chapter 26: Pont Des Arts

Autumn
After opening my eyes, I thought I would see the familiar ceiling, but disappointment rushed into me when I realized it was a plain white ceiling. Moreover, the bedroom was nothing like the one I slept in.
I got up and washed my face. When I looked into the mirror, I saw my dress was changed into a pink jumpsuit. Even though I was slightly scared, I tried not to portray it. I looked for my gun and it was not in the room. However, I still had my pocket knife.
I took it into my hand and got out. "You��" I instantly put the knife on the person's throat who was about to speak. It was a lady, who ended up screaming.
"Fuck, Autumn! What the hell are you doing?" Ian pulled off the knife from my hand. I glanced at him. He was wearing a suit. His disheveled hair reached till his forehead.
"I was just being cautious," I let out. "When I woke up in an unfamiliar place, the first thing I would do was be cautious, you know?"
"But I just wanted to serve you lunch," The lady in her mid-30's answered. "I am so sorry, L.L. I didn't mean to startle you."
"Actually, I am sorry for putting the knife on you." I gave her a small hug. "Serve the lunch, please." She went away and I was left alone with Ian. When I turned around to face him, he was leaning against the wall, crossing his arms.
I looked at my fingernails. "Can I have my knife back?" I waited for his response, instead, he pulled me towards him. He put the knife on my throat.
"How does it feel to be the one under the knife this time? Because you seem to love doing that to others." I tried to answer, but not a single word came out from my mouth due to our intimate position. He always had an effect on me. Ian put the tip of the knife below my chin and made me look straight into his eyes. "Why are you silent, my dear wifey? Don't you have something to reply?"
"I w��" Before I could say something, Ian smashed his lips onto mine. He removed the knife and pulled me closer towards him. He wrapped his arms on my waist, while I wrapped my own over his neck.
Before the kiss could deepen, someone interrupted, "L.L, your lunch��oh my! Sorry! Please pretend like I saw nothing and continue doing everything."
We broke apart from the kiss and looked back at the lady, who was beyond embarrassed. She lowered her head and walked away.
"Well, that was embarrassing." I added, "For all of us."
Ian chuckled before entwining our hands as we walked together towards the seats. We were in Ian's private jet, there was no doubt in that. But how did I end up sleeping? I didn't remember getting into the jet.
We took our seats and started eating lunch. While eating, Ian said, "You landed up here because I had to carry you. I booked everything in Paris, so I couldn't waste a single second."
"You should've woken me up."
He snickered at my words. "Woken you up? Carrying you here was the last option, which I thought I would never use. Everyone tried to wake you up, but you were a panda."
"Panda?" I creased my eyebrows.
"You looked cute when you slept. You didn't even bother to wake up. You even told us you would give up the Paris trip for your sleep. Where did your insomnia vanish to?"
"You used to taunt me when I had insomnia. Now, it vanishes for a while and you're still taunting me about it. How nice is that!"
He remained quiet for a while, watching me as if trying to read my mind. Then he kept his spoon down and held my hand. "Are you not happy with this trip?"
My lips twitched. "Why would you ask that?"
"And you have the habit to turn the questions. Answer me, Autumn."
The way he called me 'Autumn' gave me dej�� Vu. If I tell him about Montez, he will definitely get jealous. The way he acted with his own executive, I didn't want to take a risk and ruin the vacation. I wanted to enjoy the time with him.
"I just want to spend some time with you. Anywhere you will take me, I will be fine," I let out. At least, I trusted him that much. I was not lying. I just told him the half-truth.
He nodded his head, still not satisfied with my answer. However, he had let it go.
After we were done eating, Isabel called me. I talked to her while Ian was doing some work on his Macbook. "Vi, I told about Nora to mom and dad."
"What did they say?"
"They cleared everything. Nora was pregnant and she didn't want to raise me. After Uncle Kace's death, she just wanted to go back to her home country and live her normal life. Thus, she handed me to them after my birth and went away," said Isabel.
I asked curiously, "What did you say then?"
"I just told them that, come what may, they would remain my parents forever. They were really proud of me because they smiled big and wide through the video call."
I laughed at her words. "Okay, then that's good for you. Thank god, you cleared out everything."
Ian glanced at me with a questioning look. I whispered to him, keeping the phone away, "She told mom and dad everything about Nora and cleared it out."
He nodded and his eyes went back on the Macbook. I kept talking to Isabel until we reached our destination. I also got to know that she changed my clothes. Well, it was better than Ian changing my clothes.
After we reached Paris, we settled into a hotel named, First Hotel Paris. The staff took us to our suite and also arranged our clothes in the closet. After Ian gave the staff some money, they went away.
I looked around the suite. It was very beautiful. When I opened the long curtains, I could see the Eiffel Tower.
"Wow..." I let out, "This is really beautiful in reality. The images in Google were nothing compared to the real view."
"Why do you even Google it when you can visit any place?" Ian questioned. "The Emersons aren't poor, you know, nor are the Becketts."
I kept looking at the Eiffel Tower, while replying, "The Emersons aren't poor, I know that. Mom and dad used to go to different countries, but I didn't go at that time." I turned to face him. My face glowed in happiness when I started talking again, "I used to give them excuses for having exams or being sick. But in reality, I didn't want to leave Montez alone. You know, we wanted��" I paused when I realized what I was talking about.
Wow, Autumn! Talking about your ex in front of your husband. Very nice!
Ian clenched his fist, making immediate guilt flashing within me. I mumbled, "I am sorry, I��"
"You don't have to apologize." He pulled out the Rubix cube from his luggage and handed it to me. "Shuffle it."
I looked at him weirdly. Nonetheless, I shuffled the Rubix cube and handed it back to him. He sat on the couch, solving it. I always loved the way he used to solve the Rubix cube. He would sit with the Rubix cube on his hand, looking smart and calm.
"Since you googled about the Eiffel Tower, I am positive you have your research paper ready regarding Paris," he spoke up. "What was the first thing you desired to do once you reached here? And I will only accept the honest answer."
I sat next to him. "Well, I always wanted to go to the love bridge, Pont Des Arts."
"I won't ask whose name you want to put on the lovelock, because I know the answer," he grumbled. "However, I will take you there so that you can fulfill your wish."
My eyes grew bigger in shock. "That bridge is closed due to the weight of all the lovelocks. A side of the bridge even broke slightly. It might fall off anytime."
Due to the pressure, the bridge was about to break. Thus, this bridge was closed. No one was allowed to go there anymore, at least not for the lovelocks.
Ian smirked. "When we were announced as the gang leaders, we vowed to take all the risks. So, what's wrong with taking a risk here?"
I stood up. "You're insanely crazy, Ian! We cannot trespass. If we go to jail, we will die. They may even find out about us being in the mafia."
He teased, "Is our strong L.L. scared now?"
"Don't mock me! This is really scary, Ian." I put my hands on my hips. He still had the teasing look on his face.
I sighed and spoke, "Okay, fine. We will do this, but if I get caught, I will choke you to death."
"I'll let you do the honor."
After we agreed to trespass the bridge, I changed into denim jeans and a black crop top. Ian wore jeans and a black t-shirt. Unknowingly, our dress up matched. But none of us had the energy to change the clothes. We were too excited to do something illegal.
When we reached the love bridge, we looked for people nearby. As it was after midnight, there was no sight of anyone. There was only a guard who was sleeping. Ian already knocked him unconscious and turned off all the CCTV cameras.
When we headed towards the gate, it was locked. "How will we go inside?" I asked. "Don't tell me we will jump over this. I just wanted to see the bridge. I didn't want to lose my body organs."
He started unlocking the gate with a key. "The guard had the keys. Don't worry because even I don't want to die fulfilling your wish."
"Then what was all that 'risk' lecture for?"
"That was just to push your patience."
I rolled my eyes but smiled softly. Ian just wanted to fulfill my wish. This was really cute, but he would never agree.
After he unlocked the gate, we slowly stepped inside. The bridge started creaking.
"This is creepy," I mumbled.
He deadpanned, "Just finish your work and run away."
I pulled out a lovelock from my jeans pocket. As the bridge was loaded with those, I didn't want any big lovelocks. I took a small one and wrote the names.
I leaned down and continued my work. Ian was holding the flashlight. Suddenly, he placed the flashlight on the lovelock. He was looking at the names intently.
I bit my lips nervously and got up. "Let's throw the key in the water, now shall we?"
"No, thanks. I will just hold the light while you do so."
Sighing, I took his hand and placed it on mine. He didn't protest but I could feel his stare on me. Then we threw the key in the water together.
Please keep us together, forever, I wished silently.
Ian let out, "If you are done, let's go. I am really not getting a good vibe here anymore."
I hummed in response.
We were about to walk out off the bridge until it started fully shaking and the screeching sound of it increased.
I asked with a shaky voice, "What the hell is happening, Ian?"
"The bridge is falling down."