Chapter 13

Darcie 

My gaze drifted to the doorway where he stood. His presence had brought in silence to the room and he swung the door to open totally. Leaning and watching us. Does this guy not know what privacy is called? Or should I teach him?

I shift my gaze to Charles. The warm smile on his face moments ago had vanished already. I observed that Charles didn't fare well with his family. Chasing his dream was stupid in their sight. 

Arthur stepped in further. A playful or mockful smile on his face, he twisted his lips, eyes scanning the room.

“I see you changed your room. Not bad.” he nodded and his eyes fell on me. I didn't smile. I just looked away then felt his height towering behind me. He takes the book in front of us. “History. Hmm.” He drops it back. I don't get why he was acting like a supervisor or something. He was…. controlling. 

“St Jude's quarterback.” He moved to the wall to inspect the picture plastered there. “How pathetic.”

I scoffed loudly and Arthur snapped his neck. “What? You got a problem?”

“No. We are just studying.” I replied boldly. 

“Study kids. You know you don't need this and it's a waste of time. Kid.” He referred to Charles. “You know what I'm talking about. Anyways. Tomorrow's a big day. You're not playing that game. We're going to Blackwood Corp. The biggest law firm in Aurelia. That's what matters.”

I couldn't even stand the mockery and I know I was a stubborn person. “Charles has a match tomorrow. It's his big game and the scouts would be around.”

“And how does that concern you? Nanny.” He grimaced. 

“Arthur. Leave her alone.” Charles speaks up. 

Arthur laughed. “Tell your ‘girlfriend or nanny' not to talk while I do. Does she have no respect? This is family talk. She's not even supposed to be in your room.”

“We're studying.”

“Fine. Just letting you know you have to be prepared. See you tomorrow. It's about time you get serious with politics.”

That was his last statement before leaving the room. 

I turned to Charles and before I could open my mouth, he spoke up first. “I know. I know. It's annoying.” He sighed, tired. “Darcie, we gotta figure out a way to go to school and not follow him to blackwood.”

“We will. I won't let him take you away. That's so obnoxious of him. They're not letting you breathe and it's so bad.”

“I have to play tomorrow.”

“You will. Early in the morning. We gotta figure out what to do, okay?”

He nods. “Okay.”

I woke up on Charles' bed, sunlight peeking through the windows. I slept beside him. But we didn't do anything. I studied his pouty face as he slept, chest rising and falling slowly. I smiled and moved my face closer. Gosh, he was so handsome. His eyes opened immediately and I dropped back to the bed..

“Uhh. Nothing. I wasn't doing anything.”

“What?” He groaned. “What's going on?”

“It's morning.”

He sat abruptly, dropping his legs on the other side of the bed. “Morning? Oh.”

“Don't worry about Arthur. I'm going to make breakfast and I'll bring it to you. Just stay inside and get dressed. If Arthur knocks, do not answer. We can escape through the window.”

“Wow.”

I left his room and went downstairs. Moving efficiently in the kitchen, cracking eggs into bowls and scrambling them with a fork. The sizzle of bacon filled the air with the aroma of freshly brewed coffee. I placed them on a tray and when I turned to leave, I gasped in shock, the coffee from the cup shaking unsteadily, spilling onto the tray. 

“Surprised?”

Arthur was in front of me, all dressed up in cooperate wear adjusting the buttons on his wrist. He smelled so good. 

“Good morning.” I muttered. 

“Morning to you. Is that my breakfast?”

No. Asshole. Since when did I become your Nanny? “No.” I said. 

“Why? Why are you tense? That's supposed to be on the dining table. Why is the portion small and where are you going?”

I clenched my jaws. How is he so observant? 

“Where is Charles?”

We're almost busted. “Charles is in his room preparing. I'm going to give him this.”

“No.” He stared up as if calculating something. “Tell Charles to come downstairs. I wanna see him in the clothes I gave him yesterday. And breakfast should be at the table, not in the room.”

“Actually, he's sick. So he can't cascade the stairs. You need to understand.”

He moved closer and I felt nervous. “What?” I trembled but still raised my chin. “If he's done eating, I'll let him come down.”

“What's the difference? If he can't come down, then fine, I'll just go to him instead.” Arthur swiftly moved and I screamed, running with the tray to his front. 

“Wait.”

I purposely jammed into him, allowing the coffee to spill onto his perfect crisp white. “Oh, my goodness. I am so sorry. I am sorry. That was a mistake.”

“You….” He grits his teeth and gives me a glaring look.

I trudged the stairs immediately and when I got to Charles' room, I dropped the tray and knocked. “Charles, open up already “

The door opened and I slipped in. He locked it behind. Charles dressed up already. “Hurry up, let's eat. Arthur is dressed and he was asking about you.”

“What did you tell him?” 

I explained everything and he laughed. “That's really brave, honestly. I went to your room to get clothes for you. You can have your bath here and dress up.”

“Oh.” My eyes moved to the bed and he really got it. “Thank you.”

“Come on, let's eat.” He sat and we both devoured the meal together and drank half coffee like that. “Hurry up and have your bath.”

I started to take off my clothes and Charles' eyes raked my body. I threw my shirt at him. “Avert your eyes or something.”

He stuttered. “Sure.”

The door starts banging. “Charles, open the fucking door!”