Chapter 9

The event that happened in Kane’s room has taken place for a day now, yet Ariel couldn’t get it out of her mind. Talk about one of the most unexpected ways to meet the man who had been her sole financier.

Yet what she was feeling for the man wasn’t something you are supposed to feel for a guardian, and she was ashamed, to say the least.

The next day, she tried to avoid Kane with all she had, staying up in her room, but she shouldn’t have bothered because Kane had made it his life mission not to come close to her.

Ariel had taken to staying in her room and spending her time with Claudia, who always had a gist for her, while she was being waited on by the men in the house.

“Oh my gosh!” Claudia exclaimed one day as one of the warriors dropped a tray of food in her room. “Who is that sexy piece of hot ass that just entered your room?”

“Claudia!” Ariel shrieked, beyond mortified by her friend's outburst, and she was sure 'the sexy piece of ass' heard what she had said.

“What?” Claudia rolled her eyes, craning her neck, to see the room clearly. “I was just being truthful. Geez, Ariel, is there something you are not telling me? Are you a princess over there or a mafia's daughter? I promise I will not tell anyone."

"Ha ha, very funny. And if I were a mafia daughter, you know I would have to kill you if you found out about my background."

"Shoot." Ariel could hear the smack as her friend slapped her forehead. “I didn't think of that.”

“You never think of anything.” Ariel was tempted to say, but she didn’t know how Claudia was going to take it, so she kept quiet. “Anyways, how has it been as a graduate? I know you must be missing me.”

“Girllll,” Claudia whined, stressing the consonant, “you have no idea. No one hands over their card to me anymore to do whatever they want to do, and it is so disheartening. I miss you so much.” Claudia sniffed as she thought of her friend, and Ariel was rolling her eyes.

“Are you sure you missed me or you missed my money?” Claudia shrugged her shoulders, popping the gum she had been chewing with a loud sound.

“Aren’t they the same thing?”

“Hmmm. I don’t think so; in fact, never mind. Now tell me about the new guy.” Ariel just knew how to get her friend talking because, immediately after she mentioned the new guy, Claudia was squealing and getting up into a sitting position.

“Alright, so I met him when...” Claudia began, and Ariel only had to nod, pepping it with an occasional, Oh my gosh! Really! To prove to her friend that she was listening.

It had been two days since she came back, and nothing much had happened. She had only seen Toby since the day he picked her up, and that was all.

Kane was even worse.

After the unfortunate incident where she confirmed that she either needs to get glasses or visit a psych ward, Kane has gone AWOL.

They practically acted like she didn’t exist.

What happened to all the promises of fun and good times? What happened to the princess treatment? She wanted to yell all these things out, but she kept her calm.

There is no need to get mad over little things, Ariel. It is fine; you don’t need them. You can do without them.

Ariel looked at her reflection in the mirror, and she shook her head. Now she was going crazy talking to herself.

“Fuck you, don’t look at me like that!” Ariel yelled at her reflection, moving closer to watch the shape of her mouth. “It is official. I am going crazy. I have to do something before I turn full psycho.”

With determination surging in her bones, Ariel was marching towards her wardrobe and grabbing whatever shirt she could find. She pulled it over her head and looked at the reflection on the mirror, glancing at the shorts she had worn.

This was a mansion full of men, or so Toby had said, and she didn’t want to seem too inappropriate. The short went away above her bum, so it should be decent.

She grabbed her brush from the dresser, running it through her hair until it was able to tame the mess on her head, and she was satisfied.

If they weren’t going to give her a tour, she was going to be her own tour guide, and just maybe she would discover a secret room, a treasure house, or whatever rich men do for fun.

Maybe a strip club.

Now that was exciting.

Although Kane didn’t look like he would own a strip club, he was so serious, like those stuck-up CEOs who were always overworking their staff and never giving bonuses.

“Oh shit!” Ariel exclaimed as she bumped into a warm body. “I am so sorr-you are a lady!” She didn’t know when she screamed the words out.

The lady chuckled behind her palm, amused by the newcomer, and Ariel was turning red.

“I am sorry; I wasn’t trying to be rude or anything. I just thought I was the only female in this.“ She swept her hands around the house, looking for the right word to describe wherever she was, but the woman beat her to it.

“It is fine; I understand. I am Liza, by the way, and I can assure you that you are not the only female here.”

Ariel released a dramatic sigh, holding her chest in relief. “Thank goodness, you have no idea how happy I am to see you. I am Ariel.” Ariel stretched her hands for a handshake, and the lady took it warmly.

“It is nice to meet you, Ariel. See you." And she was gone. Ariel stood there for a while, trying to make sense of what had just happened, but she didn’t want to stress her brain too much, so she continued on her journey.

She continued wandering through the mansion, only one thought going through her mind: to get to Toby. Right now, Toby was the only one who could cure the depression she was under, and she needed him.

No, not that kind of need, you have to get your heads out of the gutter.

After wandering through her floor and finding nothing, Ariel decided to be brave and take the stairs leading downstairs, and there it was: a whole city. There were people walking about, talking, or just going their way.

Toby had told her that they ran a foundation that housed a lot of people, but she had been underestimating just how many people it was housing.

It was like a whole city there, and she wasn’t exaggerating. There were even females, although most of them were either glued to a man that Ariel assumed was their partner.

But it was a sharp contrast to the floor she had just left.

“Hello.” Ariel said with a little excitement as she came close to the person. The look the man was giving her was enough to tell her that perhaps her big smile was scary and she needed to tone it down.

“Yea.” The man looked like she was an ant in his sight, and he would prefer anything than to talk to her, and she didn’t want to waste his time anymore.

“Do you know where I can find Toby?”

“The training room, last floor.” Was the only information he provided, and he was walking away from her.

“Uhm, rude.” Ariel rolled her eyes at the man, although she was grateful for the information and decided to look for it alone. Apparently, they don’t teach manners in their program.

She took his advice and headed for the last floor, searching the door until she saw the one that had a training room boldly written on it.

Ariel couldn’t express her happiness, and she was increasing her pace as she made for the door. She opened it with a bang, ignoring all the heads that had turned to face the intruder, and her eyes horned on the man she had been looking for.

He was in the midst of some people, his mouth opening and closing as he seemed to be dishing out instructions to them, but Ariel didn’t seem to care, so she opened her mouth.

"Toby!" I need you." The noises stopped immediately, and all eyes were trained on her, regarding her with certain hostility, and she swallowed, even though there was nothing in her throat that warranted such.

“Oops.”