Chapter 10

I gently placed her on the bed and covered her with a blanket. Out of all the women I met in my life, she was the most confusing. One day she acts as she hates me, then on another day, she falls asleep in my arms. So unpredictable.

But, I am not here to figure out her mind. I am here to make enough money to make the end meet. I'll just bear with it as long as Mr. Laverne will have me.

I quickly looked around her room. Last time I was here I was too busy manhandling the princess of this castle so I didn't get to take a good look. Her room was just as big as mine but not anything special. To my surprise, it was very bare with minimal things. There were only two pieces of furniture. Her bed and a dresser. Not even nightstands. Shouldn't a girl with her age and her status have more things? Maybe she is not that materialistic, I thought.

Something caught the corner of my eyes. A canvas that laid face down by the dresser. I went over there and picked it up. It was a painting of a half-naked woman. She looked very similar to Rose yet different. She had the same long dark hair, big green eyes, and full lips but her features surrounding her nose were different. I wondered if it was her mom.

The woman's beauty was the only good thing about that painting because aside from that, it was extremely disturbing. The woman had the same sad expression on her face as Rose but that wasn't the only bad thing about it. The background was painted in pitch black color, her eyes showed pain and the red slash marks on her neck and body were the indication of why she was in so much pain. Did Rose paint this?

I put the painting down and left the room quietly.

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"So how are you two getting along so far?" Mr. Laverne asked me in the morning at the breakfast table.

"He irritates me," Rose replied.

"We are best friends. I am in the process of making her a friendship bracelet," I smirked.

Mr. Laverne laughed. "I am so glad things are going great," he said sarcastically. "So to celebrate your beautiful friendship, I am giving you both the day off," he added.

"Really?" Rose's eyes lit up and the sour expression on her face was finally gone.

"Have fun. I have to go to several meetings so I won't be home all day. But I must warn you not to do anything I wouldn't do," he warned Rose.

"What are you looking at me for? You should tell that to the newbie here," she said and pointed at me.

"Because Liam is a good kid and he will never betray me, isn't that right son?" he looked at me and I nodded in agreement.

"Oh? If he is so good, why don't you adopt him? Hey, here's an idea! Make him your grandson and I'll go live his life out there because anything is better than living in this prison," Rose said bitterly.

"Oh, you don't want to live in my house. Sarah and her family live there," I said.

"Who is Sarah?" she asked.

"A four feet Garter Snake. She lives in the hall closet with her three children. I tried to introduce myself but she just hissed at me so I just left her alone," I said and took a bite of my omelet.

Mr. Laverne just shook his head with an amused expression on his face.

Rose looked at me like I was some sort of creature from outer space. "You are so weird," she said.

"Well, I am off to work. Behave yourself Rose and be nice to Liam," Mr. Laverne said.

Rose answered him by rolling her eyes.

"Well I am gonna ask Marissa to come over since I have no plans," Rose remarked.

"Oh? How is she doing by the way?" I asked.

"Why do you want to know about her?" she raised her eyebrows.

"I don't know...I think she's cute and she seems to be interested in me..."

"You can't date her!" Rose cried.

"Huh? who said anything about dating her?" I was taken aback by her outburst. "I was just saying..."

"Just stay away from her," Rose said. Her face was turning red.

"But why though? Does she have a boyfriend already?" I asked.

"No, but..." Rose shook her head.

"WAIT...you are interested in her, aren't you? I didn't know you were into girls," I smirked.

"What...no! None of what you said are correct," Rose was annoyed.

"So what are you are telling me is I'm free to date whoever I want and so is she," I said.

"You can't date her because....because you are ugly!" Rose cried.

"Ouch, that hurt. But good thing I'm not trying to ask you out. Marissa thinks I'm cute," I smiled. It's not like I was super interested in Marissa. I was just having fun making Rose all flustered over it.

"Well, I don't approve!" she started to walk out the door.

"You aren't my Mama!" I yelled behind her and laughed.

I wondered why she is so adamant about it. Does she think I'm not good enough for her friend? That's probably it. I am not as rich and sophisticated. I should probably try to stay in my league, huh.

It has been quite a while since I've dated. With college and working two to three jobs, I never had the time to look for love. My longest relationship only lasted for six months. We always got into arguments because she hated the fact that I worked too much. Our relationship ended because she ended up cheating on me with one of my acquaintances.

I was hurt but I wasn't devastated. It wasn't like I was in love with her or anything. But I haven't tried to date someone ever since.

Maybe it's time to get back on the field. If not Marissa, then someone else.

I decided to go look for Rose as she stormed out so angrily. I had the strongest urge to tease her and watch those cheeks turn pink again.