Chapter 3

Rachel

I almost wanted to strangle Norman in my mounting fury. Although I did not tell him of my crush on his friend and with our sibling relationship, he could ask that question, it didn't stop me from getting mad at him.

I couldn't help but wonder if there was a person dumber than my brother. He was infuriating!

He knew no tact at all.

I could feel the burn of Chase's fiery gaze on me the moment my stupid brother finished his alarming sentence.

I coughed awkwardly, "Haha, Greg is just a friend."

A tech company outsourced me from the freelance market and Greg was one of their in-house technicians. I and Greg clicked as friends but it seemed my stupid brother thought something else might be going on.

If I couldn't come to the company, Greg comes over to my house at times.

I felt like digging my way underground.

Here I was, trying to get a man into my honey trap while my brother opted for the option of scaring the man away.

I shifted nearer to my brother before giving him a fierce pinch.

Norman looked at me with his face showing innocent confusion but his ignorance made my urge to murder him stronger.

Chase looked up from his laptop, "What is his full name? Which organization does he work in? Do you guys know his full history?"

I didn't like his questions. It made him seem farther than he actually is. The questions were something that should come out of the mouths of my parents instead of Chase'.

I tugged down my disappointment.

"We work at the same company called Ryan Group and we are just friends. There is no need for me to know his full history." I scoffed.

It was as if my words gave Chase a type of assurance because he went back to his work.

When I and Norman resumed our game, I made sure to beat Norman till he had to throw down his gamepad in defeat.

My phone rang with a text message.

It was an unknown number saying hello. I didn't give the stranger the benefit of doubt before blocking the number.

My circle of friends is small and the only two situations that would cause an unknown number to message me would be when a person manages to scrap my number off the internet or when my mother sends my number to her friends who used the pretense of greeting me to send my number to their sons in a bid to matchmake.

I wasn't ready to answer their messages in both situations so I saved myself the trouble.

I waited for awhile before standing up. I gave the sprawling Norman a nudge.

"Let's go." I grumbled. After his mistake, I made sure my every action and expression expressed my dissatisfaction for him.

Besides, if I didn't have to talk now because of Chase, I would have given him an unbroken silent treatment.

Norman didn't budge and I threw him a fierce kick.

I believed the more we stay here, the less efficient Chase would be with his work. It was better to give him space to do his thing.

Although we missed him, we had met him. This meeting should satisfy our longing for a while. It is not like we wouldn't see him again.

After kicking my brother again for good measure, I strode out confidently. my previous actions should have spoken volumes of my attitude to Norman.

I stopped after walking past two hallways. I put my hand on my head as I lamented.

I had forgotten how huge this mansion is and how easy it is to get lost in this place.

I tried to retrace my steps but I ended up in another part of the mansion I was unfamiliar with.

I whipped out my phone and gave Norman a call. I would have called Chase but sadly, I didn't have his new phone number.

"Rachel, where are you?" Norman's voice came through the line.

I massaged my forehead, "I will like to now that info too. I lost my way."

There was rustling and then Chase' deep voice came on the line.

"Stay where you are. Can you describe where you are staying?" Chase asked.

I struggled to keep the butterflies wrecking my stomach at bay before answering.

"Yes. There are limestone statues here." I cleared my throat before speaking. I didn't want Chase to perceive something from my tone and at the same time, I wanted him to notice my irregularity.

I ended the call after I heard his assenting hum.

I did not have to wait long because it didn't take a minute before I saw Chase and my brother came towards me from another hallway connecting the one I am in.

I bowed my head to hide the red coating my cheeks when Chase approached.

"You didn't have to." I whispered but he just ruffled my short hair.

Ruffling my hair had been an habit I had known with Chase since I could remember. I didn't know how it started but I did not want it to stop even though I dislike the implication it carried.

Sometimes, the action made me feel like his beloved younger sister when I wanted him to feel like I am a good candidate for his love. Even with this major flaw, I still cherish the act.

I cherish anything that drew us closer, whether it be platonic or not.

"It's nothing. Let's go." Chase replied before leading us out of his mansion.

As we walked, I could not help but admire his broad back. His back muscles undulated with every step he took and I enjoyed every pull or strain his muscles did.

I could observe it properly without the huge awkwardness from the bathroom trip.

I maintained the cold treatment I was giving Norman and even on the drive back home, the car maintained a chilling atmosphere.

Norman glanced at me from time to time but I ignored his gaze.

He freed one hand so he can poke me.

"I'm sorry for whatever I did." He apologized but I still didn't say a word.

"I already apologized. What else do you want? My life?" Norman fired as he kept shooting glances at me.

"Alright, alright. I promise to get you that techie laptop you showed me." Norman compromised with a wince.

I finally turned to him, "You are finally going the right way. Next time, keep spouting nonsense and you will see how I would deal with you."

Norman released his hands from the wheel to reply, "I wouldn't dare. You are the boss."

The car swerved a little to the left side and I whacked the back of his head in fright.

"Are you crazy?!" I questioned when he got the car back on track.

He didn't answer. He just stuck his tongue out as he focused on driving.

Soon, we arrived at our house.

I saw my mother manicuring her nails when I entered the house. I dragged a dinning chair to sit opposite her.

My mother looked upset at my action.

"Can't you sit properly?" Her fiery eyes seemed like it could swallow me.

I adjusted my posture when I remembered that I wanted to find my womanly charms back in a bid to seduce Chase.

"Mom, how did dad fall in love with you?" I asked in anticipation.

I would use my parents courtship as a case study and outline for my own. At least, it would show me the general direction to go.

My mother put her manicuring tools down.

"Is there someone you like? Who is he?" My mother kept firing questions and I just looked up to the ceiling in frustration.

"I am not in love with anybody or something. I am just asking so I would not remain oblivious when I do." I replied.

I don't know why my mother's nose was so sharp. I only asked a question and she had already begun to reconstruct my situation.

A reminiscent expression took over my mother's face.

"I met him in school. He was the bookish type but indulged in sports too. I was one of the most beautiful girls in our department."

I smiled, "Mom, I know you are beautiful and dad has no choice but be smitten by your charms."

I had a ulterior motive and giving my mother praises would make my wish be realized.

I held her hand, "I just wanted to know the ways you reeled him in and his responses or his ways of courtship."

'So I can use it to seduce my own man.' I added silently.

"You can't use my own relationship as case study because I didn't really do much." My mother explained, "The only thing I did was apologize when I did something wrong. He did all the courting."

"He did?" I asked in shock. My dad looked like a strict and uptight person, I didn't know he had a lover boy hidden in his heart.

Her mother nodded, "He brought flowers, he invited me on dates and did all he could to win my love."

"He tried then because I know you certainly didn't make it easy for him." I said as I stood up. I returned the dinning chair to its position before heading to my room.

My parents relationship used the norms and it didn't really help me much. I would have to research on my own.

When I settled on my bed, I whipped my laptop out. I cracked my knuckles before typing. It was time for in depth research.

I began my prowl on g****e.

How to seduce a business man?

What will a man like in his woman?

Girly dresses to wear to induce a man possessiveness?

I kept searching and saving the results I was interested in.

I didn't know someone was in the room with me at that moment.

A tap jolted me out of my reverie.

"I knew you were acting suspicious the moment you asked about my wiles and your dad's courtship." My mother's voice said excitedly.

A red blush climbed up from my cheeks to my ears as I slammed my laptop shut. I regretted not bolting my door.

My mother held my shoulder.

"Your father didn't give me the leeway to try all my seduction techniques but I am going to impact them to you." My mother's joy seemed to know no boundaries.

I don't know why my mother looked like a creepy uncle trying to seduce a little girl away.

Her voice continued to sound in my ears, "I am going to take you on a course called seduction 101."