"We're all familiar with the phrase 'no strings attached' but what happens when the strings are attached?"
Chloe is 17 years old. She's shy but talkative once you know her, she has one dream - to become a chartered accountant. There is, however, on...
"Th-this is your home?" I stuttered. Paul nodded his head. Wow. I was speechless. The Jamesons' home was a mansion - a very huge one at that. It was beautiful. I couldn't even find the suiting adjectives to describe it. I had never seen anything like it before. For a moment I just stood there, taking in the beauty of the house.
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"Are you coming?" Paul's question brought me back to my senses.
"Y-yeah."
I hated that I was stuttering. I guess I stuttered because I was both nervous and intimidated. I had known that Paul's parents were rich but I'd never actually sat and thought about exactly how rich they were. Their fortune kept surprising me because, the previous day, it was the bodyguards and now it was the house.
Sighing, I took Paul's hand and we started walking towards the door.
Don't ask how I gathered the courage to hold Paul's hand and march up to the door in one instance. We rung the doorbell and Dan immediately opened the door. We exchanged hugs and greetings as he invited us in. The interior of the house was warm and cosy. The walls were coated in dark burgundy paint and a huge chandelier hung from the ceiling.
We found Karen setting the table and, as soon as she saw us, she had a very welcoming smile on her face and I automatically found myself smiling as well.
"These are for you," I said handing her the flowers. "Oh wow, thank you. They're lovely."
Phew! Thank God she isn't allergic.
I also showed her the dessert and she told me to put it in the refrigerator. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes," she announced. Me, Paul and Dan sat at the dining table. "So, Chloe, what did you get me?" Paul's father questioned.
Shit.
I didn't know what to say. Getting Mr. Jameson a gift never crossed my mind. I had to think of a good response. I wiped my hands on my dress, they were sweating. "I um..." I turned to Paul and gave him the please-step-in look and I found him trying so hard to stifle a laughter. I looked at his father and he mirrored Paul's expression. It all started to register into my head and that was when realisation dawned on me.
They both burst into laughter. "Relax kiddo, I was just pulling your leg," Dan told me between laughs. I was a bit relieved but a small part of me still couldn't shake off the pang of guilt because I only got Paul's mother flowers and didn't get his father anything.
"Really, babe. He's only joking," Paul assured me, he must have noticed that I still felt bad about it. Paul helped because I felt a little better after that. Karen walked into the dining room with the food. "Need any help?" I offered.
"Yes, please get the juice from the refrigerator dear." Like the good girl that I was, I did as asked and brought the juice. Everybody was already seated when I returned from the kitchen and before I could think of where to sit, Paul beckoned me over to the seat next to his.
