RICHARD Two weeks. Two weeks of weird emotions. Two weeks of insane torture. It was the first time he had such feelings after Daphne. It's been over twenty years. Maybe that was why he was confused. Confused enough to try to stay away but couldn't stop himself from wanting to see her. The other unsettling part about everything was that it wasn't just any other person. It was his twenty three year old housekeeper from Salta. A redhead. A girl with no college degree and hadn't been anywhere else except Bellamy. He'd been really busy so, he had not seen much of her whenever he was home. He even had to go away for a landed property survey for two days. Now, he sat in his office and listened to Victoria remind him about the fundraiser he would be going to that night. She'd said something about the fundraiser being held for children with rare diseases. He didn't have the mind for mingling but he had received numerous emails about it, so he couldn't avoid
AVA Ava had seem him when he'd entered the hall. Infact, it was Nicole that called her attention to him. Her breath had hitched and she'd almost thought she was going to faint from the sudden wave that hit her. Out of all the places and times to meet him, she was there staring at him over the heads of wealthy people like him. "He's even hotter." Nicole's whisper jolted her and she snapped back to reality. She had forgotten where she was as she had gazed at him. She knew he wouldn't see her from the distance and the people between them. She turned away from him and grabbed a tray of drinks. She'll find a way to avoid bumping into him. It might not end well if he found her there. "Ooh! Damn!" Nicole whispered again and Ava raised her eyes to her, but she wasn't looking at her, she still had her gaze fixed in the distance. Ava followed her gaze and felt a sudden headache. Or was that her heartbeat? Simone! Nicole was right about almost everything. There was no chance in hell for
AVA Nicole had bombarded her with questions the rest of the night. There were no words to explain how she felt after hearing Richard say those words to her. She just couldn't say anything to Nicole because she wasn't sure about what had happened. He can't mean that. He was just pulling her legs, right? When she'd trailed him with her eyes at the event, or when their eyes clashed over the heads, there was this twinkle in them even when another woman was hanging off his arm and wouldn't stop whispering into his ear and smiling. They looked so good together, Ava acknowledged. She didn't have to lie about that part. Prince charming to his Cinderella, except Simone was no Cinderella. She had watched in earnest when he'd made his donation, his eyes on her through out his sincere speech. It sent jitters down her spine and his eyes on her melted something in her. He'd held her gaze when it was all over and he had to leave. With Simone, of course.
RICHARD Richard couldn't believe it himself. He had not meant to go about things that way, like spilling the bean like that. That had taken a lot of thinking. But, he wasn't regretting anything. Infact, he felt at peace with himself that he said it sooner than later. From the way she had responded to him, he was sure they had the same feeling. He knew she felt the same way. Even as she kept denying it, he knew she felt the same. It would cost him a lot to keep her. As he got closer to his bedroom, he began to question his decision and weigh his options. A lot could wrong. A lot could go wrong, he mulled. Simone was in the closet, when he entered the room. She was pulling on another shirt, a white shirt this time, while letting the black one lie on the floor. "You're finally here." Simone said, her voice still laced. Richard didn't reply, he just stalked over to her side and gathered her hair out of the collar of the shirt. She tu
AVA One of the wonders of the world should be this moment. At this point. In this heat. Ava couldn't believe that she was pressed against the counter, with Richard's fingers in her hair and his mouth taking hers in a heated kiss. Totally one of the wonders of the world! She'd almost kicked herself when the moan escaped her throat, but she was too immersed in the moment to do anything. Rather, she moaned some more. Stupid! Maybe at her funeral, the priest will say; here lies the body of the girl who went from the kitchen into the boss's arms. She found herself leaning in for more of him. Their lips collided and meshed together with a hunger she'd never felt before. The wheels in her head was running on their own accord. She just couldn't control or hold herself from wanting more. Her hands slid up his arms and spanned his lean, strong muscles. This was bound to happen. It was in the air around them, it just took a while to realize it. She groaned when he suddenly released her f
RICHARD Time flies. That's what Richard realized five days later. He hadn't had much time to revisit what had transpired between him and Ava in the kitchen. The hug. The kiss. The heat. There were projects that needed his attention so he had barely been home. He left very early and only got home later in the night. Late enough that he'd missed Ava. Again. He had dinner that Taylor had served him and he'd had a bath and retired to his home office. He sat in his Study and shuffled through blueprints and documents that were scattered over his desk. He needed to go make propositions for landed properties for the next few weeks so he needed to get everything ready and in order. He was still sorting the papers when the door creaked open and Taylor came into view. "Taylor," he muttered, sparing a second to look at her face that was peering into the Study. He returned his attention to the documents. "Do you have a minute?" She asked, still standi
RICHARD Taylor had taken things in good faith. Richard wasn't expecting her reaction to the information. Infact, she had taken it better than he thought. If there was anything, she seemed super excited about it. That was okay with Richard but he still told her to keep things between them. He wanted to be the one to let things out in the open when it'll get to that. At least, that'll be the right thing to do. It might get messy if word got out and the media got hold of it. He can't risk that. Ava might not handle it well. He'd lived in the eyes of the media for a very long time to know how brutal they could get just for a scoop. He stood at the mirror and was buttoning up his white crisp shirt when Taylor entered and stood behind him. Her hair was tied in an unruly mass and bunched on top of her hair. Her eyes still looked drowsy but she was fully awake. She stood at the door way of the closet and leaved against the door jamb. "Good morni
AVA Ava stood there smiling sheepishly to herself. She had worried that Taylor might come and see them in a conspicuous position, but that wasn't for long since Richard had left and Taylor didn't show. Glancing down at the two sandwiches on the plate, she realized there was still so much she didn't know about him. Like another world of mysteries around him. Not the dark kind though. He was so handsome when she had turned and found him standing there. His streaking white hair and beards were his features that Ava was sure, she was never going to get tired of. Was she ever going to get tired at all? And where did the naive Ava disappear to? She'd even said 'me too' when he'd asked they talk when he got back. She was doing a lot of things she'd never thought that she'd ever do. Taking hold of the now warm coffee, she poured it into the sink, washed it and replaced it. He'd kissed her and she'd allowed it because she realized she missed him t
RICHARD Henry sped through the busy streets of Bellamy. Richard and Victoria had just ended the meeting with the Minister. His eyes were fixed on the iPad that had spreadsheets that Victoria had organized over the weekend for the upcoming seminar. Victoria sat beside him and typed away on the laptop that sat on her lap. "I was almost tempted to come find you..." She let her words hang, waiting for his reaction. Richard looked away from the iPad and looked at her. "Come find me?" He frowned as he tried to understand her. She stopped typing and raised her eyes to his. "The Minister almost had my head when I went to tell him that you would be cancelling..." She paused, then added quickly, "again." Richard squinted. "I almost had to come find you at the glass house." Richard's eyes dimmed. "You wouldn't dare." He swore lightly. Victoria's face remained bland as she looked back at him. "Of course you would," he said and turned his eyes ba
AVA Ava was really astonished. Recently, she's been having the time of her life with Richard and all. She'd resumed work that Tuesday morning but Richard had left already. He'd left her a message that he would be gone by the time she arrived. He had things he needed to attend since he was absent during the weekend. Though she was disappointed that she had missed him, she was still glad that he had let her know. It made her really glad. But, that wasn't what left her astonished. It was the effect of the shoes she was gazing at. She was sitting in the kitchen, rearranging stuff when Taylor came in, holding a bright blue box in her hands. Ava smiled at her and wondered why she was setting the box down on the island with a big smile on her face. "Hello, Ava. I missed you this weekend and yesterday." There was something in her voice that made Ava blush all over. Taylor's eyes were fixed squarely on her and Ava couldn't look at her. Tayl
RICHARD Richard was sure it was the most exciting and happiest days of his life. The weekend he spent with Ava was so worth it. He did things he normally would never had done. He swam with Ava at the pool, watched movies, snuggled up with her more times than they dud other things. It was lovely. It was peaceful. On Monday morning, he'd dropped Ava off at the bus station like she had insisted again, letting her have the rest of the day off and resume the next day. He had it in mind to do something about it as he drove home, deciding to work from home and probably get Victoria to drop by. He'd intentionally left his phone behind so that he wouldn't be reached. If there was a problem that needed his immediate attention, Victoria knew where he was. After bathing and changing into a gray slacks and red polo, he'd gone into his Study to check his missed calls and emails. As expected, he'd missed twenty three calls. He had missed about eight calls
RICHARD Richard towered over Ava on the bed, he need not to worry about how they made it to the room. It was just like a flash and they were there. He looked down at the most beautiful thing his eyes has ever behold. Her red hair was spread out on the bed, making her look like the Greek goddess of Beauty. Her eyes sparkled as they looked up at him. Pressing kisses all over her face as he made to unknot the belt that held the bathrobe. He parted the sides and looked down at her. He just laid her down at the edge so that her feet were almost on the cold floor. Her hands tightened around his neck, holding him close that they could feel each other's heat. Leaning in, he closed his lips around hers, deepening the kiss. It was unhurried. It was slow and sweet like the slow dance. There were sparks and waves over them. It could be his best moment. Right there. At that moment. In each other's arms, reveling in what time had to give. His heart was racing, hi
AVA Ava woke up to an unfamiliar room. She closed her eyes and opened them. She had to rub her fingers against her eyes and glance round the room she could remember where she was. Quickly turning to look to the other side of the bed, it was empty. The room wasn't plunged into darkness, but the lights were turned low so that she'd sleep easily. After that talk with Richard downstairs, he had carried her upstairs and urged her to get some sleep. He'd tucked her in, kissed her gently on the forehead before exiting the room. As she remembered it, it made her feel so tingly. It made her feel all lived up. Or maybe she had daddy issues. She smiled to herself and threw the duvet over her head, but she had to go find him. She lowered the duvet and checked the clock that was hung on the wall opposite the bed. She gasped as she knew they'd gotten to the house by 10 o'clock and it was already after 1:47. Had she been sleeping that long? Getting out
AVA The next morning, when Richard had called her and told her to pack a bag that they would be spending the weekend together, Ava wanted to say no. She really wanted to, but found herself agreeing to it. Even when Nicole sat on the bed and trailed Ava's every move. She wanted to believe that for once, everything would fall in place and she'd be happy with someone she cared about. Even when there were so many signs that told her that she shouldn't be with a man who still haven't broken up with his girlfriend. There was still Simone, she hissed silently as she pranced around the room taking a few belongings to stuff into the bag. Nicole didn't say a word to her, she'd obviously said too much already. The only thing she'd muttered to Ava as she was at the door, ready to leave was, "I hope he treats you well, Ava." Ava halted and turned to look at her. She attempted a wary smile and a nod, before letting herself out. She had worn her best outfi
RICHARD Like a teenager. That was how Richard felt - just like a teenager. There were things he wasn't sure he was capable of, until Ava. Being with her the other night, made him feel ecstatic that he didn't want her to go but couldn't tell her to stay. It was still too much to take in. Everything was moving too fast and he didn't want to end things before it even got kicked off the ground. He couldn't help it though, but he was old enough to know better, so he should do better by her. Sitting there behind his desk, he listened to Victoria as she read him his schedule and reminded him about the yearly seminar that would be up in the coming weeks. He heard her alright, but all he looked forward to was his weekend with Ava. Navigating the mouse, he squinted at the screen then typed before letting go of the mouse and raising his eyes to meet the spectacled secretary. Clasping his fingers on the desk, he leaned forward and kept his eyes on her face. He
AVA The first thing that hit Ava immediately she stepped inside the apartment she shared with Nicole, was the burning aroma of something peppery. Nicole had never been a great cook. She had never been a cook at all. She could only try once or twice but she always ended up burning them or putting an excess spice or something stupid in the food. Richard had insisted on driving her home, but she'd declined and rather let him drop her off at the bus stop. Holding her hands against her nose, she shut the door with her foot and toed off her shoes. "Nicole, what's burning?" She shouted, her voice muffled as she found her way to the kitchen, blinking away the stinging tears. Nicole was at the counter. She'd turned off the stove but the smoke was still in the air and would take a few minutes to clear. "Hey there! You're home." She called over her shoulder, without turning to look at Ava. Ava stood at the kitchen door jamb. "Why do you always burn whatever you cook?" She asked. Thin
AVA And that was how things changed for Ava in just one week. They'd agreed to keep things just between them. There were stolen kisses and side glances. He had been a pure gentleman with her. Always attentive. Giving her hugs when she needed them. Sharing unspoken words that they only knew. It was paradise for Ava. And love. A love like this. Wasn't that what everyone wanted? Someone to always care and be there for them. Something nobody ever did for her. He hadn't pressured her to talk about her life. Richard was beginning to spend more time at home than he did before. She even feared that he might be losing deals and contracts, but he'd assured her that she had nothing to be worried about. Ava no more felt like the hired help, she felt like she finally belonged somewhere. With someone. She was getting too attached. They were getting too attached. They were going deeper. They hadn't gotten intimate but it was clearly unavoidable, alth