Chapter 6
2050 Words
Ambrose was walking too fast while holding my hand. It seemed like he wants to leave the mall as fast as he could.
“Ambrose,” I called him, already panting because I need to keep up with his long strides. He finally stopped and looked at me. I took my hand back and glared at him. “I need to breathe,” I said.
He immediately looked guilty. He took something out of his pocket and handed me a white handkerchief. “Here,” he said. “You’re sweaty.”
I frowned but nonetheless accepted the hanky and used it to wipe my sweat. “Sorry, but why did you walk out on her like that?” I asked him. I am curious. It’s obvious that Aira is one of his women and I am not going to judge him on that. Xander had a lot of girls, too, to the point that I have actually came to the realization that all rich men are like that.
Ambrose sighed and gave me a look as if asking me why I really had to ask that question. I bit my lip, evaded his gaze and acted like I am stupid to not understand what his stare was about.
We were standing in front of a fruit shake stall and the staff was smiling at me. “Need some refreshments to cool your head and talk out your misunderstanding?” she sounded so lively but her words made my cheeks blush in embarrassment.
I shook my head. “We’re not fighting—”
“That’s okay, Ma’am! Couples fight from time to time,” she beamed, cutting me off before handing me their menu. “Our bestseller is the mango-lemon shake. It’s so good, you’ll forget all your troubles easily.”
I heard Ambrose stifle a laugh from behind me before draping his arms around my shoulder. My eyes widened and I tried to wiggle out of his grip but he held me still. He leaned closer. “Sure, Miss. We’ll have two of that. Large size,” he said with a huge smile.
Her face brightened and immediately told her colleague of our order while I glared at Ambrose. “Why did you not clear up the misunderstanding?” I hissed.
He chuckled and leaned to my ear. “That’s okay. She’ll only see us once anyway,” he replied.
I rolled my eyes and removed his arms around my shoulder and he just laughed. Now, my assumption about him and Aira could be at least eighty percent true.
I am trying so hard to be kind to him as a form of respect because he helped me a lot. Every night, I am wondering what could have happened if I hadn’t met him. I would have been killed by the rogues or probably starved to death while looking for the city.
The lady walked back to us with a huge smile on her face before handing us the drinks Ambrose ordered. He wrapped a tissue around one bottle before giving it to me. The lady giggled and started to tease us again.
I sighed and looked at Ambrose who was just smiling while paying for them.
“Your boyfriend is so sweet,” she beamed. “I wonder if I’ll ever find a man like him, too.”
I was about to open my mouth and respond when Ambrose butted in. “Oh, for sure, you’ll find a man who would treat you good, too,” he told her making her smile.
“Thank you, sir! I wish you stay together forever!”
Ambrose immediately pulled me and walked away from the stall before I could even correct what the woman was thinking.
I waited until we were in the parking lot before I was ready to give him a good earful. I didn’t want to make a scene in the mall. “I still don’t like it that you didn’t tell her the truth. We’re not—and will never be—dating.”
Ambrose opened the door of the driver’s seat. “Why are you talking like it’s impossible for us to date?” he asked me with a smirk playing on his lips.
My eyes widened, obviously scandalized by his question. “Of course, it’s impossible!” I exclaimed. I could never imagine myself dating him. Yes, he’s handsome but he’s not my type. Because of the rich people I knew from my pack, I somehow reject the idea of me dating someone from their social class.
I want nothing like a life like theirs.
Ambrose arched his brow and looked so amused at my reaction. He chuckled and shook his head. “Don’t say it like a dead possibility, Crystal. Everything is possible,” he told me before getting inside the car.
I sighed and shook my head. I just opened the car door and got in, too. I saw him putting all the paper bags on the backseat.
“Seatbelt,” he told me and I immediately buckled myself.
The whole ride was quiet until his phone rang and I saw the name Nolan on the screen.
He gave me a quick glance. “I’m sorry. This is my secretary. I need to take this call,” he told me before connecting it to the Bluetooth system.
I nodded and just looked out the window.
“Yes,” he uttered in a serious voice.
“Sir, I bought the phone you told me to. Should I bring it to your house?” Nolan asked. But it’s a mansion, not a house. I wanted to correct but I remembered that I am only eavesdropping here.
“Yes,” Ambrose replied. “Can you make it tonight?”
“Yes, sir. I’ll drive to your house “I have received the reports from Arena Industries. They also want to set an appointment tomorrow because their representative will fly to Bangkok tomorrow evening. He’ll stay there for a month.” I could hear the urgency in his secretary’s voice.
Ambrose sighed hard. “Fine,” he said. “What time did he want to set up the appointment?”
“Ten in the morning, sir,” Nolan replied. “Will I confirm?”
“Yes, please confirm,” Ambrose replied before ending the call. He let out another harsh breath as he turned to the curb.
I looked at him while his eyes are narrowed on the road. I wonder what he feels right now. He has conditioned his body for two days of rest days. It must be stressful to have a sudden change of schedule. But then again, he must have been used to it, too.
“You’ll be out tomorrow then?” I asked just to start a new conversation.
He nodded. “But I won’t be long,” he explained.
“Okay,” I said as I placed my palms on my lap, sitting like a good kid while looking out the forest. I am still wondering why he preferred to live in the middle of the forest. But then again, to each its own.
When we arrived back to his mansion, he walked inside first, carrying all the paper bags.
“Hey,” I called him and he turned to me. “Thanks for today,” I said softly.
He chuckled walked towards me. “Here are your clothes,” he said as he handed me all the paper bags—even the one he bought.
I narrowed my eyes. “That’s not mine,” I told him while pointing at the paper bag he bought for himself.
He blinked at me and smirked. He took a box out of the paper bag and gave it to me. “I bought you a pair of shoes and slippers,” he said. “This is my thank you gift for cleaning my backyard, my garden and my patio.”
I gasped, utterly surprised. I shook my head. “I’m not going to accept that,” I told him. “I cleaned your house because I don’t want to be useless here. You already let me stay here for free. I don’t want to be a—”
“Burden?” he cut me off. “I already told you that you’re not a burden to me. I usually hire someone to clean my house and I pay her. But this week, you did her job so I won’t call her to come here.”
I stared at him and saw him smiling at me.
“Just take them,” he said. “I won’t be able to use this anyway. If you don’t accept them, they would just go to waste.”
I swallowed before pursing my lips tightly. He’s right. He can’t wear those because they won’t fit his huge feet. I sighed and had no choice but to take it. “T-Thank you,” I said while looking at the pair of shoes and slippers. They don’t look cheap at all.
“How did you know my size?” I asked curiously because he never asked me anything about my shoe size.
He shrugged. “I just looked at your feet while you were sleeping the first time we met,” he replied.
I raised my brow. “That’s a good way to check for the right shoe size.”
He chuckled. “I am just good at estimating things, I guess. I got from my job,” he replied before grinning widely. “Anyway, thank you, Crystal. You made my days less boring in this huge house,” he uttered in a soft voice before turning to the staircase.
I watched his back as a smile broke out of my lips. I guess he’s more than just a handsome face. This man also has a heart.
***
When I went down later that night, I saw Ambrose watching a crime movie on his eighty-two-inch Smart TV. He’s changed into more comfortable clothes.
He turned to my way and smiled. “Come here. Let’s watch some movies,” he told me as he tapped the couch.
I smiled weakly and shook my head. “I’m just going to drink water,” I informed him.
“Then, come after you drink,” he said. “I also fixed us some nachos.” He raised the bowl filled with delicious nachos.
I sighed and nodded in defeat. “Okay,” I replied and walked to the kitchen before I change my mind.
I brought my glass of water to the living room. I sat the farthest I could from him while my eyes are glued on the screen. It was actually a scene of a woman hiding from the psychopath.
“Here…have some,” he told me as he placed the bowl of nachos in the space between us.
I nodded and happily ate while the movie reached its climax. There was silence in the atmosphere but it’s not the usual awkward silence that we experience. Now, we’re quiet because we’re both immersed at the movie.
I cannot stop praising the female actress because of her phenomenal acting. She portrayed her character so well that I could even feel her emotions radiating from the screen.
I couldn’t even take my eyes off TV. She was just too good that it makes me want to become like her. I want to become a good actress that would leave the audience in awe. I want to be the actress who would transfer her emotions to the audience watching.
The ending was heart-wrenching that I couldn’t help but tear up when the female actress finally found the body of her dead mother. I couldn’t stop crying when the credits rolled in.
Ambrose handed me some tissues. “I never pegged you as someone who cries because of a movie,” he teased me, probably to lighten up my mood.
I frowned at him but took the tissue he offered. “The movie was good,” I reasoned. “The actress was at the top of her game. She portrayed the role well.”
He chuckled. “Should we watch a comedy next?” he asked me as he started going over the movies again.
I smiled and nodded. “Sure,” I replied. “But aren’t you supposed to be sleeping now? You have a meeting tomorrow.” I was still wiping the tears I shed.
He shrugged. “The meeting is at ten in the morning. I would be up by then for sure,” he said confidently. “Besides, this is the first time I will watch a movie with someone.”
I immediately turned to him. “Really?” I am in disbelief.
He nodded. “I usually hate watching movies with someone because they tend to talk a lot,” he said. “That’s why I was happy that you didn’t talk. You just cried.” He laughed, teasing me.
I rolled my eyes at him. “The final scene was heartbreaking!” I insisted.
He just laughed and shrugged. And I ended the night explaining my tears. But I was happy and was able to forget my problems for the meantime. Thanks to Ambrose.
- Writer
