Chapter Four - Laughing Pumpkins

Dad glared at me the moment I turned to him.

"Is this why my company is closing this deal with Sinclair? Because you are dating him?"

"What? No," My eyes grew wide. Well, technically yes.

"Not at all dad. You've always taught me to never mix personal life and work. Honestly, I've never discussed about this project with him because it's simply none of my business,"

He crossed his arms over his chest with a skeptical look but I knew he was believing what I was telling him.

"You got this deal because your project is worth it. And not because you are dealing with your daughter's boyfriend," I spoke softly.

Clearing his throat, he nodded. "Okay,"

"So. You're moving out," He spoke again.

I nodded. "I asked if it was okay with you,"

"It is," He gave me a nod. "But do you have to move out today itself? I mean an hour ago I didn't even know you were engaged and now you're moving in with someone. Aren't you rushing into this Scar?"

It's way more than rushing actually.

I shook my head. "I've known him for a long time dad,"

"Okay," He gave me a tight smile. "But I just want you know that if he doesn't keep you safe like I do, or hurts you in anyway, I won't give a damn about the deal before breaking his jaw,"

A smile formed on my lips and I burst out laughing, stepping forward and pulling him into a hug.

"I'm serious Scarlet," He let out a laugh.

"I know dad," I mumbled and pulled back.

"Now I gotta go and pack. He'll be here to pick me up in the evening,"

He nodded and patted my head before walking back to his room.

I went upstairs and pulling the suitcases out, I started packing the necessary stuff first. I decided to come back some time later for the rest of my stuff since it was impossible to pack my entire room in a few hours.

I looked at the watch when I was done. 7 p.m.

Great! Took me hours.

But Alec should have been here. I picked up my phone, debating in my head if I should give him a call or maybe a text.

I decided to stick to a text.

Are you coming to pick me up?

I hit send and waited for his reply. My phone buzzed after five minutes.

I didn't remember I had to pick you up and scheduled a meeting. I'll text you the address or maybe send someone to chauffeur you?

Some nerve in my body ticked at his reply. He forgot? Is he even a human?

I looked around the room and a weird pain erupted in my chest. Am I really leaving my entire world behind to move in with a man who does not even care?

Why am I doing this?

For dad! A voice spoke inside my head and I took in a deep breath, before texting him back.

The address would be fine.

I locked my phone and threw it on the bed, not wanting to be waiting for his reply and went downstairs with my suitcase. Thankfully, Jimmy was at a friend's house and wasn't going to be home unless I would be gone.

I couldn't help but think about how he would feel.

Before I could get myself wrapped up in all the emotions, I shook my head and placed the suitcase near the coffee table in the living room.

"Why isn't he here yet?" Dad stepped into the living room.

"He can't come," I spoke and dad narrowed his eyes. "I mean he's stuck in a meeting. He really wanted to come though but you know how busy he is dad,"

Dad rolled his eyes. "Sure. Do you want me to drop you?"

"Nope. I'll manage and I'll call you whenever I reach there,"

"So you're leaving now?" He asked but I understood the true deeper meaning of his words.

"Yeah. Just gotta get my bag and phone from my room," Without waiting for his reply, I went upstairs and checked my phone.

No reply from him yet. Just then, the phone buzzed. It was his message sending me the address.

Giving a final look at my room, I went downstairs and dad had already loaded my suitcase in my lambo. "Thanks," I smiled at him.

Mrs. Byrne was standing beside him with a sad face.

"Oh come on," I pulled her in for a hug. "I'm going to miss you so much,"

"I'll miss you too Scar. Best of luck,"

"Thanks," I pulled back and smiled at her.

I turned to dad and gave him a brief hug, knowing that a longer one might make me stay back and take this deal away from him.

He just gave me a smile in return as I got into the car and waved at him. I could see the worry in his eyes as he waved back at me with a smile and I drove out of the garage, probably saying goodbye to this house for a very long time.

Feeding the GPS with his apartment address, I started driving through the busy New York roads. The place was an hour drive from my house.

Upon reaching, I decided to text him again but a knock on my window caused me to pause and roll it down. A man in his late twenties with black hair and brown eyes was staring down at me.

"Ms. Price?"

I nodded.

He extended his hand in my direction and I shook it in confusion. "I'm Jeremy Rodgers. I work for Mr. Sinclair. Please follow my car,"

"Okay Mr. Rodgers,"

"Just call me Jeremy," He gave me a smile and went forward. I noticed a black sedan infront of me as he got into it and entered the area with me following behind him.

He entered a parking lot and parked the car into an empty lot in the corner, leaving a middle spot for my car. I got out of the car and started unloading my suitcase from the trunk.

"Let me," He stepped forward and took the bag from my hands.

"Thank you," I muttered and he guided me to an elevator. He punched in a code and the elevators started going up. I waited patiently for the doors to open and once they did, my mouth dropped open in amazement.

The penthouse was beautiful with the black marble flooring and white walls. The living area was darkly furnished with three couches in a sitting and a flat LED TV infront of them. The kitchen was just in the left corner and in the right, an elegant spiral staircase led upstairs.

The place was simply breathtaking as I stood in the middle, admiring it. Someone cleared their throat and I looked back to find a lady who seemed to be in her early forties, standing there and she offered me a smile.

I smiled back.

"Hello Ms. Price. I'm Martha Cooper. The housekeeper,"

I stepped forward to give her a handshake. "You can call me Scarlet. Nice to meet you Mrs. Cooper,"

She shook my hand. "Likewise Scarlet. You can call me Martha. I'll show you your room,"

"Okay," I nodded.

She walked towards the stairs and I followed her, Jeremy following behind with my bag. After climbing the stairs, she walked along the corridor and stopped infront of the second door to her left.

She opened the door and stepped aside to let me walk in first. "Thank you," I muttered and entered the room. A bed was situated in the middle, with medium sized white lamps mounted on night stands on both the sides. The walls were a light shade of blue and stood the night out with the stars shining outside the glass window at my right.

There was a door to my left and I assumed it was the bathroom and another door at the far end in the room, seeming like a walk in closet. A dresser was situated beside the bed in the other corner.

"I hope you like it," Martha muttered and I turned to her with a smile. "I love it,"

Jeremy kept the bag down and turned to me. "I'll be your chauffeur Ms. Price,"

"Just call me Scarlet. And thank you Jeremy but seeing that I have my car, I won't be a trouble to you," I let out a laugh.

He just shook his head with a smile. "There's no trouble Ms. Price. It's my job," He said.

"Just call me Scarlet," I smiled at him.

Giving me a nod, he left the room.

"I'll leave you to rest now. If you need anything, I'll be downstairs and I'll be getting the dinner ready by 9 p.m." Martha spoke.

"Okay," I nodded and she left.

It was 8:30 p.m. I decided to call dad and tell him that I reached. After a long chat with him and hearing Jimmy complain about me leaving, I hung up, glad that he wasn't as sad as I was expecting or maybe he wasn't just showing it over the phone.

I picked up my suitcase and started unpacking it, shoving my clothes on the empty shelves in the closet. Once I was done, I picked out my Johnny Bravo tshirt and blue pajamas and changed into them for the night.

Going infront of the dresser, I brushed my hair and pulled them up into a bun. I sat down on the bed and checked my facebook and instagram for the next fifteen minutes. Nothing interesting.

I was thankful for the pair of spongebob flip flops I had decided to bring with myself as I put them on and decided to go downstairs.

The moment I opened the door, I heard some footsteps at the end of the corridor and peeked outside. That's when I saw him.

Alec was standing outside a room, dressed in a pair of track pants and a casual tshirt, revealing his muscular arms. Just then, a woman stepped out of the same room.

I looked at her closely, long blonde messed up locks, pale complexion stuffed with makeup. Talking about makeup, her dark red lipstick was smudged, her mascara giving her a scary look as she put on her heels and looked at Alec. Her black dress was way too short and strapless, as she kept lifting it over her large boobs after every five seconds.

"Will you call me?" She batted her eyelashes at him and that's when it hit me. Alec slept with her?

He crossed his arms over his chest. "Maybe,"

She pouted and leapt forward to hug him but he stepped back. Frowning, she turned to her left and started walking. I withdrew my head from the half open door and shut it, waiting for her to leave.

Hearing her heels clicking against the floor, I assumed she was gone after a minute or something.

I opened the door just in time to find Alec walking past it. He stopped in his tracks and turned to me.

"So you're here. I was about to call Erica,"

I narrowed my eyes. "That won't be needed,"

"Good," He said and turned forward.

"So that's the meeting you were busy in?"

"Excuse me?" He gave me a confused look.

"Is that why you couldn't come to pick me up? Because you were so busy fucking her, fiancè?" I snapped.

Realization dawned on him as he crossed his arms over his chest and smirked at me.

"So you're not dumb,"

I raised a brow at him.

"I'm not. But you are definitely the asshole I believed you to be," Stepping outside the room, I shut the door behind me and walked past him to go downstairs but was stopped when his hand grabbed my wrist and he spinned me around, pinning me against the door.

My eyes grew wide at his action as I stared at him in shock.

"What did you just call me?" He snapped.

I gritted my teeth in annoyance. How dare he?

"An asshole," I spoke in a challenging tone.

His eyes narrowed at me.

"I didn't force you into coming here and-"

"WHAT? You did not force me? What the hell is wrong-"

"Shh," His finger went up to my lip and I shut my mouth at the feel of his skin against my lips. His blue eyes were sharp as he stared down at me but I couldn't think straight. Gulping down, I stood frozen infront of him.

"I gave you a choice and you chose to be here. I'm not obliged to invest my money in your father's company and all I did was ask something in return for risking my funds. And if you think I'm going to appreciate your whiny attitude in my house, you're wrong,"

I blinked at him and he removed his finger from my lips. My breathing became heavy and my heart started beating furiously as he stood only an inch apart from me. I breathed in his intoxicating scent and struggled to keep my mind on track.

He pinned his hands to the door on either sides of me and leaned in. I sucked in a breath at the close proximity and closed my eyes. Was he going to kiss me?

"Get that?" He spoke in a husky voice as I felt his breath fanning my cheek. I stopped breathing and couldn't bring myself to open my eyes but I still nodded.

Just then, the warmth was snatched away and I opened my eyes to see him walking down the corridor, his back to me.

I released a breath and leaned against the door for a few seconds before standing straight and composing myself. Turning in the direction where he went, I walked down the corridor and went downstairs.

Martha was setting up dishes at the table when she looked up at me.

"Where's Alec?" I asked her.

"Mr. Sinclair went to his study,"

"Oh," I sat down at the table and thought for a while. He said he wanted me to be here in return for helping my father's company. But what exactly does he want from me?

Why did he bring me here? Should I ask him?

Will he tell me?

Most importantly, will I be able to face him after what just happened? No not at all. Atleast not until an hour or something.

"Should I call him?" Martha asked.

"No. It's fine. He must be busy. I'm tired and just came down to eat,"

At this, her face lit up and she immediately started serving me.

"Martha. It's alright. I'll manage,"

"Nope," She said enthusiastically and I stifled a laugh as she poured some gravy in a bowl and placed the plate filled with food infront of me. My stomach instantly growled and I took in the heavenly smell.

"Come on. Taste it already," She chirped.

I picked up my fork and rolled it in the delicious looking spaghetti and ate it after which I devoured the steak and sighed in content. This was probably the best thing happening to me all day.

"This is amazing Martha," I told her.

"Thank you Scarlet," She bowed like a professional and we burst out laughing as she went back into the kitchen.

Lastly, I devoured the delicious tartlets and rubbed my belly. That was some great treat!

I picked my plate up and went inside the kitchen to place it in the sink. Martha was cleaning the counter.

"Thank you. I loved it,"

She just gave me a smile in return and went back to her work while I decided to go up to my room.

As I was walking up the stairs, I noticed a door in the left corner of the hall, right beside the staircase.

Was that his study?

Out of curiosity, I walked over to the door and knocked softly but there was no reply. Looking around, I twisted the knob a bit and popped my head in. It was a well furnished study with a huge mahogany desk sitting in the centre and a black leather chair behind it with two sitting chairs in the front.

I knew I should shut the door and go back on my way but instead, I ended up tip toeing in the room like an idiot.

There was a comfortable recliner chair with a small coffee table on my right. Walking further, I noticed a laptop and a few files placed on top of the desk.

Feeling like I was intruding, I decided to go back and turned to leave but jumped in my spot when my face collided with a rock hard chest.

"Ow," I groaned, rubbing my nose as I shifted back.

Realizing I just got caught, I looked up at the person standing infront of me with his arms crossed over his chest.

"What are you doing here?" Alec snapped.

I bit my lip and shrugged. "Just exploring,"

He narrowed his eyes and took a step in my direction, making me shift back.

I knew the typical thing that was coming up after this, me shifting back and him stepping forward, then my back hitting the desk and him cornering me, and so I decided to do the opposite.

I took a step in his direction instead and put my hands over my hips. "Is that a problem?" I asked confidently and regretted it a moment later when he took another menacing step in my direction.

His eyes were challenging me to do something and I gulped nervously.

Okay! Maybe not that good of an idea.

"Yes," He snapped. "It is a problem,"

"Umm. Okay. Guess I'll just leave then," Offering him a smile, I tried to walk past him--keyword: tried.

But he stepped to the side and blocked my way. His eyes scanned me up and down and I blushed at the cartoon print tshirt I was wearing.

"There's just one rule of this house and that is-"

"That there are no rules?" I cut him off with the usual humored dialogue but resisted the urge to punch myself when his scowl deepened.

"No," He snapped. "No one steps in this study when I'm not here,"

I looked around his dull study and turned to him again.

"Seriously? Why would anyone want to be here in your boring study? Can't believe you have a rule for that," I spoke before I could stop myself and he raised a brow at me.

"I mean you're acting like people would die to be in here," I let out another laugh expecting him to humor up but knew that it was time to shut up when his expression did not change.

I walked past him, thankful that he did not stop me this time and opened the door but my relief was short lived when the door was shut loudly and his hand rested beside my head.

I did not turn around and neither did he ask me to for the next thing I knew, I felt him leaning over me a bit, heat radiating off of him and seeping through the thin material of my tshirt, as he brought his mouth near my ear.

I sucked in a breath as his intoxicating scent surrounded me once more and right then, I would slap myself to not be affected but none of it would work.

"So tell me Scarlet," He whispered my name, which caused a shiver to run down my spine. "How many times has this smart mouth of yours got you in trouble?"

"A l-lot of times," I spoke. Don't stutter bitch! I cursed.

He brushed his nose against my cheek for a fleeting moment and that was enough for my heart to go in overdrive. My palms became sweaty, making me a bundle of nerves.

Taking in a deep breath, I tried to bring back my cool demeanour but none of it was working. So I decided to stick to happy thoughts and thought about something like laughing pumpkins.

I closed my eyes and it had almost started working when he spoke again.

"What are you thinking about?"

"Laughing pumpkins," I spoke out before I could stop myself and without turning around, I knew I was turning red like a tomato.

I finally turned to him and he had an amused expression on his face, his lips lifted up a bit and some spark suddenly added to his eyes out of nowhere.

Knowing that I had embarrassed myself, I tried to keep a straight face and shrugged. "Maybe it's time for me to leave,"

I turned around and he withrew his hand from the door. Thanking my lucky stars, I opened the door and literally ran up to my room.

Once I was inside, I shut the door and leaned against it, breathing heavily.

Laughing pumpkins? Seriously?

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