RICHARD Richard knew he'd got to ask the question that had been on his mind since he saw her in his kitchen. He needed to know to sate his curiosity. He'd never been particularly interested about a woman's hair, but hers? It just stirred something in him. He'd never seen a red hair so curly and frizzy like her's. It reminded him of an artwork he'd seen at an exhibition a long time ago- Taylor had literally dragged him to one. It wasn't anything about a hair or a woman but it made him think of sunsets and rainbows. That was just what Ava's name made him think of. Sunsets and rainbows. And her name? He'd never met an Ava before. He even liked how it rolled off his tongue. Christ! what's wrong with me? It had just been few hours and he was already so weird and had never felt that way around anyone before. Her eyes pierced into his as she lulled over his absurd question. Richard was sure he would never ask anyone that, so what's going on? She casually
AVA It was few minutes past 6pm when Ava got home. Nicole was doing her makeup, getting ready to leave for the club. Thank goodness, she's out of that shitty job, Ava prayed silently. She toed off her shoes at the door and slumped on the bed, visibly tired. She still couldn't get over the fact that she had sat and ate and talked with her employer. No one had ever paid her that kind of attention. It was a thrilling experience, but she knew that it just couldn't be. Maybe that was how he was. Just being nice and friendly. "I can see you got the job, since you didn't get back earlier than I expected." Nicole said, leaning closer to the mirror to get a good look at the eyebrows she was trying so hard to draw. The way she drew them always made Ava think of the cockroach antennae. Funny! Sighing heavily, "I did. Like I told you I would. Isn't it great?" She asked, not expecting a response. Nicole stopped and turned to look at Ava, her brows raised. "Really? Is that ostentation I he
RICHARD Richard had been on that treadmill for approximately fifteen minutes. He'd woken up earlier than he usually did, probably because he was kinda excited about Taylor's return. He'd started by walking for five minutes, then run between intervals for three minutes. He'd been at it since he woke up. Victoria stood beside him, with a bland expression registered on her face. He knew that expression. It reeked of disinterest and somewhere in the line of something else. He couldn't find the word. Clutching the grips tightly, he set his sights on his secretary's face. "Say what's on your mind, Victoria?" Victoria pinned him with a look, then sighed as she glanced down at her wristwatch. "It's 7:7am and she's not here yet." Richard knew that was the only reason Victoria was in a sour mood. He was beginning to think there was more to her aversion to Ava. She overdid it most times, but he liked her work spirit so, he had to turn a blind eye most times. Like right now, she wore a
AVA So stupid! Who doesn't like a nice man? Except me, obviously! She chided herself and sat down heavily on the chair he'd vacated earlier. It was bad enough that a cook can't make a cup of coffee. But, he'd taught her how to. He'd even thought it funny that she couldn't make coffee. He wasn't mad or upset about it. Maybe, it was normal for girls his age not to make coffee. That sounded even very stupid to her own ears. But she... She was really embarrassed, but did her best to hide it. Ava could even feel her neck heating up. It was already evident that she was inexperienced in a lot of things, but she was determined to stick to this one till the last day. Making her way to the laundry room, she took the cleaning tools to start the day. Mr. Richard's daughter would be home in a few hours, inasmuch as she was curious to know what she looked like aside from the pictures around the house. Ava already knew that she would look prettier than the pictures, rich kids tend to look l
RICHARD And that was how the little redhead went running from him. Richard hadn't meant to touch her and feel that shot of electricity down his bones, but it was apparently there and that meant she felt whatever it was. He knew without being told that she was young enough to be his daughter. He must be fucked up to be feeling that way for a girl that just resumed work two day in. Heck! There was no way to tell how he was particularly feeling. But when he had locked eyes with Ava over Taylor's hair, it was clear as day that there was something. There was going to be something. Something that shouldn't be. It had to be avoided, whatever that was. Taking the two luggage with him into the house, he went straight up to Taylor's room to find her taking out clothes and dumping them on the bed as Henry retreated to retrieve the last suitcase. "The new girl... She's pretty. Her hair is even natural." She said when she sensed him enter. Richard just nodded to himself without a comment
AVA Two weeks. Two not-so-smooth weeks. No awkward or lingering stares. No awkward dinners. No wide smiles and hot gazes. She had even learnt to make him a good cup of coffee. He'd seemed to be busy, because he would get back late and leave quite early. She hadn't really seen him except for the short encounters. There was a time she didn't see for two days and Taylor told her that he had gone for an out of town survey. Just like she hadn't anticipated, Taylor had been very warm and friendly to her. Since she was always home, she helped Ava around the house and tried to learn kitchen skills from her too. She said Ava being young as she was, was a good thing. Ava must acknowledge the kindness and warmth. Aside her grandmother and Nicole, no one had ever paid her any attention. But she was hesitant. She needed to be. After all, she wouldn't always be there so it was important she knew her place. It was wise to know that they were in different lea
RICHARD Two weeks. Two weeks of weird emotions. Two weeks of insane torture. It was the first time he had such feelings after Daphne. It's been over twenty years. Maybe that was why he was confused. Confused enough to try to stay away but couldn't stop himself from wanting to see her. The other unsettling part about everything was that it wasn't just any other person. It was his twenty three year old housekeeper from Salta. A redhead. A girl with no college degree and hadn't been anywhere else except Bellamy. He'd been really busy so, he had not seen much of her whenever he was home. He even had to go away for a landed property survey for two days. Now, he sat in his office and listened to Victoria remind him about the fundraiser he would be going to that night. She'd said something about the fundraiser being held for children with rare diseases. He didn't have the mind for mingling but he had received numerous emails about it, so he couldn't avoid
AVA Ava had seem him when he'd entered the hall. Infact, it was Nicole that called her attention to him. Her breath had hitched and she'd almost thought she was going to faint from the sudden wave that hit her. Out of all the places and times to meet him, she was there staring at him over the heads of wealthy people like him. "He's even hotter." Nicole's whisper jolted her and she snapped back to reality. She had forgotten where she was as she had gazed at him. She knew he wouldn't see her from the distance and the people between them. She turned away from him and grabbed a tray of drinks. She'll find a way to avoid bumping into him. It might not end well if he found her there. "Ooh! Damn!" Nicole whispered again and Ava raised her eyes to her, but she wasn't looking at her, she still had her gaze fixed in the distance. Ava followed her gaze and felt a sudden headache. Or was that her heartbeat? Simone! Nicole was right about almost everything. There was no chance in hell for