(TRESPASSING)

  Today makes it the fourth day since the day she called Mia and ever since then they have been chatting online, with her not revealing her hideout. Mia, being not the too-poky type decided not to pester her, as she awaited the day they would see, physically.

  She vowed to beat the hell out of Ariel for keeping her location a secret from her, which she would find out at all costs.

  Ariel laughed off her threat calling it nothing but a fling.

  Ever since Axel came back home looking cold, and after that weird dinner they had; she hasn’t been coming in contact with him. It’s either she wakes up to see him going out, perhaps out already, or goes to bed before his arrival.

  And anytime she got the opportunity to see him in close contact, they only greeted and nothing more. He is trying his best to stay away from her and she; the same. Sometimes she feels like he needed company or someone to chat with, but wouldn’t wanna admit it.

  He never smiles when he is around her, and she wondered why he hated her so much. Or perhaps he just doesn’t wanna get along with any girl; but doesn't he talk with other girls? She could clearly remember the get-together night with Aiden and his friends; the triple girls were also present.

  She glanced at the stairs that led to his room and felt tempted to climb up and head for it. He locks himself in it whenever he is alone; either playing his keyboard or doing something else.

  Today, she decided to wake up very early just to make breakfast herself. It’s been a while since she ate her food, and she missed her cooking so much.

  Getting to the Kitchen, she met a few maids, doing their cleaning chores.

  “Thank God they haven’t made breakfast yet” She muttered, stepping into the big and spacious kitchen.

  The cabinets were classic, as the ties glittered from the reflection of the electrical light. The maids did a good job of making it sparkle.

  They bowed to greet on sighting her, as she softly responded to their greetings. She signaled to one of them, who left her chores to attend to her.

  “You called me ma’am” The maid muttered softly

  “Yea…erm…what are we having for breakfast today”

  “Just erm..French toast, coffee, some piece of fries, and a hot chicken soup” She noted

  Ariel nodded taking note of each word that spurt out of her mouth.

  “Ok, the thing is...I wanna make breakfast today, I really miss cooking”

  The maid gasped lowly

  “Erm…we can’t let you do that ma’am. Boss gave us strict others not to let you do any work, being a visitor..we are here to serve you miss” Ariel busted into laughter.

  “Come on..it’s not work….cooking isn’t stressful. Just for today..okay…trust me, Axel won’t find out about it. And what if he finds out; he’s never gonna do anything about it…hunn” She snickered, moving away from her. But the maid stopped her, shaking her head at her. She couldn’t clearly read her expression, but she felt something was wrong.

  She could sense another presence staring at her, apart from that of the maid. Turning swiftly to look at the fellow, she saw him sitting at a far end, close to a cabinet. He was still putting on his pajamas, with a cup of hot coffee steaming out vapor from it, in his hand.

  His hair, ruffled on his head, fell freely on his face, giving him this bad boy look; as their eyes locked. She gasped, noticing that he had been staring at them all along; and perhaps heard what she said, but she didn’t give a damn. Instead, she went closer and stood before him.

  “Good morning…” She muttered feebly

  “Morning…” He replied…taking a sip from the cup, with his eyes still boring holes into hers. This made her feel uncomfortable. Can he just look somewhere else for once? And what is he doing down here by this time, it’s just 6:00 in the morning”

  “Erm…I…actually…wait..why are you down here this early” She shuttered. He stared puzzled at her, squinting a little

  “What do you mean?” He snorted after a little silence

  “Well……you should be in bed now….you know…” She snickered

  “Huh…” He scoffed

  “Are you trying to tell me when to be in bed and when I should be awake? I thought this is my house and I can decide to wake up any time I want to”

  “Don’t get me wrong…I was just asking though…and just a bit of concern” She shrugged, going towards the sink.

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  “And what are you doing here” He asked gruffly.

  “I wanna make breakfast…you gat any problem with that?” she said, washing her hands and mopping them with a napkin.

  “Huffnn, look here girl…just watch the way you speak with me…I don’t want to lose it with you okay” He gruffed. She rolled her eyes a bit, but he was oblivious of it.

  “But I didn’t say anything wrong…just wanna know your mind about me cooking”

  “Then you need to ask for it, respectfully…this is my house and I can kick you out of here any minute”

  “Oh gosh…..” she exhaled

  “Fine…I’m sorry for speaking that way….but can I cook now”

  “The cook will prepare my food, suit yourself, but don’t mess up things” He muttered coldly, standing to his feet, heading out

  “Huh… The cook will prepare my food, suit yourself, but don’t mess up things” She mimicked his last words

  “He is just too rude and arrogant” she scoffed

  ~~~~~

  She succeeded in making her breakfast, while the chief cook prepared that of Axel. Well, she wished she could make breakfast for both, but he gave them a strict warning not to let her tamper with his meal. No doubt, hers tasted better, even the maids acknowledged it. But that dumbass won’t wanna have a taste.

  After freshening up, she hurried down to the dinning room to fill her stomach. The maids did a great job already setting the table before her arrival. She dug into the chicken soup, inhaling the mesmerizing flavor steaming out of it. She kept waiting for Axel to stride down from the stairs to have his meal, but it seems he had been served in his room.

  “Huh…idiot” she mumbled

  .

  Finishing her meal wasn’t a great deal, she picked up her phone, slumping on one of the couches in the living room; as she punched in some keys on the Google app. Life hasn’t been that interesting in Axel’s house, like that of Aiden’s or the Mansion.

  Though, she had been attending online lectures, and subsequently doing live video calls with Mia and Aiden. But those haven’t still eased this sudden boredom erupting.

  The few moments she spent arguing with Axel most times, do ease that odd feeling, and she wished she had more of those moments, even if it’s not actually a good conversation.

  Still engrossed in her phone, she heard the entrance door open with a glossy figure stepping in. A young man, perhaps in his mid-twenties, looking stunning in his lustrous tuxedo, a fancy cover shoe, and perfect sets of eyeglasses, with his dark hair perm backward, giving him this finicky look.

  He walked in, holding a small brief case, punching into his Ipad as their eyes met. He stiffened for a moment before regaining himself.

  “Hi—good day,” He muttered quietly.

  “Good morning….sir” She replied, not wanting to sound rude, like Axel do say. She gave him this ‘who are you’ look, making him chuckle.

  “Oh…I actually came to see Axel…I’m his manager. My name is Karl” He garbled with a lingering smile across his face, offering a handshake

  .

  “I’m Ariel….his…erm…” She paused not knowing what to say. Perhaps to call Axel her friend or, what relationship do they even have? She decided not to say more but received a handshake.

  “It’s an honor to meet you, manager Karl” She shuttered with a weary smile.

  “The pleasure is mine. To be honest with you damsel, I haven’t come across a lady as stunning, gorgeous, and beautiful as you are. Are you from heaven? ” Karl asked in his sweetest voice, as his hand gently caressed her hand, not letting go of it, even when she seemed to be uncomfortable. She laughed sweetly at his funny remark.

  One thing about Karl is that, he is always free with anyone he comes across, not minding if the person is a stranger or not. And one more thing is that he flirts a lot. One won’t notice due to the way he dresses; more like a gentleman.

  But deep within those dresses is a freaking flirt, who used the opportunity of being close to Axel to win the heart of many girls, who are ready to sacrifice anything just to have a night with Zel. But his jovial character is what still made him retain his post; whereas, he is also hardworking, totally different from other managers that had worked with Axel.

  Axel walked down the staircase and they immediately disengaged their hands, after they heard him clear his throat. He glanced an expressionless look at Ariel, before directing his gaze to Karl.

  “Oh..boss is here…I need to go now. See you later” Karl winked at Ariel. She blushed slightly, making Axel scoff. She frowned making Karl chuckle; he totally understood the reason behind that scoff.

  Not wasting much time, they went through Axel’s schedule for the week and headed out; not without Karl blowing a kiss at Ariel, and receiving a friendly smack from Axel.

  ~~~~~

  Few hours after they left, Ariel starting feeling bored. She really missed Josephine and Granny Naomi; though she is always at loggerheads with Josephine, but she missed those moments. If she should be here, she won’t have been this bored.

  Most especially, she missed Elsa and the mansion, she wonder how she is faring now, and hope Mr. Shaw isn’t getting too harsh on his wife.

  She finally got a plan to kill the boredom. Taking a stroll round the house won’t bad, since she can’t go out for safety reasons. She succeeded on her little tour, but got stressed out, after walking for more than an hour.

  No doubt, Axel’s house is almost a mansion when it comes to the width of the landscaped. She felt excited, opening each of the other rooms that were not occupied yet; scrutinizing the layout with ecstasy, until it remains that of Axel.

  He had actually warned her not to bypass her boundary to his, but this strange force was always pulling her legs towards his room, and anytime she tried climbing up the stairs, she would have a change of mind.

  But this time seem different, she is already at the doorpost, turning open the knob, and surprisingly, it wasn’t locked.

  “How does his room look like?” she thought going in further, as its beauty slammed her face. Her eyes widen with surprise at how a guy’s room will look so clean, perfect, and sparkling neat as this.

  The structure was done by a perfect architect, who perhaps might know his taste. His soft and fluffy bed, lay just in the middle of the room, with some fashionable furniture lingering in a semi-circle form, set in a perfect accord.

  A well-designed piano, just at the extreme of the room, with a glistening guitar, hanging on the wall added to the room’s mesmerizing look.

  Other musical instrument could be found, but she couldn’t name them all as her focus was actually on a piece of painting made on a carved flat-surface glass; more like a glass frame.

  The frame was placed on his reading table as she went closer to have a better look; her warm feet kissing the cold ties on the floor, making her shiver a bit.

  She held the frame firmly in her hands and boreholes with her eyes into that of the lady in the picture. She looks so young and very beautiful. A small dot could be seen just above her upper lip; perhaps a birth mark, she assumes.

  But something caught her attention, and that is her facial look. She seems to be someone she had seen somewhere, or is her mind playing tricks on her. Still in her engross thoughts, she heard the door cracked open as a figure steps in.

  Jerking back to the world of reality, she turned swiftly to see who entered, but her leg clumsily collided with a footstool, making her slip.

  The glass frame slipped off her hand in a second, landing on the cold and hard floor as it made a loud crashing sound. The glass splattered on the floor, spreading around to create an orbit in the center of the room.

  “Harggg” she gasped in fright.