CEO’s Romantic Affair

Everyone at the table sat there watching them. Finally, Jeremy spoke out. “Enough is enough. We all know you are a couple. Are you going to double your chips or what?”

Cathryn could feel her cheeks starting to get warm. She turned her head to avoid the people at the table. ‘What have I gotten myself into? I know nothing about this game. Keith seems to be awfully sure I have a good hand, but I have no idea if it’s a good or bad deal?’Belongs to (N)ôvel/Drama.Org.

Cathryn slowly put the cards on the table. She won the game with a full house. Cathryn got up and clapped her hands excitedly. She gave Keith a high five and turned, facing the table. Amanda was glaring at her. She didn’t look impressed. “I thought you said you didn’t know how to play poker?”

“It wasn’t me. You know, you really can’t underestimate foreigners.” She says to Keith in a low voice. “This was all you! You’re my lucky charm.”

“Who wants to play another round?” Jeremy asked.

“No, we are leaving now, but you guys go ahead and enjoy,” Keith answered.

“Oh, I see how this works. You win the money, and now you’re making a quick escape. No way! You have to stay.” Amanda said. The money she lost was only a small amount, but she was only playing the game for fun. Amanda wanted Keith to stay, and she wasn’t going to take no for an answer.

Irving sat there and didn’t say a word. Jeremy was a little reluctant. He looked up at the clock and demanded, “It’s still early. Why do you have to leave? Are you trying to take care of your kidneys by not drinking anymore?”

Keith wasn’t in the mood to argue. He got Cathryn’s coat and wrapped it around her shoulders. With a cold tone in his voice, he said, “We are leaving now. As you already know, she is pregnant and needs all kinds of rest. It’s not just for her, but for the baby as well.”

Cathryn was surprised at Keith’s reaction. She had only seen the gentle side of Keith. Cathryn never expected Keith would be so assertive towards others. Knowing how much he cared for her and the baby gave her an overwhelming feeling of joy. Cathryn could feel her face beginning to get warm again. She turned around and looked at Jeremy, “Thanks for inviting me. I had a wonderful time.”

“Please forgive me, Cathryn, for being so inconsiderate. I’m glad you could come.” His heart softened when Jeremy saw the look on her face, and he turned to Keith, “Okay. I guess it’s goodnight then?”

“Count the chips and send the money to my account,” Keith replied.

****

Cathryn had so much fun playing cards. She wanted to stay, but she knew it was getting late. She looked at everyone sitting around the table and saw the disappointment in their faces. “Keith, you know Jeremy is right. It’s only eleven o’clock. I can go home by myself. You don’t need to go with me.” Cathryn felt guilty and wanted Keith to stay and play poker with his friends.

Keith heard the edge of desperation in her voice. “I don’t mind Cathryn. I want to go home with you.”

Keith opened the car door for Cathryn, but she hesitated. She turned and looked him in the eyes. “I want you to go back and enjoy yourself. Johnny can take me home.”

Keith turned and glanced at the yacht. He lowered his head and put his hand on top of Cathryn’s head so she wouldn’t hit her head while getting into the car. He smiled and said, “No, I’m going home with you. I’ve had too much to drink already.”

Cathryn thought about what Jeremy said and realized Keith was joking, “You didn’t drink too much.” She responded with a loud laugh.

Keith touched her cheek and said, “Thank you for coming with me tonight. I had a lot of fun! You were the most beautiful woman there.”

Cathryn could feel her face getting hot at the compliment and quickly steered the conversation away from her, “Yes, we make quite the team!”

Keith gnawed on the inside of his mouth, studying her for a few moments. He enjoyed seeing her like this, but he decided it was enough teasing for tonight.

Arriving back at Flower Island, Cathryn took a quick shower and drank the warm milk Eva prepared for her and she went to bed. She couldn’t stop thinking about the party, ‘It was all so new and exciting. It was nothing like the bars and clubs I’ve gone to. Everyone maintained mutual respect and behaved in a reasonable manner.”

Cathryn thought about Keith’s personality. Him being so gentle and kind and thought since he was this type of man, he would never have a mean person amongst his circle of friends. Cathryn suddenly remembered the name, Ada Clinton. She recalled someone saying there was a woman Keith liked when he was in university. She wondered, ‘Could this be her?’

Cathryn tossed and turned, not able to get this thought out of her mind. She was starting to get worried. She had a feeling this woman meant something to him. Cathryn couldn’t figure it out, and she knew she couldn’t ask Keith.

Finally, Cathryn fell asleep, and not long after, the sound of her phone ringing woke her up. At first, she thought she was dreaming. She sat up in bed and rubbed her eyes, “Am I dreaming or..”

Cathryn heard the sound of her phone ringing again. She quickly got out of bed and answered it.

“Cathryn, it’s your grandmother. She had a heart attack and may not make it!” Her mother, Victoria, was crying on the other end of the phone.

Cathryn sank to the floor, not knowing if it was a dream or not, “Mom, are you there?”

Her mother was crying frantically, and Cathryn could hardly understand a thing she was saying. “Cathryn… you… come.” The phone went dead.

All Cathryn could feel was numbness and sadness. There was a pain so fierce and persistent deep inside her. She sat and stared at the floor. Something flashed through her mind. It was the memory of what her grandfather told her before he died. Cathryn stood up, opened the door, and ran to Keith’s room.