intently at him as if telling him that I’m serious.

He looked at my car. ‘Will you-’

‘I have a car Klive.’

‘Mr. John can handle it. Please Avie- I mean Ticiatriz I really want to talk to you.’

I smiled at him. It was the first time he called me by my REAL name. I saw him frown. ‘It’s nothing. It’s just that…’ I trailed off.

‘What?’

‘It has been quite awhile someone called me by my REAL name.’ I told him shyly I even looked away.

He chuckled. ‘Your name suits you. Ticiatriz…’ he whispered while looking tenderly at me.

I flinched. ‘Now you’re getting weird. Where’s your car?’ I asked Klive and walk passed him. I purposefully change our topic. I felt uneasy the way he pronounced my name tenderly and the way he looked at me, it was as if he was telling me that he missed me so much and it pains him. It’s weird. But somehow I felt something, something different.

I shook my head vigorously. What am I thinking?

‘Are… you okay?’

‘I’m good.’ I said and I quietly walk towards his car but I stop abruptly. ‘Where’s your car?’

He chuckled. ‘C’mon.’ he took my hand held it and lead me towards his car. He even opens the car door for me.

I slid inside his car quietly.

My phone rings. It was Ethan. ‘What?’

‘You really missed that guy.’ my best friend teased.

‘Shut up!’ I said irritated at my best friend. I press the end button before he could react.

‘Is something wrong?’ Klive asked me frowning. He seated next to me.

‘Nothing…’

He looked at me and then he reached for the seat belt but he didn’t put it on me. He stared at me holding the seat belt on his hand and his face were just inches from mine. I could smell his cologne and his mint fresh breath that I sure missed these past months. He looked at me intently. Those mysterious grey eyes were studying me for something, his eyes moved around my face as if he was trying to memories every contour, every detail on it. ‘Why do you lie to me?’ he whispered. ‘Why you had to pretend to be someone else?’ he puts on my seat belt.

‘I had no choice…’ I sigh. ‘Please Klive I don’t want to talk about this stuff. It’s complicated.’

‘But I need some answers Triz. For these past seven months I have a LOT of questions.’ He sighs and puts his hands on the stirring wheel and looked straight. ‘You suddenly disappeared without leaving a trace. I looked for you and to my surprise I found out that AVIE HENRICH died seven years ago. I asked some Private Investigators to dig something about you. I gave him your picture and to my frustration your files were confidential, can’t be open. He told me you must be something important to have your files confidential.’

‘ELMER…’ I hissed trying to control my anger. The PI Klive was talking about was Elmer. I instructed him to block my files to prevent random research about me and to protect my name.

He smiled weakly at me. ‘He’s good. All I want to know was your REAL NAME but-’

‘I’ve been trying to talk to you remember?’ I sigh. ‘Apart of Killian Group of Companies was bankrupt thanks to my OIC. He purposefully made a foolish discussion and very risky strategies in marketing making some foreign and local investors doubt the company and ended their contract, even the Thompson’s Inc.’ I looked meaningfully at Klive. ‘To that half of the company deteriorated. Massive lay offs and closing of branches were everywhere. Some sell their shares.’ I looked at the window and paused for a moment. ‘After Ethan told me all about it, I prepared a plan. Can you imagine I even hacked my OWN system just to prevent my uncle from jeopardizing MY Company? I freeze the Company’s account including his and his daughter’s credit cards.’ I sigh. ‘Bradley tried to destroy the company my great grand father, grandfather and father built through their hard work and I can’t let that happened, I can’t let him. I NEED to do something Klive, that’s the reason I’d left.’

‘I could help you… if I didn’t avoid you-’

‘Forget it Klive. It's done and you couldn’t turn back the time. Besides we’re back to business I mean the COMPANY.’

He smiled at me. ‘Why do you always know what to say to make me feel better?’ he asked me sweetly. He started the engine and backed out. ‘Now, time to meet your boyfriend.’ He said gaily and paused for a while. ‘He’s one heck of a lucky guy having you as HIS girl.’ He whispered under his breath.

What was he TALKING about? I asked myself quietly. The truth is I’m confused right now. I didn’t know how to react to his statement earlier. The guy had already a GIRLFRIEND! Why is he FLIRTING with me?! Or had he?

‘Where-’

‘At the memorial park.’ I told him reading his mind.

‘You’re meeting with your boyfriend at a memorial park?!’

I just shrugged at him. ‘Can we please buy some flowers?’

‘You’re the one giving your boyfriend a flower?!’

‘What’s wrong with that?’

‘YOUR boyfriend was supposed to give you the flowers not the other way around.’ Klive stated.

‘Hey baby, it’s me.’ I said sweetly looking intently at the tombstone. I put the flowers down. ‘A friend tagged along with me. I guess you met him already.’ I looked at the guy standing next to me. I frowned as I saw his reaction. ‘What?!’

‘Ticiatriz, Gareth Evans-’

‘Was my boyfriend.’ I said simply at him. I looked at him and decided to tell him everything.'It's been a year...' I started. ‘We were having a vacation, a road trip, the day he died. He let me drive for a couple of mile then all of the sudden his mood changed. He became so protective and a little bit paranoid. He insisted on driving so we switched places. Minute passed Gareth lost control of the car. We hit a truck just ahead of us making us fly on the air because of the impact and crashed in the road, the car was upside down. I hit my head on the car’s roof and gained a head injury. I looked at Gareth,’ I looked away from Klive. It still hurt me until now remembering that scene. ‘He was lying in his OWN blood, motionless, lifeless…’ I broke into my sobs. ‘Just beside me. I tried to crawl out to call for help…’ I trailed off. My tears were falling from my eyes.

‘Triz stop it. That’s enough. You’re hurting yourself.’

I shook my head and looked at him. ‘Someone shoot our tires.’ I closed my eyes. ‘Gareth’s surgeon didn’t allow me to scrub in for him.’ I sighed. ‘I have the skills to save someone but I can’t save the one I LOVE!’ I shouted. My feet suddenly feel weak. I knelt in front of Gareth’s tomb and cried my heart out. ‘And I HATE it… I felt like… like…’

Klive hugged me. ‘Ticiatriz…’ I felt his hand caressing my back. ‘It’s okay… It’s not your fault-’

I pulled from his tight hug and looked at him intently. ‘It was. Those bullets were meant for me… to kill me.’

For a moment Klive stared at me. ‘Are you sure about that?’

I nod at him. ‘The day after I passed my resignation paper, a week later Gareth died, someone shoot me. The bullets were not meant to kill me but to just scared me off. And it worked! I was damn SO scared.’ I paused to bit my trembling lips. Klive wiped my tears. ‘With the help of Nana, I planned to escape the mercenaries who were after my life. And I became Avie Henrich.’ I smiled weakly at Klive. ‘On my way to the island a group of armed guys ambushed me. I was hurt so badly but luckily for me they left me lying on my OWN blood, thinking I’m dead. Nana was able to helped me and let me-’

‘Ticiatriz?!’

I looked up to the owner of the voice. ‘Mrs. Evans…’ I stood up, so as Klive.

‘I’ve been looking for you. Where were you these past months?’ she asked me softly as if caring for me.

I stared at her. She never talked to me this way. ‘I-I…’

She sighed and smiled weakly at me. He took a piece of paper from her purse and handed it to me. ‘Gareth wants you to have this…’

I was so stunned hearing her words. I reached for the paper and she instantly bid me goodbye. I just stared at the paper. Gareth wanted me to have this?! I thought quietly.

‘You do LOVED him don’t you?’ Klive asked me quietly after a minute of silence.

I shook my head. ‘I LOVE HIM SO MUCH…’ I said slowly, staring blankly at his tombstone. I really meant every word I said.

Klive stared at me. ‘Triz-’

I heard a gunshot. I dodge on instinct. Another bullet came and this time it was only inches away from me. I’m now sure it was really meant for me. I felt Klive arms around me, protecting me. We crawled at a tree. ‘Klive it’s another ambush…’

‘Ssshhh… we can survive this. I promised that to you.’

Another bullet was fired and I saw it hit the tree. The sniper was good. My life and Klive’s life were at the sniper’s mercy….

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Sorry about Chapter 20., thank you for telling me though...
hope you like this one..