Once Elias pulled the seat belt with a click effortlessly, he rolled his eyes to glance at Isabelle who was still holding her breath.
The seatbelt clicked into place, telling Isabelle that it was done, but Elias did not move back right away.
His hand lingered just a few seconds longer before he pulled away with a smooth and careful movement.
Isabelle finally exhaled the breath she had been holding and quickly looked away, pretending to adjust her skirt and the folds of her coat.
"Thanks," she muttered, barely audible.
Even if she did not like it, he still helped her so it was only normal for her to thank him.
She hated him, but she did not have to let the hate show when he helped her with this little thing instead of mocking her for it.
Elias only nodded, pushing the start button of the car to start the engine and then he began to drive out of the parking lot, slowly.
There were no further words said and no unnecessary conversation.
It was as if they were headed for a funeral that needed total serenity.
The dim yellow lights of the underground garage glinted across the hood as he reversed out of the parking spot.
Neither of them seemed eager to break that silence but in time, as they passed streetlights and signs, and started driving on a steady road, Elias began to steal glances at Isabelle.
And when he did, what he saw was the calmness she possessed, maybe even indifference, but as he kept stealing these glances, he noticed that the slight furrow of her brows betrayed the stillness she had kept up all this while.
He wanted to ask what she was thinking. But he didn't.
But then he wondered, after talking to her about his secret, he expected her to suddenly ask a bunch of questions.
Most people do.
Their curiosity after knowing there is a half-human, half-beast right next to them, was immeasurable.
They'd want to know what it feels like to be a beast. How it feels like I have a tail and then furry ears.
There are so many questions, but she only asked a few, and never probed when he said he couldn't talk too much about it.
Was it because she was mature?
Or maybe she just didn't care.
After all, she only did what benefited her, and none of that, apparently, benefited her, so why go through the trouble of asking?
She had her mind straight and her goal set. And anyone who was going to stand in the way of her goal was an enemy, just as she had come to hate him when he stole the position she was vying for.
Then, a soft breath escaped Isabelle's lips and she mumbled.
"If you keep staring, you'll put holes in my head."
Ah, he must've been staring for too long. He didn't mean to make her uncomfortable.
"If it's okay with you, can I ask a question?" He asked but she immediately shut him down.
"It's not okay, so please don't ask."
That was awkward, but she really didn't want to have to answer.
"I'll ask anyway," he said and she rolled her eyes.
If he was going to ask anyway, why did he try to seek permission?
How annoying.
Elias saw the annoyance as her eyebrows knitted together but decided to ask anyway.
She might not be curious about him but he was about her.
So many things about her had changed.
He could just say she changed with the decades of years that rolled with time but that wasn't it?
Her change definitely had a trigger because the girl from his memory always had a bright smile, a rough appearance, and an ability to make others around her smile and be happy.
But right at this point, there was no single trace of that girl in this woman.
'What changed you?'
This question... He wanted to ask it but he felt it would be too personal and forward. He could expect more of her hate and she would constantly be on guard around him, so he decided not to.
He was curious but he would just give it time.
So instead of that, he asked,
"You seem to really need money," he noticed the vivid flinching of her shoulder as he asked this. "Is it just your need to never be lacking or do you have a need—"
"That's none of your business!" She snapped at him, cutting him off before he could finish.
This surprised her.
There was a very clear sign of hostility as she cut him off and immediately, he felt he had touched a sore spot.
Something so sensitive that even if she wanted to, she could not keep her cool.
"I'll apologize for prying." He said, and Isabelle panted, clicking her tongue, and she threw her gaze to the empty streets.
"Don't just ask what you're curious about." She said. "And I already told you to stop acting like we're close."
He tilted his head, dropping his elbow on the door frame, and then glanced at her.
He definitely touched a sensitive topic.
Instead of saying anything more, he decided to just change the topic.
"You should rest once you get home." He said and she frowned.
"I wasn't planning on doing otherwise," she replied, her voice laced with fatigue mixed with irritation.
The rest of the drive passed by in silence.
Elias had already ruined his chance at striking up a conversation, so he could only stick to the silence and occasional glances he stole at her.
Isabelle, on the other hand, calmed herself with thoughts regarding this man.
She wasn't sure what to make of him anymore.
Every time she thought she had him figured out, something else slipped through.
And somehow, he always found a way to annoy her.
To think he would touch the topic of money.
She didn't care if he thought of her as materialistic but she would not answer to any of his curiosity regarding that.
It was her private life. He should know where the line is.