His cousin actually appeared.James was totally surprised to see Eduard gallantly walking along the hallway through the living area and murmured something when he pa.s.sed by Laurice. He couldn"t hear a thing his cousin was saying except witnessing the fact that the woman slightly nodded her head thereafter and only then did Eduard took a seat just right across her.
James: " ... ? "
It seems the man must have been present somewhere near their location all this time and witnessed everything to himself.
But showing up only at the most critical part?
" ... !!! "
James"s face fell in despair.
He didn"t even get to give an answer to Laurice yet!
What an embarra.s.sment.
If only he could dig a hole to burrow himself deeply.
He would if he could.
Wait one second.
Did his cousin-brother showed himself to steal his thunder? Well, that"s not quite right, is it? How can he dare compare himself to Eduard? James sighed helplessly, grumbling in frustration. He thought he could spend time alone with Laurice and get to know her on a rather personal level without expecting anyone getting on his way.
Unfortunately, Laurice"s attention was now diverted to someone else. James glanced at his cousin-brother who was now seemingly sharing a quiet but harmonious s.p.a.ce together with Laurice. How odd.
Do they actually know each other beforehand?
And why the heck was he still even loitering around an hour this late? This question James needed to ask himself as well.
...
Laurice casted a side-long glance at the man who sat right opposite her in a separate sofa.
What a strong presence he rather possessed.
He"s the very person amongst all her cousins whom she doubted she"d be able to interact with at all, but he"s right here in front of her at the moment, face to face even.
Squinting her eyes towards the tall and broad creature, she couldn"t help but praise him herself.
This man before her was dubbed as one of the most elusive bachelors of his generation and as the industry calls him, a man of steel. However, it was no exaggeration. Eduard is indeed an embodiment of a capable man that can upturn whatever odds he face, be it in business or matters outside of business.
But she also knew that Eduard Bunker Ledesma, his first uncle"s firstborn, has this reputation of being distant and skeptical around people particularly mediamen and not to mention, strangers especially women.
Well, she was practically a stranger to his home.
And a woman at that.
But he was behaving quite differently than she was expecting.
"Do you want a cup of coffee?" His deep male voice resounded softly against her ears like he was whispering to her instead.
Ah! What a soothing voice he got there.
And her cousin was even accomodating her!
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He was undeniably smart, polite and quite ... a looker, too.
Laurice felt oddly confused as she was caught off in a trance. Or rather, bewitched by the gorgeous creature before her.
The other person lurking from afar could not help but gaped at he view with his mouth wide open.
James: " ...? "
...
"Hey! Quit staring already!"
James snickered and almost blurted out the words.
His cousin-brother had just asked Laurice a question but she did not respond at all as she wasn"t paying attention. Her mind must be wandering off somewhere else. Maybe somewhere inappropriate, too!
What a blinding sight.
If only he could snap his fingers to the woman"s face to stop her from oggling his cousin-brother.
He"s indeed very handsome, alright! But does she really need to make it that obvious?! To his face?
"h.e.l.lo! I am just as handsome!"
He chided to himself feeling proud of his possibly only good trait.
Only? Ofcourse not! Definitely not. James denied tremendously thinking he has a lot of good points, too.
Having enough of his own nonsense, James furiously strutted out off the front door dragging his already sore limbs to the living room himself and filling the s.p.a.ce besides his cousin-brother.
...
James: "My feet is sore."
Eduard glanced back at him, giving him a look that seems to be telling James that no one was asking him so.
James"s face twitched miserably.
"Are you not gonna offer me a drink as well?" Tilting his head to the side, he asked in a pleading and envious tone.
Eduard just coldly replied to him, "Go get one yourself."
His merciless remark rendered James speechless and earned a glare from his cousin.
James: " ... "
Yup, it"s his cousin, alright. He"s still the same.
At that exact moment, Laurice have also finally recovered from her sudden stupor and mentally scolded herself.
She couldn"t believe it.
Laurice had no idea how long she was staring at her cousin since he appeared to her side. She just guilty retrieved her gaze away from the man and did not react at all. However he seems to have said something to her, but she failed to remember it.
"Laurice, come stai?"
Eduard called out to her soflty as he speaks.
Laurice felt strangely moved by the gentleness in his voice. The way he was calling out her name was akin to that of an elder brother who treats his sister warmly and indulgingly.
Not noticing that he was already speaking in italian, she was too stunned that she responded out abruptly with, "Un po" stanco."
A little tired, she said.
"E tu?"
"And you?" Laurice asked him back without elaborating how she truly feels.
Eduard replied shortly with, "Al solito."
As always, he said. Well, that might change now after actually meeting with her, again. His eyes glinted slightly after saying his piece.
At that point, Laurice curiously looked at her cousin with furrowed her brows and asked him in English this time.
"Have we met before?" Laurice probed.
Suspicion apparent in her tone.
Well, quite frankly, she would have never forgotten encountering such fine looking man as he was if she have already had in the past But he"s emitting a familiar impression to her that is so hard to describe.
Laurice couldn"t quite put her finger on it. Her thoughts muddled. But she don"t really recall meeting him in person before. And why was he even conversing with her in a foreign language in the first place?
Eduard just stared back at her with an empty gaze, his thoughts completely unreadable.
"Not that i know of." He repudiated with a deadpan expression.
Laurice: " ...? "
What a difficult man, indeed. And he doesn"t look easy on the eyes, too for some reason. Unlike a certain someone she knew. Laurice was stunned to actually compare the two. Well in all honesty, Sid may look cold and aloof on the surface but he wasn"t appalling and intimidating at all. He"s a - "what you see is what you get" thing personified. No pretense at all.
While her cousin, Eduard, was exuding an air so deliberate and unfathomable as if masking his emotions at one point and then he seems to be warm and gentle at another point which was beyond one"s imagination perhaps. What a complicated guy he was huh. But overall, he seems quite nice.
Laurice concluded that this particular cousin of hers was indeed quite alright. He"s personality is likeable enough.
...
"You two."
An angry voice erupted so suddenly disturbing the two person in deep thoughts.