Chapter 34

[RECAP:  IMOGEN WENT TO A COMPANY AND ACCIDENTALLY SET IT ON FIRE WHICH SUFFOCATED HER.]

~ HAMES HENDRIX ~

"That's it? I'm done? Whoa, I didn't see that coming." I shut my laptop with a graceful smile on. If I knew I'd be done with work at the office so early, I'd have gone with Imogen to Mr. Hawthorn.

Remembering the closeness between Imogen and I earlier today; how my arms were around her, my hand on her chin, the way her beautiful lips moved when she said 'I love you too' (ignoring the fact that I made her say it), made my smile extend.

I had never been this happy in my entire life. Being with Imogen was the greatest joy of my life and I couldn't wait to have her as mine completely. I assured myself that that was going to happen very soon.

Since I was done with work so early, I could either go to Kade, Mom, or Amanda's, or a club, or anywhere fun.

"I better give Amanda a call before she feeds on me next time we meet, out of anger." I chuckled, picked my phone from the table and dialed her phone number.

After the second ring, she answered the call. "Hey, sugarbunny."

"We've gone from tiger-beer to sugarbunny? Okay." I rolled my eyes at her.

I heard her laugh. "Yeah, whatever. Why did you call? Do you need something?"

"Nope. I just decided to call you today." I fiddled with the tip of a paper.

"Are you kidding me? You know that's a lie."

I laughed. "It's not, I really called to say 'hi', nothing else."

"Idiot."

I furrowed my forehead. "Why? How?"

"Never mind."

Why were the women around me so problematic? She'd be mad at me for not calling her and also insult me for calling her? Jeez…

"I won't."

"Anyway, we haven't rescheduled our friendship date."

"Oh, yeah. I think my secretary forgot to fix it into my schedule last time I told her."

"Yeah… about that, don't bring her along else you'll rue your decision. And, I've been wondering… I wanted to ask you since I first heard it but I didn't want to disturb you. The gossip news about both of you, is it true?"

"Who knows?" I smirked.

"Are you crazy? Is it true?"

"In a way, it is."

She gasped. "Really? I thought it was a false rumor. Is she the one you—" I heard a beep sound that cut her off.

"Hello?" I said but there was no response. I retrieved the phone from my ear. The call had ended. It was probably accidental and I wasn't interested in calling again.

I rose to my feet, arranged everything I need at home into my briefcase, took my suit coat from around my chair and hung it over my shoulder.

I strutted out of my office. As usual, I left the company through the backdoor.

If Imogen was still going through the files, I could still catch up and go with her. I increased my pace and to where my favorite car ought to be sitting but it wasn't there, confirming she had left with it.

"Where's Imogen?" I asked a random driver who had driven me multiple times.

"She just left a few minutes ago."

"Oh, okay."

"Do you need me to drive you, sir?" He asked.

I glowered at him. "What is your job if it isn't to drive me around?"

"I'm sorry for asking. Which car do you want me to drive you in?"

I answered him by walking towards one of my cars. He sprinted to help me open the door. I could do it myself, I didn't ask for his help, but it was nice to know I commanded authority, even without speaking.

I got into the car and dropped my briefcase beside me, wearing my suit coat.

The driver shut the door and turned around to get into the Driver's seat.

"Take me to 'RICARDO International'." I said to him.

He nodded and started the car.

I picked my phone and decided to explore my social media accounts for the first time in a while.

I stumbled upon a couple of weird things as I was exploring it, viewing other celebrities like me. I was slowly drifting to stumbling upon the accounts of celebrities that I could work with.

I raised my head after a few minutes as the driver drove past Mr. John Hawthorn's company. Imogen was going to be in it already. I could go in and help her out with whatever she needed but she had to do a few things on her own.

I returned my gaze to my phone's screen, scrolling through social media.

A few more minutes later, my phone began to ring. It was a call from Kade.

I answered the call and placed the phone on my ear. "Hey, bro. I'm on my way to your company."

"Hames!" He exclaimed. "Where are you now?"

"In my car, on my way to your company. Why?" I said and I heard him heave a sigh of relief.

"What's wrong?"

"I thought you had mentioned that you were going to Mr. John Hawthorn's today."

"Yeah, so what?"

"The company is on fire right now."

"What?!" I screamed. "How's that possible? My car just drove past the company a few minutes ago. How can it be on fire?" My head began to throb.

"It is on fire now. Jovi just drove past it right now and called me. A lot of people are running."

"Driver, turn the car around!" I barked.

"What's wrong?" Kade asked.

"My Imogen is in the fuckibg building."

"Imogen?"

The Driver was being slow with it so I held his shirt from behind and jumped over to be in the front seat.

"What are you doing, sir?" The confused man asked.

I pulled him out of the driver's seat and to the passenger seat, making the car swerve abnormally but I quickly sat on it and controlled the car, turned around and started driving at full speed, overtaking different cars.

I hoped Imogen was safe. How could it be on fire? I saw the company a few minutes ago and it looked perfectly fine. "My Imogen." My heart was pumping in extreme fear. I couldn't imagine anything happening to her. Why did the company have to be on fire today, why was it when Imogen went there?

I didn't care whether or not I was breaking any traffic rules, I was speeding so fast, wishing the car could fly and be there quickly.

After a few more minutes, I brought the car to a stop in front of the now-burning building. As quickly as I could, I ran out of the car.

I was bumping into different people who were running. Firefighters truck and ambulance only arrived here. I checked around but Imogen wasn't here.

I ran towards the building but was held back by two men.

"What are you doing?" One of them barked at me.

"Are you crazy? My girlfriend is in there."

"You can't go in."

They were definitely not ready to listen so I pushed them off to the floor and continued running into the building.

My running was halted by a burning chair that fell in front of me. I stepped back from it and continued running, still bumping into people that were running outside.

How could everywhere be on fire? And Imogen was nowhere in sight.

I definitely knew where Mr. Hawthorn's office was and with hopes of Imogen being there, I ran up the stairs.

Things on fire continued falling in my way but I still ran. I was very sweaty already.

I got to the third floor and fifth door, which I remembered as his office. The door was also on fire but I kicked it open, greeted by a fire that was hungrier than the ones I had been bumping into.

There were lots of woods and door frames in here that were also on fire and falling to the floor.

I scanned the entire room and my eyes bugged out as I noticed Imogen on the floor, in a trap of fire, looking lifeless.

I took my suit coat off and threw it behind me, running towards her. The fire in here was crazier so I had to jump over some items which didn't have so much fire burning them, in order to reach Imogen.

I had to pass behind the fire trap, from a burning curtain, to avoid getting burned by the burning log of wood.

I carried her up in a bridal style. Her entire body was hot and sweaty. "Imogen," I called for her but she didn't respond, making my heart race a thousand times faster.

I passed over the burning curtain again and continued running, moving back from burning things that were falling and ensured with my life that nothing touched her.

I successfully got out of the room.

"It started from Mr. Hawthorn's office." I heard a woman yell to a firefighter.

With Imogen still in my arms, I ran down the stairs, and found my way out of the building.

The normal breeze outside felt so cold against my sweaty skin.

I ran to my car. My driver quickly opened the door to the backseat, taking my briefcase away and I shoved Imogen into it.

"My phone! Start driving me home." I said and got into the backseat, keeping Imogen's head on my lap.

"Home or the hospital?"

"Home!" I barked. He got into the driver's seat, dropped my briefcase beside him and started the car.

I checked around for my phone and I spotted it beside my briefcase. I didn't remember dropping it there but I picked it up and dialed my female Doctor's number.

"Pick up, pick up." I said impatiently.

"Hi, Mr. Hendrix." She said after answering the phone.

"Hi. Please come over to my house right now. My girlfriend was involved in a fire accident. Bring the best equipment to treat her. I'd be home soon, you must have arrived before me."

"Okay, sir."

***

"Will she be fine now?"

"Yes, she will." The Doctor said. "She'll only need to further treat her sprained ankle and use her medications properly."

"Thank you so much. I'm so lucky to have one of the best Doctors in the world as my personal Doctor. I don't know what I'd have done if anything bad had happened to her." I sighed.

She chuckled. "I don't think she passed out for so long. And, she didn't have serious burns. I'll stay updated about her. If you notice any serious condition, please let me know."

"I will. Thank you so much."

Imogen was staring at us, looking confused and scared.

"I'll get going now. Bye." She grabbed her box and took her leave.

I walked to Imogen on the bed. She tried to sit up straight and I helped her out, placing pillows behind her.

Her sweaty body made the material of her shirt soaked and transparent, showing off her breasts. I tried my best not to look but I couldn't help but glance.

"Where am I?" She stared around.

I sat beside her and held her hands. "You're in my room." I kissed her knuckles. "I was so scared. I don't know what I'd have done if anything terrible happened to you."

"I'm confused. I remember accidentally causing a fire, but how— how am I here?"

"You caused the fire?" I raised my eyebrows.

"There were candles around. It was a romantic theme. I think he wanted to propose to a woman. It started from the curtain, then to the pillow, couch, alcohol, wood, I don't know." She looked tense.

"It's okay."

"How am I here?"

"I passed the company and ran to save you. The moment I saw you looking lifeless on the floor, I almost died." I moved closer to her and held her waist, raking my fingers through her blonde hair and held her cheek. "I'm glad you're fine." I spoke softly and connected my lips with hers for a kiss.

I was about to get the most out of kissing her but my phone began to ring from the nightstand which made her break the kiss.

I groaned. This was probably the only chance I had to have the perfect kiss from her but the stupid phone had to ring.

I rose to my feet and took my phone. It was a call from Mr. John Hawthorn. I glanced at Imogen, who still looked confused, before answering the call.

"Hello, Mr. Hawthorn."

"Please stop the formality." I could smell his anger already. "It has been confirmed; the fire was started by your stupid secretary."

I frowned at that. "She's not stupid." I retorted, glancing at Imogen again.

"Oh, really? She caused the fire. We have managed to put it out. We're grateful that no lives were lost but twenty three people were severely injured. The worst part of it all is the fact that I've lost my property and everything in it; important things that are very vital to my life. The entire loss is up to 40 Million dollars and she'll have to pay it back. I need her home address from you, else I'll find it myself with the police. I won't deal with her so gently."

"40 Million dollars?" I asked and Imogen's eyes widened.

"Yes." He yelled.

"Okay," I walked out of the room.

"Hello?" He yelled impatiently. "Can you still hear me?"

"Of course I can. Hey, you won't do anything. Don't involve the police or do anything that'd harm her reputation. I would settle every debt on her behalf."

"Whoa, you would?"

"Yes. I'll call you later to discuss things at length. Right now, I have an employee to take care of." I ended the call and returned to the room.

"Hames, what's wrong?" Worry etched on her facial features.

"You should have a bath. I'll send a Maid here to help you out with a bath and would bring new clothes and food for you."

"I heard 40 Million dollars."

"We'll discuss after you've had a bath and eaten." Without another word, I turned around and left.

***

~ IMOGEN MARK ~

After being bathed with the help of a maid (I didn't understand why but I didn't hate it since it made me feel like royalty), I wore a dress she had brought and ate.

"Do you need anything else?" She asked.

"No. Please call Hames."

"Okay, ma'am." She bowed and left with the tray of plates in her hands.

I returned to sit on the bed. How could this be his room? It was so massive. Then his entire house was definitely going to be a planet if this was his room.

It was silver-and white-themed, making the entire room look like what you could call heaven. It was extremely neat and looked new. There were hot photos of him hung around the wall, he looked like a model in them. He had a shelf of neatly arranged books.

Hames returned to the room, in only singlets and sweatpants that showed off his strong arms and hugged his chest. I could almost see his abs. How could someone be this hot and love me?

He had a smile on as he advanced to me. He stopped in front of me and arched his back to give my forehead a peck. "Hey, how are you now?"

"I'm very fine. Thank you." I returned his smile.

He reached for my hands, taking a seat beside me. "That's good to hear. Let me be straight to my point. Mr. Hawthorn knows you caused the fire that spread to the entire building. Now you'd have to repay his loss. You'll have to pay forty Million dollars."

"For—forty?" I rolled my eyes and fell on his shoulder from the weakness that struck in me.

"Imogen," he held my shoulder. "Calm down."

I jerked away from him. "Calm down? When will I ever have forty Million dollar to repay this?" Tears formed in my eyes.

"Imogen," he chuckled and held both my shoulders. "I already agreed to pay the forty Million dollars on your behalf." He smiled.

I couldn't believe my ears. "You did?" A smile spread my lips apart. "Gosh, do you love me that much?!" I knelt on the bed to give him a tight hug.

He returned the hug, chuckling. "Imogen, calm down."

"How can I ever calm down?" I pulled apart from him. "This is so great. Thank you so much." I held his shoulders and kissed his cheek, not thinking straight anymore.

"Wow, my first kiss from you." He gently pushed me from him, grinning. "You didn't let me speak till the end. I'll pay it for you under one condition."

That made my happiness drop from 100% to 20% and was replaced with worry. "What's the condition?"

"You'll have to get married to me." His grin transformed to a smirk.