She lifted her face and threw him a distrustful look when he slipped her the paper she had to sign to start working for him. In several paragraphs, he expressed his conditions, as well as the duties she had to perform. Among them were: laundry, cleaning, and cooking. For all these activities she had two left hands, but she believed that she would be able to acquire these skills and thus finally start living peacefully without unnecessary stress about the near future.
Tentatively, she took the pen in her hand and, circling it between her fingers, glanced at the director again to be certain she could trust him. The young man raised an eyebrow and, with a nod, encouraged her to sign.
She pouted her lips and, after a long deliberation, took a chance. She gave him a signature that looked like an autograph, which amused the director. He slid the piece of paper over to her, and she raked him with her eyes.
- You have a very nice signature," he announced, but the girl clenched her teeth, thinking he was mocking her. She wanted to take the card from him; however, James managed to take it from the desk. - Why can't you smile? Ever since I met you, your facial expression hasn't changed. You look like a perpetually fussy child.
- My face expresses my mood, and you have nothing to do with it. I will not artificially grind my teeth just to pretend to be pleasant to people," she replied in an offended tone, crossing her arms on her chest.
- You are not angry at all, Chloe," he declared, glancing at the card. - You just resent people, and that's where your boorish behavior comes from. Maybe others don't like you for it, but I can see that you do it on purpose. You may be horrible to me, but I won't hate you. Do you know why? Because I will wait until you get tired of pretending to be a boorish girl and finally start being yourself.
He hid the paper with her signature in one of the cabinets and got up from his desk, heading for the window. He put his hands in his pants pockets, and she carefully groped around his back, wondering why he didn't hate her the first time they met when she inadvertently attacked him. Usually, people hated her because of such behavior, and he stubbornly believed she was doing it on purpose.
- What if you are mistaken? You see that I am an arrogant girl who can cause damage. Aren't you afraid to accept me into your home? Do you trust me?
- Yes, because you also trusted me. Aren't we even? - He asked, turning to face her.
She was confused. This was not the answer she expected.
She opened her mouth to ask him another question, but he lifted his gaze from her face when the secretary's voice sounded, knocking on the door. The young woman stepped inside, apologizing to him for her long absence.
- We were only supposed to have lunch, but Chris dragged me to one of the stores because he saw a beautiful dress on display.
- Apparently he cares about you," he stated, and the secretary only now noticed that James had a visitor. - I hope the dress was valuable of the time spent, and you bought it.
He noticed the confusion on her face. She nervously smoothed her hair and pressed more firmly to her chest the briefcase she was holding.
- Unfortunately, it turned out that it was not my style. She didn't suit me," she said with a sour smile on her face, feeling a blush appear on her cheeks. She hoped Chris wouldn't breathe a word about the disaster that had occurred in the fitting room. Then she might as well collapse to the ground.
James smiled in a friendly manner, and the girl walked up to him and handed him a folder of documents.
She stopped in place when she saw the blonde's face. She didn't expect this simpleton to have the nerve to set foot here, especially since she had warned her not to come to the company again.
- What is she doing here?
- We are arranging some things. Nothing related to the company," he replied, and Chloe smiled under her breath when she saw the secretary's shocked face.
She wasn't stupid. The first time she met her, she had already noticed that the long-legged beauty had the hots for the director. He didn't notice it, or simply didn't want to.
- I don't understand...
- If you don't understand then don't ask anymore because it's a waste of saliva to give you answers," the blonde interjected, unable to stand her presence any longer.
- How can you talk about anything with this boorish girl? - Isabelle was so agitated that foam dripped every time she opened her mouth.
- Your secretary is very nosy.
- Isabelle, leave us alone, will you? - The girl opened her mouth until she did. She never thought she would be asked out of his office. She felt humiliated according to this simpering girl.
- You are not the navel of the world," Chloe replied, looking at her bitten nails.
The angry secretary walked through the office like a storm. Before she opened the door, she looked over her shoulder, feeling like destroying the awful girl. No one had yet been able to bring her out of her thoughts until Chloe appeared.
*
After talking for a while and agreeing on terms, Chloe nervously paced around the parking lot waiting for the director. James asked her to appear at sixteen o'clock in front of the building where she had been living so far. He wanted to personally drive her to his apartment so she wouldn't have to wander around the city.
The girl was curious to see what the opulent houses she had so far seen in movies looked like in real life.
She was confused when she thought about the fact that she would have to live with a strange man under one roof, but she had no choice. Life had taken its toll on her recently, and accepting an offer from the director was her ultimate salvation.
After all, a drowning man grasps at razors....
She swallowed her saliva harder and grabbed her bag with her belongings when she saw a Jeep approaching. She spotted the director behind the wheel of the white car and nervously scratched her head, looking in another direction.
How could it be that she felt intimidated for a moment?
She was ashamed that she had accepted an offer from a man she didn't know, but she had to cast pride aside; otherwise she would have starved to death without a roof over her head.
He got out of the car, and before she could say anything, he took the bag from her. He threw it into the trunk and, with a nod, encouraged her to take the passenger seat. Although he showed her to sit in the front, she did his bidding and crawled into the back.
James smiled under his breath, but didn't say a word.
He looked with interest at the building in which the girl had so far rented an apartment. He could not call it a block of flats, as the building was suitable for demolition.
Furthermore, he was unable to understand how the owner could rent apartments in such a squalid hovel. This building looked as if it were about to collapse at any moment and needed immediate renovation.
He got into the car and looked in the rearview mirror. The blonde was sitting hunched over and didn't even change her face for a brief moment — she looked as if she had been taken to a new place as punishment, and he only wanted to help her.
As many times as he puzzled her, she made no sound. Finally, he decided to let go, and so that there would be no awkward silence between them, he turned on the player.
Chloe lifted her head as rock music sounded in the car. She didn't think the director was a fan of this genre. She would never have guessed in her life, since people like him usually listened to quiet songs or classical music.
He surprised her again.
- Why do you look surprised? It's a genre I've been listening to for many years. My taste in music will never change," he spoke up after a long silence, looking at her in the mirror.
- Judging by your sophistication, this is the last musical genre I would assign to you.
James laughed quietly and stopped the car as the light changed.
- This is why people are not judged by their appearance. Now do you know why I trusted you and decided to help?
- Because you think that even though I look vulgar, my personality is very different from the mask I put on.
- Well. However, you understood me.
Chloe put her finger to her lips and looked at him with interest. How did he notice that she was purposely rebelling and pretending to be an arrogant girl, when deep down she was hiding her true personality?
After all, he didn't even know her. They had only met a few times, so how did he discover this?
He was more intriguing than she thought.
*
With her mouth open, she stared down the well-kept hallway as they headed for the elevator. She was shocked that people lived in such luxury.
However, she got a real shock when James let her into his apartment, which was dominated by white and black. The interior was so beautiful and luxurious that she couldn't get out of her awe. Black and white walls, a sofa, and table in a similar color, a kitchen connected to the living room, and above all, space.
And although Aaron's house was definitely bigger and pricier, James' apartment impressed her more. It was exactly in her style. The colors were a hit.
- And how do you like it? - He asked, seeing the bewilderment on her face.
- It's not bad," she lied, not to show him how delighted she was with the place.
He smiled from the corner of his mouth and, holding the girl's bag in his hand, led her to the room he had prepared for her earlier.
No doubt she liked it.
With wide-open eyes, she looked at the bed, which was a double bed. On it, she could sleep for all time. Usually, she rested on an uncomfortable mattress, but now she came to live in luxury.
James set the girl's bag down on the floor and told her to make herself comfortable. As soon as he closed the door, she threw herself on the bed and, like a child, started jumping on it being as happy as ever.
Lying on the bedclothes, she wriggled like a snake. At the same time, James peeked into the room to inform her of some important rules about the house, but seeing her joy, he let go and quietly closed the door.
- This is the first time I am happy. However, an angel is watching over me," she said into the space, laughing joyfully.
And he was indeed watching.
He bustled around the kitchen to prepare the first meal for her, since from tomorrow she was to take care of all the household chores.
*
They ate the meal prepared by James in silence. She had to admit that he was a wonderful cook, too, because his dishes were so delicious that they melted in the mouth.
And how was she supposed to match him in cooking? She usually ate ready-made, unhealthy food just to clog up her stomach with something, and now all of a sudden, she was supposed to learn how to cook for him?
- See? You can be calm if you'd like to.
- I just feel uncomfortable, okay? - she said, staring at the plate. - I've lived alone until now, and now suddenly this job with you. It will take some time before I get used to it.
- So deep down, however, you are a shy girl? People with a strong character are brave regardless of the situation," he announced, putting food in his mouth. He looked at the blonde with a slight smile on his face when he noticed that she was confused.
- I don't know you well, so don't demand that I immediately feel comfortable in your company," she replied with anger in her voice. - Anyone in my position would be embarrassed.
He didn't respond. He could see that she was getting nervous because of this conversation, so he let it go.
They ate the rest of the meal in silence.
It was time to wash the dishes. This belonged to the girl's duties, so James showed her how she should operate the dishwasher, and when she understood, he lay down on the couch in the living room and turned on the TV.
He laughed under his breath at some program, and Chloe bustled around the kitchen making preening faces, unhappy that she had to do household chores while he relaxed.
- If you're cleaned up, then you can join me," he said, tilting his head back to look at her.
- Am I a dog for you to order me what I can do? - she replied maliciously, but quietly enough that he did not hear it.
- I'll make room for you on the couch," he stated, lying back with his legs stretched out.
Chloe snorted under her breath and threw him a furious look.
- What a gentleman you are," she sneered. - I see that at home, you take on your true form when you relax. Outside, you pretend to be a walking ideal, and you reproach me for taking on a mask.
- What do you say?
- That I won't join you! - She raised her voice and, pulling off her kitchen apron, headed to her room.
James looked surprised by her sudden outburst. He didn't like it when someone yelled at him, especially in his house.
He rose from the couch and followed the girl with visible indignation on his face. Furthermore, he felt like telling her exactly what the rules of the place were, however, anger gripped him when he saw the mess she had managed to make.
There were scattered clothes on the floor, and among them were underwear. James became confused and grunted, putting his hand to his mouth.
Chloe only then noticed him.
- I forgot to tell you about the rules that apply to this house," he began, looking at the girl. The blonde sat on the bed facing him and with a raised eyebrow waited for him to begin his lecture. - First, I hate clutter, so I ask you to arrange your clothes in the closet and keep things tidy. Secondly, I am your employer, and we are five years apart in age, so please respect me and never raise your voice at me again.
Chloe snorted under her breath and clearly disregarded the remark. She hated it when someone dictated her terms even if it was a man who extended a helping hand to her.
- I really want to help you, so please respect me. If there is an unpleasant atmosphere in this house, we will talk differently.
- Are you already threatening me? - She asked with indignation in her voice, piercing him with her eyes.
- Of course I'm not threatening you. I'm just warning you because if we are to live under the same roof, then I want us to live in a friendly relation," he replied calmly, so as not to accidentally agitate her. He noticed that she was getting upset rather quickly.
- So you are my master, and I am your housekeeper and I have to do every task you give me because it is my duty to listen to you.
- You are thinking wrong. I don't treat you like a housekeeper, just a person who has come to live with me to help me with my duties. And I am not your master, only a roommate whom you should simply listen to.
- Be that as it may," she replied agreeably, when, after a brief reflection, she realized that she should be grateful to him and not rebel. - And I wasn't going to leave the room such a mess, as I threw everything out of my bag to arrange it in the closet.
He didn't respond. He simply nodded and left the room so she could get busy sorting things out.
With a grimace on her face, she began to fold her clothes. She arranged them in the sliding closet, and when she was done, she plopped down on the bed. There weren't many because Chloe didn't belong to the species of girls who loved clothes and took exaggerated care of themselves. For her, a few things that she liked to wear and in which she felt comfortable were enough.
She closed her eyes to relax for a while, but relaxation turned into sleep rather quickly.
*
It was late in the evening, so James decided to look in on the girl and see what she was doing, since she hadn't left her room in a while. He knocked on the door, and when she didn't answer, he peeked inside. He was surprised to notice that the room was dark.
The girl had fallen asleep in her clothes.
He turned on the lamp standing on the cabinet by the door and, with a slight smile on his face, approached the bed. He laid her head on the pillow and covered her with the sheets.
As she slept, she looked so peaceful, only then did she resemble the good girl she had been in the past.
He turned off the lamp and quietly left the room so as not to wake her.
*
She opened her eyes and realized that she had fallen asleep, since it had long been dark outside. She got out of bed and turned on the lamp to prepare her pajamas and the things she needed to take a shower.
Where's my toothbrush, she thought while looking for it in her bag. Once she had everything, she left the room.
She stopped in place when her attention was caught by James, who came out of the bathroom. He was wearing only pajama pants, so she opened her eyes wider while looking at his sculpted body, which was covered with tattoos.
He surprised her again.
- I like tattoos," he announced, seeing the confusion on her face. - I'm going to bed, so you can use the bathroom.
After these words, he went to his bedroom, and Chloe, blinking her eyelids, locked herself in the bathroom.
James surprised her more and more.