Arya’s POV
I breathed a sigh of relief and walked into my son’s room. By then Chase was gone. Since that night we spent together I suddenly felt shy appearing in front of him. Kelsi asked if I was avoiding him and I vehemently refused, then one day he caught me.
It was the evening after Angus’s birthday. Kelsi and him were inside arguing or talking. I can’t say which one it was. I was outside in the garden when I looked up and froze. I couldn’t believe it.
CHASE KING WAS STARING AT ME.
Immediately I looked away.
OMG! What does that mean? Why was he staring at me? Was I in trouble?
I instantly ran upstairs and straight to my room. The moment I shut the door behind me, I leaned into it as my heart raced. I didn’t leave my room again. So I began to target when he wasn’t around to come out of the house, but weirdly I always bumped into him.
Two days later, the palace was getting fumigated. Chase said he had seen a cockroach. Unfortunately for me, the time the cleaning people came into the house was when I was about to shower. The maids told me to stay in Chase’s Chambers upstairs. I agreed since it was afternoon. He would not be back from work any time soon.
I sat down and began to watch TV when I heard a familiar tune.
” hey it’s that song from the radio!” I ran and increased the volume and began to dance. I turned to hear someone laughing. It was the maid.
” come dance with me Lydia” I laughed.
” oh Ms. Arya, I have a lot to do” she laughed. I continued dancing. Few minutes later I heard some footsteps.
” I told you to come da-” I stopped and clasped my hands over my mouth.
“Please don’t stop on my account.” Chase said as he came in. He had a smirk on his face. I began to look for the remote and immediately turned off the TV.
“I’m sorry I didn’t know you were going to come back. I got carried away with the music.” I muttered as I played with the edge of my towel, while staring at the floor. My face had gone aflame on sighting him. Suddenly my brain backtracked on something. What was I wearing? Then I remembered that I was on a towel.
A TOWEL!!!
“You know, you were fun to watch” Chase said as he moved to the wine bar.
“I’ll leave” I muttered but somehow I didn’t know when I also bumped into Chase, on my way out, In that process, the drink spilled all over Chase’s shirt.
“Oh my gosh! I’m so sorry” I exclaimed in horror. I tried to clean his shirt with my hands but I found out that I was making it worse. I might as well, say I had ruined the shirt for him. I wondered if he would ask me if I was avoiding him.
“It’s alright. It’s just a shirt. Arya why do we keep bumping into each other?” Chase asked as he caught me before the remnant of the drink poured on me too. His voice was soft.
“I don’t really know, I guess it’s my clumsiness” I said looking away. I couldn’t bear to look at him. His eyes were… Captivating. Reminded me of that night
“I have to go” I said as I tried to wiggle out of his arms but Chase stopped me. I looked up at him and feared what he would do next. It looked like he had some other things in mind.
“Wait you have to get me out of these” he said staring at his stained shirt. I had my mouth open as those words left his mouth.
“Hello? Earth to Arya” he said smirking.
“Oh shirt” I finally said, I drew in a breath. He was all muscle and flesh. I couldn’t stop staring at his bare chest.
“Breath Arya breath” he said.
His eyes flickered from my lips to her eyes.
“I guess the fumigation people came” his moved back and went to wine bar. I nodded. I began to play with my hands and it dawned on me that I was still there.
” I have to leave” I said red in the face as I stormed out.
Over the next few days I found it hard leaving my room because I was still embarrassed for what had happened.
A week later, at night I was on my to the kitchen to get some milk, I bumped into Chase.
” I’m sorry I didn’t see you there” I siad
“we bump into each other again” he said smiling back. He moved side and gestured me like I was royalty. I chuckled. I have been seeing different versions of Chase. And honestly I like this version more.
After that encounter, I got the confidence to leave my room, when he was in the house. If we accidentally lock eyes by chance, he would smile at me and I would blush red. He did it often and deep down my confused mind, I loved it.
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Two days later, I got to hear from the maids that it was Chase’s birthday. His real birthday.
“Why don’t we bake a cake?” I smiled. The maids exchanged glances.
” what? What was that look for?” I asked.
” Ms. Arya, Mr. Chase never celebrates his birthday” they said looking away. When I asked them why, they said they had no idea. So an idea popped into my head.
” alright, this would be a first. Get the flour and heat the oven” I said. Maybe today would be the day I have my first ever decent conversation with Chase since we spent time together.
Half way into the baking session, we heard voices at the sitting room. I turned around to find Chase, Angus, Hercules and Mika laughing and coming in.
“What’s all the noise about?” I asked wiping my hands with the kitchen towel.
“Oh it’s nothing Arya. Mika and the boys took me on a hike for my birthday.” chase said. He turned to her smiling. ” Thanks Mika, you are awesome ”
“Always Chase. Anything for you” she smiled back. I found myself jealous as I instantly looked away. I locked gaze then with Kelsi who was just coming in and she had raised eyebrows.