Chapter Five

Grace’s POV

“I needed this visit… I had to go check on my father because it seemed like I was dwindling from my cause,” I thought to myself as I headed out of the police station.

I had gone to visit my father first thing in the morning, because I needed to remind myself that I hate Patrick Vanner and I needed to take revenge on him.

I shouldn’t be weak, I should not fall in love with the man who ruined my father and dragged our family name to the mud, now everyone knows the Deans as fraudsters.

I halted a cab and got in. I need to play this game smartly and get the evidence I need as soon as possible, before I lose control of my feelings for Patrick.

“Where are you going ma’am,” the cab asked and pulled me out of my thoughts.

“Vanners Presidential Hospital” I responded.

I was supposed to go to work, but I had called the receptionist and she said Patrick didn’t go to work on the weekends.

So I decided, what is the need of going to the office when he isn’t there and the evidence I seek is not there either, I will just go to Patrick’s house instead.

I smiled as a plan entered my mind.

“Driver… please take me to Royal Heights Estates, instead.”

*** *** ***

I rang the bell of Patrick’s residence, at first there was no response and I furrowed my brows, “Is he home?”

I rang again and before I could take back my hand, the door flung open, Patrick looked furious as if he was about to yell at me.

I held his gaze and his expression softened almost immediately, “Jesus… Grace… where have you been,” he asked, his voice low and filled with emotions.

I swallowed, for a moment I thought he was going to drive me out.

“Good afternoon, sir… my phone battery has been dead since morning,” I said as I looked down slowly.

“Well… I was worried. Thank goodness you are here… with your bags?” he asked as he noticed my bags.

“Ermm… I had an issue with my apartment, right now I have nowhere to stay, can I…?” I paused as he licked my lips.

Patrick stared at me, speechlessly for a while as if he was thinking about it. Maybe hne doesn’t like the idea of me stayng here? I mean… we know met a couple of hours ago, was it up to seventy two hours?

“Well… I will just leave if I can’t stay…” I said as I pulled my bags.

“Grace… it’s fine,” he called out to me as he walked up to me and took my bag from me, his finger brushed mine and I yanked my hand out as I felt heat from his touch.

“Thank you sir… I promise, I will get a new place and leave before the weekend is over,” I said as I smiled and walked beside him, heading inside the house.

“That’s fine… you can stay as long as possible,” Patrick said, smiling at me.

I smiled back as I followed him up the stairs, we got to a room and he dropped my bag on the front of it, he opened the door and we went in.

“Do you like this room?” he asked looking at me, as he dropped the bags on the floor.

“Of course… it’s lovely, Patrick,” I replied, he paused and stared into my eyes.

“I like it when you call my name,” he said and took my hand, “Grace…”

I felt like there was something he wanted to tell me, his eyes were full of questions and it was as though he couldn’t say it out loud. My heart feels heavy, as though I could feel what he was feeling. How do I know him so well?

“What is it, Patrick?” I asked softly.

“Grace,” he called again and pulled me closer, holding my hands tighter.

I feel like I'm trapped. Trapped in his gaze, loving him when I should not be loving him.

This is gonna be hard… too hard to betray you, Patrick. But I have to… you ruined my father because of your rivalry with him. I have to get at you and set my father free.

Even if it hurts as hell. I bit my bottom lip as I nodded at him, “Yes Patrick,”

“I love you,” he groaned as he took my lips in his. 

I closed my eyes as I threw my arms over his shoulder, kissing him back, “Too bad,” I thought, “Too bad I love you too.”

He pulled back softly and placed our foreheads together as we breathed heavily.

“I’ll make lunch… freshen up and come downstairs,” he pecked my forehead and left the room in a rush.

I sighed as I fisted my hair, “This is getting messier than it should.”

*** *** ***

I walked down the stairs, wearing a yellow short gown and flat sandals. I looked down and noticed Patrick was already seated on the dining table, he raised his gaze and immediately he met mine, I forgot how to breathe.

I reached the table and he smiled at me, “Welcome.”

I nodded and sat on the seat in front of him, he got up and dished out the food for us both and then sat back.

“Thanks,” I said and started to eat. I could feel the heat of his gaze on me and I looked up at him, “Is there something you want to say?”

He shrugged and licked his lips, “How’s the food?”

I nodded my head and raised my last three fingers, “Delicious.”

He smiled and looked down at his food as he kept stirring it with his fork, “I learnt how to cook from a very young age… I had to learn or die of hunger because my mother was too busy with work, and the maid was sacked because she was having an affair with my father, my mother was too scared to hire a new maid.’

“Oh… I’m so sorry,” I said, but he smiled at me as he shook his head.

He scoffed, “My parents relationship was not the best… it was a really bad example for a child back then though.”

I dropped my fork as I looked up at him, “Was that why you didn’t want to be in any serious relationship?”

He nodded his head and relaxed his back on the chair, “My father betrayed my mother and I watched how it nearly destroyed her… she was never the same till her death.”

I sighed, “That’s bad.” What’s even worse is that the one you love is also going to betray you too.

“Grace… if there is something you have to tell me… I am all ears.”

I looked down at my food and swallowed, “There is nothing.” 

“Okay… I trust you won’t break my heart, right?” 

Why is he bringing this up now? I can’t lie to him.

“Let's talk about your professional life instead… your journey, setbacks, challenges, success stories, rivals,” I said as I changed the topic.

Patrick looked down and chuckled, “Speaking of rivals, let's talk about… Mr Dean.”

Out of shock my fork fell on the glass table as I flinched.