You could slice the tension with a knife. All three men glared razor-sharp daggers at one another, with the man beside me refusing to release my shoulder. As for me, I was getting very hot and sweaty. The scene was intense and beyond terrifying. I mean who knows what would have happened to me had this stranger not shown up. An incredibly attractive stranger at that…
One of the soldiers slanted his stance a little. "You know this girl?" The man chuckled, though it was obviously forced. He was more leering than grinning just then. "I'd like to think I'd recognize my own wife." Wife?! My eyes instantly grew in shock. Did he just say his "wife"? I felt my cheeks start to sizzle as he then looked at me, softening his expression. "I got held up at the office again. I hope you weren't waiting for me long, darling."
It took my stupid brain a moment to process what was occurring, what he was doing. Oh, I see. These men want to arrest me likely cause I'm a single woman walking out on her own. He's pretending to be my partner to get them away from me…. or me from them. He's helping me!
This made my cheeks blush even harder, all against my will. My lips sputtered as I stared into his endless eyes. "U-Uh, no! No, I wasn't waiting long…." Play along, Yor; your life's hanging in the balance right now.
The agents hissed through their teeth, obviously displeased. One planted his hand firmly on his hip, glaring at the men holding me. "I haven't seen you around here before. Show me your papers," his free hand extended out expectedly. The stranger's leer widened in the corners. "A man in my position isn't required to turn over his papers- or should I say "badge"- to the likes of you. But if you were to see them, not only would I embarrass you in front of my wife here, you'd see I out-rank you." He spoke with such confidence that I was inclined to believe him, and luckily so were the soldiers. They certainly seemed hesitate to press the matter further.
Instead, the one agent's hand rolled into a fist and lower irate down at his side. He was practically fuming at the stranger but lowered his voice a tad now. "So you're married, huh? Well isn't that convenient? According to her passport, she's still single and using her maiden name." "We're newly-weds, still waiting for all her new documents to come in. But I assure you, gentlemen, that her new passport will have OUR last name on it." This guy….. Still blushing, I peered up to his face again while trying to be discreet about it. He's got a response for everything. He knows what he's doing….. and leading me through it too. I thanked my lucky stars that they finally looked to be convinced, or at least on the verge there. I think it's due to the authority in the stranger's tone….. and the way he held me against himself.
The soldiers both sneered but said nothing for a minute. The man took the opportunity to extend his hand out toward them, smirking the whole time- a very tense smirk. "If you please, my wife's papers…." I'd almost forgotten that the agent was still crushing them in his fist. The agent gave a tisk sort of sound, jerking his head back slightly. "How do I know you're telling the truth? Can you prove you're married to this woman?" "You'd ask a husband to provide proof of his union?" The man answered without skipping a beat. The agent looked insulted and taken aback, but he reluctantly let the issue drop. He all but threw my papers at the man, making him catch them mid-air. He nodded in the most disgusted, reserved way possible. "Thank you." I didn't say thank you, instead refusing to open my mouth until he gave me the "ok" to do so.
It never came. Stuffing my destroyed papers quickly into my bag, the man maintained his grip on my shoulder and his glare on the agents. "Now if you'll excuse us, I'm sure my wife is tired after her long day at work and this cool air is not good for her. If there's nothing else, we'll be going now. Come along, dear." I didn't really have a choice; he made me move by pushing my shoulder forward. With one last death glare, the soldiers stepped aside, allowing us to get by. The man didn't look back, and I don't think he wanted me to. "Just keep walking," he whispered to me once we were out of earshot.
I obeyed without hesitation, though I could sense that we were being followed. Those goons probably wanted to see if we'd break off once we thought we were safe. The man must have noticed this too cause he mildly picked up the pace. "In here," without warning, he brought me into a random, close-by café on the busy street outside the smaller road. Once safely inside, he let his arm fall off my shoulder and we both took in a deep breath. The man ran his gloved hand through his blonde hair and shut his eyes momentarily. "Thank goodness…." He breathed. I wasn't sure if he was grateful that I was safe or that his plan actually worked. Either way, I was beyond thankful he appeared seemingly out of nowhere and basically saved my life. I did nothing while he tossed his head back a bit, taking a much-needed moment to breathe.
Then he looked back at me; his expression much more solemn and grave this time. "Let's have a drink," he told me. Surprised at this, I complied without a word; I was still too shocked to say much. He pulled out a chair for me at a two-person table off at the far side of the room. It was a pretty empty café, with only a few other patrons on the other side of the place. He sat down opposite me and signalled for a waiter. "Tea, please," was his only order. His full attention was soon back on me as I sat there, feeling really awkward and shy all of a sudden.
He leaned forward slightly. "Sorry about that. I saw them corner you in the alley and assumed well…. why." "O-Oh! Oh no! No, thank you….. Thank you. If it wasn't for you, I don't know what they would have done to me," I blurted out like a blithering idiot. His eyes drifted over to mine, cementing our gazes onto the other. "Those bastards have been pushing their luck lately. Everyone knows about the secret service, but if this continues, things will get really bad." I didn't really know what to say to this. Of course I agreed, but I got the feeling he knew a lot more the internal working of the government than I did. Unless, of course, he was bluffing back there. Something told me he was…. and he wasn't.
The stranger relaxed his in chair a bit more, clasping his hands overtop his crossed knee. "Is there anyone who can walk you home from work in the future? One of your parents or a sibling, perhaps?" "Uh, well….. Erm, no. My parents are both gone, and my only brother lives very far away," I peered down at my lap embarrassed. His eyebrow lifted intrigued. "So it's just you in the city, then?" I wasn't sure if I should answer this question, realizing the compromising situation it put me in, but I knew he was expecting a reply. I simply nodded, unable to look him in the eye. "Is that so?" His forefinger ran across his bottom lip in a pondering fashion. The wheels in his head were clearly turning, though I didn't know why. Was he thinking about kidnapping me? Is that why he saved me? This pang of fear suddenly struck my heart and I began to doubt my luck after all.
"And are you seeing anyone?" More intrusive questions; we didn't even know each other's names. "Not at the moment….." My nervous head shook as I was still unable to look him in the eye. He hummed to himself and I could feel his eyes burning a hole through my head. That's when the server brought over our tea. She placed our teapot and teacups down, and he thanked her. Then he poured a cup for me first before filling his own cup. "Thank you," I reached over to pick up my teacup. I was mere seconds away from taking a sip when his voice broke the awkward silence once more. I'd never heard him speak to me so seriously or so sincerely before.
"Marry me."
