Chapter 17*

On the top of a hill sat two figures who seemed to be enjoying the quiet scenery. The sky was exceptionally bright that evening, the moon lighting up the dark clouds and the stars twinkling. It was a calm and peaceful ambience.

"What do you do with your free time."

Esmeralda asked her first question. The moon light making her face glow and she looked magical like a fairy.

They had decided to play the game "Twenty questions" after she had agreed and stated her condition.

Dominique was busy gazing at her face and eyes that shined under the moonlight and wasn't expecting this question. He was thinking she would ask what his favorite colour or food is, not that he had any at the moment. He had seen his brothers play this game once and he was not interested in knowing what it was about but he happened to hear their conversation so he had little knowledge about it.

"I hardly ever have any free time but when I do surprisingly, I visit my parents."

Esmeralda nodded her head and then said "Your turn."

Dominique thought of what he could ask her now that he was presented with the opportunity like a platter of gold.

"How old are you?"

" Twenty five."

Dominque held back his surprise as he stared at her in disbelief. She didn't look anything twenty five instead, she looked nighteen or twenty. She was young in appearance but mature in intellect.

Esmeralda noticed the change in the man and she couldn't hold back her smirk. It wasn't the first time she had received this expression. People tend to say that she was younger than her age and she didn't blame them, she was indeed younger externally but wiser internally. Anastasia always said she has an old soul and was probably reincarnated to torment her.

"Why are you so free with me?"

She suddenly asked. Ever since they met at the party she has been wondering why this man was this friendly with her despite his infamous reputation as the "Demon King of Business". She had read articles about him and his cold personality but she was beginning to doubt the things written on those tabloids.

"Honestly... I find peace when I'm with you and you feel...so...different."

Dominique was caught off guard by her sudden question and was having a hard time explaining. Heck! he was having a hard time expressing and using his words. He didn't know how to answer her question because he was also wondering what she has that makes him behave this way with her, so he decided to say what was on his mind.

He cleared his throat and said to the woman who became silent after he answered her." It's late now I think we should go."

Esmeralda snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the man with a wry smile and empty eyes.

"Does Mr Dominique really care about our safety that he decides not to finish the game? Or does he fear the night creatures and the dark that much?"

He was dumbfounded. How could she mock him? Was she insinuating that he was scared of the night? This woman was really something.

"Have you know, a young lady shouldn't stay this late with a man on top of a hill far away from civilization. Anything can happen..."

Dominique was waiting to see her reaction, anything that could change that blank expression on her face. He left a hidden meaning in his statement and was aware she knew what exactly what he was trying to say.

"And who would be the one to make the first move?"

Her clear eyes were practically daring him to say more but he just kept his mouth shut. Was she really the cold and uncaring woman he saw at the party? This was practically some else posing as her. But then again, they were new in this so-called friendship that wasn't official so they were rookies in this situation.

The night air was starting to get cold and he sighed. He got up from the rock and adjusted his suit before stretching his hand towards her. He saw how she stared at his hand like it was a foreign object and frowned. Is there something wrong with his hand?

"Maybe we can continue this discussion in our next meeting."

"How are you so sure that we're going to meet each other again?"

Esmeralda finally accepted his hand and he pulled her up. She released her hand from his and rubbed her arms slowly.

Dominique saw this action and thought that she was freezing so he removed his suit jacket and draped it around her shoulder. His act made her freeze but she didn't say anything. They walked down the hill, again side by side but maintained a good distance away from each other.

"I know we will. Fate is on my side."

Dominique replied with a smile. He was smiling! This woman must possess some kind of power to make him do something he wouldn't dream of doing. If his men saw him like this they would have an heart attack and alert his family that their dear son was having some facial problems. But why couldn't he stop smiling? Maybe it was the fact that she was wearing one of his belongings and felt a sense of possessiveness at the sight.

"I see Mr Dominique is really confident in his belief. Let's wait and see. Maybe we might meet again in an uncanny situation."

"Is that a challenge Miss Esmeralda?"

He didn't understand why they were both addressing each other formally but it didn't matter as long as she was okay with it. His eyes focused on her green ones and for a second he saw a flash that suddenly disappeared.

"Maybe or maybe not."

She shrugged her shoulders and rubbed her sweat pants covered thigh. She enjoyed tracing her finger on the soft texture and made a mental note to ask her sister to buy another pair for her. She could already imagine the joy and shock on Anastasia's face. Then she remembered that they had to go shopping tomorrow and sighed.

They both reached the foot of the hill and turned to face each other. They stared at each other intensely before Esmeralda broke the silence.

"I guess I'll be going now Mr Dominique."

She removed the suit jacket from her shoulder and handed it back to him." It was nice meeting you again. Goodbye."

He looked at her back that was slowly disappearing from his view. He hadn't realised that there was a car parked in a secluded area close to the hill until she opened the door and entered. She left him, again.

"If fate is really on my side, we'll meet again."