6 Welcome Home

ADELE 

Christopher honked at whoever it was that was behind the gate and the gate opened immediately. He drove into the compound before parking the car under the car shed. 

Christopher got down before me and grabbed my suitcase from the back seat. 

"Come on", he called out to me before heading towards the front door of the building with my suitcase in hand.

I looked up at the building in front of me and a sigh escaped my lips. This is it.

I got down from the car and quickly went after Christopher. He opened the front door easily and held it open for me to pass through before going further inside. I took a step in and sighed deeply.

This place is not so bad. I mean, the sitting room looks okay and it just screams wealth. Not to talk about the pool that is outside that I can see from the ceiling to the glass window that's beside the television on the right. 

"Come in properly, let me show you around", Christopher said to me and I looked up at him.

"Fine", I replied, closing the front door and he nodded with a calm face. 

The kitchen, sitting room, dining room, laundry room, and one guest room are all downstairs. It wasn't long before he finished showing me around the lower floor. He went up the stairs after we were done and I trailed after him. 

He stopped in front of a door before opening it.

"This is my study room", he told me and I nodded after taking a glance at the interior. 

He walked over to the door opposite his study room and I turned my body swiftly to look at it.

"You should check this out yourself", he told me with a sly grin on his face and I raised a brow at him.

He had been showing me the rooms ever since. Why is he suddenly asking me to look at it first now?

"Go on", he pressured and I finally walked forward after that.

He moved out of the way when I got to the door and I went into the room. It is spacious and the walls are painted white, just like every other room I have seen so far. Only the white walls have designs on them. The design looks like someone had played with colorful paints around this place. I slanted my lips at it before walking further into the room.

My eyes trailed everywhere like a spy as I walked in. Sitting at the center of the room is a- stool.

I fastened my steps and headed towards the thing at the center of the room instead. And when I got there, my eyes went wide.

It is a drawing stand and an artist's stool. Beside the drawing board stand, is a rectangular table. I picked up the stacks of sheets I saw on it and my eyes watered. I placed it back down and picked up the other thing on the table. It is a small rectangular-shaped carton. I opened the carton and brought out a rectangular metallic box from it.

I opened the box and I took in a sharp breath when I saw what was inside. It was an expensive and rare drawing pencil set. Even I can't afford this.

"You said you draw during your free time", a voice suddenly said to me and I took in a deep breath to control myself.

"I guess you were attentive during dinner then", I replied before turning to look at him.

He is standing so close to me. I had not even realized that he had come inside the room.

"I was", he replied with a small smile and I took a deep breath before looking back at the materials on the table in front of me.

"Thank you", I told him sincerely with glossy eyes. I can't control it. 

"You are welcome", he replied softly and I smiled.

"Oh!", Christopher said sharply all of a sudden and I turned my head quickly to look at him. 

His eyes are really wide right now.

"What-?", I started but he cut me to it.

"I should do more of the things you like for you. Then, you would be smiling at me every time", he said and I rolled my eyes at him.

Whatever.

We walked out of the art room after that. That's right, I already gave the room a name. 

Christopher continued walking down the hallway again and I followed him as usual. There is two more room that looks like the study room and the art room. Christopher said there was no use in checking them out, they are just guest rooms. 

We finally arrived in front of two large brown doors and I can already guess what this room is. The bedroom. He opened the door for me to go in and I checked it out. 

There is a walk-in closet and half of it is filled with Christopher's clothes. He said the remaining space is for me. The other door beside the door leading to the walk-in closet is the door to the bathroom. I opted out of checking it out. I can just see it later.

I walked towards the wide window opposite the bedroom doors. The sun's rays seem bright on this part of the house. I looked outside the window and the whole compound is vivid for me to see. I looked up at the sky as well before breathing in sharply.

"What do you think?", Christopher asked.

"Do you like the house?", he asked again and I frowned.

"If you do not like it, we can always buy another one and move in there instead", he said again.

He talks a lot.

I removed the black curtains from their holders and pulled them close to each other in a swift, sharp move. I turned around after that and told Christopher with a threatening smile.

"The house is okay", I said and he nodded.

I looked at the king-sized bed and my throat went dry. I would have to sleep with him on this bed this night. The thought of that alone scares me. 

"Fine then", he replied before taking short steps backward. After a while, I was left alone in the room.

I took my seat at the foot of the bed immediately after Christopher left and I took a deep breath. I still can't believe this is really happening. Is it too late to turn back now? How would I live with someone I know nothing about?! 

Oh my God! This sucks and it sure is sick.

I looked around the room one more time before getting up from the bed. I walked down the stairs quickly and I saw Christopher coming out of the kitchen with a glass of juice in his right hand.

"Hey, are you hungry?", he asked when he set his eyes on me and I slanted my lips a bit at him.

"Why did you agree to this?", I asked back immediately and he stared at me. 

He had a startled look on his face at first but he soon relaxed it. He walked away from me after a while and went to take his seat on the couch facing the television in the sitting room. 

I took the clue and went into the sitting room as well. I passed by my suitcase that is standing beside the couch Christopher is sitting on.

I took my seat on the couch on his right-hand side and he dropped his glass of juice on the center table. He sat properly on the couch after that and his head went down as he stared at his clenched hands.

"Christopher?", I called out to him and his head immediately snapped up to look at me.

"You can just call me Chris, Adele. I am serious", he replied and I sighed in frustration.

He should just talk already!

He smiled at me when he saw the look on my face and I rolled my eyes at him before folding my arms on my stomach.

The sitting room went quiet after that time with the two of us just staring at the things in front of us. I am staring at the glass center table in front of me while Christopher just stared at his hands.

"My father's company", he suddenly said, catching my attention immediately.

"What about it?", I asked and he turned his head to look at me.

"I got married to you because of my father's company"

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