TACK! TACK!
CREAAK
"Hmm? Gracie, what are you doing here? Didn't you go to sleep?" Emmy opened her room door and found Gracie standing there in a cute nightgown that covered her entire body.
"SHHEESSS!" Gracie pressed her finger to her lips, signalling Emmy to be quiet. In a whispered voice, she leaned closer. "Let's go!"
"To where?" Emmy whispered back, confused.
"Where else? To Young Master's room!" Gracie giggled, already lost in a romantic trance inside her head.
WHOOSSH!
Emmy grabbed Gracie's arm and yanked her inside the room quickly. She shut the door behind them.
"What are you doing?! You can't go to Young Master's room!" Emmy's voice rose with panic.
"Huh? Why not? I'm his woman, of course I can go!" Gracie pouted cutely, crossing her arms.
"Ahm!" Emmy rubbed her forehead, not knowing what to say. She sighed heavily and asked, "Then where were you resting until now? And why didn't Young Master tell you to sleep with him?"
"GRR! Because of that ELDER!" Gracie's face flushed with frustration. "She said it's inappropriate to sleep in the same bed before taking blessings from my parents! She locked me inside a separate room, but hehehehe, she doesn't know who I am! HOHOHOHO!"
Gracie laughed proudly while striking an exaggerated pose, with her hands on her hips.
"Then do that first," Emmy said flatly. "And don't disturb my rest. I have to wake up early."
She shook her head and started turning back, but Gracie grabbed her arm.
"Heyyyyy! That's way too long for me!" Gracie whined. "It's a dream come true! I've always sneakily looked at Young Master's sexy body at night, but this... KYAAA! Now I can just GO and SEE him! Isn't that amazing?! Come on, let's go! This isn't new for me. I can easily sneak past those night duty guys. Don't worry, I'm a pro at this! Let's go!"
Gracie tried to pull Emmy along, but Emmy resisted firmly.
"GRACIE, STOP! If you want to play around, then go. Don't drag me into this!" Emmy's irritation flared at first, but her voice grew quieter with a sad tone just afterwards. "You already know I rejected him. I'm already in debt to him. If he didn't help me stay here, I don't know where I would have gone with my little ones... I... I said some mean things to him, and despite all that, he still helped me. I don't want to create further problems for him. Young Master accepted you, so you can go. Don't drag me into this. I... I don't..."
Emmy sighed and didn't say more.
Gracie listened patiently. After a moment of silence, she looked straight into Emmy's eyes.
"Why don't you like him, Emmy?" Gracie asked seriously. "He's handsome, sexy, tall, rich... Ahm, I mean, he's such a gentleman. He takes care of everyone. He's intelligent. He works hard for his goals. He's ambitious. And he loves you very much. So much so that I'm jealous of you!"
Emmy's eye twitched hearing Gracie's words, but she understood what Gracie was trying to tell her.
Gracie continued speaking, her voice softer now. "Truthfully, I was going to investigate you thoroughly because it was the first time Young Master said he loved someone. It broke my heart, but I respect Young Master, so I accepted you regardless. But even after you rejected him, Young Master still loves you so much. He's a perfect man, but you still don't want him? What's the reason?"
Emmy clenched her fist tightly and bit her lip. Her mind was a complete mess. She couldn't truly understand her own feelings. Subconsciously, she touched her shoulder as she looked at Gracie.
"Do I need a reason not to love someone?" Emmy asked quietly.
Hearing this answer, Gracie frowned for a second. Then she turned around, her beautiful nightgown taking a circular path with her movement.
"Fine. I'm sorry to disturb your sleep. I'll go myself."
Gracie started walking toward the door.
THAP!
But suddenly, Emmy's hand shot out and grabbed Gracie's arm.
"STUPID GIRL, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?! LEAVE HER ARM! LEAVE HER! LET HER GO!" Emmy's mind roared at herself.
On the outside, Emmy smiled awkwardly.
"Heehhhh... what?" Gracie smirked while looking back at her.
"You can't go! Young Master must be tired. Don't disturb his sleep!" Emmy found an excuse to hold her back, her words going back and forth from her own opinion.
"Don't worry. I can just sneak in beside him. Not my first rendezvous," Gracie said confidently. She started walking forward, dragging a panicking Emmy behind her.
After a lot of back and forth arguing in hushed whispers, Emmy spoke irritably. "Fine! I'll come, but if you disturb his sleep, then I'm dragging you away!"
"Hehe, fine by me!"
Gracie laughed as she held Emmy's hand. They slipped out of the room together.
.
Both ladies walked through the dimly lit corridor, tiptoeing carefully. They managed to hide from a butler who was making his rounds at night.
Emmy sighed and watched Gracie's happy, smiling face. She was clearly enjoying the time of her life. Emmy noticed Gracie's beautiful nightgown flowing behind her, then looked down at her own casual pants and shirt. She felt a little uncomfortable again.
But she didn't have time to dwell on it. Gracie led her through several roundabout directions before finally reaching Oliver's room.
Surprisingly, the door was already open just a little bit.
CREAAK
Both ladies quietly entered and saw Oliver on the bed. He was reading a book and writing something in a notebook resting on his lap. He wore a soft, translucent shirt and simple long pants. Under the dim light, both ladies could make out his sharp torso figure beneath the thin fabric.
Gracie's eyes shone brightly, and her breathing became harder.
TAAK!
"OW!"
Emmy smacked Gracie on the head irritably. She didn't like the way Gracie was staring.
"Hmmm, Gracie, you came. I was waiting for you." Oliver looked up and smiled warmly. "I knew you would sneak off. Come here. I already prepared a place for you."
Gracie's face lit up. She jumped happily and ran toward him. She leaped onto the bed and slid in directly beside Oliver on the right side.
"Hehehe, Young Master, how did you know I'd come to you?" Gracie giggled cutely as Oliver covered her body with the blanket.
"Well, this isn't your first time sneaking into my room," Oliver said gently. He patted her head, his palm slowly grazing through her hair. "So after becoming the Madame of the house, it would be hard to stop you."
"You did a great job today. Sleep well, my love."
Oliver leaned down and kissed her forehead gently.
Gracie suddenly felt all the tiredness hit her at once. She passed out almost instantly, her breathing calming down. She held Oliver's fingers like a child and drifted into deep sleep.
Emmy's head hurt watching Gracie. Seeing her like that made Emmy feel uncomfortable in a way she couldn't explain. She didn't want to see any more of this. She was about to turn away when Oliver's voice stopped her.
"Hey there, beautiful lady. Care to join me for a little talk?"
Oliver gestured with his hand for her to come closer.
Emmy hesitated, but she still walked closer to the bed. Her posture remained in a formal respectful posture.
"Hahaha, seeing you in casual clothing is truly a blessing. You really look cute, Emmy."
Oliver checked her out openly, his eyes traveling over her body.
Emmy noticed Oliver looking at her so openly. It didn't make her angry. Instead, she felt a little happy inside, though she couldn't understand why. Subconsciously, she moved a little closer and tilted to the side slightly.
"Indeed, you are a piece of art, Emmy," Oliver said warmly. "I think I'm lucky you became a royal maid, because if you didn't, someone would have already stolen you away. I would never have had any chance to love such an amazing woman."
Oliver smiled handsomely. His soft facial expression, his gentle smile, his kind gaze in the dim light made Emmy's heart race unexpectedly.
She pouted cutely. "Young Master, you said you wanted to talk, so stop saying nonsense things and just get to the point. It's already late at night."
"Hmmm, is that so? But I'm not speaking nonsense." Oliver paused. "Fine. Sit here first."
He patted the bed and gestured for her to sit down.
Emmy slowly approached and sat at the very edge of the bed, her back facing Oliver.
Seeing this, Oliver smiled.
"Sit comfortably, Emmy. I'm not going to eat you," Oliver smirked behind her.
Emmy glared at him over her shoulder, then she shifted a little closer.
Oliver told her to come a little bit more closure. Emmy shifted again. Then more. Then more.
Finally, she was sitting properly on top of the bed, her back close to Oliver. Her heartbeat raced wildly inside her chest.
PAT!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, Oliver patted her head gently.
"Good job out there. Are you okay? Does anything hurt in your body?"
Emmy wanted to shove his hand away. But the genuine concern in his voice made her just nod instead.
"I'm fine, Young Master. Thank you for your concern."
Oliver stopped patting her head and looked at Gracie sleeping peacefully. He slowly pulled his fingers out from Gracie's grip and gently grazed her hair, making her giggle softly in her sleep.
"Actually, Emmy, I wanted to apologize to you."
Emmy's eyes widened slightly.
"I know I can be a bit irritating in trying to appeal to you," Oliver continued quietly. "I do have a habit of pushing through with everything I've got. And just as you pointed out before, it makes me overlook many things. I've probably overlooked your problems and difficulties while I tried to push myself onto you. I'm sorry, Emmy, for not taking consideration of your circumstances and your feelings."
Oliver bowed his head in apology.
Emmy glanced back. Her mind roared in victory internally.
"SHAMPOO BASTARD! HOHOHOHO! You finally know your place! Bow before this woman!"
Despite feeling victorious inside, Emmy bowed to him respectfully. "I'm also sorry for saying rude things to you before. I'm really sorry, Young Master Oliver."
She turned and kneeled on the bed, properly apologizing.
Oliver waved his hand and made her lift her head. "It's alright. I deserved that, and you didn't say anything wrong. It's true that I used my parents' money all these years to try to do things that eventually weren't successful. I do act like a stupid kid at times. And it's true that I was oblivious to your position. And it's also true that I'm a man who flirts with women."
Oliver smiled as he glanced toward Gracie. "You must be thinking I'm such a playboy. Just after getting rejected, I accepted another woman into my life. You must be cursing me a lot, right?"
Oliver looked back at Emmy again.
Emmy looked sideways, not wanting to make eye contact.
Oliver laughed softly seeing her reaction. "To be honest, it was Gracie who told me that I'm fine just the way I am. And for the first time in my life, I felt accepted in my heart. No one was judging me based on how much money I have, whether I can make this house successful or not, and..."
Oliver looked at Emmy seriously.
"And she didn't judge me on my way of talking."
His words made Emmy's heart sting painfully. She turned and saw Oliver's sad eyes looking at her. Emmy couldn't say anything because it was all true.
"Young Master, I..."
"But that's why maybe I started to like you, Emmy."
His next words confused her. She stared at him, not understanding.
"I think I was attracted to you because of your straightforward personality," Oliver explained. "Maybe I was looking for someone to point me in the right direction in my life, so I fell in love with you over the years, because you never treated me like any other woman do and that thing probably made me fall in love with you"
Oliver took a pause, then spoke seriously.
"Emmy, I'm not going to give up on you. I will try to change myself a little, but I want to stay true to myself. I know you don't like me, but my feelings are real. So I hope you'll give me a fair chance."
Oliver smirked handsomely, making Emmy's face flush red. She felt embarrassed, her heart pounding. She tried to calm down by taking deep breaths.
"Fine! Do as you want. I'm going." Emmy couldn't take any more of this. She tried to get off the bed.
But Oliver's hand caught hers and pulled her toward him, making her fall onto the bed. Her head landed on the pillow beside Oliver's right side.
"KYAAA! What are you doing, Young Master?!" Emmy's heartbeat went completely off the charts. She clutched her sweatshirt over her chest, panic written all over her face. Her feet fidgeted nervously.
Oliver slowly laid down in the middle. His one arm went below Gracie's head as she snuggled deeper into his embrace. His other hand pulled the big blanket over Emmy.
Then he held her hand inside the blanket, bringing tingling sensations up her spine.
"This is a punishment for barging into the House Master's room late at night," Oliver said smoothly. "You're not Gracie. You can't go back to your room without being detected, so sleep here with me. And it's not like it's our first time sleeping together."
Oliver winked at her and smiled handsomely as he intertwined his fingers with hers.
Then he closed his eyes, going to sleep, not wanting to hear any more reasons from her.
Emmy lay completely frozen like a statue in a straight position on top of the bed. She felt Oliver's warmth radiating from beside her. His sweaty palms didn't disgust her but made her somewhat happy.
She slowly looked sideways and saw Oliver sleeping soundly, his handsome features gentle in the dim light.
Then Emmy looked at Gracie's peaceful sleeping face, and it suddenly made her angry for some reason.
"Sighhhh... what is happening with me?" Emmy muttered tiredly.
She relaxed her shoulders and let her body sink deep into the mattress. Her muscles slowly released all their tension. Her eyes started getting heavy. Her thoughts began slowing down.
"SHAMPOO BASTARD, I DON'T L... WHATEVER."
Emmy drifted off to sleep. Her hand subconsciously held his hand more tightly as the night grew deeper around them.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
END OF CHAPTER
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author Blabbering
"Quit, don't quit. Noodles, don't noodles.... You are too concerned with what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. ...That is why it is called the present." ---- Master Oogway
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------