The Castillo's Series: Echoes of Love

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 4

Aria Amethyst's Point of View

The morning sun cast a soft glow over the Castillo estate as I stood before the door to Sir Blue's room. "Uhm, Sir Blue? Tita Elcid said you should wake up," I murmured, my voice a gentle plea as I rapped my knuckles against the polished wood. When my initial knock went unanswered, I tried again, hope mingling with apprehension.

Closing the gap between me and the door, I strained my ears, longing for even the faintest sign of movement within. But there was nothing—just a shroud of silence enveloping Sir Blue's room. My patience waned as I waited for him to respond, but still, there was nothing but that unsettling quiet.

This was unlike Sir Blue. I vividly remembered his animated conversations with his siblings just yesterday. I couldn't help but wonder if I was the odd one out, the sole recipient of his silence. Was it because I was the newcomer, a stranger in their world? An unsettling notion, to say the least.

"Sir Blue?" My voice trembled as I knocked once more, searching for any sign of life on the other side, but my pleas were met with the same unyielding silence. It was then that resolve overcame me—I would enter his room, wake him up from his slumber. Surely, he wouldn't mind? After all, it was his mother's request.

With a determined grip, I turned the doorknob and gently pushed it open. A sigh of relief escaped my lips as I realized that Sir Blue's door was unlocked, allowing me to inch inside with cautious steps.

There, in the serene cocoon of his room, Sir Blue lay ensconced in slumber. I closed the door behind me with a soft click, preparing to fulfill my mission. It was in that quiet moment that Sir Blue stirred, shifting the blanket that concealed his attractive and well-built physique.

The sight that met my eyes left me momentarily stunned. I couldn't help but gawk, my gaze affixed to his toned chest and muscular abdomen. His physique was nothing short of a masterpiece, and I found myself inexplicably drawn to it. A disconcerting warmth washed over me, an unexpected sensation considering the room was well-chilled with the air conditioning on.

I had seen men's bodies before, of course. In our neighborhood, shirtless men were not an uncommon sight, although their forms were often more saggy than sculpted, courtesy of excessive drinking. But this was different—Sir Blue's body was a work of art, perfectly proportioned and exuding an irresistible allure.

It wasn't just his well-toned physique that held me captive; there was something else, something I couldn't quite put into words. I tried to clear my head, to remind myself that I was in my employer's son's room and should maintain professionalism. But the image before me was too captivating to dismiss.

"Sexy?" I gasped at my own audacity, shocked by the word that had crossed my mind. How could I think such a thing? It was Sir Blue, my employer's son! I had to regain control of my wandering thoughts.

In an attempt to snap out of my uncharacteristic reverie, I shook my head and delivered a light, self-inflicted slap to my cheek. What was I even thinking, lusting after my boss's son? I had to pull myself together.

"Are you going crazy?" A voice broke through my internal turmoil, and I spun around to find Sir Blue awake, his eyes fixing on me with an amused yet quizzical look. My heart leaped into my throat as I realized that he had caught me in the act of self-flagellation.

Embarrassment washed over me like a tidal wave, my cheeks aflame with mortification. "Hehe, good morning, Sir. I see you're already awake," I stammered, feeling like an utter fool. Even in his just-woken state, Sir Blue remained impossibly handsome.

Our first real conversation and it had to occur in this peculiar situation. I mentally berated myself for my peculiar behavior. What would Sir Blue think of me now? That I was some sort of deranged girl who slapped herself?

"Uhm, yeah, as you can see?" Sir Blue's voice broke the silence, making me jump slightly. I turned to face him just as he abruptly sat up, his expression a mix of confusion and irritation. And I couldn't blame him for being annoyed; after all, he was there in all his glory, clad in nothing but boxer shorts, and I had barged into his room unannounced.

My jaw practically hit the floor, and I instinctively averted my gaze. My mind raced, frantically wondering why he had to rise so suddenly without any warning. Did he not realize that I was inside his room, or was it a deliberate attempt to catch me off guard? The mental image was seared into my memory, and I couldn't unsee it even if I tried.

"Oh my God!" I thought to myself, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. I contemplated if it was time to seek divine intervention or invest in a pair of blindfolds to protect my innocent eyes.

"Why did you have to stand up so suddenly?" I blurted out, unable to control the bewilderment in my voice. "Couldn't you have, I don't know, given a girl a heads-up?" My embarrassment was palpable, and I couldn't bring myself to meet his eyes.

The room seemed to grow uncomfortably warm, and I fervently wished for a trapdoor to miraculously appear beneath my feet, spiriting me away from this mortifying situation. "Sorry, Lord! Sorry, Mom!" I mentally apologized to anyone who would listen, hoping they would understand that I had stumbled into this situation entirely by accident.

"Tss. Whatever. What are you doing here in my room in the first place?" he scowled, giving me an irritated look.

"Ah... Uhm... My apologies, Sir. Your mother asked me to wake you up," I explained hesitantly, my voice trembling slightly. Nervousness had settled in, but I couldn't pinpoint the source. "Oh, okay," he replied, but an undercurrent of curiosity lingered in his gaze.

I hesitated, my throat tightening. Why was I feeling so uneasy all of a sudden? I glanced at Sir Blue, who was already on his way to the bathroom. Averting my eyes quickly, I couldn't help but notice that he was clad only in boxer shorts, his upper body still exposed.

Oh my God! Did I need to cleanse my eyes with holy water after what I had inadvertently witnessed? I desperately tried to erase the image from my mind, but it persisted. There was something...arousing about it.

"Ah... Uhm... I'll leave now, Sir," I mumbled, eager to escape the overwhelmingly awkward situation. My hand reached for the door, but Sir Blue's voice halted me in my tracks. "Wait, Aria," he said, and I froze, acutely aware of his approach from behind, our proximity almost suffocating.

I dared not turn around, fearing what might transpire if I did. "W-What is it, Sir?" My voice trembled with uncertainty, and I struggled to regain my composure in the midst of the palpable tension. Our closeness was disconcerting, and I felt myself growing flustered.

"Is there something you liked about what you saw earlier?" Sir Blue's whispered question sent shivers coursing down my spine. I was rendered momentarily speechless, my mind racing to process his words. "Wha—"

But I was cut off as I turned to face Sir Blue. We were standing mere inches apart, teetering on the precipice of a forbidden moment. A single wrong move, and our lips could meet.

I couldn't help but meet his intense gaze, my eyes drawn to his captivating yet enigmatic eyes. His straight nose and inviting lips were irresistibly tempting.

Oh no, no, no! Snap out of it, Aria Amethyst! What were you thinking? Lusting after your boss's son? Get a grip! But the magnetic pull of his presence was undeniable, and I found myself standing on the edge of something I couldn't quite comprehend.

Who could resist the allure of such a captivating man? I silently wished for his eyes to shed their veil of sadness and reveal the stories they held.

"You're prettier up close, and your eyes..." Sir Blue's words hung in the air like an enchantment, their weight heavy upon the room. My breath caught in my throat as his gaze bore into mine, appreciating my eyes in a way no one had before. "Is it real? I love the color of your eyes. It's lovely," he whispered, his voice carrying a hint of wonder, his gaze locked onto mine like an unbreakable spell.

For a brief, suspended moment, I stood there, trapped in his words, a prisoner of his gaze. It was as though time had stopped, and the world had fallen silent, leaving only the two of us in this intimate connection. My heart raced, echoing in the hollow chambers of my chest.

In all my years, no one had ever spoken to me this way, had never looked into my eyes and found something beautiful within them. My eyes, often concealed behind a mask of insecurity, had remained unnoticed until this very moment.

And who would have imagined that the one to unravel this hidden facet of myself would be none other than Blue Matthew Castillo?

His eyes, like twin orbs of enchantment, held me captive. They were captivating, drawing me into their depths, yet paradoxically, they seemed empty, as if hiding secrets and sorrows beyond my comprehension. Those eyes, simultaneously alluring and enigmatic, beckoned me into a realm I could never have anticipated.

"But next time, don't just walk into my room. It's like you're throwing yourself into the lion's den," he cautioned, his words laced with a hint of something I couldn't quite decipher. He took a step back, adjusting his posture, and I suddenly became aware of the breath I had been holding, as if the air around us had been charged with electricity.

Shit! I scolded myself internally, feeling foolish for getting so entranced. Why had I been holding my breath? Did he think I had bad breath? My mind spiraled into a whirlwind of self-doubt.

"Now, go, before I lose control. And please, drop the 'sir.' Just call me Blue," he ordered with an air of command, before turning away from me. I nodded quickly, eager to escape the intense atmosphere that threatened to consume us both.

I hurriedly made my way out of his room, my steps echoing in the hallway. Leaning against the wall, I took deep, calming breaths, trying to regain my composure. Oh my God! What had just happened in there? What did he mean by losing control? What was it that he needed to control, and why did he have to be so mysterious, so enigmatic?

This was supposed to be my first day in this grand estate, and already, it felt like a rollercoaster of emotions. My heart continued to pound in my chest, not just from embarrassment, but from a newfound, unfamiliar sensation that coursed through me.

Nerves? Could that be it? But why would I be nervous around Sir Blue? I tried to dismiss the feeling as I knew I had a long day ahead, filled with responsibilities. I needed to make a good impression on the Castillo family, not get entangled in some unexpected web of emotions.

As I tried to shake off the residual effects of our encounter, I cautiously glanced down the hallway, ensuring that no prying eyes had witnessed my awkward interaction with Sir Blue. Fortunately, the coast was clear. I breathed a sigh of relief and steeled myself to focus on my duties.

Yet, despite my best efforts to push the thoughts of Sir Blue aside, they persisted, replaying in my mind like a broken record. The closeness, his compliments, the tantalizing mysteries in his eyes—they all refused to be ignored. What was happening to me?

I chided myself once more, determined to regain my focus. This was my first day of work, and I couldn't afford to be distracted. I needed to prove my worth to the Castillo family. Little did I know that this seemingly innocent encounter with Sir Blue was only the beginning of a series of unforeseen events that would set my life on an uncharted course, a course filled with secrets, desires, and a journey into the heart of the enigmatic Blue Matthew Castillo.