CHAPTER 9

Livia 

Poke

Poke

I felt something soft gently tap on my cheeks, followed by small hot breaths on my skin that smelled of orange juice.

“Ace, you mustn’t do that. Please sit,” a woman’s voice came from somewhere in the background. 

I struggled to open my eyes as I still felt a slight throb on my forehead. The room was dimly lit, with Grace standing by the doorway. 

Beneath me, the beddings were ridiculously soft; it was the kind of luxury that belonged to expensive showrooms and not a girl who just passed out on her first day of work. 

As I tried to sit up, Grace suddenly walked up to me, using her hands to support my shoulders.

“How are you feeling, miss?” She asked, looking me up and down. 

“Just a slight headache…” I mumbled, squinting my eyes a little. Everything felt like it was spinning.

“Here”

She held out a glass of water, and I gulped it down in one go as if my life depended on it. 

“You fainted on your way here. Luckily, the doctor was around, so attending to you was swift,” she stated.

A doctor? I felt my stomach churn. 

Just... what did I do? First day of a babysitting job, and fainting on the same job is not a good way to start. 

 I cleared my throat. “Thank you. Uhmm, what about Mr Sterling?” 

Wait…

Why am I even asking about him?

“He stepped out shortly but requested you be in the best state before proceeding with anything else.”

I nodded, my hand instinctively patting the bed, trying to find my phone. My mind was racing through excuses, wondering if he had seen me on the floor, or if i had been a crumbled heap for the staff to deal with.

“If that will be all, I have other matters I need to attend to. Ace is seated beside you. Let me know once you are set to leave.” 

I snapped my head to my left. I had almost forgotten about the poking. There he was, sitting in a small corner, still clutching that same worn teddy bear from last time. 

“Hiiiii little man,” I said, forcing a smile, despite the pulse in my head getting stronger. “Come over here.” 

Ace didn’t move at first. He stared at me for a second before shuffling towards the bed, but did not stand close enough. 

“How are you?”

He nods, still searching my face with a level of curiosity I have never seen before on a child. 

“I am glad you are in a much better mood today. You spoke to your teddy, didn’t you?

He peeled his gaze away from me to the small stuffed bear in his hands before looking back up, nodding slowly. 

“Great!” I cheered, “What do you want to do today?”

***************

Once I was sure Ace was tucked away in his room, I glanced at my phone, and I felt my heart skip a bit

7:30 pm.

I shouldn’t be worried, but my aunt, for some reason, finds me staying anything past 8 pm as a problem. If I leave now, I might just meet up.

I grabbed my bag, nearly tripping over my own feet in my haste to reach the door.

“You are leaving?” Grace's voice caught me just as I was about to open the main door.

“Ah…yes. Sorry, I forgot to tell you, but I really should get going now.”

“But Mr. Sterling isn’t back yet. Shouldn’t you wait for him to arrive first?” she said, her brows narrowed slightly.

“I honestly would love to, but I can’t. Ace is already in bed. I fed him the meal you made,” I replied, pleading with my eyes for her to let me go. 

She watched me for a bit, her expression unreadable. For a second, I thought she might insist I stay, but she gave a stiff, small nod. 

“Very well then. Goodnight”

Mr. Sterling's mansion sat in a gated neighborhood tucked away deep by surrounding trees in a private area. With very few houses nearby and worse, no cars were driving by. 

It was unnervingly quiet.

Getting a cab was going to be difficult now. I walked for what felt like 30 minutes before I spotted a cab nearby, just before a huge storefront.

I ran a little to get close to the car. Just when I was about to open the back door, my phone buzzed inside my bag, and I rushed to answer without looking at who was calling.

“Hello..” I gasped for breath

“Where are you?” The deep voice asked. But I recognized the owner right away. 

“At th…”

“Hey! Are you getting in or what?” The cab driver interrupted, leaning over the passenger seat, to glare at me through the window. “I don’t have all night, lady.”

“Stay where you are,” Mr Sterling ordered, leaving no room for argument. “I will meet you in 5.”