Burning Passion

CHAPTER 183: HIS CLOSEST FRIEND

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Last night, Harry convinced Nina to sleep in the bedroom, and he would stay in the living room. 

"I could sleep on the sofa." She told Harry and turned down his offer. 

Dumbfounded, Harry insisted, and he reasoned out. "What would our sons say after they learn that I let you sleep on the sofa?" 

Nina cannot counter Harry's statement. She gives up and accepts his offer to sleep on the bed. Also, Harry let her borrow the pajama he has never worn yet. However, she didn't wear pants when it was too long for her. 

Now she has a problem. She can't go out with only the upper pajamas she wears. Besides, she can't put back the clothes she wore yesterday. 

Nina has been pacing inside Harry's bedroom. She peeps outside the window, the sky pouring heavily.

Nina heaves a long sighed. She's getting hungry and craving for a morning coffee. She wondered if Harry went to his office. 

Harry is an early bird person. He already woke up before the sun would rise. Since his office was just below the penthouse, he must start work by now. The time is nine in the morning. It looks like, she sleeps in. Besides, she wasn't able to fall asleep when she knew that Harry was just outside his bedroom.

'Did Harry already ate his breakfast?' Nina asked herself.

Nina peeps outside. Slowly, she twists the knob and opens the bedroom door. She gasped when she saw Harry standing in front of the door. 

"Harry?!" she burst out.

"Oh, I'm about to knock if you are already awake," said Harry. His right arm lifts in the air. He's truly about to knock on the door. 

"Erm, I was checking you out if you were still here." 

"Hum? Do you want me to leave?" Harry asked Nina.

Nina flushed her cheek; she lightly shook her head. "Oh, no! I'm just thinking whether you're still here since you are an early bird person. You might… erm, I'm saying is, maybe you work on the documents when you haven't eaten breakfast yet." 

Nina scanned Harry's get up. He wore casual pants and long sleeves. It must be when there are no employees to come to the office today. They sent an announcement that no work today and stay home to keep safe from the storm. But the like of Harry, he would not waste his time with her but worked the entire day. 

"Well, I'm making breakfast at the moment. You might want to join me. And by the way…"

Harry left and strode toward the living room. He picked up the bags placed on the cocktail table; he handed the shopping bags to Nina. 

Nina asked, "What are these?" She knew it was shopping bags from famous stores in the city, but why Harry has them is what confused her. 

"Mr. Long arrived at dawn. The traffic has finally moved, but with the high winds and heavy winds, he cannot speed up your car. I asked him if he can purchase clothes for you from the hotels. Gladly, they were your size." 

"Oh…" Nina was speechless. How did Harry know her sizes? She and Harry never sleep in the same bed. For thirty-five years, they are married? They slept in separate rooms. 

Harry sees that Nina is in deep thought. "I will let you change now while I make our breakfast," He said and left Nina. 

She was surprised by his gesture. It took a while before she recovered from the shock. Before she walked toward the bathroom, Nina glanced at Harry's direction to watch his back. 

He would turn sixty years old soon. But Harry remains well fitted. That is why it's not surprising younger women are lingering around Harry, attempting to seduce him. 

Yes, she knew about it. Who doesn't know about gossip among the employees? But one thing that you have to mind while working either at her company or the Shang Empire is to shut your mouth outside, or else have to face all the consequences.

Nina shook her head and finished her shower. She tried on the clothes, and Harry was right. They were her size. Maybe in thirty-five years that they married. Harry learns her exact size, even if they don't sleep together. 

Nina scanned her reflection. She sighed and stepped out of the bathroom. Since Harry's bedroom is separate from his wardrobe and bathroom, she went back to Harry's bedroom. She is looking for the pouch inside her bag. It was her stuff to look pleasant.

Nina took out a face cream and applied some on her face before she got out of the bedroom. She cared less to wear a lipstick but put a light line on her eyebrows. 

Harry now seated on the dining table, immersing himself watching on his laptop while eating. Nina strode to the kitchen and gaped at the plate full of breakfast stuff placed across Harry. They were the only ones here, so the plate must belong to her. She took a seat and began eating silently. 

Nina could hear low voices from Harry's laptop. He seemed to monitor the storm. She looked up to glance at the penthouse's floor-ceiling windows. All the curtains were down. And to what the report says, the storm is slowing down but intensifies its strength. 

Halfway, Nina receives a text message. It was from Theo. Last night, Jeremy exchanged chats after her son heard about the strong typhoon going to hit Zen City. She replied with a smile on her face. 

It has intrigued Harry, who Nina exchanges messages that put a smile on her face. 

"Ahem!" Harry coughed. He just wanted to get Nina's attention. He said, "The weather forecaster says the storm may stay two to three days." 

Nina looked up. Panic registered into her face. "Is that long?" she asked worriedly. Her mind is running wild at the moment. What is going to happen now? It worries her to think she would stick with Harry in his penthouse for three days. Is it awkward? 

Damn. She was old to worry like this. And there is nothing wrong with whether they are trapped inside the Shang building. She and Harry are married. The entire world knew they were husband and wife. So there is no surprise they were together in the penthouse. 

Nina contemplated when she remembered to reply to Theo's recent message. 

She told Harry, "I will tell Theo the situation here." Then she types on her phone. 

"Oh, it was Theo? When are they going to visit here?" asked Harry. He was eager to meet Theo's wife.

"Hm, Jeremy said, he and Theo will come together when the celebration is closer." 

"I see. That's good." Harry takes silence. He was pondering whether to ask Nina with the things playing on his mind. "Ahem! How were Theo and his wife?" there, he finally said it. 

"Ah, Nikki? Her pregnancy has no worries. She was craving a lot of food, said Theo."

"Hm. That's great then." 

Harry takes another moment of silence. When did Jeremy and Theo bring to this world? He wasn't there by their side. And he never tries to raise them by his own hands but relies on Nina's governance and the butlers and the nannies to take care of what they needed when they were growing up.

Now he sees what his shortcomings are to his family. And so, he was proud of his son. According to Rubin, Theo is hands-off to what his wife needs. Something he never did. He loves someone, but things become complicated between them. 

Harry heaves a long sigh. He watched Nina sit up from her chair. Still, she could not look him straight in the eyes. Most of the time, Nina avoided meeting his gaze. Maybe one thing why there is no progress in their relationship. 

They have discussed less for their family, but when business matters, he spent more time to make things perfect. And it looks like the reason Nina never bothered him consulting about his sons, is all because he is always out of the country to take care of their businesses.

If Jeremy never became ill, he would not at least try to act like a father. Somehow, that teaches him how to become one. However, still, he doesn't show enough affection. 

"Harry?" 

Harry blinks several times before he fixes his gaze at Nina. "I'm sorry. Have you asked something?" 

"Erm, I'm asking you if you prefer tea or brewed coffee."

"Oh. I guess coffee is perfect for the weather." 

"All right. I'll make two mugs, then." 

Harry nodded. He also sat up and put his plate in the sink. He glanced at Nina, brewing coffee on the corner of the countertop of his kitchen. It seems like he could not remember if he and Nina are together in the kitchen. 

During the first years, they were married. When he went home to the mansion. He only locked himself inside his library and worked with his reports he needed to submit to his father. 

Harry waited for the coffee in his living room. He was thinking if he should go down to his office and lock himself as usual. And left Nina in his penthouse. 

In that way, Nina would not be uncomfortable. Harry now realized he has no friends he can call close to him. All he has are business associates. His business partners, which he did not develop a deeper relationship with as close friends. 

He showed his loyalty and credibility, yes. However, now it made him realize one thing. He only has one friend who remains by his side. 

It's Nina. 

Harry heaves another long sighed. Nina now places the mug of brewed coffee in front of him. He remains to stare at the black liquid, he asked Nina. 

"Do you think, it's about time to tell them the truth?" 

Nina, who is not prepared for a moment like this.... Her eyes filled with fright.