Realizing his love - I
Anna was mortified by his abrupt question. She was looking at him to understand the meaning behind it. He was looking at her intently. On one hand she was baffled as she neither was able to bear his intense gaze nor could shift her focus somewhere else.
On the other hand, Regan didn't know what came up-to him to ask her such a thing. He knew that his outlandish behavior might ruin their precious bond of trust which they cultivated amongst them in the previous days but the incidents that occurred since morning were enough to take a toll over him and he couldn't hold it anymore and spoke his heart out. However, he could clearly see the confusion and anxiety all over her face. Her face turned pale as she didn't know how to answer him.
'Why do you have to be so naive to understand my feelings for you Anna?' He thought. He then decided to help her out of the plight. Suddenly, he started laughing which confused her even more.
"Regan?"
"Anna? Just look at your face. Oh my God!"
He briefly glanced at her and started laughing again. When she didn't say anything, he sobered up and said, "That was a joke Anna. I was just pulling your leg."
"Why?" She whispered with a frown.
She couldn't believe his words. The look that his eyes held before some time back didn't seem to her as a joke.
"Because of this." He moved his gaze downwards and gently pulled his hand from her hold. She followed his gaze and her face turned into a light shade of pink as she noticed what he was implying.
"Oh! I am sorry. I..... I didn't notice it." She said and lowered her gaze bashfully.
"Anna... please look at me." He said softly and she obliged.
"I saw you trembling while dressing my hand. Believe me..... I am fine. But I guess you are quite sensitive towards such things?"
She nodded her head positively.
"Hmmm..... that's why I took a jibe on you to lighten up the mood but I think you took it way too seriously. Don't worry..... I will never ask or expect anything from you that you won't be able to give me. I promise." Saying that, he held his ears and mouthed a sorry. He couldn't believe that he was doing or saying such things. All he wanted was to comfort her and bring back the beautiful smile on her face.
She was amused would be an understatement. The way he behaved was very unusual of him but he was too sweet to be ignored and punished like this. Initially, she was baffled and then felt annoyed as she came to know that he was messing up with her but after hearing his reasons, she felt bad to judge him too quickly. He was still holding his ears and looking at her expectantly. She immediately held both of his hands feeling embarrassed at her negligence.
"Regan it's fine. I understand..... you don't need to do this." She finally said with a smile.
His heart started pounding once again on seeing her mesmerizing smile. He felt peace after knowing that everything was okay between them and she was not mad at him.
At the same time, they heard someone clearing the throat and their heads instantly snapped in its direction. When Anna saw Emily standing outside the lounge, her face heated up in anticipation that she might have witnessed everything. Regan was also surprised on seeing her but remained nonchalant about her presence.
She immediately came to them and asked playfully, "Did I interrupt something?"
"No"
"Yes"
They both said simultaneously and Emily started laughing. Anna looked at Regan with her questioning gaze as he said yes to which he simply shrugged his shoulders.
"Of course she interrupted as I was enjoying teasing you." He said and received a furious look from Anna but the very next moment all of them started laughing on his reply. Nonetheless, he excused himself after a while and left them.
"Is he the same Regan Knight who is known to be ruthless? Now I realize that one should never believe the tabloids."
"Certainly" Anna replied immediately.
"Baby girl..... it feels so good to see you laughing like this. For once I thought... I got my old Anna back. I must genuinely thank Regan for this."
"Em..... it's not....."
"I know what you will say Anna. Whatever it is..... I am still happy so don't ruin it." She said with a pout on which Anna smiled.
She accompanied Anna till she finished her lunch and then left. However, instead of heading outside the Watson Corp, she went to Regan's office.
When she knocked on his door, she heard an extremely cold voice that said 'come in'. She was shocked to hear it as she couldn't believe that it was the same man with whom she talked so warmly some moments before. Nevertheless, she entered his office and now it was Regan's turn to get shock as he didn't expect to see her again in a short while.
"Emily? Please have a seat."
"Hey Regan! I just wanted to have a word with you if you have some time." She came and sat opposite to him.
"Of course..... How may I help you?"
She smiled at him and said, "I just came here to thank you..... for making Anna laugh. You won't believe but it has happened after a long time."
His eyes that looked cold and aloof softened on hearing her name and it didn't go unnoticed by her.
She smiled again and said, "Well now that you made my baby girl happy... I want to let you know something which would make you happy... genuinely.
"What do you mean?"
"She does Regan. She cares for you a lot."
His eyes widened on realizing that she might have heard and seen all the things between him and Anna and may be figured out about his feelings too. However, he gathered himself up and raised his brow.
"I know what you said was not a joke. It directly came from your heart."
"..."
She chuckled and continued, "Don't worry..... I am not here to judge your intentions but I saw the way you were looking at her. I know you still want your answer. But I guess... you have a bad timing."
He couldn't get where she was going with this. But now when she initiated the topic, he didn't hold himself back and asked, "How can you say that?"
"There are many things about her that you don't know yet. Her past has wounded her soul and she is still facing its aftermath. I would not go into details as its not my place to tell you about her life. But for your peace of mind let me tell you this.... Usually she panics when she sees blood or injuries as she is quite sensitive towards them. But today, unknowingly you helped her to face her fear. She really cares for you otherwise she would have not bothered to attend your wounds while fighting with herself."
Regan knew that something was off with Anna while they were together but didn't know it to be so deep.
'Her past'
'Wounded soul'
These were the only words that kept ringing in his ears. He couldn't get himself to think that she was hurt and...
"Don't think too much Regan. Whatever happened in the past....it wasn't in any of our hands. But I am really grateful to you..... the way you are with her... you make her smile and happy too. Thank you." She didn't continue further and left his office.
He didn't know what to think and feel after hearing her but he knew that his heart certainly felt ecstatic on hearing that she worried for him....however, he couldn't figure out anything about her past and decided to get into it to take away her pains and tears forever.