GRACE

"Good morning, Miss Sands."

I jumped, and more than half of the content in the glass cup I was holding fell onto the tile.

"Sir..."

Why on earth would he decide to sneak behind me and whisper a greeting into my ear?

My eyes followed the man as he walked past the couch and to my side.

"Why are you up so early?" he asked.

"I couldn't sleep." I eyed him. His interest in me was a little suspicious. "Why are you up so early?"

"Same."

As I gave slow nods, I looked at the orangery mess I made on the floor.

I am glad to say that drinking orange juice at two in the morning is something I enjoy. Another thing I enjoy at this peaceful hour is the silence, the darkness, and the view of the beautifully lighted city before me.

My prolonged stare at the spilled mess was enough to strip the ground. So, I got to my feet and announced my intention to get a mop.

Without a word, the man shifted his stance and gave me a chance to pass without having to crash into him.

Soon, I was back in the dimly lighted room with a mop. But I did not see Mr. Powers in sight, so I guessed that he went back to his room.

But as I got to cleaning the mess which had expanded its roots, a deep hum reached my ears.

My head didn't hesitate to whip towards the piano side.

The man never left the living room.

With the mop supporting my position, I watched as he closed his eyes and began to play a slow tune.

That slow tune became something he visibly enjoyed. And that music found a way to embrace him. And capture me.

As a lover of anything melodious, I smiled as the tune became more and more interesting. Before I knew it, I quietly dropped the mop and walked towards the piano to watch how his hands worked to produce such soft, orgasmic music.

The man was admirably good. His skillful way of summoning sounds from the instrument made me feel jealousy in the midst of the emotions inside me.

As though he sensed my excitement, his eyes snapped open and stared into mine. He stopped humming but continued playing. And since I was aware of what his gaze could do to me, I easily switched my attention to his hands.

But he soon hit the last key and I was compelled to face him once again.

"That was beautiful, sir." My statement came out as a whisper.

I was met with silence. I took that as a sign to find my way back to my room. And I was about to do that.

"Miss Sands... " I turned. "Do you play?"

"Oh no. Well, I used to when I was at the orphanage..." I paused when I realised that I just let out an important part of my life I did not like telling people about.

My eyes met his, and I hoped I wouldn't read pity in them.

He did not disappoint me. He failed to show any concern about my past. "Why don't you play anymore?"

"I lost interest." I walked closer and smiled. "Actually, I did it to satisfy my first boyfriend. For some reason, he hated the piano, so I stopped playing." I scrunched my lips before asking, "That was a very stupid thing to do right?"

He made a low, unclear sound and turned his sight to the view of the city. I clasped my hands behind me and decided to do the same.

"Is that why you want me to be a good father? Because you didn't have a..."

Mr. Powers stopped his question but I understood him.

Before I gave a response, I repeated the question within me and pondered it for a while. "I don't know." I dragged my eyes off the view. "I guess I have always wanted parents, biological or not. So, I might have projected that need onto your relationship with your daughter."

He made that low sound again and nodded, the sides of his mouth forming a dome shape. He pressed a random key to chase the silence that was settling back in.

"You shouldn't have stopped playing. Music is beautiful."

The cringe memories from that part of my past filled my head. "I was very stupid, sir. I was stupidly in love." I was close enough to rest my elbows on the piano's roof, so I did. "I was indeed stupid. Dale left me for a city girl. According to him, she was more sophisticated."

It's strange. It's strange that I am currently in the living room with my boss who has found a way to affect me with his gorgeousness and random, slight touches. And it is more strange that I am talking to him about my first love.

But the man was listening. He wasn't disgusted.

He wasn't judging and that was enough to make it less strange.

"Would you like to play something?" His deep voice brought me out of my thoughts.

"Sir?" I straightened my position. Shyness suddenly befell me. "No, sir. I will be very rusty. I will be terrible at it."

"You should try. When you do, we can find out if you are indeed rusty." His words were freaking persuasive.

"Ugh..." I tried to hold back the coyness taking over my face. "I will do it. But," I threw a finger in his direction, "please don't laugh at me."

"Do I look like a person that makes fun of people?" I noticed how his jaw clenched while his eyes narrowed.

Oh my... Did I anger him?

"Oh no, no sir." He tapped the space beside him and motioned for me to come sit. "Beside you, sir?"

That's not a very good idea.

"Would you rather sit on my head?"

I cringed again as my mind pictured something else.

"Sir..." Don't say stuff like that. "Never mind. I'll take my seat." I walked to the stool and sat down.

I'll just imagine the man isn't next to me. How hard can that be?

"Well, play something."

Okay, this is hard.

It was hard enough to feel his bare bicep brushing my arm slightly.

But I managed to take a deep breath to calm my confused system that was already on another trip to Messed Up Town.

Then, I made my fingers linger on the keys.

Being so close to the instrument made me realise that it had really been a long time since I played.

I was about to forfeit the mission but the man firmly placed his gaze on me and that pushed me until I pressed a key.

Then, I pressed that key repeatedly.

Before I knew it, my eyes were closed and I was playing music again. As I played the simple tune in my head, Mr. Powers joined from his end.

I opened my eyes and stole a glance at him. The man looked serious yet peaceful as he joined me to caress the instrument.

I smiled softly at the fact that I could finally relate to what he was feeling at that moment.

Then I closed my eyes and enjoyed the music we were using to fill the night.

********

"Ruby, have you seen your father today?"

The girl shook her head and delved more into the book in front of her.

With a slight frown on my face, I glanced at the staircase.

After our little music-making session the other night, his face became quite scarce for almost two weeks. He either left early before anyone woke up or he came home very late.

I understood his sudden change in schedule since I equated it to his job as a businessman. But he hasn't stepped into the house after leaving almost two days ago.

When I asked Ruby if there was anything to worry about, she replied with, "He probably has a big project to handle. He always disappears during times like that."

Even though I took Ruby's word as fact, a part of me was still concerned. If I had his phone number, I would have called him, that's how worried I am.

And speaking of numbers, I really need to get my boss's phone number. It's just insane how I forgot to ask Fiona for that simple detail during the orientation.

"Grace, where can I get water?" Jeremy's voice made me tear my eyes from my phone's screen.

"Don't worry. I'll get it for you."

The man nodded in appreciation as I got to my feet. I ruffled Ruby's hair as I walked past her ever-serious self.

But I was almost halfway past the living room when I heard a loud feminine moan from the upper floor.

That caused me to stop my steps.

A small frown on my face, I locked eyes with Jeremy and asked, "I did not imagine that, right?"

"No, you did not." The sound came again even though it wasn't as loud as the first time. "Definitely not imagined."

"I thought he wasn't around," I murmured while a frown found its way to my forehead.

And why on earth is a moan coming from his room in broad daylight, while his daughter was very awake and around? I thought we had a deal concerning that issue.

Well, the man is going to get another piece of my mind.

I changed the course of my walk and told Jeremy, "Help yourself to a bottle of water in the kitchen."

As I approached the stairs, I felt anger in my soul. And it wasn't just anger at the fact that he had a moaning mess in his room. It was also anger at the fact that he didn't deem it fit to inform the occupants of the room of his arrival after a long time of partial absence.

I was almost climbing the stairs when the front door flung open.

"Miss. Sands, can you please get me a bottle of water please?"

The familiar thickness of that voice caused my eyes to bulge in surprise. I turned abruptly to face a very tired Mr. Powers. The lack of sleep was written all over his face.

But, wait a minute...

"If you are here... who is up there?"

"Uh? Miss Sands, I need water. I am very tired and I can't deal with any issues right now."

"Uh, sir... What Grace is trying to say is that we heard noise from upstairs and we thought you were already around," Jeremy butted in.

"What?" He was really tired. Even the words coming out of his mouth were dragging. "I have not been around for almost... two days?" The moan from upstairs came again. "Wait, that is Regina's voice."

He found a way to walk toward me. He dumped the suit he had been lazily holding into my hands and made his way upstairs.

With curiosity in my system, I followed him. And I noted how sluggish his normally firm steps were. That made me wonder what he had been up to that caused him to deprive himself of good sleep.

We were soon in front of his door and the sounds were more audible. He opened the door and I followed him in.

"Oh, my God! Dominic!"

The smashing duo we met jumped off the bed. They found themselves in separate directions as they tried to cover their privates with what their hands could grab.

Regina had fallen to the floor on the other side of the bed, so it was hard to see her.

So, my eyes went to the guy that she was riding a few seconds ago. He was trembling at the corner he had jumped to. And while his body glistened with sweat, he began to plead.

Mr. Powers took a few steps back.

"Get out," was all he said in a low voice while he directed his gaze to the floor, two fingers on his right hand pinching his nose. It seemed he was trying to keep his emotions in check.

Regina got up, the sheets she had grabbed, wrapped around her body.

"Dom... I didn't..."

"Get the hell out, Regina. And never show your face to me." The way he calmly talked was enough to tell that he was trying not to flare up and Regina was that wise to get the message. She grabbed her tousled clothes and made for the exit. "Where on earth do you think you are going?" Mr. Powers stopped her.

"I ... am... g ...going out."

I did not see what he did with his face but it was enough to drive fear into Regina. She quickly retreated her steps and approached the door I guessed led to the bathroom.

Her companion who had managed to get half-dressed ran after her. And out of further curiosity, I followed them.

Apparently, in the bathroom, there was a ladder that was connected to the roof, and that explained how she was able to get into his room without any of us noticing.

As I closed the door, I shook my head. Without a doubt, it was quite audacious of her to bring a man into his bed. She certainly did a terrible job of trespassing on another person's property.

When I turned to face the room, Mr. Powers was already lying face down on his bare mattress

"Mr. Powers..." I whispered into the room as I moved closer to his sprawled figure. His eyes were already closed, but I could not tell if he was sleeping or not. "Mr. Powers."

My hand lingered over his shoulder pad and I studied his tired face. Soon I decided to rethink my attempt to touch him. I don't want a situation where he dumps all his frustrations on me.

But as I retreated the little weight my knee impressed on the mattress, the man said with a strained voice, "Leave, Miss Sands."

Without a word, I walked to the far end of the bed and removed his shoes, leaving him with his back socks and full clothes.

A sigh escaped me once I walked out of his room to join Ruby and Jeremy. And as I moved, I hoped that he would be okay.