2. Staying with Jake.

Eight years ago.......

I lounged on the sofa, engrossed in my favorite TV show, the familiar sounds of my parents arguing in their bedroom provided a dissonant backdrop. However, the discord was soon interrupted by the unexpected arrival of Jake through the front door.

He had stopped by to deliver some work items from his father to mine, but upon overhearing the heated exchange between my parents, he opted to join me on the sofa instead of making a swift exit.

Jake and I had always been friends, so his presence beside me didn't feel out of place. Yet, whenever he drew near, a subtle warmth crept into my cheeks, a reaction he seemed to take great pleasure in witnessing.

As he settled in beside me, I hastily let my hair fall loose, attempting to mask my self-consciousness.

"You didn't have to do that, you know," Jake teased, his playful tone drawing a shy smile from me.

"Popcorn?" I offered, hoping to divert the conversation away from my sudden bout of bashfulness.

"You really do have a soft spot for those Disney movies, don't you? From now on, I'll have to start calling you princess," he teased, his words eliciting a deeper blush from me as I chuckled softly, feeling both embarrassed and delighted by his playful banter.

High School Musical was the talk of the town, with practically everyone tuning in. But while most people watched it casually, I had practically memorized every scene after watching it a whopping seventy times. There was just something about Gabriella and Troy's romance that captured my heart—it was the epitome of teenage fairytale love, like they were two royalty in their own right.

"I just love it!" I couldn't help but gush, my enthusiasm bubbling over as I spoke.

Jake's smirk only deepened as he noticed my flushed cheeks. But really, who could blame me? With his effortlessly styled thick dark hair, piercing light blue eyes, and a jawline that could cut glass, Jake was undeniably attractive.

In that moment, a whimsical thought danced through my mind: Could Jake someday be my king, and I his queen?

"Everyone's watching it. Even you should too," I stuttered shyly, hoping to engage him in the conversation.

"Not in this lifetime, princess," Jake retorted playfully, his words sending a rush of heat to my cheeks, turning my entire face a shade of crimson.

The scene of Troy kissing Gabriella played out on the screen, and a smile automatically spread across my face. I couldn't help it—I was completely enthralled by their on-screen romance.

"Have you ever been kissed before, princess?" Jake's sudden question caught me off guard, causing my heart to skip a beat.

"N...no," I admitted, my fingers fidgeting nervously as I avoided his gaze.

Before I could fully comprehend what was happening, Jake leaned in and pressed his lips against mine. Time seemed to stand still as his lips lingered on mine for what felt like an eternity, though in reality, it was only a brief moment. When he pulled away, my eyes widened in disbelief, my fingertips instinctively grazing my lips as my stomach fluttered with a rush of sweet sensations.

Holy moly, Jake just kissed me!

I watched in stunned silence as Jake smiled, a warmth spreading through me at the sight of his genuine expression. Then, to my surprise, he reached for my hair scrunchie and deftly pulled my hair back into a ponytail, his touch gentle yet confident.

"There, I like your hair up just like this. It reminds me of how cute you are," he remarked, his words eliciting a bashful smile from me as he playfully flicked my nose, his eyes twinkling with affection.

Before I could fully process what had just occurred, Jake leaned in once more and placed a soft peck on my lips before rising to his feet, leaving me in a daze of mixed emotions and racing thoughts.

"Tell your father my dad told me to drop those off," Jake winked at me before making his exit, leaving me reeling from the whirlwind of emotions that had engulfed me.

That day had been a rollercoaster of highs and lows. On one hand, I had experienced the thrill of being kissed by the guy I had admired for so long—twice, no less. Yet, little did I know that it would be the last time I would see my prince charming for several years to come.

Fast forward to the present day.........

I descended the stairs for dinner, I was taken aback to find Jake already there, causing me to hastily remove my headset. Had I known he was coming over, I would have opted for something more appropriate than a simple shirt with my legs exposed.

I couldn't help but feel self-conscious as I noticed Jake's gaze raking me up and down before he quickly averted his eyes.

"I have something to tell you," my father announced, his words hanging heavy in the air, causing a knot of anticipation to form in the pit of my stomach. What could he possibly have to say, especially with Jake standing right here in the dining room with us?

"I'm leaving for a business trip in two days. I know it's a bit sudden, but it will only be for two weeks, and I've arranged everything, so you won't be alone," my father's announcement hung in the air, casting a shadow of unease over me.

"Leaving? And what do you mean I won't be alone?" I questioned, my brows furrowing with confusion.

"Mr. Ortega has agreed for you to stay with him while I'm away," my father explained, his words causing my eyes to widen in disbelief.

"What? Why would you do that? I'm seventeen years old, Dad, not twelve! You've got a billionaire babysitting me as if I'm a child. I could have been left alone at home because I'm no longer a minor. At worst, you could have arranged for a babysitter, but this? This is beyond crazy!" I whispered-yelled, my frustration bubbling to the surface as I directed my disbelief at my father, my voice tinged with indignation.

Jake's chuckle only served to exacerbate my embarrassment. Now, not only was I being treated like a child, but Jake would also witness it firsthand as he unwillingly assumed the role of my babysitter.

"Jake didn't seem to have a problem with it," my father remarked, looking slightly taken aback by my outburst.

"I'd be happy to have company over, actually," Jake spoke, taking a seat with a devious smile directed my way, his amusement evident.

His eyes kept roaming at my cleavage. Mind you my legs was fully exposed.

"We just had a few business insights we needed to go over before I leave, and I thought it would be a good idea for us all to have dinner together tonight," my father explained, his tone gentle but firm.

"Why, Dad, why?" This felt like déjà vu, reminiscent of the reasons why Mom had left, and my father's actions seemed to be proving her right.

I had yearned to spend more time with Dad, but the prospect of spending time with my billionaire, incredibly handsome crush wasn't exactly a hardship either.

"I thought you two were good friends. I didn't really see a problem with it, Avery," my father reasoned, his words tinged with a hint of confusion.

"Okay, I guess since I'm staying with Jake, it wouldn't be so bad after all," I relented with a sigh, trying to come to terms with the unexpected turn of events.

Perhaps it wouldn't be such a terrible thing, after all. Maybe spending time with Jake would turn out to be quite enjoyable.

As it turned out, my father worked for Jake as one of his leading sales managers, often embarking on trips to conduct small business negotiations.

"I see. I understand, and I know how much this means to you. Don't worry about it," I reassured my father with a forced smile, though a small trace of disappointment lingered beneath the surface.

"Thank you for understanding, babygirl," my father replied, enveloping me in a warm hug, though my gaze remained fixed on Jake, who seemed to wear a pleased expression.

"I'll do my best to make your father's absence a very memorable one for you, Avery, I promise." Jake added with a playful glint in his eyes, his words carrying a subtle tease that sent a thrill coursing through me. Somehow, I just knew that this week without my father was going to be very interesting indeed.