Chapter Sixteen – Fate.
The coast was clear. Arya sighed, before walking out of the room to drop the tray of chicken bones she had with her. She had never eaten so heartily since she arrived there.
Damien giving her chicken and rice then leaving the room for her to eat freely, had to be the nicest thing he had done for her. She sighed again, thinking of the satisfaction she got.
She knocked when she got into the kitchen. There was no response but she barged in to see cooks and chefs, stunned. They all wore white uniforms with small caps.
She bowed at them. “I wanted to clean this up quickly.” She showed them the tray but one of them took it from her and bowed back.
Where they going to clean it? She tried to take it back but a chef stopped her. “Madam, please, let her do it. We serve you here. You can order for some other snack too.”
Arya looked at her blankly. Serve? Snack? Order? Right, she was living with billionaires. She nodded with a smile. “Alright then, take care.” She bowed again before closing the door.
A smile came to her face, when she realized that she could actually live her princess dreams here, be served and do nothing.
“Thinking about last night?” Junior walked up to her, holding a tray.
She blinked then squeezed her face on understanding. “You and your mouth.”
He clicked his tongue at her, while opening the kitchen. The maids rushed and took the tray from him and he left without saying anything to them.
Arya didn’t quite like that but she said nothing. She had to be polite to them no matter what, after all, she wouldn’t be their madam for long.
“Do you know where he is?” she was referring to Damien.
“In my room actually, he’s busy. I thought you guys had a fight but then he didn’t look troubled so I guessed he just left the room for you for a while.” Junior smiled.
Arya smiled back. It was best he did. The weren’t a real thing. “Um… I’ve been wondering, you have a girlfriend, right?” she looked at him hopefully.
“Well, no. But I guess I can now I’m eighteen.” He shrugged.
“Oh.” She looked down.
Junior watched her expressions. “Did you need it for something?”
“Well, not for me totally. But how do you confess to someone you like? I need to help someone but I have no clue.” she chuckled nervously.
“You don’t?” Junior was surprised. “I guess it’s my cousin who confessed to you first. Haven’t you had any other relationships before him?”
Arya shook her head, timidly. “You know what? Forget I ever asked this. I’d just tell her to follow her heart. Works every time.” She wanted to leave but Junior held her back.
“No that won’t work. Disney magic ended in the 1950’s and 2010’s. She has to add more effort to get this guy. What’s he like? I’d help.”
Arya grinned, widely, glad someone was helping. “Okay, so she said he’s a rich popular guy in her class and is quite nerdy, sport active too and very cute. That’s what she said.”
Junior pursed his lips. “Nerdy and popular? Never thought they’d ever be used in the same sentence.” he glanced at Arya who shrugged.
“That guy is a good catch. If he’s nice and has good taste, then he’s the best catch.” Junior nodded at his words.
“About that, he tends to date pick me girls and total whores so the girl is quite repelled by that and stays away.” She added bitterly.
Junior looked bitter as well. “Ah, she should forget him. He has a type, if she can’t live to it, there’s no need.” He wanted to leave but Arya held him back.
“Come on, help her. I have no clues to help.”
Junior sighed. “Well, I don’t know her so I won’t feel guilty but she’s going to be heartbroken when he closes a toxic girl over her. Some guys are addicted into such things. Crazy.”
Those words sent Arya thinking. Was Seth really addicted to toxic girls? Her mind went back to all the girls he had ever dated? They all had bad reputations around the school.
“She still likes him very much though.” she said lowly to Junior.
“Doesn’t she?” someone asked, walking towards them. “And when you like someone, you don’t care who is their type, or their age or if they are married.”
It was Debby, she was wearing heeled boots and folded her arms. Junior looked at her questioningly, then glanced at Arya. “Are you supposed to speak with her?”
Arya shook her head. She recognized the girl as the new guest speaker, she was more bigger in person, like seventeen. But why did she sound like they had a problem?
“Did everyone here have a problem with me on first sight?” she mouthed to herself.
“Speak up when talking to me please.” Debby scorned.
Junior frowned. “Um… young Chinese girl, we were having a conversation, respect your elders and go play elsewhere.”
Arya smirked at Junior’s words. “Don’t be like that. But did you want to speak with me?” she asked Debby.
“No.” she said simply. “I only wanted to take a good look at what Damien married. Nothing impressive so far.”
Arya’s face fell, she looked at herself. There was nothing impressive about her? How’d she get Seth to fall in love with her?
Junior saw her look herself over and tapped her. “Don’t overthink it. You’re beautiful.” He turned to Debby. “And you? Why not look at you before speaking? You look like an egg!”
“Says a pig!” Debby retorted.
“Well, I’m not fat so definitely isn’t a pig. You’re the one who’s making an earthquake with a step.” He pointed.
Arya stopped him from the childish remarks. “Stop that. It’s not nice. And Debby, right? I don’t know you from anywhere.”
“Same but I already don’t like you. Fate, right?” Debby said quickly, with a head tilt.
Hearing her speak of fate when hating her for no reason, Arya began to wonder whether the fate always worked against her. She exhaled. “Well, I don’t think I like you either.”
Debby went back surprised.
“What? She should like you when you don’t like her? Feeling should be mutual. I detest you as well. Nosey impolite Chinese.”
Debby grunted. “The way you say Chinese sounds racist!”
“Well, whatever. I’ve only seen impolite ones.” Junior huffed.
Arya frowned at him again then back at Debby. “You are only a guest in my house. After the summit, you’d be going back home. Enjoy your stay.”
Realizing she’d be leaving after the summit made Debby’s heart fall. She watched as Arya and Junior strolled past her, continuing their conversation like she never existed.
And that was what she feared the most, no one seeing her.