GRACE

"Well, what was your response?"

I got off my bed and went to help Sam with the zipper of her red lace dress. "I did not give him an answer."

"It has been two days, Grace. Give him an answer already." She looked into the standing mirror to fix a smudge on her chin.

I gave a dramatic sigh. "It is very sudden and unusual. I have only worked there for two weeks. But why want me to move in? I don't know."

Sam looked away from the mirror and placed her hands on my shoulders.

"What exactly is the problem, Grace?"

"Nothing. I just think it is not proper."

"It is not as if you begged to be let into their home. They want you there. Mr. Powers must have noticed something in you. Why else would he have made such a request?" A smug look found Sam's lips. "Maybe he finally noticed your prettiness."

Contrary to the warmth that sentence brought to my insides, I rolled my eyes. "Oh please. He has a girlfriend."

"Girl, she doesn't sound like he sees that woman as a girlfriend."

"What on earth are you saying? What do you freaking know?"

"Let's leave that." Sam became serious again. "I strongly feel that Ruby is the reason Dominic Powers asked you to move in. I mean, you told me she is going through a lot and that's a huge deal. Ruby definitely needs someone around."

"She has her Dad."

"Who still struggles to hold a simple conversation with her. But you... You have been there for two weeks and Ruby has opened up to you so much. And I know you like her a lot. You never stop talking about her whenever you remember to call me." I chuckled. Sam has been complaining that I hardly have time for her and even when I do have the time, I am never totally a hundred percent with her. "So, please Grace, move in for Ruby."

Her hands left my shoulders and I nodded because what she said made a lot of sense.

Ever since Mr. Roberto's incident, Ruby has been keeping to herself a lot and she only talks when I start a conversation with her.

And even though she decided to reply, her face always lacks the glow it used to have when I first met her.

"I guess I should move in," I quietly agreed.

"Nice! I bet Mr. Powers would be elated at this news."

"Yeah..." I narrowed my eyes in suspicion of Sam's statement.

"I feel like I should change to the blue dress." Sam returned to her issue. As she pulled and adjusted her for, a little frown settled on her face.

Since I was already used to her sneaky attempts at wasting time so that she would find a reason to stay back at my place, I said, "There is nothing wrong with the freaking gown. And please stop freaking out, just go and have fun. I need to get some sleep. I need the energy to pack."

"Alright. She is finally moving in with the hot and sexy Dominic Powers. Oh, I can see drama happening already." I glared at Sam as she teased me, her body dancing suggestively. "Make sure you pack that blue nightgown of yours. You know, the sexy one."

"Dude! I am not going there to bang my boss."

"Oh, but you wish he was banging you." I intensified my glare. "Don't even lie to me. I can tell."

The image of my boss by the piano flashed in my mind again. And at that instant, I gave up trying to erase that image from my mind. I saw it and I can never unsee it. It is my freaking damned luck!

"Just go already," I urged Sam, my hands waving her away.

She smirked at me. And as she made a v with her fingers, her tongue swirling in between, I was glad that I did not tell her about the time I saw my boss screwing his girlfriend.

She would have made a bigger issue of it

********

I have become a very familiar face at Hotel Pierre- something I never saw happening- so, I soon learnt to get used to taking the front of the hotel.

Even though I preferred taking the back entrance, there was something about the reception on the ground floor that made me love passing by it.

The smell of delicious delicacies that came all the way from the kitchen to fill the atmosphere was the reason. There is just something about food you can perceive but can't eat.

I finally made it to the elevator and within a second, I was being transported to my destination. As I stood patiently in the whirring lift, I wondered if Ruby's new teacher would be around.

Knowing Mr. Powers, he would have ensured to pin it into the person's ears not to be late. I have been there.

Speaking of being late, I am one hour late to work and the lift was successfully adding five more minutes to my record. But in no time, I was in front of their house.

After taking a deep breath as I have never seen Mr. Powers's reaction when one comes late to work, I finally opened the door.

"Hey, Ruby," I greeted the first person I saw.

As she turned to acknowledge my presence, I saw that her father was beside her and the duo seemed to be busy watching some YouTube videos.

It was nice to see them doing something together.

And considering the possibility that my words were the ones that worked wonders on the ever-busy businessman, I could not help but feel a bit proud within me.

Mr. Powers does not seem to be the kind of man whom mere words could move as though he was as light as a feather.

"Grace! You are going to live with us!" Ruby raced to me and hugged me tight. "Thank you."

She let go of me and I saw that she was back to her normal, excited self.

"Thank you, Miss. Sands," Mr. Powers also input his appreciation and I faced him.

Still dressed in his nightwear, the man was sporting ruffled hair. He looked good to the eyes regardless.

Mentally smiling, I patted myself for not gushing over him too much so far. Maybe my hormones were safe after all.

"It is alright, sir. I apologise for being late. I had to pack."

"I'll overlook it this one time. You can drop your bag in your room."

He managed to look serious and amused at the same time, I found it thrilling.

"Sure. I'll go do that now."

To avoid the moment from approaching awkwardness, I told Ruby to get her books ready ahead of her teacher's arrival. She nodded happily and raced upstairs.

Then, I faced Mr. Powers whose eyes were still boring into me, his hands pocketed into his pants.

"I still get to go out, right?" I asked.

He frowned slightly, his hair bobbing as he tilted his head a bit as though doing a mini neck exercise on the spot. "Why not? Your work hours are as they were before. You are free to do whatever after."

"But..." I ceased the words on my lips from coming out.

"What is it, Miss Sands?" His voice was calm yet persuasive, I just had to utter the thing on my mind.

"Why exactly did you ask me to move in?"

"Ruby has a serious health condition. According to the doctor, she has a weak heart." His eyes locked into mine while my chest tightened at that news. " I can't give you much information right now, but I will fill you in later."

I really did not expect to hear something that heavy. So while I hoped that Ruby will be fine, I nodded and grabbed the handle of my bag, its tires whirling as they kissed the tiles.

As I effortlessly pulled it up the first step of the staircase, it tilted and its content came falling out. I cursed and turned to pack the clothes that fell out. I must have locked the bag wrongly again.

My eyes met Mr. Powers who I had no idea was walking behind me and I gave him an apologetic smile. As I bent to pick my clothes, my eyes fell on a silk, blue...

No shit! Sam actually packed the nightgown that makes me look fucking sexy.

And it was lying, of all places to fall at, his feet.

"Here, let me help you." He bent to pick the gown.

"No, it is fine. It is not..."

But he had already picked it up. He stretched it towards me in my crouched state and I grabbed its tail. He was holding the gown with a little force, as though it was a game of tug of war. So I had to get up and pull harder. Bit by bit, I took the cloth into my hands, the silkiness flowing nicely. During the transfer, my eyes were settled on his fierce ones and I was held down, I was just held down.

When the cloth finally made it into my hands, I subconsciously hugged it to my stomach. I was still drowning in the blueness of his eyes.

But soon I got out of the trance or moment or whatever you want to call it. I cleared my throat and gathered the rest of my clothes into the bag.

"Thanks," I murmured as I locked the bag, properly this time around.

Mr. Powers exhaled loudly but I did not make the mistake of looking at him.

And as I dragged my bag up the stairs, the one question on my mind was, 'What on earth was that?'

********

"I am Jeremy Chalk." The blonde-haired man in front of me replied to my question. "I am Ruby's new home teacher. And you are?"

"Grace. I am her babysitter."

"Wow. You are a pretty babysitter. Honestly, I was expecting some middle-aged woman."

"Oh, you missed her. She is probably honeymooning with her hubby right now."

He chuckled, the side of his eyes wrinkling, giving his eyes a different look and his face a prettier feature. "I am glad I missed her. So, can I come in now?"

I stopped him with my hand on his chest. "Wait a minute."

"Is this the part where you ask a question?"

"You are right." I dashed him a smile.

"Oh, nice. I hope you ask me for my number."

"What number? Dude please?" I rolled my eyes.

"House number, phone number..."

"Are you for real right now?" I asked, amusement on my face.

"Sorry, I can't help myself around beautiful women." His green eyes shone as he completed that statement.

"I appreciate the compliment, but I believe you are not here to flirt with me. So, cut that shit out."

He nodded, his mature-looking face turning serious. He was sort of cute, especially with his smiling green eyes which I found alluring. He was also manly with his body averagely built like David's but his appearance was not my concern at the moment. Not when someone else was stylishly occupying my mind after what happened between us in the morning.

"How sexually active are you?" I asked the first question.

Jeremy Chalk frowned in confusion. He probably thought he heard the question wrong. I did too a couple of minutes ago when Mr. Powers instructed me to ask the new teacher some questions.

"Uh... averagely? Is there a reason for that question?" His face suddenly lit up. "Or, are you also interested in me? 'Cause I am interested in you."

I decided to ignore him as the next question I was going to ask could be quite offensive.

"I apologise ahead for the question I am about to ask you." Jeremy nodded slightly, his eyes settling firmly on mine. "It can be a bit offensive."

"Just ask it already, Grace."

"Okay. Uh... on a scale of one to ten, how, uh..." I readjusted my stance and gripped the handle of the door. "... how often does the urge to whip out your manhood in front of the female species hit you?"

"Under what context?"

"Say," I played with the door handle, "you are teaching a five-year-old and..."

"Hell no! I am not a pedophile. What the heck!"

"I told you the question was a bit offensive," I said in defense. Darn Mr. Powers and his strange request. Couldn't he have done this himself? It would have been less awkward if it were a man-to-man conversation. I threw him an apologetic look. "I am sorry."

"I get it, I am a grown man teaching a little girl. Suspicions are bound to rise." He smiled.

I smiled back in relief. "You are not angry?"

"Nah. I really get it. But..." He waved his brows. "I have a question for you too." Please don't ask me on a date. "Would you like to go out sometime?"

"Uh..." I froze for some seconds. It has been a while since I heard those words, so I was briefly tempted. "No. I am not looking for anything serious. Sorry."

He nodded understandably. "But I am always available for a booty call. I am very sexually active."

"Good to know." I gave him a fake grin. The thought of getting into bed with him did not cross my mind once since he made his presence known. So I mentally dismissed his invitation. "Alright, come in. Ruby will be available in a minute."

He entered, and a gasp escaped his lips.

I know bro, I know.

I was about to close the door when I noticed that a black feminine shoe had been positioned to prevent the door from closing.

I looked up to see a woman with a structure similar to Regina's standing in front of me.

Slim and tall with an almost perfect hourglass shape hugged firmly by her mid-thigh, thinly strapped gown, the woman posed in front of me, her handbag dangling ahead of her.

She removed her shades and gave me a smile that I could tell was fake. As her hazel eyes widened to observe me from head to toe, I wondered, even though I did not see my employer as a playboy, if she was one of Mr. Powers' girlfriends.

"Uh..." I was already getting tired of the eye judgment she was giving me. "How may I help you?"

She smiled again, her pink glossy lips scrunched into a smirk after. "So, you are the one." I gave her a, what are you talking about? face. Her smirk persisted."You are the woman Dominic has been sleeping with."