True to his words, it was at sunset that the rude man came back, approximately by 10:30pm that he finally decided to show up. The poor lady had long been waiting for his arrival. It was true that she didn't remain ideal throughout his absence.
Navier had cried for thirty minutes straight, before deciding to get some fresh air, when she found Mary about to head out. The woman had told her she was going out to buy some groceries, and Navier offered to tag along, only for her kindness to be firmly declined by the aged woman.
Mary claimed she did not want to trouble her. "You're my guest, and so I must treat you right. You need rest, miss." Was what she said, before heading out with a few guards, leaving Navier alone in that gigantic space of a house.
Although Navier understood were she was coming from, it didn't stop her from thinking how strange everyone at the estate behaved, starting from the guards, to their so called boss.
The poor lady waited two hours straight, before Mary miraculously returned, which left Navier to wonder if she was buying the whole store. But when she saw the bulky goods the woman brought back with her, she was dumbfounded to the core. 'Are we running away?'
Even after they were inside the woman still wouldn't let her do anything, but thanks to Navier's stubborn nature she persisted on until her elder agreed. Mary let her make dinner, only assisting her with a few task like cutting spices and other things.
After a long period they spent in the kitchen, the two women were finally done. Dinner was served and they ate their share in the kitchen.
"How is he?" She curiously asked the lady. "The owner of this estate, your boss, I mean?" She stared as the woman before her stopped scooping the sauce she was eating.
"How is his behaviour?" It wasn't Navier's fault that her anxiety got the better of her. Anyone would act the same way if their future or life even was involved.
She didn't get an answer for a few seconds, which made her feel guilty. 'I'm prying too much. I shouldn't be putting her in such pressure, she might loose her job because of me.' She was about to apologize when the woman finally spoke.
"He's a good young lad. I did raise him after all." She suddenly confessed which led Navier's eyes to widen in shock.
"Y-you're his mother?" It felt as though the young lady had already started to fail her test, even before she began.
The woman laughed out loud, confusing the young lady. "You're quite funny, child." She jokes, whipping the corner of her eyes.
"Of course not. I'm his nanny." The wrinkles beside her the corner of her eyes appeared as she smiled at Navier, who now turned relieved at her words.
'Thank you God.' She was internally crying in her heart at how he showed her mercy.
Suddenly the woman grabbed hold of her hand surprising the latter. "You're quite a very charming and interesting young lady. I hope you find happiness during your stay here, miss Romanoff." Navier couldn't hide the smile that blossomed on her face as she got complimented by Mary.
"Thank you, Mary." She showed her appreciation with a smile.
"No, no. Don't thank me when its nothing but the truth." After their conversation, Mary left. Navier was surprised she didn't reside in the house as well, since she was his nanny, she had her own quarter not too far from the mansion.
Her words kept replaying in Navier's mind after she bid her goodnight. She was almost convinced by her words, until it clocked 10:30pm. The door was pushed open, revealing the tall man.
As soon as their eyes met half way in the room, Navier got up to lay out her complaint. "You're late." She starts, "I've been waiting for hours." She stares as he walks into the room.
"Then why didn't you get a shut eye?" He retorts as though in disguise of mocking her decision.
'Maybe I should have.' Navier almost spat out, but she held her peace.
"You said, you wanted to discuss about the conditions of the contract once you get back." Refusing to be shut down by him, Navier retorts back. If they didn't sort things out tonight, she doesn't know when they ever will since he's the busy type.
He dropped his jacket on the couch, before taking a seat to stare up at her in a bored manner. "So you decided to wait up for me?" It was an ironic statement he amused himself with. "I didn't know you cared so much."
His words left her rilling in silence, apparently observing his proudness, she didn't want to fight with him, she didn't have the strength to do so. "Dinner has been made, if you-" Navier tried changing the subject for her own mental health, but it seems he found fun stirring up trouble.
"I'm not hungry." He responds, opening his laptop.
"Fine." Navier gave up on trying to please him. "Let's converse about the contract's conditions then." She took a seat, facing him, but he didn't move his attention from his laptop.
She gave a slight cough to catch his attention. "Mr. Millanaire...?"
"What?" As though he didn't care about the task at hand, his fingers moved swiftly over every key on the laptop outrightly ignoring her.
"Are we not going to talk about it?"
Finally he clasped the device close, to stare at her. "Sure, why not." He leaned back in the couch.
"I'll make this easy for you. Your only job is to play the role of my lover when we're in public, we can go back to how things are once we get back, because there will be eyes and ears everywhere, when I introduce you as my fiancé." Feeling hypnotized, Navier couldn't avert her gaze from his, as though he was speaking to her soul.
"Don't pry into my life, uninvited. Stay out of my business and I'll stay out of yours. I wouldn't want a situation where you'd endanger my family, out of ignorance or naivety. I'll attend to anything you want from me. All you require will be provided for you, you just have to say the words and it will be done."
"Do what I say and you won't have to swim with sharp toothed sharks, or snakes. If you wanna play it your way, then you might as well start running, and don't even think of looking back nor regret it." His deep voice resonates in the room, which was soon engulfed in silence as soon as he was done.
"Any questions?" He had that serious look again, like the one she knows him for.
"How long will the contract last?"
"A year latest, it can be extended, depending on how well you last."
"Can I add my own conditions to the contract as well, since I will be playing the role of your lover?" Navier openly initiates, with other plans in mind.
"Of course you can. what would you like to add?"
"I'll provide it by tomorrow." She states, and he nods at her.
"Verg well. Will that be all?" He asks, doubtful about her choice in questioning.
"Yes." Navier nods as they gazed at each other. "Thank you for your time, Mr Millanaire." She gets up to retire to her room, before he stops her.
"Aiden." He corrects. "Since we'd be getting married, figured you'd at least know the name of your fiancé." He smirked.
"Oh, one more thing." He adds, getting up from the sofa to approach her. Navier watched as he dug his hand into his pocket before asking for her left hand. The perplexed lady did as she was told, raising her left hand for him to hold.
He slipped a rose gold marcquis moss agate ring with an emerald gem sitting on top of it on her finger. Navier was too stunned to speak. "Congratulations." He praised with a smile, showing off his dimples and pearly white as the lady's wide eyes stared down at the ring on her finger.
"Now we're engaged."