Catherine furrowed her brows; she looked dazed. Too many questions flooded into her mind all at the same time, but the most frequent was, what could be the relationship between Sullivan and Batista Manuel, her godfather and her father's most trusted friend?
Everyone close to her family held Sullivan responsible for what befell her father. So, why would Batista be friends with his late best friend's enemy?
She sneaked out of the bathroom and mixed up with the crowd, scanning her eyes around looking for her Godfather.
Unknowing to her, Sullivan did see her mixed with the crowd but pretended not to.
Catherine searched and searched around the ballroom, looking at guests' faces, but none looked like Batista.
She exhaled slowly. Something is certainly not right. I will keep a close eye on Batista. I must get to the root of this.
Sullivan and the chubby man were still having a conversation; the man never did notice that Sullivan's attention was divided.
While Sullivan nodded to the man's words, he cast side glances, thereby keeping tab on Catherine's every move without showing any sign of being distracted.
She gave up the search, sneakingly returned to the bathroom, and comported herself before walking out like nothing had happened.
By the time she returned to the table, the chubby man had left.
While she was about to sit down, Sullivan asked, even though she had masked it. "Is anything the matter, my queen?"
Catherine faked a smile, keeping a poker face. "Not at all."
He pursed his lips, still observing her, but nodded.
Catherine still felt restless concerning what she had just seen, and the only thing on her mind was to head home. She needed space, away from Sullivan.
Quickly, she swiped her left wrist, staring at her watch. "Let's call it a day, Sullivan. Remember, I'm resuming work tomorrow."
Sullivan smiled. "Smart move. You had to swing the work card on me."
Catherine laughed dryly as they both stood up.
The magnificent chandelier still glistened behind them, casting diamonds of light through the transparent door of the ballroom. Instrumental sounds had faded into the distance, replaced by the silence of the midnight air.
Sullivan wrapped his arm around Catherine's waist. He glanced at her, a smirk curving his lips as he leaned closer. "You're my personal love letter from the universe," he murmured softly.
Catherine was about to open her mouth to respond when suddenly, a single drop splashed on her face. Then another. In a split second, the heavens released its showers.
"Catherine, this way. My car is over there," he said, holding her hand as they ran towards his car, which was closer. The driver quickly opened the car door the moment he sighted Sullivan.
Catherine squealed. "That rain was so unexpected." Her eyes widened, the rain had drenched her hair slightly.
On purpose, she stayed very close to the car door, trying to avoid Sullivan's touch. But then, she trembled, and her teeth chattered slightly.
Sullivan looked her in the eyes and grazed his finger across her cheek as he brushed a wet strand of hair from her face. In a whisper, he said, "You're shivering."
She blinked up at him, her heart suddenly still in her chest. "No, I-I'm fine."
"I doubt that," he huskily replied. He moved closer to her and tilted his head.
Catherine's breath hitched. Quickly, she was about to open the car door and run. But Sullivan, fast like a flash, caught her wrist. "Wait," he whispered. "This could be the universe granting us an opportunity."
His breath steamed against her soft skin. "Sullivan, please let me go," she pleaded.
He didn't answer. Instead, he pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as thunder rumbled above.
He crashed his lips against hers. His mouth was warm as he kissed her, slowly savoring her taste. His tongue thrusts deeper into her mouth. A kiss neither of them knew how to walk away from.
Their breath mixed together, releasing its warmth into the air.
Catherine abruptly broke the kiss as she gasped for more air, and immediately, she flung out of Sullivan's car, breathless and shaken, heading towards her car.
Sullivan didn't chase after her. He simply watched her with a cocked smile on his face.
Catherine entered her car and drove off without passing a glance back at Sullivan's car.
But, all this while, a shadow loomed in the dark under the rain, carefully watching them with disdain.