Alluring Masquerade

Chapter 51 - New Deals And Blessings.

          Hira decided to make a revised deal with him that for the time being she could pay him back somehow. She just didn't know how exactly.

          Tapping, her fingertips on the table, she watched him with narrowed eyes and rested her chin in her left hand. "What are you thinking about?" she questioned, because his eyes were glittering mischievously. She raised her eyebrows at him.

          Kael shrugged rather nonchalantly. "I'm not even going to bother answering that," he answered after a second, and shook his head. Why do girls ask that question? he reflected. We're not thinking about anything remotely interesting to girls. And if we don't tell them what we're thinking it's still bad.

          "What's it with you and this 'aloof' guy persona?" she asked, imitating the speech marks with her fingers. "It might be alluring at first, but then it's just confusing."

          "Taking it as a compliment," he warned.

          "Actually, I like it. But I also like your 'nice' guy side," she nodded thoughtfully. "Weirdo."

          "What?"

          "I just wanted to irritate you," she smiled. "Anyway, back at the matter at hand. I feel heavy."

          He blinked, studying her figure confusingly.

          She shook her head. "As in internally," she placed her hand on her chest. "I can't live with the fact that all our debts are gone – it's almost crazy! I feel so guilty."

          "Don't be," he held her hands across the table. "I wanted to help you."

          "I know but..." she wavered.

          "I thought you'd be happy..."

          "I am ... and I'm not."

          "I don't get it. All your problems are gone. You don't even need to work long hours anymore. Isn't that relieving?" he tried to explain and reason with her.

          She looked down at their hands and then back up at him, squeezing his hands for assurance. "It is reliving but at the same time I can't accept it," she replied. "Not unless I get to pay you back somehow. It's just the way I am and have been raised. My father used to say; 'nothing comes free without a catch.' And he was always right." She paused to take a deep breath. "It doesn't feel right taking money from you. And it's so much – never mind, the point is ... I need to pay you back!"

          "If it means so much to you..." he said slowly.

          "It does," she said, nodding.

          "However about working in my mansion?" he offered.

          She blinked at him. "What could I possibly do there?" she asked.

          "Being at my service 24/7," he answered.

          "Well..." she said slowly, "As long as it's professional."

          "What's the fun in that?" he asked, receiving a smack on the arm. "Not fair!"

          She laughed at him. "That is why I'll hand you a copy of the new contract later today, when I return from the library – I have to hand in a couple of books for Hiba anyway – alright?" She watched him as he copied how she was sitting with her chin in her hand.

          "Great," he muttered, sipping his coffee. "But don't you think this whole contract business is useless? It's not like you don't trust me. We've already discussed what not and what not to do. I don't think we need another contract to follow do you?"