Chapter Four

“M-Mr Marshall.” I stuttered. My heart was beating frantically in my chest. I unconsciously held my breath when his eyes fleeted across my face and then trailed down to my body.

“The dress looks…perfect on you. You uh, you looked beautiful.” He said before meeting my eyes again. I should say thank you. I should thank him for the compliment and for gifting me the dress but I couldn’t. I couldn’t say anything because I’d temporarily lost the ability to speak. All I could do was look up at him with wide eyes and a stunned face.

I was ridiculous, I looked ridiculous I know. I couldn’t understand how one man was able to make me lose the ability to control my own body. I looked away when I realized that I was staring more than what was appropriate. The last thing I wanted was for him to find out that I was attracted to him. I could lose my job if that happened.

“Mr. Marshall do you—”

“I told you to call me Dylan, Hera.” He cut me off, his breath hitting my cheek. My heart jumped a little in my chest when I looked up and saw just how close he had gotten to me. The distance between us was way smaller than the distance you’d expect to see between a boss and his maid. I took a step back, looking behind me to see if Amelia wasn’t anywhere close ‘cause I knew I would be dead if she had seen Dylan and me standing that close to each other. I inwardly sighed in relief when I saw that she was chattering with some lady and didn’t seem to notice us at all. I turned back to face Dylan after. “Mr. Dylan, would you like me to get you—”

“Just Dylan, Hera. Call me by my name, just my name.” He murmured the last part and a cold shiver went up my spine. My heart pounded so hard I thought it was going to explode. What the hell is this man doing to me? He didn’t even need to touch me. The way he was looking at me was enough to drive me wild. I was very sure I wouldn’t be able to sleep that night or the next as all I would be thinking about was that moment. That moment Dylan was staring at me like I was the only woman in the room like his wife wasn’t standing just a few meters away like he knew that I was crazily attracted to him.

“Try it Hera, I wanna hear you call my name.” My mind must have been in the gutter because for a millisecond I thought I heard him say ‘I wanna hear you moan my name’

I took in a deep breath as if calling out his name was a strenuous task that would require me to use my soul, mind, and body.

“D-Dylan.” I stuttered stupidly. I mean it was easier to say his name in my mind but calling it out right in front of him was the hardest thing ever. I couldn’t help but wonder if him permitting me to call him by his first name would change anything else between us. I couldn't help but pray it would. “Dylan,” I said again, this time more confidently than the first time.

“See, that wasn’t so hard was it.” He said with a small smile playing on his lips.

“Do you…will you like me to get you anything to drink?” I asked him as I gazed up at him. His curly hair was parted in half. I noticed how much it had grown that it was almost covering his left eye. He had thick long and dark eyelashes that fluttered as he blinked. As his icy blue eyes gazed down at me, I could help but wonder what he was thinking of. Did he really find me beautiful or did he just say that to sound polite? He had a small crook on the bridge of his nose that told me that he had gotten into fights before and I just love it, I loved all his imperfections, I loved him. My eyes trailed further down his face to his luscious lips. I swear Amelia doesn’t know how lucky she is that she can kiss him whenever she liked and however she liked. It was a blessing and I would do anything to be her now. To be able to kiss him without fear or thinking of what people will say or do. To be able to…his lips were moving, it almost looked as if he was speaking, almost as if he was speaking to me…m****a! (Fuck!) He was speaking to me! I was so lost in thought that I didn’t even notice that he was talking to me.

Oh my goodness please tell me I didn’t drool.

My hand reached up to touch my face and a wave of relief washed over me when I confirmed that I didn’t drool like I had been thinking.

“I’m sorry were you saying something, sir?” I was embarrassed. If my skin had been two shades lighter, my tinted cheeks would have been more visible than it was.

I really hope I didn’t stare at him with dreamy eyes as that would literally make me wish for the ground to open up and swallow me whole.

He nodded.

“I’m sorry I didn’t hear you. I wasn’t paying attention my mind was um, somewhere else.”

“I noticed.” He said.

What?! Notice what? That I was in love with him or that I was imagining what it’ll feel like to be kissed by him?

What the heck did he notice?

“You’ve got something on your mind. Is it something you can share with me?” He asked and I shook my head vigorously. There was no way I planned on sharing what I really thought about him. I would rather die.

“What did you say, sir?” I asked, swiftly diverting the attention away from me.

He put both hands in his pants pocket an action I found very hot.

“I said the second wave of the dance is about to start soon. Would you, er-save a dance for me?”

“Huh?” I wasn’t sure I heard him well. Surely he couldn’t have said he wanted to dance with me in a hall filled with many strangers and his wife. I definitely heard him wrong. “I’m sorry sir I’m not sure I heard you correctly.”

He chuckled lightly. “I’m sure you did.”

“No, I didn’t. I heard you say you wanted to dance with me and I’m very sure that wasn’t what you said.”

He laughed a bit.

“Why? You don’t wanna dance with me?”

“Of course I do I just don’t—wait! Are you serious right now? You really do wanna dance with me? Me?” I had to say ‘me’ twice just so he would remember who I was in case the makeup and dress had made him forget. He nodded slowly, a glint of amusement dancing in his eyes.

My brows furrowed.

“But, but there are people around. I’m your maid and— and…” I trailed off.

“And what, Hera?” He asked as if he couldn’t tell what I meant.

“Your wife. She’ll be here and she will…get mad and think weird things.”

“Don’t worry about Amelia, Hera. She wouldn’t mind, I doubt she would see us ‘cause everyone would be too busy dancing with other people.”

She wouldn’t mind?

I almost snorted.

I wasn’t quite sure Dylan knew just how crazy his wife was. No matter how busy Amelia would be dancing with her partner, she would surely want to know the woman Dylan us with.

“So…is that a yes?” He asked and I chewed on the inside of my cheeks wondering if dancing with Dylan wouldn’t be me walking into my own grave.

Fuck it!

This might never happen again. It was the first time he had asked me to dance with him and it might be the last. I could turn him down and ruin my only opportunity to have him even closer to me. The opportunity to have him focused on no one but me even if it’ll be for just three minutes. Whatever comes from Amelia later I will deal with it like I’d always have.

“You aren’t going to say no, are you?” If I didn’t know any better I would have said he looked a bit nervous.

I shook my head.

“No. I would dance with you, Dylan.” t