Forty- nine - A very good man

For the first time since the junkyard incident, Chloe finally had a satisfactory sleep all thanks to the rainfall. As she stretched delightfully on her bed, she wondered for how long she had slept as the atmosphere didn't seem like it was still morning.

Not bothering to ponder for long, Chloe got out of bed. As she stood still for a while, her mind went numb and she forgot for a second, everything that bothered her.

As that time frame ended soon, Chloe sighed and made for the bathroom for a quick wash before settling to do what she had planned to do concerning Markings.

But her eyes caught a brown envelope laying just by the door.

It definitely couldn't be the package Markings was to deliver. If it was, the man had unbelivable guts. Not wanting to keep herself in suspense, she walked to her door and picked the envelope.

Chloe who didn't bother to have a seat took out the paper-like contents of the envelope. As her eyes fell on the first captured image, a long, painful pull dragged her.

As she stared hard at the man in the picture who had his eyes shut, to make sure it was really him, Chloe felt the tug even more. Going on to the next picture, her eyes squeezed as her heart seemed to ache.

The way she felt... it was so familiar.

It was how she felt for a long time after that one person left her.

One more look at the picture and she sighed.

It was Nathaniel alright. And he seemed to be loving what Kate was doing to him.

As it sank in even more, she felt a harder pull at her heart and soon, with the way her breathing went, it seemed she was about to run out of air.

"Chloe, are you still asleep, it's almost... noon," Amir's voice drew at the last word as he saw how discomforted she looked. "Hey, are you fine? Are you falling sick again?"

She immediately tried to hide the pictures.

"What is that?" He moved even closer. Chloe stiil tried to secure it from his sight. But he was quick. Soon, even Amir's face wore despair as his eyes fell on the contents. "Where did you get this?"

"I... I saw it by my door."

Amir said nothing and looked at the picture again, a very huge frown on his face.

"I-"

Amir cut her short. "Chloe, you never saw this."

"But... I have seen it." Her voice carried uncertainty.

Hurriedly, he snatched the envelope in her hand and packed the pictures into it. "Just pretend you never saw it."

"How can I?" she whispered as his words hit home. That tug was still there reminding her not only how she felt about the man but how much pain him hurting her could bring.

"Hey, look at me," Amir said gently as he cupped her cheeks, his eyes on hers. "I can't be so stupid to think that you are not hurting right now. Trust me, just knowing that makes me feel pained."

Something seemed different about him. Chloe could point out that he no longer carried the air of recklessness around him. He sounded like a man who had finally gotten his bearing in life after a lifetime of wandering aimlessly.

"But I really can't bear to see you in more pain after what happened at the junkyard. I-" Eyes darting to the side, Amir's hands traveled to her hands and he gently brought them up. "I know it is my fault. And I-"

"Amir..."

"Just pretend you didn't see those pictures okay?"

"Why?"

The cool atmosphere became extra serious and Amir's hold on Chloe's hands dropped. Looking away once again, his voice almost that of a hurting man, he said, "I know he would never hurt you on purpose. And this..." His hands almost crushed the hard paper in his hand.

"Amir, I also don't want Nathaniel to know that I am aware of this," Chloe said as she recalled his actions the previous night. He had said he was sorry. Certainly, those words and the look in his eyes were related to him being with Kate in such a situation.

"You don't?"

"Truthfully, I can't really pretend I didn't see those pictures." She gave a bitter chuckle. "And I certainly can't deny how hurt I am right now. But if I think about it deeply, in a way I have no right to be angry at Nathaniel because I... I will hurt him at some point too. I like it or not."

"Chloe..."

"So..." Her eyes which were earlier trained elsewhere met Amir's. "Nathaniel must not know that I am aware of this."

"Are you sure of this?"

She nodded and said, "I need to have my bath. When I am done, I have something concerning the junkyard incident to tell you all."

"We will do our best to protect you," Amir said hurriedly, a hint of appreciation in his voice.

Chloe almost gave a wide smile as she replied with, "You are such a good man Amir. A very good man. "

And as she walked away, a huge part of her was certain of her words but there was this tiny part that thought something else.

~

'A very good man'

Amir loved compliments but then he hated them because they could be fake. But when Chloe said those words, he felt elated.

Certainly, they were no special words, but the fact that they were genuine made him feel so good. But that happy feeling crashed when his hands reminded him what he was holding.

He had to find Nathaniel first.

Luckliy, he didn't have to look for long. As he swung open Nathaniel's door room, his friend was the first he saw. Seated by the edge of the bed, his head buried into his laptop, Nathaniel sure did look like his normal, everyday self.

And that angered Amir.

"Are you busy Nate?"

"Not really why?" Nathaniel asked his eyes still on the device. Amir closed the door and walked into the room.

"What were you up to last night?"

That caught the man's attention. "Last night?" Amir's thick brows quirked. "Uhm..." Nathaniel said thoughtfully. "Nothing much actually. Just a walk with Chloe and that was all."

Amir almost snickered. A once terrible liar sure had mastered the art. "You weren't with anyone else?"

"Anyone else who?" Nathaniel sure had gotten better at hiding the truth.

"Kate," Amir dropped.

"Uh?" His blue eyes instantly wore a different emotion but that lasted a second. "Kate?"

"I know you were balls deep in her mouth."

"What?" His laptop became ignored. "How do you know about that?" Nathaniel asked quietly as he got up.

"Certainly the pictures weren't lying."

"Pictures? What pictures?" Amir sighed and tossed him the envelope. As Nathaniel's eyes befell them, Amir suddenly recalled how distressed Chloe was earlier, that definitely pained him.

He would rather see her fake a smile than look so hurt.

Amir sighed again, this time, within him. If only there was a way to really show how he felt. He had a chance earlier but he blew it because of his foolishness and stupid craving.

But if only he could have another chance...

"Did Chloe see these?" Nathaniel's deep voice which shook a bit asked.

"Why would you even do such a thing?"

"Please tell me she didn't see these."

"She-" Perhaps he could say the truth and finally have that opportunity. But Chloe... he just had to think about how she will be affected. "She did not see them."

"Oh good."

"Good? Good? Nathaniel what on earth were you thinking?" But he definitely was going to give Nathaniel an earful.

"I know... what happened wasn't supposed to happen. I feel so terrible since I can't even say anything to Chloe. I just-"

"How then could you let this happen? If she finds out, do you think she will jump for joy?"

Nathaniel's eyes hurried to meet Amir's, a kind of fear in them. "Please, she mustn't know. I can't even live with myself if she gets hurt because of me."

"She knows it or not, Chloe is hurt because of you. One thing I just don't understand is how you could let this happen. I mean, you don't even like Kate."

Nathaniel heaved a heavy breath and turned in an opposite direction. "I think she drugged me."

"You think she drugged you? Or you could not resist a sexual invitation because you haven't been laid for so long?"

"I didn't even touch her!"

"Well, a naked Kate with your dick in her mouth tells a much more elaborate story," Amir retorted.

"Why are you even this worked up about this? This is more of my issue."

Amir could feel anger rising. "Why?" He grabbed his shoulder hard and had Nathaniel facing him in no time. "You ask me why?" He gripped the collar of his shirt. "I will tell you why. I can't stand Chloe being hurt. Unlike you, I am drugged or not, I don't think I would ever hurt her.

But unlike you, I don't have a chance to show her that." Nathaniel's eyes darkened. "And seeing you misuse your moment this way makes me... it makes me boil. It makes me want to snatch Chloe from you and show you how to treat her right."

With a deadly glare, Nathaniel tore off Amir's hold almost violently. "You haven't hurt her you say?" His voice wore some kind of venim. "For the past weeks, she has been helping you and if I recall right, she has been nothing but hurt in one way or the other."

"I-"

"And you want to snatch my Chloe... Let me see you try Amir."

"Just-"

"Listen carefully..." Nathaniel said, a finger pointed towards Amir whose anger got quenched with Nathaniel's earlier retort.

"I am genuinely angry and sorry about what happened with Kate. Even if it was just for few seconds, that moment is causing so much hurt and if there was a way to erase it so that Chloe won't share in it, I would galdly accept it. But-"

"Nathaniel... save me that crap. Just don't hurt Chloe anymore. If you do, either Gabriel or I would steal her from you."

"Are you threatening me?"

Amir made for the entrance and said, "No, I am telling you."

Then, silently, he walked out of the room.