THE FORGOTTEN HEIRESS-Chapter 31: He Is Single
"President Hudson," she gasped, taking in his appearance.
He was still as strikingly elegant as always in his gray suit, draped over a blue shirt; even in such a place like the hospital, he successfully pulled off the appearance of someone in charge.
Shawn’s expression turned bitter at her address. "Kathleen, what’s up with the formality?"
He’s only been away for less than a month and she’s acting all cold and formal with him.
If not that he needed to deal with the emergency situation in his company that came up in Florida personally, there is no way he would have left Baltimore the first time they met after not seeing her for six years.
His joy of bumping into her again was on the verge of being erased. Anyway, that’s not important for now.
"What are you doing in the hospital?" He ran a quick glance over Kathleen. "Are you sick?"
’What a horrible day I have today?’ Kathleen faced-palmed herself and groaned inwardly, ’I keep running into the wrong people. Why would he ask me if I’m sick? Which part of me looks sick?’
"President Hudson, what I am doing in the hospital has nothing to do with you."
"I expected you would say that, but I still want to know. Are you alright?" Shawn asked, he was not bothered by Kathleen’s rude remark at all, but was more concerned about her wellbeing.
"Don’t I look alright? Of course I’m fine. Now give way, I have something to deal with." She stepped forward to leave but her arm was held in a gentle but firm grip causing her to stop in her tracks.
"Kathleen, I need to talk to you," Shawn pleaded, his voice devoid of his usual arrogance.
Kathleen was shocked again by Shawn’s tone. She has never heard Shawn speak in such a humble tone to anyone before, except the day he was asking for her forgiveness and of course when speaking with his grandmother.
She jerked her head up, peered into Shawn’s piercing blue eyes but regretted it immediately. They were intense with unknown emotions.
Kathleen was powerless when confronted with such a soulful gaze, and felt herself trapped in them. She lost her senses and didn’t know how to breathe. She stared at him, a barrage of feelings surging up from within her.
She felt a blush creeping up her face and quickly lowered her head to hide her treacherous emotions.
The corners of Shawn’s mouth turned up in a smug smile.
She opened her mouth to speak but her tongue was numb. She swallowed hard, put herself under control and finally squeezed out a few words.
"Alright. What do you need to say to me?"
The man she came to see was still unconscious and would not wake up any time soon, I might as well use that time to hear what he has to say.
Shawn was elated. ’She actually agreed.’ His feet were not far from doing a Waltz, but he quickly masked his excitement with a stoic expression.
"Can we talk at the coffee shop opposite the hospital?"
"OK. But I have just 30 minutes to spare."
"Sure. I won’t keep you for more than thirty minutes."
He took her arm in his as they walked to the elevator but Kathleen deftly untangled her arms, her brow knitting in a scowl.
Shawn chuckled at her actions, stepped aside like a gentleman "After you Ma’am."
The doctor that was with Kathleen witnessed everything, he could not hide his shock. To say he was confused was an understatement.
’If I’m not mistaken, that’s President Hudson whose grandmother was revived a few hours back.’
’Do these two know each other?’ Darting his eyes from one to the other, he couldn’t comprehend anything. The only explanation to their behavior was that they were acquainted and even if they were, they don’t seem to be on good terms.
From their brief interactions, they definitely have a story, but what’s the story between them?
So many questions were tumbling over his mind that he was sure might not be answered, at least for the time being.
"What an eventful day," he mumbled to himself, shrugged and headed back to his office.
The elevator was yet to arrive, so Kathleen and Shawn had to wait for it.
Shawn leaned lazily against the wall, one hand thrust in his trouser pocket. His lashes that were as thick and long as a lady’s swept over his half closed eyes. His casual stance attracted a lot of looks from the ladies who were also waiting, Some were even drooling as they stared at him.
The men were not left out either as they couldn’t help but admire this excellent piece of art.
"Oh my g**h! Look at that breathtaking specimen."
"Wow, he’s so hot," another lady said accompanied by an audible moan as her gaze practically striped Shawn naked in broad daylight.
"Wouldn’t it be heavenly waking up with such a hunk by your side every morning?"
"Maybe I should ask for his contact information. I bet he’s not married," said another one, while striking a ridiculous pose that screamed "I want to be laid."
She was clad in a tight fitting flowery, silk crop top on blue denim pants, her voluptuous bust strained against the fabric of the dress.
"Even if he is married, I don’t mind being a kept mistress," she added without an iota of shame.
The ladies made no effort to lower their voice, it was obvious they wanted Shawn to hear their conversation.
’Shameless fools,’ Kathleen’s lips curled up in disgust. She didn’t know why she felt angry at their remarks, maybe it was because they were willing to be a mistress, and didn’t mind breaking someone’s home. She felt it was a disgrace to womanhood.
’Yes, that’s the only explanation for my anger. I couldn’t be angry because they were referring to Shawn, right, afterall, it has nothing to do with me," she convinced herself.
Other women that were still sane, moved away with contemptuous looks, shielding their husbands behind them from those loose ladies.
"He is single."
Three words were dropped by a calm, clear and honeyed voice and everywhere went quiet.
