Cressida

Sitting on the sofa, I wondered. Dad never told me anything about his business, his partners, any part of that life. He went far ahead to share a house with him, and yet I had no idea of it.

"Ma'am" Noah's voice snapped me out of my trance, "Sir is here to see you".

I looked up at found my father staring at me with a huge smile on his face.

"Daddy!! " forgetting everything else, I jumped and hugged him tight. It had been so long.

"My princess!! You are finally back, this time to stay forever" he said cupping my cheeks.

"Yes, dad" I hugged him again, "I can't believe I'm actually home".

We hugged for long and then sat down, my head on his chest, as he caressed my head and poured his fatherly love on me. After all, he and I were all that was left for each other.

"There is a huge party in your honor, we had been waiting so long for you to finally be here".

I raised my eyebrows, "We? Who else daddy? "

His expressions made me suspicious, "Me and your cousins, of course "

Yeah, right!! Cousins. As if we liked each other. I hated them all. I don't know why dad wanted them to stay here. Maybe because this estate was too large and it needed more humans.

"I'll see you in the evening, love. Take care" he kissed my forehead.

Noah stepped in with Lily and two more girls.

"Ma'am, Lily is your beautician, this is Shira, you bodyguard and this is Maddison, your stylist" Noah introduced me.

"Ma'am we are here to get you ready for the party. If you allow us. We shall prepare the bath" Maddison said stepping ahead.

Liz and I exchanged looks. All of this was too overwhelming. But I guess it was what I had to live like now.

I nodded. Not knowing what to do. A few more ladies came inside and went to prepare the bath.

"I'll see you later, I guess" Liz made a face.

"No, please.. Stay.. Girls can you help her dress up too? " I said.

"Of course madam" Noah said with a wide grin.

_______

By the time I got ready, it was 9. It took around five hours to get everything done. Much more then I ever needed in my entire life.

I was unable to recognize the person I saw in the mirror. Make up and dress up was not my jam. Jeans, and casual are more my type. And this was the first mega gala night of my life. Funny, how my dad was the one hosting it.

Lily did my hair, while two other girls adjusted my long dress. A beautiful golden brown, one strap shoulder dress with a black belt adorned with a large flower. My hair were half up, in a messy bun, strands of hair on my face and half of my hair loose on my back. My eyes were done a lot smokey and dark, lips painted a deep brown. Anyone would look beautiful in this get up. Perhaps I did too. Even if I didn't enjoy it.

They helped me with my large heels and by 9:35 I was good to go. Typical late night rich party.

"Whenever you are ready ma'am" Noah said.

"I need a moment, please" I said. All of them left the room. Liz was already downstairs, probably at the grand hall by now. Our estate had a giant hall to host magnificent parties as well.

I took a deep breath, and composed myself to step out and face whatever came my way.

As I walked out, I stepped on my own dress, my ears ached with the heavy earrings and I was a mess by the time the elevator arrived. Without paying attention to my surroundings, I stepped in, and then regretted it enough for a life time.

I bumped hard into a pole, or a wall, but when I raised my head to acknowledge it, my pupils dilated at what stood before me.

6 feet and 4-5 inches tall, dressed in a pitch black armani suit, his jaw sharp, covered by a light sexy stubble, his hand in his pocket, the other holding his phone close to his ear. His ice blue eyes fixed on me, forehead frowned, lips stern.

I forgot what I was doing, froze, my heart beat loud in my ears. This was him, the man we saw in the morning.. Declan. And he.. He.. Oh my God.. His features were all the more pronounced now that I could see him upclose. So.. Handsome was such a small word for him. He was out of the world beautiful. Straight from fantasies of young girls. He was all a woman could dream of.

I stepped on my dress again, as I tried to move and that was when my heart nearly stopped. His strong, muscular, long arm took hold of my small waist, and without loosing contact on his phone, he straightened me.

"Careful" he said, in his thick manly voice. But How?!!! He.. He was crowding my space, my mind, my judgment. He was too much for my poor heart. For a normal girl, this would have been a dream come true. An extremely handsome man, lived in her house, and got to share the selective family elevator.. But for me.. This wasn't a dream.. It was a nightmare. Because I was intimidated... Heavily.. Scaringly.. Intimidated by him.

His beauty, his aura, it frightened me. Highlighted my fears. Alerted the fight and flight mechanism of my system. Too much of anything had always scared me. And this was just.. He was just too much.

My breath was stuck as he stared at me. But before I felt anymore uncomfortable, the elevator door opened and he stepped out. Leaving me to take a deep breath and sigh in relief.

He is dad's buisness partner, he lives in this house, he got the best of this place all to himself. His influence was far greater then anyone else. And I.. I had to face him.. Everyday