AVA
Ava stood there smiling sheepishly to herself. She had worried that Taylor might come and see them in a conspicuous position, but that wasn't for long since Richard had left and Taylor didn't show.
Glancing down at the two sandwiches on the plate, she realized there was still so much she didn't know about him. Like another world of mysteries around him.
Not the dark kind though.
He was so handsome when she had turned and found him standing there. His streaking white hair and beards were his features that Ava was sure, she was never going to get tired of.
Was she ever going to get tired at all?
And where did the naive Ava disappear to?
She'd even said 'me too' when he'd asked they talk when he got back. She was doing a lot of things she'd never thought that she'd ever do.
Taking hold of the now warm coffee, she poured it into the sink, washed it and replaced it.
He'd kissed her and she'd allowed it because she realized she missed him too. It was there between them that they missed seeing each other.
While everything felt so wrong, it felt so right too.
Maybe in another life, their age gap wouldn't have mattered, but right at that point, it was staring them in the face.
It couldn't be ignored, no matter how they tried.
Right on cue, Taylor hollered as she breezed in. "Are those sandwiches for my dad?" She asked as she went straight to the freezer to take a bottle of water.
Ava wondered if it were a family tradition to have water, first thing in the morning. Although, Richard didn't take water before leaving. He probably, didn't feel up to it.
"I didn't know he doesn't like them. Would you like me to make something for you?"
She shook her head as she went and took a seat at the kitchen island. Uncapping the bottle, she sipped a few and replaced the cap, dropping it on the surface.
"You don't need to make me anything else. I'll have the sandwiches." She reached across the surface and drew the plate to her side.
"So, Ava, tell me something."
"Something like what?"
Taylor shrugged as she bit into a sandwich. "Anything interesting about you? Like a boyfriend or anything like that?"
It was an innocent question but Ava felt there was an underlying intention. It unsettled her.
Slowly, she shook her head and shuffled her feet. "No, there isn't. I stay with a friend."
She bit into the sandwich again, munching heartily as her eyes, twinkled. She nodded as if she was thinking about Ava's response. "You should sit. Everywhere is already squeaky clean."
"I should just..."
"Sit Ava. It's just us and I'm sure my dad doesn't mind. The whole place is already sparkling."
Ava nodded and pulled out a chair and sat, facing Taylor.
They say in a comfortable silence till she could ask her what she always had in mind.
"Uhm... I've always wanted to ask about your other sister..."
"Aria?"
Ava nodded. "Yes, where's she? Why's she not here?"
Taylor chuckled. "She's currently at school and probably somewhere across the country as we speak. She's always everywhere, but she'll be graduating soon and eventually get back."
"Oh!" That was all she could mutter.
"What college did you go to? I graduated from DeSaur..." She went on till she saw how Ava's face shadowed.
Ava shook her head, her eyes grew dim and her cheeks, flushed. "I didn't go to college. I didn't get the opportunity."
She wanted to tell her that she got a scholarship from the same DeSaur University, but couldn't. She was sure she already looked pitiful.
She'd even accepted money from her father to clear hospital bills, so it was better she didn't say anything.
Taylor's face was the obvious interpretation of what Ava was avoiding.
She ate the last piece of the sandwich and pushed away the plate which still had one sandwich.
"I shouldn't have asked that."
Ava shook her head quickly. "No, it's fine. It's not a big deal."
"I could ask my dad to help you get into one though. It's important."
That got Ava's eyes widening and almost popping out. There was no way in hell she was going to ask such favor.
"I can't do that. I'll only be here for the next two months. Don't worry about it." She tried to sound confident and not bothered but her voice wavered and Taylor detected it.
She begged that Taylor didn't push it. Taylor almost read her mind because she suddenly nodded and took hold of her water, getting up from the chair.
"I'll be leaving in a few and won't be home till tomorrow. I'll see you before I leave, yes?"
Ava just nodded and Taylor smiled at her then left the kitchen.
As she was left all alone, she cleared the island and wrapped the sandwich with the hope of eating it as lunch later.
She resumed dusting the already sparkling cabinets and corners and table tops.
When Taylor came down on her way out, all dressed up and bade her goodbye when she was leaving, she reminded her that she won't be home till the next day, so she would have to wait up for her father.
Ava could swear that there was something in Taylor's voice when she said that, bit it vanished immediately so she didn't dwell on it.
She went on another tour of the mansion when she was left all alone. She repeated the routine of dusting surfaces and swiping at corners till there was nothing left to do than face the brooding boredom and the irrepressible temptation of taking a dip in the pool.
She stashed away the cleaning tools and returned to the pool. It made her remember the one thing she missed back in Salta.
The river.
It wasn't a really big river, but it was big enough. She missed taking dips very early in the morning and taking long walks along the width of it.
She would stay there and watch the sun rise. Maybe, it wasn't really bad back in Salta after all.
Making up her mind, she decided to go in and get out in exactly fifteen minutes, that way she wouldn't risk getting caught if Sir Richard decided to get home earlier than expected. It was already 2pm so, she didn't want to take advantage of their kindness and stepping out of boundary.
She took a towel from the pool house and returned to the pool to strip off of her black jeans and yellow t-shirt. Folding them neatly on one of the chaise longues, she dived into the water in only her brassiere and plain cotton panties.
There was nothing better than that moment- aside the kisses and hugs from Sir Richard- since she came to Bellamy. The cool wave enveloped her and she waded through the cool water on her back and stomach, feeling so much alive.
Was there anything more that wasn't luxury at the mansion? Ava knew there was more, because everything screamed of it.
The pool wasn't like any she had seen in Salta. It was tiled and large. She had swam to the deeper part of the pool which was rounded while the shallow part, was triangular.
She absently wondered why he had chosen those shapes. She wanted to spend the rest of the day in the pool, that is, if she could.
She'd let herself sit at the edge and had her feet in the water, enjoying the serenity of the open air. She was almost drooling when she thought she heard a sound. Specifically, it was a car engine in the distance.
Startled, she pulled her feet from the water and rushed to her feet, darting to the chaise longue to wrap the towel around herself and gathered her clothes in her arms.
Her heart was skipping the beat, as she rushed into the pool house to get dressed. She prayed fervently that it wouldn't be Sir Richard or his secretary. She was certain she would be fired on the spot.
Ava was dressed in minutes but had to run the towel thoroughly through her hair to get the excess moisture out of it.
Whoever it was that got in the mansion, would be looking for her, so she threw down the towel, hoping to get back to wash it later before she left for the day.
Giving herself a last once-over, she dashed out but didn't go far because she halted as she came face to face to the other person that was retreating from the house, obviously searching for her.
Simone. His girlfriend.
He hadn't said anything about her coming over. He would have told her.
Right?
Simone stopped in her tracks, seemingly surprised to find her there. Ava watched as the woman's gaze went down her length, ran up, took in her wet hair and settled on her face.
Her eyes squinted curiously at Ava whose heart was running haphazardly.
Ava noted her sleeveless flower print red gown which hugged her figures and the black heels and how her hair which was now fixed in a bob moulded her face, accentuating her jaw line and cheek bones.
Ava could see why she was in Richard's life. Simone was everything that she could never dream to be.
She had the education, the fame, the money and everything good. Wow! Poor me!
Simone folded her toned arms over her breasts and speared Ava with a dark gaze. "Ava..." She said, "you're Ava right?" She asked, as if she wasn't sure anymore.
Ava nodded sceptically and stood at the same spot, trying not to breath too much. She just wanted to run and hide from those spearing eyes that dug into her soul.
Her eyes left her face and went behind her, she scoffed. "What were you doing there?" Taking a step towards Ava, "you were swimming?" She asked as she let her eyes return to her hair and down her body.
Ava was transfixed. She knew she was in for it.
"Aren't you supposed to be doing something? A chore or something? Isn't that what Richard's paying you to do, but you take time off while he's out?"
Now, Ava's eyes widened as she realized how it had sounded, even to her own ears.
She shook her head frantically but the other woman continued.
"I think I understand you, darling. You haven't been in a place like this and you thought this was the universe's way of giving you an insight into what luxury looks like." She paused and scoffed. "Right?"
It was getting chilly by the minute that Ava had to wrap her arms infront of her. Her lower lip quivered, it wasn't out of cold, but from the iciness in Simone's voice.
"It's not like that. I've never_" she couldn't get the rest of the words out, because her voice was clogged with the tears that was starting to build.
"Have we met before? Your hair... it strikes a familiar feeling that I've seen it somewhere but I can't really remember."
She hated her hair, but it seemed like everyone else kept getting attached to it. Ridiculous!
"At the fundraiser the other night. I was with Sir Richard at the fountain when you..."
She realized too late that she shouldn't have said it.
Simone caught it immediately. A sneer appeared on her face. "I was right? I was sure I saw a redhead. You were there with Richard!"
There was something accusing in her voice. It wasn't hiding it. It was there.
"I'm going to tell you this, Ava from God knows where! I don't like you! I don't like your hair, your eyes. I don't like you!" Her voice was hard with hatred and spite and it was evident in her eyes.
The tears clouded and blurred her vision and she tried to hold them back, but it was futile.
No one had ever told her something like that to her face. Not even her mother.
She felt the wheels in her head, going round and round. It was pathetic enough that she was shedding tears in front of her, but it would be more disastrous if she fainted.
"I don't like you! You don't belong here. So..." She drawled and leaned forward, letting her arms drop by her side. "Do your job quietly and leave and we won't have a problem. I'm going to keep quiet about your little escapades, so don't do anything stupid while you're here."
Straightening, she glowered at Ava and marched back to the house.
When Ava returned to the house, the woman was no where in sight but she had tried to bite back the streaming tears.
She was still wiping the tears from her face, when Simone returned.
"I guess you can make nice meals, so I need you to make dinner before you leave. We're having dinner together."
Swallowing hard, she tried to speak. "Do you have anything in mind?" Her voice sounded okay, at least.
She cocked an eyebrow. "You're the cook, so surprise me."
Ava nodded, reaching for an apron when her voice halted her.
"When you're done, I want you gone."
She stared back at the actress. "I can't. I was instructed not to leave without his permission." He also told me to wait for him tonight, she knew she couldn't say that or she might get her head bitten off.
Simone gave her a knowing smile. "I'm here now. I can take care of him. You don't need to wait for him. When you're done, you should be on your way," she said. Her voice taut and crisp.
She started to leave but stopped, she still had something to say.
"Understood?"
Ava held her gaze as she nodded.
"Understood."