Unexpected Love

Chapter 9 (Unexpected Love)

They were staring at each other, ignoring everyone around them.
Andrew: Are you ready to take your first swimming class, Emma?
Emma looked at him questioningly.
Andrew: Hold your breath!
Andrew said, pulling her underwater. Emma was shocked and tried to speak, but she opened her mouth in the water. Andrew immediately pressed his mouth to hers to keep her from swallowing water. He tried to bring them both to the surface. When he let her go, she looked at him in shock.
Andrew: Did you lose your mind? Why are you speaking in the water?
Emma: I...I didn't mean to do that. I was just freaked out and shocked by your movement.
Andrew: Are you okay, then? Did you swallow any water?
Emma blushed and shook her head.

They joined the others and played with them, not noticing Julia's gaze from the beginning. After some time, they got out of the water and went to their rooms to change. They decided to go to a restaurant for lunch.
As they got out of the cars, they were greeted by a crowd of reporters and flashing cameras. The video was taken by someone who shared it, and because of Andrew's fame, it was an important news story, appearing on the front page and at the top of websites. Emma felt annoyed.
A reporter: Mr. Andrew, what's going on? Is everything okay?
Andrew shielded Emma from the cameras and pushed through the crowd.
Peter: No comment, we'll release a statement later.
Finally, they entered the restaurant reached their table and sat down.

Emma was so annoyed and embarrassed.
Emma: I'm so sorry for all of you. I didn't want you to be in this situation because of me.
Madlen: Don't speak nonsense, Emma! We've told you many times that it's not your fault. The presence of the press here is very normal. They want to catch something on Andrew to damage his reputation," Madlen reassured her. Emma nodded, and they began to order their food.
Meanwhile, in Turkey, Danny was on the phone.
Danny: I'm sorry, this happened while they were on vacation, which is why I couldn't reach them there.
X: ...
Danny: We tried to bring John, but Andrew has him until their vacation ends. I don't know where he's keeping him, and even if we did, we can't take him from Andrew's grasp. There's a man watching him all the time, so our attempts to bring him back are impossible.

X: ...
Danny: Okay, sir. I'll try.
Danny said before ending the call and sitting down to think about what to do.
Back in Las Vegas, the group finished their meal, and a singer came to perform a romantic ballad. Peter, Madlen, Olivia, and Mark got up to dance. Julia was about to ask Andrew to dance when her phone rang. She excused herself and left the restaurant to answer the call. Emma was watching them lovingly and smiled. Andrew noticed and extended his hand to her from across the table.
Andrew: Do you want to dance?
Emma smiled and nodded excitedly, taking his hand. They got up and began to sway to the music.

When Julia arrived, she found them on the stage already. She felt angry and jealous, then sat in her seat. Emma and Andrew were looking into each other's eyes, savoring each other's features. Emma's heart was beating so quickly, but she smiled when she felt the same thing from Andrew. Andrew was forgetting the world around him as he drowned in her eyes, and then her lips. He remembered when he almost kissed her this morning. He wanted to do that again correctly, but he was scared that she didn't feel anything about him, and even if she did, he was scared that her feelings might change as they got older. He threw this out of his mind and decided to live in the moment with her. The song finished, and they were still swaying. They all noticed, so Mark started to make fun.

Mark: What's wrong, guys? Don't you notice that the song finished, or did you forget about our presence here with you?
Emma blushed and laughed, realizing they had lost track of time while dancing.
Andrew: Shut up, Mark!!
Peter and Madlen joined in the teasing, and soon they were all joking and laughing together. They went back to the table and while talking about random topics, Emma's phone rang and it was visible to Andrew who could see the caller. He saw the name "Ateş" on the screen. Although he didn't know Turkish well, he knew that the name Ateş was male. Emma excused herself and went up to the restaurant roof to answer. Andrew was so curious that he excused himself to go to the bathroom but instead followed her.