PINK SANDALS.

Chapter: 9

*****

ZANE:

“Brad, I told you not to bring work to me on my off days. You know I’m allowed to rest, right?”

My assistant stood in front of me, clutching the file in his hands like if I didn’t sign it, the world was going to end or something. And… Why the hell does his suit look like it’s choking him?

“I’m sorry, sir. I never would have distracted you if it wasn’t important.”

“Do you know you look stressed?” I pointed out. “What I need you to do right now is go home and rest.”

I leaned back in my chair, rubbing a hand over my face. Every part of my body ached. I hadn’t rested in a while, and the one day I chose to rest, this fucking happens.

“I’m tired, Brad, and stressed, and for one day I just want peace. I don’t want contracts and documents shoved in my face.”

“It’s the Lancaster deal, sir. The board need your—”

“Enough,” I quickly cut him off.

There was a weird moment of silence between us.

I exhaled slowly, forcing myself to calm down. “Leave it in my study. I’ll look at it later.”

Relief appeared on his face. “Yes, sir. Of course.”

He walked toward the door and left. Peace, finally.

I closed my eyes, but then I heard a soft rustle.

It was barely noticeable, but I wasn’t stupid. I knew when I wasn’t alone in a room. I turned toward the potted plant by the window. That was where it came from.

I frowned.

I stood up slowly, already annoyed. I thought Brad left, or did he come back?

“I swear to the Goddess,” I mumbled, but then I stopped mid-step.

Because the person behind the plant wasn’t Brad or a servant. Two small eyes peeked at me. They were wide, brown, and scared.

And then slowly, the rest of her followed.

Beauty stepped out from behind the plant, her hands clenched in front of her dress, her shoulders fallen like she was already bracing herself for what was coming. Her curly hair was messy, like she’d been running her fingers through it way too much, but the moment our eyes locked, I smiled.

It happened so fast, so unplanned, like my face had made the decision on its own.

“Well,” I said, crouching so I would be the same height as her.

Her eyes widened further.

“I… I’m sorry,” she blurted out immediately. “I didn’t mean to come in here. I was looking for Papa, and I got lost. I tried to find my way back, but… the hallways are too big, and I keep getting lost again and again,”

She stopped to catch her breath, her eyes shining like she was about to cry. Goddess, she was the cutest thing I’d ever set my eyes on.

“Hey… hey,” I said gently. “Slow down. You’re okay.”

She shook her head quickly. “I didn’t mean to be bad.”

Something about the way she said the word ‘bad’ made my chest tight.

“You are not bad, and listen, you never have to apologize.”

She hesitated for a moment, then whispered, “I think I’ll get in trouble if Papa finds out that I left the room and–and got lost.”

“You won’t,” I quickly assured her. “I promise.”

She looked unconvinced.

I gestured toward the sofas close to the window. “Why don’t you come join me over there?”

She immediately shook her head. “No, Papa said I should stay in the room.”

“Okay… but if you sit with me, I’ll walk you back to your room. How about that?”

She bit her lower lip, considering, and I was trying my hardest not to laugh.

“And I promise,” I added, raising my hand like I was about to say something sacred, “your papa won’t get in trouble.”

After a long moment, she agreed. She climbed onto the sofa, her legs dangling, not touching the ground. She had on little pink sandals, and they were the cutest on those little feet. She dangled her legs gently, oblivious, like she wasn’t aware she was doing it.

I sat across from her, elbows on my knees.

“So,” I asked, “what made you brave enough to explore my very big, very scary house?”

She shrugged. “I was bored and terrified the monsters were going to get me, and Papa wasn’t there to protect me.”

I laughed. “The monsters aren’t real.”

“Yes, they are,” she protested. “Papa was busy, and I don't like to be alone. I just wanted to see him.”

I felt something unexplainable twist in my chest and I just watched her for a moment, not sure what I was trying to figure out. I’d never been someone who liked children, only tolerated them. They were always too loud and messy, but not her. She was… different.

“He’s lucky,” I said without thinking.

“Who?” she asked.

“Your papa.”

Her face instantly brightened as I mentioned her father. “He’s the best.”

I smiled again.

I didn’t understand the ease that came with being with her. It was like she had the ability to make all the noise in my head stop.

There was a soft knock on the door before it opened carefully. “Sir, lunch is ready.”

I turned slowly, and it was him, her father and within seconds, his eyes landed on her.

“Bee!” His entire body went numb. I watched as his face instantly drained of color.

She instantly slid off the sofa, panicking. “Papa, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to…”

“I didn’t know she was here, sir,” his words tumbled over each other. “I swear, sir, I didn’t mean to disturb you.”

“Stop.”

Both of them froze.

I stood up slowly, holding his gaze. “You don’t need to apologize.”

He looked at me, totally confused.

“She didn’t do anything wrong,” I explained, “and neither did you. Calm down.”

“Bring the food for both of us.”

He looked at me, surprised. “For both?”

“Yes, for me and Beauty.” I turned to her with a smile. “Will you eat with me?”

She didn’t reply immediately. She looked like she was trying to process everything with her little mind.

“Papa… can I?” she asked, her voice small.

“If Mr. Zane said it's okay, then yes, baby girl, you can… I suppose,”

Even he sounded unsure of himself but decided it was better not to get on my bad side.

“Okay,” she replied.

“Go get the food I ordered.”

Within seconds, he and two other servants returned with the food and all were perfectly arranged. Beauty’s eyes widened like she’d never seen something like this before. I loved how everything fascinated her.

We both began to eat.

The two servants had left, but Sora was still standing there. The poor man is probably having a mini–heart attack.

My gaze moved back to Beauty, who held a fork that was bigger than her hand. I was trying so hard not to laugh. The sight was beautiful. I didn’t realize when I stopped eating and just watched her.

My gaze slowly moved toward Sora’s direction, and I just studied his face. He had such… lovely eyes, and little freckles, and—stop it, Zane.

I immediately had to stop myself. He was a servant and nothing more. I couldn’t risk going down that path. I couldn’t.

But at the same time, why was keeping my eyes off him so hard?