CEO's Contract Obsession-Chapter 168: Stay For The Night

When Anton noticed that Mary was staring at him, he started to calm down. He was nervous to be with her... alone. And when he is nervous he tends to laugh excessively. Which is what he is doing right now.

He doesn’t usually get nervous, especially not because of a woman. However, Mary is not just some woman, she is special.

Anton stopped laughing and rubbed his nape, "I apologize, I tend to do that when I am nervous."

"Do what?" Mary asked, she was having fun watching him and she has no idea what is he talking about.

"I laugh too much when I am nervous. Sometimes even if nothing is funny, ha ha ha," and he laughed again.

This time Mary understood what he means and find it funny as well.

"Why are you nervous?" Mary asked.

"Because you are in my house and it’s my first time to bring a woman here. Your nervousness earlier is contagious you know," Anton smiled and did not laugh this time.

"I am sorry about that. It’s just that, I had some bad experiences in the past. But anyways, I’m calm now, and don’t be nervous around me, I won’t bite," Mary smiled sweetly at Anton and they continued their tour.

Mary was surprised that the fear that she felt with other men before, didn’t manifest anymore with Anton. Did she really overcome it? Or maybe she just really like Anton that much? Even she doesn’t know the answer.

The only important thing for her right now is that she is enjoying her time with him alone, something that she badly wants to do even with her previous relationships but was not able to.

There was a time that she thought she will grow old alone since she can’t seem to be with a man unaccompanied. But now it seems like her destiny is taking a different turn.

"Mary, if you like any paintings here, please tell me. I would love to give one to you, but I don’t know what style would you like. I will not take no for an answer," Anton uttered with conviction.

Mary on the other hand thinks differently. She had thought of it before, that if Anton would offer her to take one of the paintings there, of course, she would!

Not because it is worth a lot, but because she believes that it is rude to reject a gift. And not only that, all of the pieces here were personally selected by Anton and she would want something that came from him, something that will make her remember his blonde hair, square-shaped face, full lips, thick eyebrows, and brown eyes.

Mary has jet black hair and she seems to be always attracted to men who have different hair color than her. There was an old saying that opposites attract right? So that must be it, she thought. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

"Are you sure about that? I can choose anything?" Mary corroborated Anton’s decision since the pieces in that room seems to be all expensive.

"Yes, I am sure. Do you already have something in mind?" Anton got excited for Mary sounded that she will choose something.

If Mary thinks that he is hard to read, he also thinks the same about her. Mary is so unpredictable that he can’t even guess what she likes and does not. He really wanted to give something to her, but he also thinks that because Mary is so independent that she might not like men giving her gifts when there’s no occasion.

He just hopes that he is wrong, that Mary is not like other independent women who are so proud of themselves and hate it when they are given something that they did not ask for.

"Okay, if you insist then I take this," Mary had chosen a contemporary painting. It’s almost abstract except for the tree in the middle that has pink leaves. From afar, it looks like a cherry blossom tree but it’s not.

The background is dark, with a combination of black, brown, and purple hues.

"Alright, I will take it down then. May I ask why this piece?" Anton took the painting off the wall as he wait for Mary to answer.

"Because it stands out, like me," Anton gaped at Mary, he knows that she was good at everything but he can’t believe that she will say it out loud.

Mary pursed her lips trying to stop her incipient laughter at how hilarious Anton’s face is. But She couldn’t stop herself from laughing anymore, she laugh out loud making Anton more confused.

"I’m sorry, your face is really funny. You must have thought that I am so proud of myself to say that. What I meant is that the tree still looks happy and it is standing strong even though it is surrounded by darkness. I once had so much darkness in my life but here I am standing in front of you still alive and well."

"And I agree with you," Anton replied.

The whole day went well for Mary and Anton. Anton decided to take Mary to a restaurant instead of eating at his home. He thought it would be better that way. He doesn’t want to be impetuous, he wants everything to be perfect or at least not messed up.

From the conversation that Mary had earlier with Amy, he already has a general idea of what the bad experience was. He could guess that it has something to do with a man and that’s why he decided to take things slow with her. Whatever darkness she had in the past, he will replace it all with good memories that are filled with joy and laughter.

It was already late when Anton took Mary back to the farm and Mary felt guilty because of that. It will take Anton about an hour to drive back to his penthouse. So Mary had this wonderful idea of saving Anton some time.

"Anton, do you want to stay for the night?" Mary boldly offered after he pulled up in their driveway.

And as expected, Anton couldn’t have predicted this one. He stared at her, stupefied if he had heard her right or if it was just his imagination.