The Age of Love (Book #1)

9. There's No "Us"

The tinkling sound of his spoon mixing the coffee filled the room of the little café.

He was nervous, restless in his own seat but more disturbing than his attitude was his silence, an anxious nerve wrecking silence.

"Are you mixing your coffee or dancing with it?" She tried to lighten up the mood.

"I am running late for work actually."

"Sorry, I just really wanted to see you Theo." The nickname seemed to amuse him slightly, his lips showed a glimpse of a smile. "Last time we met, was... so long ago... and you're leaving already."

"It's my life Madison, I hope you understand." He said bluntly. "My dear, I explained it to you..."

"Then explain me, why are you running away from me?" She demanded.

"I'm not." He laid back, crossing his arms calmly.

"I asked you out twice the past two weeks, three texts and all I got was you ignoring me." Madison confronted him. "What's wrong Theodore? Are you married? Are you with someone else? Is that it?"

There was no other explanation running through her mind, it was stupid of her to carry on this fantasy without facing reality, maybe he was married indeed. The thought of it hurt but she had been ignoring that option far too long, and now, Theodore's suspicious attitude confirmed her doubts loud and clear.

"No!" He frowned. "Jesus! No! What sort of person do you take me for?"

"I don't know, you kiss me and then avoid me, you tell me Theodore Han?"

The faces around the coffee shop all turned to them at that moment and they noticed, toning down their voices to avoid a scene. Theodore got up.

"Let's finish this conversation elsewhere."

"Let me just pack my coffee since I can't finish it here." She replied annoyed, getting up to pay and take it away.

The immaculate black Mercedes awaited them outside, the driver opened the door for her first and he got in after.

"Just drive until I tell you to stop Lucas." He commanded.

Theodore sat quietly looking outside the window, thinking, letting out long heavy sighs. His silent treatment was becoming too much for her, they were both in the back of a Mercedes ignoring the elephant in the room.

"Theodore."

She reached for his hand but he stood still, looking outside the window.

"Us Madison... It makes no sense."

"Why not? Please give me a rational explanation." She tightened the grip around his hand, catching his attention and feeling him close his fingers around hers.

"I'm 42 and in a few months it'll be a new year, that means in a few months I'll be 43, do you see where this is going?" He said calmly.

"You're not old."

He chuckled, shaking his head in disbelief.

"20 years apart is not old? I'm almost old enough to be your father." He laughed nervously "What will people think? They already look at us funny when we sit on the same table, imagine more."

"I really couldn't care less about other people's opinions, they don't sleep with me at night so I don't let them fuck me." She spit it out making him laugh.

"You should be with guys your age, fun men, not me, you'll get tired, trust me Madison." He was so sure of his words. "I don't even know who Cardi B or Twilight is."

She chuckled disappointed.

"You're not missing out on much Han... So this has nothing to do with another woman?" Madison's eyes faced the traffic jam they were stuck in, unable to look at him in the eyes.

"No, my dear. I'm not seeing anyone."

"What if I don't care if you're 45? It's ridiculous how young you look!"

Theodore laughed loud and proud, that little compliment fed his old man ego.

"Well thank you but..."

"But we get along, oddly enough and despite all our differences! You're witty, you're polite, you're hard working, you're fun to be around and damn you Theodore, you're insanely hot." She confessed watching him widen his eyes in surprise. "Crazy, fucking, hot."

He let go of her hand, cursing the heavens and the traffic jam Lucas got them into, Theodore was feeling trapped, there was no way out, he didn't know how to deal with this kind of situation. All his life, he focused on one thing only, improving his professional and social skills, he mastered it but what he never prepared himself for was, a 22 year old girl calling him Hot when he clearly felt old and average looking.

"The lies..." He laughed softly.

"Lucas, can you please step out of the car and check what's going on out there?" Madison asked.

"Sure ma'm."

As soon as the middle-aged man stepped outside the vehicle, Madison took her jacket off, sitting on top of his lap, grabbing his tie pulling him closer.

"Let me show you, how much I don't care." She whispered near his lips, teasing him. "I could do some unimaginable things to you right now Theodore Han."

Theodore kissed her.

Different from their first kiss, it wasn't shy or held back, it was daring, confident, something about the way his tongue slipped in her mouth, showed his true colors, Theodore was tenacious underneath that mask he carefully wore. He was no longer the gentleman, his hands were far from restrained, sliding down her waist and resting on her ass, slapping her.

"Ha!" She startled parting their lips, his cheeky smile was the last thing she saw before he pulled her again for another kiss, this time biting her lower lip.

"Keep the values clean but th....." Theodore teased.

They were interrupted by Lucas opening the door, the driver looked at her on his boss's lap in shock, stuttering an excuse.

"Sir... I..."

"Hey Luke!" Madison greeted getting back in her seat, trying to make it less uncomfortable for the man.

Theodore's expression was flawless, adjusting his metallic grey tie as if nothing ever happened, calm and collected, he kept his composure.

"Lucas, University of Pretoria please."

"Yes sir." He obeyed.

"Maddie" He turned towards her, she was a complete mess but he couldn't take his eyes of his girl. "Are you..."

"Sure?" Madison intercepted. "Never been more sure Mr.Han-dsome."

"When do you finish your classes?"

"In 2 weeks, why?" She frowned.

"If you want and if your parents allow me, I'd like you to join me in Shanghai , as my plus one."