Chapter 114: Truth or Penalty
It did slightly surprise him, her request and that slight tint on her cheeks told him she was curious to see his face. She had never seen it, the first time they met he was wearing a mask too.
Though Zyair now hid his face from the world because of who he had been in the past. The world will never accept him, they will try to tear him down just because of his past.
He knew Skyla was different but would she want to be with a man with such a tainted past? Who had been used by so many men and women?
Would she be disappointed seeing his face? Every woman had wild fantasies about the kind of man they desired. Will his scarred face be the one she would find according to her taste?
As much as he was dying to show her his face, his heart had this fear of her reaction. For now, he was someone mysterious, once that element disappeared she might withdraw from him.
The progress they had made would disappear like wisps of smoke and Zyair was not ready for that. To see that look on her face, the look of disappointment.
He wished to hold onto that tiny wing of hope for a little while longer. The hope that said Skyla would develop the same feelings that he had carried in his heart.
"You pinky promise that you wouldn’t take a peek? Not even a tiny one?" He asked her in amusement and she extended her pinky finger towards him and confidently said.
"I take my pinky promises very seriously as you might remember."
Zyair lifted his hand and entwined his pinky finger with hers.
"I believe you Skyla." The amusement in his voice grew as she handed him the plate filled with pancakes.
"Let’s eat then."
Both of them sat down on the kitchen island and this time instead of sitting across from him she sat alongside him. He was much taller than her so she would keep her eyes low and wouldn’t be able to see his face.
Zyair removed his mask, neatly folded it and placed it on the table alongside his plate. He then dug in.
Pancakes along with mango juice and fruits. They were airy and light and had the perfect balance of flavours.
Skyla’s heartbeat was a little raised. She was wondering if he liked them or not. As if reading her mind Zyair’s excited voice came through.
"I wish I could keep eating them all day long. They are so delicious. How do you make everything so tasty?"
Skyla knowingly smiled, before replying as she cut into her pancake. Cluttering of crockery sounds filled the air.
"Says the man who can make ’the perfect’ pasta."
Zyair couldn’t help but boisterously laugh at her sweet words and steal a glance. Her eyes were cast down but there was a smirk, he had made her happy. This made him happy.
They ate in silence after that. After finishing breakfast Zyair wore his mask again and helped Skyla clear up the dishes washing them. Zyair took a small soap bubble and placed it on Skyla’s nose. His cheerful and teasing demeanour earned him lots of smiles.
Once they were free, they settled down in the living room. Skyla asked. freēwēbnovel.com
"Was your mother alright?"
"Yes, she was just checking up. I informed her yesterday I won’t be coming home. Lawrence on the other hand was pissed. I had ignored his calls and my actions of yesterday didn’t sit right with him."
Zyair dramatically shrugged his shoulders and Skyla’s heart skipped a beat again. Did he beat up Doran in front of Lawrence?
"It— it happened in Lawrence’s presence?"
"Yes and no. I was beating him to a bloody pulp when Lawrence came and that swank owes his life to Lawrence. I don’t think I would have stopped," Zyair spoke his truth and it terrified Skyla, just a little. A part of her, a dark part of her was jubilant.
"You shouldn’t have, what if he won’t let me continue..." she trailed off. Zyair turned his body towards her.
"He wouldn’t dare or I would tell the world he is a wife-beater. His reputation is the most sacrilegious for him. That mouth of his will remain sealed," Zyair assured her.
"Don’t cancel the contract with him," Skyla requested in a small voice, knowing Zyair could destroy him if he wanted.
"Not to worry, I won’t do it for now."
Zyair watched her nervously tuck her hair behind her ear.
She was getting antsy and nervous again and he needed her relaxed for what he wanted to do.
"Let’s play a game, Skyla. Truth or Penalty. We ask each other questions, turn by turn. Only the truth will be told if someone is unable to answer they will take a penalty from the other."
The slight tilt and the mischief in his eyes told her he was up to something.
"Umm...I." She wasn’t sure about it but then it was a good chance to get to know about him.
"Come on. It’s the best way to learn about each other. I know you are curious too."
Listening to his words, she slowly nodded her head, placing her trust in him. He smiled in satisfaction and stated.
"Ladies first!"
Skyla thought long and hard, there were a million questions she wanted to ask him but she didn’t have the guts to even ask a few of them.
So she started simple.
"What’s your favourite colour?"
"Red." The reply was so instant as if he was waiting for her to ask that, not a grain of hesitancy in his voice. Skyla had never heard of a man with red being his favourite colour. Men preferred blue, black, silver, and grey. She was surrounded by black and silver and yet he said red, his eyes dancing with mischief as they remained fixed on her hair. But he was wearing a red V-neck too so maybe it was his favourite colour.
She gulped and slowly nodded. It was his turn.
"Did he stop you from using the car I sent as a means of transport when you started working?" He casually asked but inside he was seething.
"Yes!" She truthfully answered and he grinded his teeth so loudly.
"I knew it, I just wanted to be sure. Your turn."
"How did you end up as the CEO of Kincaid International?" It was still a mystery to everyone including Skyla. She had hoped that he would turn his life for good but she didn’t know that he would one day rise to such heights.
"I quit The Mirage the day you sent me all that money." His eyes softened at the memory and the tops of her ears turned pink. Zyair continued.
"I was looking for jobs and saw Kincaid had an internship program going on. I applied and got accepted. Mr Montague who later became my adopted father supported me a lot. I invested the money in his company seeing how dedicated he was and became his partner. I told him my truth, changed my name and he gave me his last name. He was a kind man with a heart of gold. He didn’t only act as my father but my mentor and my friend. Opening me up, he gave me a very different outlook on life, one I didn’t know existed. He and his wife are the best things that have happened in the last few years of my life. They made me their real son Skyla and moulded me into the man I am today or I would have succumbed to the darkness that surrounded my heart," Zyair concluded.
Turbulent emotions made his ever-steady voice slightly quiver. The remembrance of his father always made him highly vulnerable.
And then he felt her hand on his arm, she lightly squeezed it in a heartwarming gesture but the words that followed had his heart filling up with exquisite warmth.
"I just want to say that I am so very proud of you. And it fills my heart with satisfaction to know all those years ago I made the right choice."