Ten minutes to five in the morning.
As Nathan promised his brother, he would be on the doorstep of the Adams Residence at first light. He let out a soft sigh, his eyes tracing the intricate carvings and the perfect symmetry of the teak-wood main door.
The mansion was their home, a place his father inherited and was passed on to Evan. As much as Nathan loved the intricacy and elegance of the place, he was glad it was not given to him. He didn’t want to be rooted in the same place. Chloe, his girlfriend, didn’t even like to live there but was forced to stay because of her mother. However, when he left, she used work as an excuse to live independently. Olivia allowed her with a condition that she had to go home on weekends.
With a deep breath, he inserted the key into the keyhole and turned it slowly, not wanting to make a nose as if its creak would disturb anyone. There was a small celebration last night for Chloe’s promotion at work, and a few of her friends and cousins came over. It didn’t matter what time the party ended because he was sure some of them, especially the cousins, would probably sleep over.
‘Who would be awake at this hour?’ Nathan sighed.
Cassie, your little best friend! His brother’s voice echoed as he remembered him joking that his little best friend never slept.
“Little best friend,” Nathan scoffed softly, but the corners of his mouth lifted as he thought of her.
He had promised to keep in touch with the child, but their new business abroad and the expansion opportunities kept him busy. He found it increasingly difficult to manage his time, struggling to find even a few minutes for his girlfriend, let alone spare a few minutes with Chloe’s sister. The weight of his unfulfilled promise to Cassie was a constant burden on his mind.
During his first year in the US, his email was filled with Cassie’s letters, updating him daily on what was happening at home. In the following years, he hardly opened his personal email when he could video call his girlfriend directly. Yet, his longing for his little best friend was always there, even when Chloe would say her baby sister was busy studying or Cassie didn’t feel like talking to him.
Nathan heaved another sigh as he pushed the door open, and he almost jumped, startled to see Evan standing.
“Jesus! You almost gave me a heart attack,” Nathan hissed, sounding annoyed, but smiled and hugged his brother.
Evan laughed, tapping his back. “I told you to return after a year so you won’t think of me as someone else. Welcome home, brother.”
Nathan’s brow furrowed, glancing at his old Rolex wristwatch when his brother eased back and walked beside him. Evan was not an early riser like him.
“You’re an early riser now?” He asked curiously.
“Huh?” Evan yawned involuntarily and looked at him briefly. “You know I’m not. If you were to ask me, I would want nothing at this time but be in bed. I have a meeting at nine. Also, I’m doing something important. Coffee?”
Nathan shook his head and attempted to crack a joke. “You have something stronger than that? I need to stay awake.”
He had a meeting at seven in the morning at his time but in the afternoon in the US.
“Stronger than coffee?” Evan halted and turned to face him, his lips curving into a relieved smile. “I have something stronger than coffee. I left it by the poolside.” He tapped his shoulder. “This is still your home, Nathan. So, feel at home.”
Poolside? Before he could decline and tell his brother he had changed his mind about the offer, Evan had already sprinted to the kitchen, leaving him in the hallway that led to the swimming pool. He let out a sigh and stepped toward the glass door but halted abruptly when he heard a splash from someone jumping into the water.
'Who the hell would swim at this hour?' Curious, Nathan walked toward the pool and stood closer to the ivory travertine coping.
The pool area was dimly lit, not enough to identify who it was. Nathan narrowed his eyes briefly, trying to recognize the person treading gracefully in the opposite direction despite the biting cold.
He must have noticed him because he didn't swim back in his direction when he reached the edge of the pool. When the person ascended the pool ladder, only then did Nathan realize the swimmer was not a man but a woman.
Nathan swallowed, suddenly wishing it was daylight to see much of her. If his hunch were correct, then his guess could be right that she was one perfect and hot woman. When she turned around, Nathan could not help but feel disappointed with the poor lighting in the pool area.
“Nathan?” She asked hesitantly, her voice almost a murmur as she held her gaze momentarily on a figure in the distance.
‘Chloe?’
Nathan squinted, eyeing the woman and trying to recognize her voice. She was not Chloe, and he hated himself because he could not look away from her. He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head briefly, brushing off the perfect curves of the petite woman that drowned his senses.
“Oh, my God! Evan’s not joking,” she muttered excitedly, dropping the towel she picked up from the lounger and squealing as she dashed toward him. “It’s really you!” She said, throwing herself at Nathan.
His heart and breathing stopped altogether as he was unprepared for her reaction. He was torn about whether to hold her behind or let her fall, but before he could choose, she wrapped her legs around his waist. He needed a strong slap in the face to wake himself up, not expecting a jolt of arousal at his situation.
“Oh,” she groaned, easing back. “I’m wet,” a grin curving her lips as she realized she had just come from the pool.
Nathan almost said it was what he wanted, but before he could think of naughty things to say, she raised her head, and her round, deep brown eyes met his.
This time, he was sure his heart stopped beating. Shame flooded his face, realizing she was not even a woman. She was only a child.
“Cassidy?”