Sebastian ran a hand through his hair, looking between Aline and the mess around them. It would have probably been for the best not to get involved. He had always hated getting involved into unnecessary trouble. Better as it would have been, he couldn't find the strength to walk away. He tried telling himself it was because of the deal they had, but then again, he could have hired any other girl.
Sighing, he looked at his cousin, and then back at Aline.
“Who were those guys?” This time around, he was dead serious; he needed answers if he were to decide on what to do.
Aline hesitated, he saw her eyes roam around the room, pondering what to do. She parted her lips twice, searching for words, before closing them again.
“They are loan sharks. I have a large debt to them. I've been trying to pay it for some while now, but they didn't accept to leave me alone unless I paid the entire sum at once.” Her voice cracked as she spoke, her gaze distant, firmly set on the window to her right.
Suddenly, it all made sense. Why she tried stealing the necklace, why those men were there.
“And you missed the deadline again?” Sebastian asked.
Aline shook her head, blinking a few times, as she tried to get rid of the tears staining her vision.
“I still have three weeks. They were here to warn me,” She swallowed, as if choking on something. “This is my last chance to pay off the debt.”
“How much do you owe them?” Sebastian asked.
“Fifteen thousand dollars.”
For Sebastian, the sum didn’t sound like much. He had invested sums far greater than that. But he knew for a fact that such a debt did not easily accumulate for an average person. Even if she needed that amount of money, she would have been crazy if she thought she would be able to pay it back. But he knew it wasn’t the place nor time to ask about that.
“How-” It seemed like his cousin wasn’t as patient as him. Jonathan had unpinned himself from the wall against which he was leaning, his body now facing Aline completely. He was about to address the same question running through Sebastian’s head.
Sebastian had no idea why he was thinking of Aline’s comfort instead of demanding answers. Sliding one hand in his pocket, he moved to touch his cousin’s shoulder before he could finish the question, softly tugging at his shoulder, as if asking him to follow.
“Pack your things; we’ll be waiting for you in the car.”
“What?” Both Aline and Jonathan said in unison.
Sebastian had to roll his eyes and sigh, annoyed by the fact that he would have to repeat or explain himself. What he was doing was already too hard and strange on his part.
“Don’t take too long.” He answered instead, before exiting the apartment.
*****
The dying rays of sun that had once poured from the spreading grey clouds had now melted into nothingness. The sky had fallen into complete darkness, illuminated only by the occasional lightning bolt that shot across the sky. Luckily, although hours had passed since the clouds initially appeared, rain was still to start. However, if they were to judge by the chillness of the air and the bending tree branches, it was a matter of minutes before the storm would unleash.
Aside from the roaring sound of the engine and the constant traffic outside, there was silence. Ever since they had dropped Jonathan off, not a sound had been spoken. She sat there in silence, her hands still holding tightly to the small duvet. It was sad to know that her only possessions could fit inside a bag. Every now and then she would turn her gaze from the busy street to look at Sebastian. Unconsciously, she had studied his expression: the two wrinkles around his eyes, and the white hair that caught the light of the passing cars. She wondered if the early aging signs were genetic or only the result of long stressful hours.
Sighing, Aline sank deeper into the leather seat, her eyes once again focusing on the passing street lights and hurried pedestrians. As they drove further away, she noticed the street changed. She remembered the street vaguely; she had walked through those same streets days ago, back when her plan had been to rob the man that was currently offering her shelter.
Truth be told, she was still dazzled by that detail. She had spent a good amount of time in her apartment, thinking of what Sebastian had meant when he said she should pack her bags. And even now, when he was clearly taking her home, she still expected him to drop her off somewhere else.
She didn’t like the idea of taking too much help. It only meant she owed the man more. But she didn’t have much of a choice. This time, there was no playing around with those men. They were set on ending her life the minute they found out she still couldn’t pay her debt.
“We’re here.” Although she had been watching the road, Aline only then noticed they had arrived. Shaking her head, she tried to focus again.
She remembered the first time she saw the house, how speechless she had been. She must’ve spent minutes admiring the architecture, the simple pillars that rose in front of the creamy walls. She would have spent double the time now, had it not been dark. She wondered what it would feel like to drink her coffee in the morning, bathing in the sunlight, surrounded by so much beauty. She wondered if Sebastian spent his mornings there, or if he preferred the silence of his own home. She couldn’t even guess. She barely knew the man.
“I’m sorry but Mrs. Marshall won’t be here for a while. She had a family emergency to attend to. If I knew I will have guests, I would have hired someone for the time being.” Sebastian said, as he pushed the door open with his shoulder, his hands still lingering over the keys dangling from the door.
“No! It’s fine.” She smiled, her body slipping in through the small place left between Sebastian’s body and the door. “I can help around the house. It’s the least I can do.”
“You are my guest. You are not to lift a finger.” Sebastian said, seriousness written all over his face.
Aline couldn’t help but notice how almost everything he said was more of an order. He had some kind of constant authority lingering around him, he kind that would make anyone feel small around him. She was more than sure his bossiness bothered people, not everyone liked having someone superior to them. However, oddly, Aline didn’t mind it. She knew it was simply his way of being.
“Are you hungry?” Sebastian asked, as he took off his blazer.
“A bit.” She answered, adjusting the strap of her bag over her shoulder.
“I would have loved to cook and show you a bit more hospitality, but I’m exhausted. Do you mind if we order something?” Aline wished she hadn’t, but she couldn’t help but notice how his arms tensed as he pulled at his tie, the undone button revealing a part of his chest and lower neck.
“No. I am not picky when it comes to food.” She chuckled awkwardly, her mind alarmed, wondering if he had noticed her staring.
“Great. Then how about you go change, while I order something?”
“Okay. Just one question…” She trailed off, her eyes looking at the staircase.
“Oh, yeah. The room is first thing on the right. Beside mine. I’m sure you recall that one.” He said sarcastically, his eyes gazing at her insinuatingly, a humorous smirk playing across his lips.
Rolling her eyes, Aline turned on her heel, ready to jolt up the stairs. She was eager to get out of those clothes and into a pair of pajamas. However, before she took another step, she turned to look at Sebastian. He was focused on his phone, his brows furrowed as he dialed a number.
“By the way,” She spoke the words slowly, her voice rusty, “Thank you. For everything.”
She didn’t wait for him to answer; her heart was beating too fast. She didn’t trust herself to stay around loner. So, without another word uttered between them, she ran up the stairs.
Chapter 5
Aline could never remember the early years of her childhood. Back when her mom had been home and her father had been sober. It could have been because so much time had passed or because her mind had taken it as a defense mechanism, so sh
e wouldn’t be able to tease herself with moments she could never have again. The point was, she never remembered someone cooking for her. All her memories were of the same old bread and cheese or store food that her dad used to buy from around the corner, from the little money that were left after he had bought his booze. She had never had anyone teach her how to make a homemade soup or how to bake a pie.
Luckily, Aline was good enough with following instructions. Her lack of training hadn’t affected her seemingly inborn skills. If anyone would have seen her moving around the kitchen, they would have guessed she had lived her whole life there, among the spices and knives. With a song in her head, Aline swayed her hips as she hummed along the rhythm that seemed to be stuck in her mind. Her hands were busy, hastily chopping at the red pepper she had found in the fridge.
Her head was still hurting from deciding on what to cook. She had never had so many options. The ingredients in her fridge, or the ones she could afford had always been limited. So, although she loved to cook, she had had to almost always resume to the simple dishes.
In all honesty, she had started cooking, but Aline had no idea when Sebastian would be home. She had forgotten to ask him the previous night. She could have called, but she knew how weird it would be to ask when he would be back home. It was a level of neediness she did not want to achieve.
She must’ve been caught up in her head, the smell of burning rice waking her up. She cursed under her breath as she proceeded to transfer the pot. She must’ve moved too fast, and too clumsily, her fingers touching the burning walls of the stainless pot instead of the handle.
A small cry escaped her lips as she jumped back, her wrist fluttering beside her as she tried to cool down the burning areas.
“So it turns out, you indeed are clumsy. It wasn’t just my suit.” The voice that came from beside her made her jump, her brows furrowing as she suddenly acknowledge the man beside her.
She lifted her gaze, her eyes passing the well-built arm that snaked around her to close the fire under the pot. She gulped as she landed on the pair of eyes looking intensely down at her. She wondered how was it possible that she hadn’t heard him come in. Had she been that lost in thoughts?
“Come.” He instructed, as he walked towards the fridge, putting some distance between them. Now that she regained her personal space, Aline could breathe again, her mind no longer swayed by the strong fragrance of Sebastian’s cologne.
“Wait! Let me take out the peppers from the oven. They’ll burn.” She was about to grab the oven handle, but something strong wrapped around her arm, pulling her backwards.
“Leave the peppers alone. We need to apply something on that burn.”
She would have complained, but oddly, she remained speechless, her body following his orders, sitting down on the kitchen stood as he gestured towards it.
“Why are you cooking, anyway? We could’ve went somewhere, or ordered something.” He asked as he approached her with the cream he had retrieved from the fridge.
“I can’t take you anywhere to thank you for helping me. So, I decided maybe I could make dinner, as a token.” She smiled, shrugging. “However, if we don’t turn off the oven, my token will burn.” She chuckled, her eyebrows lifting as she looked at the stove behind him.
“Fine. Hurry.” He sighed, his head gesturing towards it.
In a second, Aline had been back, her feet once again dangling from the tall kitchen stool. With pursed lips, she extended her hand, her eyes set on the cream tube Sebastian was holding. Sebastian shook his head and pushed her hand away, taking in a deep breath as he yanked her burnet hand out of her lap.
Taken aback, she sucked in a breath, confused by the electrifying feeling his touch caused. The spot he held was on fire, the warmth of his skin making goosebumps run along the whole length of her body.
The only thing that made her mind come back to reality was the pain that erupted as soon as Sebastian applied the cream. She made a gesture to pull out her hand, as she hissed, however, Sebastian’s hold on it strengthened. Slowly, he leaned in; his lips curling as he gently blew out air onto the wound.
Aline wondered if he realized what he was doing. That the way he was acting was strange. She hoped he didn’t. Because if he did, he must’ve also noticed the way her body reacted to it. As if through a trance, her eyes studied him. His hair was messy, probably because he had run his hand through it one too many times. Unlike the day before, he hadn’t got rid of his tie and blazer as soon as he entered the door. The dark blue material still hung on his shoulders, masking the broadness of his back and arms.
Eventually he pulled away, and from the look on his face and the awkward clearance of his throat, Aline knew he had just realized the intensity of the simple moment.
“I’ll go change and prepare for dinner.” And with that, he was gone, rushing up the stairs.
While she waited, Aline arranged the food on platters. She took her time when it came to decorating the dishes. Sebastian had a dining room; she had seen it the day she was hired as a housekeeper, however, she didn’t set the table there. She saw no point in it; the kitchen bar was large enough for the two of them.
She wondered what it was like to live in that house alone. It was far too big for one single person. Did he ever feel alone? She shook her head as she took a seat on the kitchen stool. Just in time, Sebastian walked inside the kitchen.
He had ditched the formal clothes for a pair of sweatpants and a white shirt. Aline couldn’t help but notice how much younger he looked like that. His hair was still damp from the shower he had taken, the smell of his cologne replaced by that of aftershave and minty soap.
“I have to admit, no one’s gratitude had ever smelled so good.” He joked, as he came to stand by the bar. His gaze trailed over the table, as if searching for something.
“Is something missing?” She asked, already standing up, ready to retrieve whatever she had forgotten. Suddenly, she felt a hand on her shoulder, its grip pushing her down on her seat.
“I’ll get the wine.”
“Wine?”
“Don’t you like wine?” The sound of glasses sliding over one another could be heard, as Sebastian retrieved them from the shelf behind her.
“I do. I’m just not used to it. I only had it once.” She said, as she ran a hand through her hair. “I bought it for my birthday, right after I paid the first installment for the debt. It was like a kind of prize. Other than that, I could never afford it. Neither did I want to. I feared turning into my dad.”
Sebastian was now beside her with the glasses in one hand, and the bottle of wine in the other. His eyes were set on her, studying her words, frowning. Of course, he didn’t understand her. How could he, when he didn’t even know a quarter of her past? She wanted to tell him; she had been carrying the burden of her life all alone. However, dinner wasn’t the place.
“Your dad?”
“Forget about it. How about we eat? Wouldn’t want my token to get cold.” She chuckled, although there was barely any humor in it.
Sebastian sighed and nodded, much to her relief. He poured the scarlet liquid in the glasses as she filled each plate with the delicacies she had prepared. Silently, Sebastian sat in his chair, grabbing onto the utensils before taking the first bite out of the food. Aline, wasn’t in such a hurry to taste it herself, she first needed to know what he thought of it.
“So?” She watched him with wide eyes, the previous sadness that had been sparked by her memories now gone.
“I guess you do have some other skills, aside from getting yourself in trouble.” He raised his brows, smirking. His eyes returned to the dish as he continued eating.
Aline smiled, ignoring the second half of his compliment. She had expected a quite dinner. Much like the one they had had the night before. However, that didn’t seem to be the case. Sebastian seemed to be eager to indulge in a conversation with her, and she came to wonder if it was just a warm up for a severe interrogation.
“Where did
you work before?”
“Nowhere special, just some stores and bars. Nowadays it’s really hard to find a place that would hire you without a diploma.” She smiled. “But I don’t mind. If it weren’t for the debt, I would’ve been living fine. I planned on doing some online courses. Maybe some cooking classes.”
Sebastian was about to say something. He had placed down his fork and knife, but Aline wouldn’t have it. She was enjoying the dinner, and she was set on delaying his questioning, at least until dinner was over. So, slowly, she rose her glass and gestured. Sebastian hesitated for a second, but he followed her lead, clinking his glass with hers before tipping its edge to his lips. He took one sip, but it wasn’t also the case for Aline. Despite her low tolerance to alcohol, the sip turned into a gulp, the liquid vanishing from the glass gradually as she swallowed the scarlet drink in one move.
Sebastian should have said something, but he didn’t want to. Maybe she needed that drink more than she led on. So, with an amused smile across his lips, he lifted the bottle and rose a brow:
“One more?”
Aline nodded.
“What about you? How does it feel to run such a kingdom?” She asked, as she took the last bite of her food.
Aline leaned in her chair, pressing her knee against the edge of the bar as she waited for him to answer. With the glass in one hand, and the other resting on her leg, she watched as his eyes moved around the room, his mind probably searching for the answer.
“No one’s ever asked that.” He chuckled, as he shook his head, taking a sip of wine. “But, it’s not a walk in the park. It requires a lot of sacrifices.”
“But at least you don’t have to worry about tomorrow.” She shrugged.
“I don’t worry about my tomorrow. But I have millions of fates resting on my shoulders. One wrong move and the entire company falls into ashes. Of course, I won’t be affected as much, but my employees. Did you ever think what will happen to them?”
The Alpha One Page 4
