DAWN
It was a busy morning and I'd just finished supervising the cherry harvest in the orchard, arranging the shipment to the Vlad wine company.
As the final fruit truck left, I sighed in relief, scribbling some important details in my notepad and about to head back to the mansion when I ran into Rafael.
"Raf," I said softly, pleased to see him "I haven't seen you in a while"
He smiled in that way that made me feel warm. "I've been away on some personal business. It's why I couldn't make it to the banquet last week"
"Oh."
He glanced at my notepad "I see you're fitting right in as the manager"
I shrugged lightly. "Well, yeah. Mrs Vlad offered to increase my pay if I handled managing some of the fruit operations and I said yes. So, I'm getting used to it"
"That's great" He nodded. "I'm happy for you. How's life with the Vlad brothers?"
I sighed, glancing up at him. "I haven't done anything to deserve Azrael's hostility. He's been nothing but cruel to me. And it's more than that, Raf... he hates me."
I crossed my arms. "He doesn't want me here, but what choice do I have? I need this job, and his mother is the one who hired me. Why can't he just cut me some slack?"
Rafael exhaled, patting my shoulder gently. "Azrael has always been difficult. I, myself, am only managing to tolerate his behavior" he said. "You'll be fine"
Strangely, I always found Raf's presence comforting.
"Will I though?" I asked rhetorically, tucking the small notepad into my back pocket. "While you were gone, he asked me to destroy a painting in Dragos' room. I know he only did it to make things worse for me. Dragos nearly took my head off, I…"
"Wait, hold up. He asked you to destroy the painting of Rose?" Rafael interrupted, his eyes widening.
"Yes," I replied.
He let out a low whistle. "Dragos doesn't mess around when it comes to that thing. Were you able to destroy it?"
"No. He interrupted before I could, but honestly, I wasn't going to do it anyway."
Rafael gave me a look of pity. "I can only imagine how furious Dragos must've been... how he must've lashed out at you"
He shook his head. "Sheesh, even I know better than to go anywhere near that painting. Sorry about that, love"
"Believe me I would not like to go through such an experience again," I remarked, "But he's better now, anyway"
I felt a small smile forming on my lips. "He can be cold sometimes, he can be kind sometimes, but all in all, his attitude towards me has changed"
I remembered how he had chosen to help me after the dinner, my heart fluttering at the memory.
"He ordered me to stop cleaning Azrael's room so I won't get into any further trouble with him"
Rafael frowned in surprise, a smile tugging at the corner of his lip. "Dragos did that?"
I nodded. "Yeah"
"Uh-huh," He crossed his arms, moving to stand beside me. "So, what else did he do while I was gone?" He asked curiously.
I smiled. "Assisted me in clearing the dishes after the grand dinner"
Rafael guffawed. "He did what?!"
Suddenly, Dragos came into view, his eyes flicking from mine to Rafael.
He took in our closeness and looked displeased.
"What are you two talking about?" He asked, striding up to us.
"You" Rafael replied wittily "Grumpy head. We were just talking about you, weren't we, Dawn?" His arm casually came to rest on my shoulders.
Dragos stared at the arm, a brief flash of irritation crowding his face like he fought back the urge to brush it off me. Then, he glanced at me, a lour on his handsome face, before turning towards a garden. "You. Come with me" he ordered.
"Yes, sir"
"What about me? Can I tag along?" Rafael asked in a comical tone.
"No"
"Kill joy"
I followed him quietly, my heart pounding so loudly I feared he would hear it.
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We sat on the grass in a blueberry garden.
"When you asked me to come with you, I assumed you had a task for me," I said quietly, breaking the silence between us.
My entire body was tense and flushed because Dragos was stretched out on the grass beside me, his arms crossed at the back of his head.
"I do not," he replied casually.
I grew slightly uncomfortable. He was lying close to me, in all his sexy glory and my emotions were all over the place.
Constantly, I fought the urge to lean downward and kiss him.
Constantly, I fought the dirty thoughts that stubbornly disturbed my mind.
Why did I always feel this way around him? So out of control?
"Mrs Vlad mustn't notice that my absence from the house is due to my presence in one of her many gardens with her son," I said again, to ease the building tension.
Dragos rolled to face me, lying on his side, and leaning on his elbow, that his hand supported his head.
"You seem close with Rafael. Very close" he said. He had packed his hair back, allowing me to see the full image of his well-structured face.
"I am, in a way" I responded calmly. "He was kind to me from the very beginning. He still is"
Dragos frowned, but his voice was soft. "I am kind to you. Why do you not hold the same feelings for me as you do for Rafael?"
It was surprising hearing those words come from him. He sounded almost jealous, and it warmed my heart.
It excited me in a way, and my cheeks flamed uncontrollably.
"Sometimes you scare me" I answered back genuinely.
Slowly, he sat up, looking at me "Do I scare you now?"
I shook my head "No"
"Do you feel comfortable with me now?"
I hesitated before replying "No"
Dragos got off the grass, annoyed. He dusted the back of his jeans, about to leave the garden, but I rose to my feet with a speed that defied all odds and grabbed onto his T-shirt.
"That's not it" I spoke hurriedly "My discomfort now is not associated with my fear of you"
"Then what is it associated with, Dawn? Enlighten me"
I let out a deep breath. "You are the son of my employer and I don't understand what it is that you're doing"
He crossed his arm and gestured to the grass with his chin "I am sitting with you and making conversation. That is what I am doing"
I fidgeted nervously and shook my head. "This is inappropriate and unprofessional of me. It could lead to serious consequences and I cannot risk losing this job. Lord Azrael already troubles me enough, please, you have to understand"
Dragos was silent for a moment before stepping closer, leaning to slowly pat down my hair.
I stiffened at the spontaneous gesture.
"I understand," he said softly.
I could smell him... his intoxicating scent, strong and seductive that I felt like I might pass out from it. How could someone smell so good? He had no right whatsoever.
Dragos noticed how rigid I was and chuckled. "Dawn" he called softly "Breathe. I don't want you tense around me. Okay?"
Embarrassed, I relaxed and looked away shyly, mentally forcing myself to stop behaving like a fool.
"If what I am doing makes you uncomfortable, then I will stop"
Deep down I didn't want him to, I just didn't want to make things hard for myself.
I hated being caught in a position like this.
Looking up at Dragos, I replied, "I don't want whatever this is to lead to misunderstandings"
My cheeks heated up again as I looked into his eyes. They were beautiful, yet so serious.
"That's why I have to be professional, I'm sorry"
"I don't want you to be professional with me," Dragos said. "I want to get to know you… and for you to know me"
My breath hitched. "You do?" I asked in a whisper.
"Yes," he said "I want to spend time with you. I want you to know me as Dragos, not as your employer's son. No titles, no expectations"
I opened my mouth to respond, but no words came. I was at a loss, completely caught off guard by his words—his honesty, unsure of how to handle what he had said.
"I'm more than just the angry, brooding one you see, there's so much more to me if you'd let me show you"
He stared down at me "And also, you don't have to worry about losing your job. As long as I'm here, you're safe"
I felt my face soften and my body relax even further, but before I could respond, my phone rang.
It was Mrs Vlad.
I walked forward to take the call, speaking for a few minutes.
"Dragos, you'll have to excuse me, I have an..." I started to say, but when I looked back, he was gone.