GRACE

"Okay Ruby," I leaned closer to ensure that eye contact was maintained, "you have to come clean." I have to remain stern and show her my seriousness. "Did you eat out of the chocolates?" With puppy eyes, Ruby shook her head. I glanced at the brown smudge on the side of her lips and scoffed in disbelief.

"You did not eat out of it," I uttered, the tone of my voice barely carrying a whiff of inquiry.

And she sharply responded with, "No."

"How do you explain this then?" I slammed two wrappers of Snickers chocolate onto the kitchen counter and stared squarely at the little girl whose eyes widened in shock. She started to struggle with finding an explanation but I continued my questioning.

"And how do you explain this?" I pulled out a little mirror and placed it in front of her so that she could see that I had irrevocable evidence against her. "So, tell me, Ruby, did you eat the chocolates or not?"

"Uh..." Her voice became timid and her eyes evaded mine while I cocked a brow and I awaited the reason she would give. "Grace..."

"I am listening," I urged her.

"I am sorry!" Ruby startled me a little with the loudness of her apology but I decided that it was a good sign that she didn't eventually shy away from the truth.

"Hmm..." I stood straight and folded my arms. "Why are you sorry?"

Her little fingers began to nervously play with each other. That view made me wonder if I was coming on too strong. I don't want a situation where I scare the girl with my questioning.

So, I unfolded my arms as she replied to my question.

"Uhm... I am sorry because... Because I broke my promise?" I motioned for her to continue. "I promised not to eat chocolates for a week but I did."

"So, why did you lie?" Guilt filled her face and Ruby looked away. But I instantly compelled her to look me in the eye. "If you had told me that you wanted the chocolate, I would have considered it."

"But you wouldn't have let me have them," she complained.

I quickly became invested in that moment. I wished to study the little girl in front of me some more. So, I placed my elbow on the kitchen island.

"What makes you think I wouldn't have let you have them?" Ruby gave a lazy shrug. "As long as I am here with you, you can always ask me anything. If you had asked me for chocolates, I might have not given you the whole bar, but I would have let you have a little bite, you know."

She shrugged again and said, "It's just that when my mother lived with us, she didn't like me asking questions. She didn't really like me talking to her."

Sorrow seeped into Ruby's words and her need for her father's attention made more sense to me. It would have hurt Ruby if her father turned out to be like her mother.

"Your mother used to live here? When?"

If I recall vividly, Fiona told me she had been her nanny since birth, so I easily guessed her mother was never around.

"Yes, before I was five, she came and stayed with us for a long time." Ruby quickly changed the topic, cutting off the question on the tip of my tongue. "Grace, I am sorry I lied."

I sent her a light smile, reached out to hold her cheek, and said, "It is fine, Ruby. But since you lied, you will have to extend your promise. And that means no chocolate for two more weeks."

Ruby easily surrendered. "Okay."

"Well, here..." My phone's ringtone interrupted my words and when I saw the caller's ID, I helped Ruby off the chair and said, "I'll call you when dinner is ready. We are still going to talk about your love for chocolates though. It's not good to eat too much."

She nodded and ran out of the kitchen to do whatever she was going to do.

I followed her rapid steps to the living room and once Ruby found her room and closed the door loud enough for me to hear, I slid my finger over the accept option.

"Sam?" I was greeted by murmurings. "Hello?" Scratchy noises followed and I decided to engage my patience. I went to sit down and waited for the noise to disappear.

'Grace. Finally! Why have you been rejecting my calls?'

"Well, good day to you too. I am doing fine, thanks for asking."

I could picture the eye roll she was giving me at that moment.

'Oh please! Can't I be worried about you? I thought the article thingy had gotten to you or something. And since you hardly ignore calls, I had to be worried.'

I gave a light chuckle. "You sound very responsible right now."

'I am responsible!' She retorted playfully. 'Anyway, the media is not shutting up, what's up? Is your boss not doing anything about it?'

"Well," I haven't spoken to Mr. Powers about it because we have been rather... busy, "many things were occupying my time."

'Whoa! Hold up! Are you and Mr. Powers...?'

I can bet that her face was lit up with excitement and partial cockiness. She would probably say she saw my recent relationship with Mr. Powers coming.

"Well," I dragged my words, "something like that..." Sam shrieked, I had to put the phone away from my ear for some seconds. "Are you done?"

'No! I am not close to being done! Tell me, how was it? It was hot, yeah?'

A little frown graced my face.

"I am not giving you those kinds of details. But that was not the reason for rejecting your calls."

She could read my serious tone, so her excitement vanished.

'What was the reason?'

"I... I remembered Kyle." She gave a quiet oh. "For some reason, my fault actually, Do... Mr. Powers learnt about Kyle. When he asked me about Kyle, I was angry at first, but the next day, I was willing to talk about Kyle and the things that happened.

It was painful to recall the details but I said all there was to say and I won't lie..." I exhaled hard.

" I felt better. I feel better. For the first time since Kyle died, I genuinely feel happy. It feels like a huge load has been lifted off my chest. I am finally learning to let Kyle go, Sam. I am ready to move on."

'Oh darling, that is amazing. You are finally doing this. I am so proud of you. So...' I knew she wouldn't want to dwell on the Kyle talk for long. 'Mr. Powers, uh? You calling him by his first name now?'

Trying to shy away from my inner excitement, I shrugged before I responded, "He prefers I call him by his first name."

She scoffed. 'Yeah right. This is awesome! You are finally getting some good fuck.'

"I don't know Sam, it is more than the sex. It just feels that way."

'Don't tell me you are falling in love. No, girl. Remember... that man is playboy material. Falling in love with people like him can hurt you in the end.'

"I am living with him, Sam. The man hardly carries the attributes of a player."

'Exactly, you are living in his house. Just his house. You don't know what he is doing out there.'

I pondered on her words, but they didn't sound right.

To me, Dominic is a simple man. A simple, responsible man who just wants a small break from the tediousness of his business world.

"I don't know, Sam. He just doesn't seem to be a playboy."

'Just be careful, okay? Have fun but be careful.'

On a side note, Sam has a point. Her concern is valid.

But I still can't bring myself to view her words as something valuable because I can feel something genuine happening between Dominic and me.

His words, spoken and unspoken, that make my heart grow warm and flutter with joy, feel genuine.

He might not have a confirmatory love-sick expression glued to his face, but the little care the ever-stoic man has shown me so far is more than enough to tell that I am not being played.

"Okay Sam, I will be careful. Anyway, how bad is the whole media thing? I haven't exactly had the time to check. "

'Well, they have managed to fish out your social media accounts, so they have their eyes on you.'

"Wow." I heard the front door close with a slight thud, so I got up and faced the entrance. "I should talk to Mr. Powers and see if something can be done."

'You do that girl and uh... Remember to use protection please.'

I shook my head. "Get off my phone, you tease."

Sam chuckled manically as she said goodbye. Once I ended the call, I tucked my phone into the front pocket of my grey joggers and approached the man who was back from a long day at the office.

"Mr. Powers," I called the man who stood still after a few steps up the stairs, his full attention on his phone. "Mr. Powers?" I raised my voice.

The man ignored me. And I scoffed in disbelief as he maintained his focus on his phone.

Once I took a few more steps closer to the end of the staircase, I called him again. "Mr. Powers?"

I am sure this man can hear me, so why isn't he responding? "Mr. Powers? Dominic?"

"Grace." He swiftly faced me, a grand smile on his lips. "There you are." He finally responded and I just had to roll my eyes at his silliness.

The man began to walk towards me. As he moved, I admired his exceptional dressing. The light tones of his clothes blended with his skin and I found him more alluring.

Once his feet were barely inches away from mine, he asked, "Did you just roll your eyes at me?"

"Uh..." I looked up at him and bit into my tongue as I could sense the sensual danger threatening to fill the room. "I... did?"

"Hmm." His deep voice boomed before his arm found my waist and pulled me into his chest, causing me to give a loud gasp. My eyes still looking up at him, he said, "Why did you look so pretty rolling your eyes? These beautiful eyes of yours."

I felt my whole body melt comfortably into his arm as his sentence filled my mind.

"Uh... Thank you?"

The man smirked in delight and ran his hand down my back, the feeling from that contact instantly making me wish that my back was bare. I wished to feel more of his hands which were magical just like his lips.

His whole being is magical.

"Come, let's shower before dinner," Dominic urged and made for the first step, his hand gently tugging at my wrist.

I was close to giving in when I remembered that I still had something important to talk to him about.

"Wait," I halted his motion and he turned back, a querying look on his face. "I need to talk to you about something." I removed my hand from his gentle hold. "It is about the articles and posts that have been out since your birthday. For some days now, they have been posting about me being your girlfriend."

He gave a nonchalant shrug. "Well, are you not my girlfriend?" My head swirled at his response. It was unexpected and sudden.

I mean, he said I am his. I also like to think that he is mine. But girlfriend? I am his girlfriend?

Does he really think of me as his girlfriend?

"Sir?" Dominic jerked a brow. "B... B... But I... I thought we were not that..." I paused to search for an appropriate word.

"That what?" His hand found my chin and he made my darting face focus on him. "That what?"

"I...I ... I didn't know we were at that stage."

"Well, now you know." His gaze narrowed darkly. "We have shared a lot, haven't we Grace?" I gulped abruptly before nodding. That moment felt unreal. I didn't expect the ease with which he confirmed that something defined was going on between us.

While I indulged my thoughts, Mr. Powers continued, "Anyway, it appears you are not comfortable with whatever is going on with the media, so I will look into it. Is that fine, my baby?" He smiled at me.

My baby? This man is easily doing things to me without even touching me. Apart from his lips-curling, sweet words, his smile was on full display.

I have to say, Dominic looks really cute when he's smiling. Just looking at him makes me want to playfully pull his cheeks and coo at him all day.

"Grace, are you okay?" I gave a subconscious nod as I replayed his words over and over in my mind. "Grace..."

"Uh... yeah." I cleared my throat. "Thank you so much, Dominic. I wouldn't like it if they continue to pry into my life."

"I am sorry I didn't notice that something of that magnitude was happening." His lips formed a little pout. That surprised me. Dominic was showing quite a lot of emotions, unlike on other days. "I dragged you into this. I apologise."

"It is okay. On the bright side, I get to be a celebrity even if it is just for a while." I grinned.

Dominic's hand was still on my chin and his other hand easily cupped my jaw when his lips leaned forward and found my forehead. Once I felt the bliss of his kiss, I closed my eyes.

"You are so beautiful," he whispered and my eyes flickered open.

I then watched as his eyes easily darted to my slightly parted lips. His thumb approached my lips but it didn't initiate contact, it just hovered.

That teasing soon became unbearable for me, I became hungry for more of his touch.

But Ruby cancelled a chance to quench the way I was feeling.

"Grace. I am hungry," she announced from the top of the stairs and Dominic and I immediately separated. As though we had just been caught doing something forbidden, we firmly stood beside each other and avoided any form of contact.

"Ruby..." I smiled. "I don't think dinner is ready yet. But I will go and check. I am also hungry."

"Okay." She dragged her feet and began to walk back to her room.

"Ruby," I called her back, my figure bouncing on the spot to keep myself in check. Dominic, who had found a way to close the space between us, sneaked his hand past my top. The way he carefully drew on my skin caused sensations I knew I would not be able to ignore for too long.

"Uh... you can help yourself to the cookies in my room. I will..." Mr. Powers began to drum his fingers on my back and each contact made things worse for me. "I will uh... go downstairs and check if the chef is almost done. Okay?"

Ruby nodded and walked away.

Once she was out of sight, my head snapped in the direction of the tall man who quickly wore pretence.

"Dominic!"

"What is it?"

"Ruby was standing so close to us. She could have..."

"I am sure my daughter wouldn't mind me giving you a back rub. Besides, I wasn't doing anything rated R."

He had a mischievous look on his face. I glared at him, grabbed his hand, and peeled his fingers off my back.

"Excuse me. I need to make sure your daughter eats on time." My lips wore an ugly scowl as I walked past him.

But the man was not fazed by my fake disapproval of his actions. As I walked, he gave my buttocks a light smack.

I gasped, he winked. And he said, "You owe me a shower."

Just like that, he eased his way up the stairs while my bewildered self stared at his broad back as he walked.