The Girl Beside Christien

Our eyes locked instantly after he said that.

His cold black eyes were now on mine.

He didn’t look away, and I was too carried away to do so either. 

My heart was beating so loudly, I feared one of them would hear it.

“Ummm, Ava, take your bags up. The first room you find is yours,” Davis said,I don't think he noticed the shift in the room’s atmosphere.

I didn’t bother to say a word. Instead, I dropped my eyes and hurriedly carried my bags upstairs.

By now Christien’s gaze was already back on his laptop.

I ran into the first room I found.

Dropping my bag, I slammed my back against the door, closing it with force, my heart thudding loudly against my ribcage.

What was that about?

His look was so intense.

And why did I stare back? Ava, you just made a fool of yourself.

My palm pressed against my chest as I steadied myself.

I bent and grabbed my bags, ready to unpack. I definitely wasn’t leaving this room till tomorrow.

I actually succeeded in not leaving my room for about twelve hours.

But starvation was real, and now I was in front of my room getting mentally prepared to face Christien again.

I hadn’t gotten a chance to ask Davis why his rich friend was squatting with him.

I walked down the stairs and saw Christien just coming in.

He was dressed in all black again.

A fitted sleeveless top clung to his body, revealing the tattoo curling around his neck.

While the dark joggers rested low on his waist.

Sweat dampened the strands of his dark hair slightly, and somehow he still looked annoyingly perfect for someone who had probably been running since sunrise.

He looked up and caught me staring again.

My instincts told me to turn away, and I did, but in an embarrassing manner.

Which he noticed, and to save my ego, I headed directly to the kitchen where Davis stood cooking.

Davis turned, his face brightening up.

“Morning, Labubu,” he said, walking over, and he ruffled my hair.

“Morning… I told you to stop doing that,” I said, pushing his hand away as Christien appeared at the doorway.

“Make an extra plate for Sophie, she’s coming over,” he said and turned to go, but he stopped in his tracks and said, “You should listen to her… she’s no longer a kid. You can’t always protect her,” and then he left.

Davis looked at me, and I also wondered if Christien had a double personality.

Yesterday he said I was still a kid to him, and now he said I’m not.

“You are still one to me,” Davis smiled, changing the subject.

“Stay here and watch the eggs fry, don’t burn it,” he said as he went after Christien.

I stood turning the frying egg.

Who was Sophie?

And why was she coming over?

Was she his girlfriend?

Was it possible for someone like him to have a girlfriend?

But he had the looks and the body, so there was a chance he could have one.

Wait, why was I thinking about this? His personal life was none of my business.

I shook my head in conclusion, and I hummed a particular rhythm to clear Christien from my head.

Davis walked back in.

“Go set the table, Labubu,” he said, and I rolled my eyes at the name as I walked out.

Christien was outside on the balcony. I saw someone standing beside him. She was tall.

She was dressed in a fitted cream gown, her black heels high and her hair packed in a sleek ponytail.

She looked organised, elegant, and expensive. And the way she talked to Christien, like she was already used to being around him.

I didn’t like that for some reason.

Was she Sophie?

I looked down at myself. I was putting on an oversized shirt with a big Teddy bear drawing on it and fluffy slippers, while she looked like she had just stepped out of a luxury office building.

I shouldn’t care. She was clearly older and more accomplished than me.

But I felt belittled, and that hurt.

“You like her, right?” I heard from behind. I turned and found Davis smiling at me.

“Who’s she?” I dismissed his question. Why would he ask me that kind of question when I wasn’t happy with whatever was going on here?

“She’s Sophie, Christien’s personal assistant.”

“He has a personal assistant?” I asked, shocked.

“Yes, he handles office work from home because he’s still in college. But once he’s done he’ll take over the company… not like he goes to school, he’s brilliant actually.”

“Really? So like he has a whole empire waiting for him?” I asked.

“Yeah,” Davis replied.

“Why does he stay with you?”

“He’s helping me prepare for the final exams… I’m not good at maths, but he is, at every subject,” Davis laughed.

So, he didn’t go to school, he was always on his laptop working for his father’s company, and yet he was an A student.

Was he born lucky or something?

“Come and eat before the food gets cold,” Davis called out, and Sophie and Christien turned at the same time.

She had a bold smile on her face, her eyes were brown.

Her makeup was light but perfect, her posture confident, and the way she carried herself screamed money and discipline.

They both walked in, and immediately she settled in the chair beside Christien.

Like the space had always belonged to her.

I settled in the chair beside Davis, and he served everyone.

The breakfast menu was my favourite, fried eggs and fried plantain.

I took my fork to begin eating when I heard Sophie.

“Davis, you didn’t introduce her to me,” Sophie said in a cool, vibrant voice as she smiled at me.

“Oh sorry, she’s Ava. My little sister.”

“Hi Ava, I’m Sophie,” she smiled again. I wondered if her cheeks didn’t hurt from smiling that much.

“I know, I’ve heard a lot about you,” I said, looking at Davis.

“Davis, why didn’t you tell me you have such a cute sister?” Sophie said.

“I’m not cute… and I’m not a kid,” I said, stuffing a plantain into my mouth. I was tired of being treated like a kid.

“Enough, let’s eat,” Christien said, as he looked at me and then Sophie, who picked up her fork to eat.

“Christien, I hope you are taking your drugs?” she asked.

What drugs was she talking about?

Great. Now I’d start to wonder what type of drugs she meant.

“I am,” Christien answered, without looking up.