CHAPTER TEN

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MALVINA:

I stab the trowel into the ground with much force than needed, and gather the soil in a pile. "I hate doing this!" I grab the small sapling and place it in the small dug up space. "Hah! Why is it so hot today?" I wipe the sweat off my face and pat the soil around the plant. The events from a day ago replays in my mind.

'Malvina, I have a small request for you. As you know, I have to visit my hometown again. I want you to look after the place for a week. Don't entertain any guests, the hotel will be closed till I return. And remember, under no circumstances should you let anyone here. Okay?"

Ms. Lily, each year around the early fall, visits her hometown. I know nothing about it, nor have I ever seen anyone in her family. No one visits. She never talks about it. Ever. But, like a ritual, she always goes to them.

Strange thing is, she never asks me to look after this place, at least not in this sense. It's always left locked up, leaving the staff and us behind. This time seemed a little different. Like she wanted to hand me some kind of responsibility.

I sigh and pick myself up. "Ah! Finally." I rise from my position.Ouch, my back hurts!" I do a few stretches. I look down at my clothes, covered in dirt.

My white shorts are stained with soil marks and my discarded cardigan is on the ground. I removed it a while ago, and now only in my white camisole.

I take a deep breath while massaging my shoulder. A few tendrils of hair escape my loose bun and I tuck them behind my ears. "So much for not yelling at me, it was her idea of punishment. All because of that dark-eyed idiot." I speak to the empty air. My mind drifts back to him. Warm breath against my face. Strong arms carrying me. That intense stare.

The truth is, I haven't been able to stop thinking about him since that night. It's as if he has imprinted himself on my mind. Him. His dark stare. His sinful smile. Even his stupid smell, which is not stupid at all and reminds me of a deep forest, covered in fog. It was a one-time meeting and sadly- no- good thing that I will never see him again. Sigh.

"Are you calling me an idiot?" I jump at the sudden sound, falling face-first into the ground, almost.

His strong arms cradle me, close enough to feel his warm breath on my face. I feel my heart beating wildly in my chest, heaving as if I ran a mile. He looks at me, no, he stares at my soul, devouring me with those eyes, which never left my mind since the day I saw them.

"Are you always this clumsy?" His husky voice penetrates my ears, but my body doesn't respond. A stupid 'Yes' leaves my mouth and I instantly regret it. The corner of his mouth tips up for a fraction of a second and that does weird things to my mind. I wonder how beautiful his smile must be.

"Yo-u?" I pull away from him, fumbling with the hem of my shorts. He looks at me, up and down, he grits his jaw and removes his suit jacket. Before I can utter anything, he walks towards me and pulls in over my body, buttoning the first two buttons.

I look over his shoulder to see a tall man, in a black uniform, suit, and tie. Does he follow him everywhere? Is he the bodyguard? He just stands there like a wall, starting straight into, God knows what.

I look at the jacket over my body, navy blue, then at him. Except for the scowl on his face, he looked every bit like a runway model. Black shirt, and an open top button.

I clear my throat, "Why are you here?"

"Given our last interaction, I hoped you would be a little sweeter than this."

"Sweet? Our interaction where you carried me like a bag of potatoes and forced me to sit in your car?"

"No, one where I sincerely offered to take responsibility, get your injury checked and drop you home like the gentleman that I am." He shrugs.

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