To Love A Maiden: An Enemies To Friends To Lovers Romance ✓

Chapter 12 - Hello, Angel

Angel was not in the mood.

"What was what about?"

"Oh please, quit pretending and tell me why you were trying to seduce the younger Kingsley."

As soon as Claire's words were out, Angel laughed. She laughed so hard that she mistakenly dropped the grabber she'd been holding.

Claire glared at her. "Would you just answer the question?"

"I am not obligated to feed your idiotic curiosity, Claire. So please let me finish my work."

With a scoff, Claire eyed her one last time before dramatically turning around and headed to the house.

~~

"I'm leaving now, ma," Cristiano announced to his mom as soon as he was back in the drawing room where she sat next to her piano playing a few keys.

"That sounds really good by the way." He added as he placed both hands in his pocket.

Ada frowned and got up. "Thank you, but wait, why don't I ask one of the maids to get you some to-go boxes for dinner and whenever? There's plenty to go around."

"Oh there would be no need for that. I can't wait."

"Just for a few more minutes, say ten minutes? Come on, don't deny your mother a chance to feed her son."

Cristiano raised his brows and immediately lowered them. "Okay, fine."

Ada smiled warmly as she pressed a button on the wall and a minute later, one of the maids came into the drawing room.

"Oh, Claire. Get five to-go boxes prepared for Cristiano. And make it quick."

"Yes, ma'am." The maid bowed and stole a glance at Cristiano before exiting the room.

~~

"So I didn't get to ask you what happened with you at the conference last week when you left me with Manny." Melinda began as she slumped on the bed, waiting for Angel to turn around after taking off her apron. It was about two hours after dinner and just about time to begin preparing for bed.

Angel turned to face her. "Nothing interesting. I just needed some quiet time in the woods."

"Oh?" Melinda asked, wide-eyed.

"Yeah."

"Hmm. Well, Manny and I talked for a while before he said he had to go and find Cristiano because he was ready to leave."

"Oh yeah?" Angel asked before swallowing a lump, hoping that Manny had not come back to Melinda and told her he saw her and Cristiano in the woods. She didn't want to think about that day when he was telling her all those things about himself. And Cristiano was right, she hadn't said much that night, but she'd listened.

But Angel didn't want to think about Cristiano or how he'd lingered earlier today before dinnertime and chatted with her when she was cleaning the pool. She didn't want to think about how she'd shared some things with him because he was so interested in knowing about her.

She didn't want to think about all that.

"Angel!"

She jumped at the sound of her name.

"Yes?"

"Gosh, you were so lost. I was asking you a question. Are you okay?" Melinda asked.

"I'm sorry." Angel placed a hand on her forehead. "I was just thinking for a minute."

"About what?" Melinda asked as she got up to begin taking off her dress.

"I'm not sure." Angel simply said and sighed.