Chereads / The Peony and the Rose / Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Home

Chapter 6 - Chapter 6: Home

Hien's mobile rang suddenly, distracting her from the book she was reading to pass time. Absently, she picked it up and realised that it was Ellie. Ellie was concerned about the living arrangement after Emmanuel had stayed for a night.

Hien rolled her eyes. "An is infuriating. He likes to make fun of me," whined Hien who was lounging on her couch, frustrated. "I can't believe I chased him around the living room trying to hit him with a cushion." She pouted.

"Oh?" Ellie's voice brightened with surprise. "What did he say?"

The annoyed singer placed her book carefully on the coffee table. "What do you think? He merely laughed." Her eyes narrowed.

"What did he do to irritate you?" laughed Ellie, this tidbit of information was fascinating.

"He teased me when he caught me admiring him." She frowned at the coffee table, upset. "In my defence, he was dressed in a crisp and well-fitted suit. You have already experienced the effect of An in a suit."

Ellie, unable to control herself, burst out laughing. "Were you that indiscreet?"

"Ellie!" whined Fuzhen pitifully. She did not want to be teased by her close friend after An. She was hoping to find someone on her side. "I bet you would be just like me. You'll drool at him if you were here."

She continued to laugh heartily.

"I am going to hang up if you want to just laugh."

"I'm sorry, Hienie I'm sorry," placated Ellie hastily, trying to keep the conversation going so that her good friend would not clam up. "I didn't think he would possess such a playful nature. I mean he appears to be that suave libertine rather than a cheeky boy."

She huffed, rolling her eyes. "I didn't think that he was so sassy. Although, An can be quite sweet. He was worried when I pushed myself too hard."

"Oh? Tell me more."

Hien studied the handkerchief that he had used on her moments ago. She lifted it into the air as she studied it, watching the way the fabric spread and closed. It was a plain cloth made of Egyptian cotton, pressed neatly, another piece for her collection. "An helped me to clean off my sweat with his handkerchief." She rolled to her stomach, confused. She did not know what to make of this sweet gesture since it could be seen as just a part of his charms. The singer was troubled by how easy it was living with Emmanuel which was odd since she was usually very awkward with the members of the opposite gender. She could see why Ellie would have called her to check on her.

There was a long pause.

"He makes an effort to care for you huh."

"Ah huh. He's a good friend," continued Hien wistfully, twisting a lock of her hair with her finger. "He bought groceries in the morning and made breakfast for me."

Ellie let out a whistle. "Amazing! Could you ask An to be my bodyguard then? Perhaps, we should have a rotation. I think Susie would appreciate his services since she wouldn't have to clean up—"

"How could you? He's not a domestic helper," interrupted Hien forcefully, pressing the phone to her ear. The thought of her close friends treating him like a free help struck a chord in her. Did they not remember his real identity? "I was genuinely surprised by his actions. I thought since he was born into privilege, I needed to house-train him."

Ellie chuckled brightly. "I will think so too." There was a long pause after she had stopped laughing. A natural silence as the two women were left to their own thoughts. "Hienie, are you certain he's really only a friend?"

Hien's brows furrowed at her hesitant question. "What do you mean, Ellie? Do you suspect that he has other wicked intentions like Susie?"

"Of course not!" protested her close friend fervently. "I trust him. To be honest, I am surprised by his sincerity. I can tell that El cares for you." She sounded very confident of her observation.

Hien sat up, annoyed. "Do you think that he is incapable of truly caring for someone due to his less than stellular reputation?"

"Yes," concurred Ellie frankly. She was always blunt with her words. "You heard from the director. He is noted to be indifferent to others. He did not behave that way when we first met but it seems like the public might be too harsh on him."

Hien shrugged. "We have witnessed his heavy-handed ways. I have never questioned his sincerity." Absently, she twirled a lock of her hair. She did not expect him to be comfortable with housework. She did not expect him to bait her enemies so that he could corner them. She did not expect that he would get along well with her son. She did not expect that he was so fun to be with. And she enjoyed his companionship immensely.

"Hienie, I think you might need to consider that An might be pursuing after you."

Her cheeks became inflamed. "That's not possible! He is just here because he's on a Sabbath. Anyway, my parents are expecting me to be home. We'll talk later."

Their conversation ended on that strange note. However, her close friend's parting statement consumed her thoughts: was he chasing her? That was the million dollar question wasn't it? Was she thinking a bit too highly of herself? She growled, kicking her legs. There was no point ruminating on such questions. She would rather prepare herself to return home. She dropped text to Ah Cheng, her manager for a favour to drop An at her family home once his task was over.

The manager agreed to her request and told her to expect him only in the late evening since he was aiding the legal proceedings. The singer called her parents, updating them that a bodyguard would accompany her home. Finally, she helped Bon get ready for a trip since her parents loved that overexcited stray.

The trip was very quiet since Bon was more fascinated with the passing scenery. He would stand on the seat to look out of the window. Bored by the lack of company, she turned on the radio to listen to the songs which made it to the billboard. She was glad that some of their band's songs made it to the list once again. Even though the entertainment industry had always expected Asteriod's songs to be popular, it still felt like an achievement to be recognised. The music station was also hyped up about her upcoming solo album, sharing some of their thoughts about her.

Hien sighed at once. The company had overpacked her schedule, hoping to give her a solid boost to her solo career. She turned into a familiar neighbourhood and entered into the compound of the family home. Her parents stepped out of the building to the porch to wait for her.

The corners of Hien's lips lifted in a smile. Dad, dressed in a white singlet and Khaki shorts, had an arm around Mum. Mum was gesturing her to reverse carefully, smiling.

Bon could not sit still, bounding up and down excitedly when he caught sight of his adoring grandparents.

"Bon, sit. It's just a little more," added Hien, exasperated. She shot a warning look and Bon quietened down at once. She cut off the engine after she had parked the car properly. Absently, she brushed the lock of hair that fell over her face after checking the dashboard swiftly. She climbed out of the driver's seat and opened the door to the backseat. Immediately, Bon leapt out of the car into the garden, his tail wagging excitedly.

"Well, someone is glad to be home," commented Hien when her pet disappeared from her sight.

"Could you blame our sweet Bon? You usually keep him in an apartment," defended Mrs He, frowning. "Your Bon just prefers to be out in the sun." She held her shoulders, studying her youngest daughter very closely. She grimaced at once. "Did you lose weight again? Is the food in the city not suited to your taste?"

"I'm home, Mum and Dad." She pulled her mother into a hug. "Mum, I've been staying there for more than twenty years, why would the food in the city be not suited to my taste?" She released her mother to hug her doing father. "I took my meals as consistently as I could."

Mum sighed. "It must have been very tough on you." She carded her hand through Hien's wavy, dark hair. Her gaze was unusually tender. "I'm happy that you're home, En. Dad, do you think our En looks happier?"

"Do I, Dad?" She glanced at her father inquisitively. They fell in step, heading towards the living room. She removed her sunglasses, stowing it in her pocket.

He studied her expression closely. "We saw the news. After such an incident yesterday, I am surprised to see you so well. You looked rested, En."

Mum nodded, affirming her father's words at once.

Hien arched a brow. "I told you I have a new bodyguard. He handled the issue with ease. I only knew that a paparazzi was harassing us only after he was arrested."

Mum pushed her spectacles up her nose. "Are you in danger? Why did the company hire a bodyguard for you?"

Hien quickly placed an arm over her, soothing her. "Don't worry, Mummy. I hired him to work on my security. He's actually a friend visiting the country."

"Oh, a friend?" Mum's eyes brightened with interest. "What's his name?"

"He goes by Yi Manan here," replied Hien, twirling a lock of hair contemplatively. "He's a very experienced security expert."

The older woman searched her memory for a mention of that name and she was certain that her daughter had never spoke of him. "I know most of your friends. How did you know each other?" She had extended her invitation to her new bodyguard to stay with them since it was a round-the-clock assignment.

Hien mused for a while, trying to find the words to narrate the tale of their first meeting. It brought her to that fateful night in which he had helped her when she had injured her ankle by accident.

Her parents noticed the softening of her expression at the mention of this new friend, An. They shared a look, comprehending that their daughter had probably accepted his service for other reasons besides his expertise. It had only excited the older couple who wanted to see their very single daughter married. "Anyway, we prepared your brother's room for him. I'm sure he wouldn't mind," smiled Mum.

"Oh? Where is Brother?"

"Work. As usual," sighed her mother, shaking her head. "Is he the only person you missed—"

"Besides your excellent cooking, Mummy," pouted Hien, resting her head on her mother's shoulder. "I miss your food."

Mum smiled at her indulgently. "My big baby. I went to the market today so that I could make all your favourites for dinner."

She hugged her mother tightly and kissed her on the cheek. "Thank you, Mummy. You're the best!"

"What time would your friend come?" asked Dad.

"He wouldn't arrive until late evening. According to Ah Cheng, he is helping them with the legal proceedings."

"Oh?" Mum questioned, surprised. "Is he also skilled in that field?"

Hien shrugged absently. "I'm not too sure if he is remarkably familiar with the law. He's a military man who occasionally takes on assignments to be a security expert." She hooked her arm with her mother's arm playfully.

"How long will you be staying? I should cook a few more dishes so that you can bring them home," murmured Mum to herself.

"Mummy," whined the singer. "I don't think you'll have to worry about that. An is a capable cook. He made breakfast for me today and offered to make lunch. I think I will have more regular meals while staying with him." She smiled sweetly at the thought of his breakfast.

"Ah." Her father noted the way her face brightened at the mention of this man. He seemed like a good man from the way she was describing him.

"Perhaps, you could always consider dating him if he isn't that horrid. I like the sound of him," teased Mum.

"Ma!" protested Hien as her cheeks pinked. "Not you too," whined the singer. "We're only friends."

"There is always a possibility for more. We'll assess him later," winked Mum.

The singer held her silence, her jaw working furiously to bite back the response on the tip on her tongue. She knew that there was no way to convince her parents that Emmanuel and she were not interested in each other that way.

Dad mumbled an excuse of checking his plants before heading out to his garden. He wore his straw brimmed hat and returned to the garden surrounding the house. Her mother encouraged her to rest while she prepared dinner for them. Hien kissed her on her cheek before bounding upstairs for a quick shower after such a long drive.

The quick shower became an extended session of indulgence in the warm shower. She used the time to pamper herself by moisturizing her skin and her face. The sound of water was soothing. Her favourite tune played softly in the bathroom, allowing her to relax fully. The warmth of the water on her skin was intoxicating. She closed her eyes, sinking into the pleasures of a warm bath.

It was almost an hour later when she exited from her bath. Hien had dried her hair and allowed it to cascade smoothly down to her shoulder. She was planning to grow out her hair. She dropped herself absently into her large bed, bored. What could she do? Her mind drifted to Emmanuel again.

She had to admit that he was a different breed of man to learn household chores. How long would An keep this up? She dropped to her back so that she was staring at the white ceiling. He mentioned that he was used to washing clothes because he lived with his partners.

"Ladies huh?" She withdrew her phone and searched his name online. She was not surprised to see that he had dated so many famous women in the past. The singer was surprised that he was actually engaged to a very famous actress, Nat. The image of that petite and beautiful woman appeared as the first item on the search engine. Curious, she picked on a news report on him and found a photograph of them staring lovingly into each other's eyes as he put his arm around her small waist possessively. The couple were on the red carpet for the Oscars and she remembered that the actress had won an award that night. Emmanuel looked dashing in a classic white tie while his fiancée was ravishing in deep purple. It looked as if Nat was grinning at a private joke as she looked deeply into Emmanuel's sparkling eyes.

Hien recognised that smile. It was the very smile that he had when he was truly happy, a smile he would also show in private. Whenever he sent her that smile, her heart would just flutter. A cold sinking sensation knotted her stomach at the sight of someone else being the target of that smile. She scowled, realising that she wanted to monopolise that sweet, dimpled smile. She checked the date of the photograph and found out that it was taken almost a year ago.

Another headline with the same photograph caught her attention: "Royal engagement called off". She studied the article and realised that the couple had parted way amicably a week ago.

She raised a brow, surprised. Hien patted her cheeks, trying to distract herself from thinking about him. She placed her mobile on the side table and spotted a slim book resting on it. The singer picked the book up, flipping through the pages inattentively. Ah, it was a novel about love written by her favourite author. Hien rolled over so that she was resting on her stomach and began to read from the page that she had stopped a while ago.

She was so gripped with the novel that she had surfaced from the imaginary world lovingly crafted by the author at her mother's frantic yell. She leapt out of her bed, tossing her book aside and ran downstairs. When she reached the foot of the stairs, she saw Emmanuel with her parents. The prince looked very charming, dressed immaculately in a black dinner jacket and a pair of pressed black trousers. He had removed the tie she had helped him to put on, leaving his starched collar unbuttoned. A silver of his prominent collarbone peeked out of the shirt teasingly.

Bon was at his feet, his tail wagging.

Emmanuel's face lighted up when his cobalt eyes fell on her.

Oh, that smile.

At that moment, she realised that Emmanuel looked at her as if she was all that matter. Unbidden, the corner of her lips lifted in a lovely and genuine smile.

"Ah, there you are, En," said her mother, gesturing her to join them at the door.

"An, welcome to my home. These are my parents." She gestured to her father and mother. Both were eying him curiously as she made the introduction.

"Mr He," greeted Emmanuel formally, bowing curtly. He carried himself with an easy air of debonair. As usual, he towered over the older man since there were very few men taller than him. The prince could see that his friend had inherited most of her features from her stoic father—from her cute nose, to her expressive eyes and delicate cheekbones. So, they looked like their fathers—that was something that they shared, thought Emmanuel in amusement.

Her father rose a brow but said nothing.

He turned to Mrs He and lifted her hand to his lips smoothly. "Mrs He."

Her mother blushed at his polished manners, giggling in embarrassment.

Hien shook her head in delight, surprised that her mother had such little defence against his charms. Her mother remembered her manners when her father cleared his voice loudly, clasping his hands before him.

"Mummy and Daddy, this is Yi—"

"I'm Emmanuel," amended the prince immediately, smiling at Hien apologetically for interrupting her. She blinked in surprise at the use of his real name. "Emmanuel Nassau." He turned to look at them again, smiling.

Mrs He frowned. "That was not the name that my En said when she spoke about you."

Emmanuel's smile widened as he stuffed his hands into his pockets. "That's true. That is Hienie's personal nickname for me," explained the prince, glancing at the singer next to him. His eyes softened with amusement when her cheeks coloured pink. "You can also address me as An if you like." He clasped his hands together. "I hope you don't mind me imposing on you for the rest of the week."

"En mentioned about it. You're welcomed to stay with us, An," smiled Mrs He.

"Boss just wanted to remind you about Susie's meet-and-greet session for her new role in the action film. That is scheduled in the evening tomorrow."

She smacked her forehead. "I can't believe that I forgot about it. Thankfully, Ah Cheng has taken note of it."

"It's OK," reassured Emmanuel softly, putting a hand on her arm. "It happens to the best of us."

"What about the paparazzi case?" Mr He looked at Emmanuel. "Would it be safe for my daughter to return to the city?"

"That case will resolve very soon. That paparazzi faces charges of assault with battery. The company has also sued the paparazzi's company. We stand a good chance of winning." His smile was feral. "We managed to push for an early hearing next week." Emmanuel had asked Zain Ramlee to push for an early hearing by calling upon the favour of some of the high-ranking judges of the country. His subordinate was more notable than him in the field of international law since he was a barrister that specialised in International Criminal Law and International Human Rights Law.

"Are you certain? I don't think our lawyers are capable of winning this time." Hien worried her lip, remembering their previous failures.

The new bodyguard gave an absent shrug. "They had help. I've on good authority that the outcome would be different." His confident answer invited a lingering gaze from Hien who was studying his countenance closely.

"Did you get additional help?" Hien asked finally.

The new bodyguard had no idea why she was so concerned but he nodded.

The singer scowled at once, folding her arms.

Tension skyrocketed between them as they looked at each other silently.

"Don't stand at the door. Come on in. It's more comfort to speak in the living room," offered Mrs He, seeing that they had no desire to enter the house. She detected frustration from her daughter and placed a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

Mr He led him to a spacious living room, where an upright piano stood. All of them took a seat. Mr He turned off the television so that they could have a proper conversation about the case.

"Isn't it great that there was additional help?" asked Mr He, looking suspiciously at his daughter and her bodyguard.

The singer pouted. "Isn't that an abuse of your powers?"

Emmanuel's eyes narrowed at that accusation. "I did not abuse my powers, Hienie." He took a deep breath to calm himself. "You have a right to privacy and that paparazzi overstepped his boundaries. He should be punished by the full weight of the law." His voice rang with authority.

"By calling in favours?" bristled Hien, glaring at him.

"I thought you wanted to get over it quickly," protested Emmanuel, frowning.

"Aren't you a military man, An?" Mr He was confused about their conversation. How could such a young military man have any powers to abuse in this situation?

Emmanuel nodded at Mr He politely. "I am, Sir."

"How could you abuse your position in this situation?" questioned Mr Tien calmly.

"No, I cannot. However, one could consider this an abuse of position. I had a friend who called in a favour to push forward the hearing. Uh... We served together," explained Emmanuel smoothly, steepling his fingers together.

"Ah. However, that does not increase the chance of victory."

Emmanuel smiled warmly at him. "Mr Hien, you're a very sharp man. I have some legal training."

"You do?"

The prince scratched the side of his nose as he avoided Hien's pointed gaze. "My parents had remarkably high hopes for me. I was mostly home-schooled so that I could complete my education faster."

Her anger defused at the thought of how much Emmanuel had to go through as a child to be so highly accomplished. Her anger was largely forgotten. She squeezed his hand lovingly. "Unlike me, I'm not too good at learning." She offered an apologetic look when she realised that she was accusatory.

"She's not motivated to study. My Hien has always been interested in music." He gestured to the row of awards in the cabinet, awards from several music competitions.

Emmanuel turned to smile at her indulgently. "What a talented child. You are accomplished too."

Hien nudged him good-humouredly as she snorted. "I'm no boy wonder. I did not even graduate from a university. I assumed you graduated from university after reading law?"

Emmanuel shrugged nonchalantly. "I read International Politics and Law."

Mr Hien relaxed in his seat. "Really, from which university?"

Emmanuel shifted uncomfortably in his seat, crossing his long legs. "Uh. Cambridge." His voice trembled. "Well, I wanted to be an Oxford boy but it's law we're talking about." He gave an elegant shrug.

There was a long silence.

"How old are you, laddie?" Mr Hien squinted at him, leaning forward. He was a foreigner, so it was difficult to estimate their age.

"I am 20."

"You're barely an adult in our society!" He glared at his stunned daughter. "My En is almost a decade older than you!"

The singer blushed brilliantly, averting her gaze.

Emmanuel looked politely confused at the father and the daughter. How was he supposed to respond to this? They were saved from an uncomfortable conversation when Mrs He called them for dinner. He helped Mrs He to set the table. The table groaned under the sheer weight of the dishes that she had prepared for them. Mrs He had almost fed them with a near banquet to celebrate the return of her daughter.

The He family was surprised when Emmanuel picked up the pair of chopsticks and began to pick from the dishes expertly. The dinner was peppered with question about Emmanuel and Hien's new heavy workload. Mrs He simply laughed, much to the chagrin of her daughter when her husband shared about Emmanuel's age.

Emmanuel was listening attentively as Hien shared about the increase in her workload as her parents took turns to fill up her bowl of rice with the dishes that she liked. He had never known that she experienced so much anxiety about stepping on the stage alone, without her bandmates despite her long experience.

Hien served her mother in return, picking food for her. Emmanuel did the same for her father since he sat next to him. "I have just recorded my first song in the studio the day before."

"When are you expected to film the music video for that?" asked mother. "Are they releasing a promotional video before the release of your album?"

She nodded, chewing slowly. "Yes, after our collaboration with this boy band that the company just signed on. Susie and Ellie are starting to be busy with other types of work. Talking about that, we will be attending Susie's meet-and-greet session tomorrow."

"Yes, I can see Susie exploring that aspect of the entertainment industry. She liked acting more than you."

"Ma," complained Hien, glancing at Emmanuel, wondering how he felt about that nugget of information. "It was very tiring."

Emmanuel agreed wholeheartedly. "It is very exhausting work. You really need a passion for it. Sometimes, you could run into numerous cuts simply because of the co-actor. My friend had to go through months of ballet training just because she landed a role." He nodded sagely.

"That must be tough," commented Mrs He offhandedly. "You seemed to be fairly familiar with the entertainment industry."

Emmanuel shook his head. "I have friends." He nodded, looking at Hien sympathetically. "Anyway, I am sure it was that way for you when you had to act in a drama."

Hien sighed, not wishing to recall the torture of acting in a drama. "I'd issues with the crying scene. I ran into like 36th cut before the director was satisfied with the outcome."

"That takes dedication," mused Emmanuel. "I remembered watching an interview on that." He rubbed his rough chin contemplatively. "Did your band mates helped you to cry?"

Hien smiled, nodding enthusiastically. "Yea, Ellie is always good at that sort of things."

"So, what hobbies do you have, An?" quipped Mr He suddenly.

"Dad," warned the singer softly, shaking her head.

He ignored her, staring at Emmanuel hopefully.

"What do you have in mind, Mr Hien?" asked the prince politely, sensing that it was a pointed question.

"Do you like gardening?"

"Dad!" protested Hien immediately.

"Dear, he's a guest," insisted Mrs He, looking put-off. Both daughter and mother looked scarily alike when they were upset.

He shooed their misgivings away. "What about it, lad? Do you indulge in a little gardening?"

"I have never tried my hand on gardening," admitted Emmanuel quietly, placing his hands on his thighs. His grounds were maintained by a team of professional gardeners and landscape sculptors.

"That settles it then, lad. I'll see you at the crack of dawn tomorrow morning." He glowed at the thought of having a companion to help him with the maintenance of the garden.

"I hope I am of help instead of a hindrance," added Emmanuel sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. He nearly cower at the weight of the singer's lethal gaze. He tried other dishes, ignoring her pointedly. The dishes were really good and it had been such a long time since he had homemade food. "This is really good, Mrs He. How do you cook this?"

Mrs He's eyes glowed as she dived into explaining the recipe to cook the dishes that he had pointed out, dishes that were Hien's favourite. He took out his mobile in the middle of the explanation and started to take down the recipes, amusing Hien.

Mrs He was over the moon. "Finally. En has the special ability of setting fire to her kitchen. She could probably manage a plain soup without burning the kitchen down."

"An has already offered to take charge of the kitchen. You don't have to worry about your daughter starving or burning her kitchen down. I'm counting on you to master it soon, An."

He saluted her, much to the amusement of her parents. "Yes, Madam Hien."

"Damn it, An," swore Hien, threatening him with her pair of chopsticks. The unrepentant bodyguard smirked, waggling his thick brows.

"Children. You behave worse than little kids."

"He's bullying me!"

Emmanuel frowned. "Hey, you know that's not true!"

The singer blew a raspberry at him when she could not challenge his statement.

The parents of Hien shared a smile between them, amused by their back and forth.

The sight of a harmonious family have a meal together filled the prince with warmth. It was very difficult to gather all the high-ranking members of the royal family together. Mrs He smiled at him as if she sensed his thoughts. She picked more food for him, encouraging him to have more food.

When dinner had concluded, Emmanuel and Hien remained behind to help with the cleaning up of dishes. They shooed Mrs He out of the kitchen as they monopolised it. Soon, they found themselves in a comfortable partnership of washing the dishes and drying the dishes. Since Emmanuel was taller than Hien, he was tasked to dry the dish and storing them in the cupboard while the singer washed them.

Emmanuel had removed his dinner jacket, rolled up his sleeves to his elbow and got down to work.

"Your kitchen sink is also a little low for me," remarked Emmanuel as he carefully dried the dishes with a cloth and placed them in the cupboard. He did not even have to extend his arm to place them in the tallest shelf.

"It's built for me, An. I cannot help it if you are a giant. I'm surprised that you have yet to knock into any doorway in my homeland."

He gave her a shrug. "I am considered tall even in my homeland, so it is not a problem here."

"When is your height a problem?" asked Hien curiously, glancing at him curiously. She was mesmerised by his look of concentration. His low brows were furrowed as he focused on the task of ensuring that each dish was completely dry. He had strong cheekbone, high and prominent. His aristocratic nose added a hint of delicateness to his strong and beautiful sculptured face. His jaws, still slightly swollen, was angular and defined.

His skin was smooth and porcelain fair.

Once again, her heart fluttered.

"Onsen," coughed Emmanuel, stowing the dishes. "It was a little awkward since the shower stalls were usually quite low. I could see everyone walking past the stall." Hien rested her hands on the side of the sink and guffawed as she imagined that sight.

Hien took him on a quick tour of her family home after completing the chore. Her family house was very average in size with two stories and three bedrooms. Her final stop was her bedroom. The book she had tossed roughly aside was still on the bed, so she picked that up and placed it on her side table. She plopped on the bed, shifting to make some room for him.

Emmanuel started to get comfortable systematically. He shrugged off his jacket smoothly, hanging it over a chair by her makeup counter. Next, it was his cufflinks. He undid them elegantly, stowing them in the pocket of his bespoke jacket. He took so much care with his clothes that Hien was taking an interest in his clothes. When she saw the distinct, sewed-in mark of the famous tailor, Huntsman, she understood. Finally, the prince rolled his sleeves up to his elbow, exposing his toned forearm muscles. She could sigh at just how outrageously sophisticated he was, no doubt a training from his youth.

Emmanuel returned a curious gaze when he felt the weight of her admiration. He stood next to her bed, a hint of uncertainty crossing his face.

She could not stop that playful smile from stretching across her face as she impulsively grabbed his hand and pulled him into her bed. Laughter just bubbled out of her as she rolled away from him as he fell into the bed, wide-eyed. He sat up immediately, remembering his manners. However, a warning look from Hien stilled him. Sensing that he could not protest her decision, he sighed aloud and lay next to her.

Hien smiled at the small victory as she studied his appearance closely.

Her family home was more ventilated since it was away from the city. The gentle breeze caressed their hair tenderly. She watched as her long brown wavy hair brushed across him, like a lover's sweet caress.

She smirked when he stiffened, a sign that it was one of his sensitive spots. The singer had to admit that she liked how the wind gently ruffled his hair and blew his curly fringe on his face as he stared at the ceiling.

His solid weight was comforting in the silence.

The sweet fragrance of her shampoo and conditioner infused into the room and wafted into his nose. He could feel his heart beating slowly, relaxed. He allowed himself to enjoy the quiet moment with her, leaving the world outside their door. He closed his eyes as he sighed out of contentment.

She shifted closer to him, compelled by his warmth to share the comfortable silence with him.

Then, he felt her stirring. His lips curled into an indulgent smile. Hien was a woman that could not stay still for too long.

Her large almond eyes were fixed on him, relentless and bright with curiosity. She sneaked glances at him initially. Noticing that he did not react, those fleeting glance lingered longer. Now, she was laying on her side, openly staring at him.

Emmanuel met her inquisitive gaze.

Her skin was pale, as fair as his.

When he lay next to her, he saw how their skins were of the same shade: hers a deliberate work to maintain its spotless porcelain skin through lengthy routines, while his, a pedigree breeding.

She yawned, obviously bored.

The corners of his lips curled in an indulgent smile. He leaned on his side, propping himself with a hand, his eyes on her. The gentle gaze shone with awe at how mesmerising she was: the way the warm light played with her hair, the define contours of her face and the little tempting button she had for a nose. He reached for her nose, the sight of it begging him to pinch it. Then, he resisted, knowing that she would not like it.

His eyes traced her features almost lovingly. "You're beautiful." He whispered achingly.

The breathless and sincere way he had used sent her heart racing. Her brows narrowed, several creases appearing between her brows.

"Stop seducing me," warned her softly, her eyes holding a hint of caution.

His brows skyrocketed.

"I should be the one saying that. Stop seducing me," claimed Emmanuel, sounding outraged. The corners of his eyes crinkled with delight.

Hien shot up immediately, causing her wavy hair to cascade down her face. She adjusted her large top, trying to put up a front to display her displeasure. For some odd reason, the sight of her prim and proper tickled him immensely. Laughter bubbled in him. He threw his head backwards in bellyful laughter, falling on her bed again.

Irritated that he was laughing at her, the singer smacked him on his chest hard.

He winced at her strength.

"Gosh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean it!"

He held up his hand, hiding his face.

She was so agitated with worry that she tried to check his chest for injuries, remembering that he was in a brawl the day before.

Clumsily, she fell on him in her panic as he steadied her by putting his hand on her waist.

Her hair cascaded down, surrounding him.

Then, she realised that he was smiling at her. That dork was OK!

Her brows narrowed as she glared at him. "You're bloody annoying, do you know that?" She balled her hands into fists and began thumping his chest.

"Abuse! Abuse of employee," complained Emmanuel, his cobalt eyes sparkling as he grabbed her hands to stop her.

The corners of his lips lifted to form a light smile.

He took in a quick breath: they were so close. Their noses barely brushed each other.

She could feel his warm breath on her face. Hien found herself staring deeply into his eyes, drawn by the gentleness in his eyes. The cerulean shade reminded her of the sparkling ocean water. Suddenly, she became very aware of him: his breath wafted on her face, her hands on his firm chest, the way his chest heaved when he breathed and a faint forest scent.

Forest scent? That was a nice and clean aroma.

Her cheeks pinked as hot desire scorched her like flames. Her heart started to race, pounding loudly in her ear.

The smile on his face faded, as he locked gaze with her. So beautiful. For that moment, he was bowled over by her sheer beauty. Even as a young teenager, she was breath-taking. However, she had grown into a fine woman, augmented by her compassion and her intellect. He was mesmerised by her: the open and playful twinkle in her eyes. He could taste the fizzing tension in the air.

Emmanuel swallowed visibly, unable to break away from the riveting trance. With just a look, the beautiful singer had imprisoned him. His hands steadied her over him, waiting, and hoping. An unfamiliar desire to be closer to her made itself known. Her curtain of brown hair fell over him, saturating him in her sweet fragrance. His heart pounded so loudly that it was all he could hear as her body was pressed against his.

That same strange longing surged through Hien as her eyes fell on his lips. Were they as soft as they looked? She yearned to taste them. She did not want to fight the attraction that was pulling her closer and closer to him. Spellbound, Hien tilted her head and closed her eyes. She held her breath, waiting for the inevitable.

"Hienie, I'm sorry."