Chapter 31: Chapter 31

I stared at the phone on my bed. Jeff asked me to browse its features while he prepared us dinner. He also told me to capture some photos from the garden.

I can't believe I'll be able to hold a phone like this. Even Leinart and the elites from my pack have this. Well, I have never seen them own one, She's probably going to boast it to the whole school.

That's how she is as a person.

I remember when she boasted that she has a brand-new laptop. We were preparing for the script of the play we're in but didn't have a laptop to type and print it. Leinart sounded like a hero because she let us borrow hers. But I know for a fact that she only wants to gloat.

I shook off that memory and just smiled as I grabbed my phone. I opened the photo gallery and stared at the stolen photo I took of Jeff while he's cooking. Even with his back and turned to me, I can already feel the aura of his concentration on the steak. I guess that's his specialty. He always cooks steak. Next time, I'm going to ask him if that's his favorite food.

I sighed dreamily as I walked over to the window. I narrowed my eyes when I saw Jeff talking to a man. I don't know if this is Nolan, his secretary, or not but he looked so casual like he also went for a jog.

He's sweaty while wearing a gray shirt and a pair of black gym shorts. His blonde hair is wet.

But it's nighttime. Who would want to jog in this forest at night?

Even men would think twice.

The blonde guy looked up to where I am standing with narrowed eyes. My heart almost leaped out of my chest as I hid behind the curtain. Damn. Did he see me? I would be so doomed if he did.

What would he think of Jeff?

I slowly crawled back on my bed and tried to shrug it off. He probably wouldn't have told anyone that he's keeping a woman here right? What would other people-his family and friends think once they knew that Jeff let me in his mansion?

My heart is pounding in anxiety. I don't even know why I am feeling like this when I know so well that we're not doing anything wrong. He's only loaned me things but I will be paying him back once I am stable.

A don't know how rich people think but for me, with the principles I grew up in, I would think and assume things are going on between Jeff and me. I have a clean conscience, yes, but I know what other people would think. The saleslady at the fruit shake stands easily assumed we are in a relationship.

I could only imagine how his friends and family think.

I sighed and just decided to take a bath and sleep. Maybe when I wake up in the morning, I'll be free from all these thoughts. I'm also going to ask Jeff about his friend tomorrow because I find it weird for someone to be jogging in the middle of a dangerous and dark forest at night.

The rogues could attack him.

I blow-dried my hair in front of the mirror as I stared at my reflection. I don't know what came to me because I started comparing myself to Aira, the woman we accidentally met in the mall. She has perfectly tanned skin. I am a lot fairer than her.

That has been my distinct characteristic in my former pack, too. I am too fair compared to women my age.

Aira's face/even with the full makeup on, looked smooth and flawless while I have some freckles on my nose and cheeks. Her blonde hair looks good on her because she looked like a blonde Latina while I have boring black straight hair.

My eyes went to my chest and remembered Aira's hourglass body. Does she have all the curves in their perfect place while me? My body is like my hair-straight.

I groaned and shook my head. Why am I comparing anyway? I shouldn't compare. Everyone is unique and beautiful on their own.

I immediately went to bed after drying my hair. But hours have passed and I still couldn't sleep. I have been tossing and turning in bed. I have tired my eyes from watching videos on the internet but to no avail.

I let out a heavy breath as I walked downstairs to make myself some milk. The lights have already gone off and I figured Jeff was already asleep. He was probably tired. Well, good for him.

I was about to open the fridge when the lights turned on. I jolted on my spot before looking in the direction of the light switch and saw Jeff standing there with a huge grin. He was trying to stifle his laugh. I'm sure he saw me jumping in shock and that's what he's laughing at.

I rolled my eyes and turned to the fridge again to get some fresh milk.

"Trouble sleeping?" he asked me as he walked closer.

"You should be drinking warm milk, not the cold one," he

corrected.

I sighed. "I don't like warm milk," I told him. "I can't swallow it."

He nodded as he stood beside me, watching me pour the cold fresh milk onto the glass. With the proximity, I couldn't help but smell him. His scent was like an expensive brand of perfume but I feel like it is unique to him.

Rich men must have expensive shower gels too.

I stirred the milk before taking a sip. I looked at Jeff from my peripheral vision and saw him smiling while watching me. I sighed and turned to him. "Do you also want milk?" I asked him.

He shrugged. "Why are you still up?" he asked me softly and it sounded like he's concerned about my sleeping. "It's almost two in the morning."

I sighed and leaned on the kitchen counter while sipping on the cold milk. "I couldn't stop thinking about the man you were talking to a while ago."

Even with me not looking at him, I can feel that he froze after hearing me. I glanced at him and saw him looking at the chair in front of us with narrowed eyes and furrowed brows. His jaw is clenched tightly before turning to me.

"What about him?" he asked me sternly and I was shocked at the sudden change of the tone of his voice.

I swallowed hard. Is he mad at me because I asked him about his friend? "He saw me looking out the window. Would you be in trouble for that?" I looked at him and saw how his gaze softened.

"No," he replied immediately. "Why would I be in trouble?"

I shrugged. "Well, if he's your friend, then he must be made that you've brought home a stranger," I replied in a small voice. My grip on the glass of milk tightened while! waited for his reply.

But he just laughed. I stared at him in confusion. He was just about to get angry but now, he's laughing? Is something wrong with him?

He changed emotions quickly.

He shook his head before looking at me again. "No one will get mad, Andrea. This is my house. I have the final say," he said. "And besides, we're not doing anything wrong, are we?"

I pursed my lip and nodded. "Yeah," I replied but still bothered by the fact that his friend knew.

"And he's not my friend."

I blinked at him and saw him looking at me with a small smile. My eyes widened as I realized something. My jaw dropped and I suddenly want the earth to open up and eat me whole. "Oh, my god! He's your partner?"

Was I too assuming that the man was his friend? Why hadn't I thought of his sexual orientation? Sure, that Aira came up to him in the mall but by the way that he brushed her off, I should have known.

Jeff's brow creased as he stared at me with his head tilted to the side. "Are you trying to imply that I am gay?" he asked me in a low voice.

My eyes widened and I had to step back because he's inched closer. "N-No," I stuttered. "I-I m-mean..."

My mind immediately went blank the moment he's caught me in between his body and his huge arms. My throat ran dry as he leaned his face closer. His gray eyes were looking deeply into mine as if trying to send me something.

"Did you think I was gay?" His minty breath brushed my

face.

I swallowed hard, my heart wanting to leap out of my chest bringing my sanity with it. His voice sent shivers running down my spine. "H... I couldn't even think of a proper rebuttal.

He smirked and moved his head to the side. He's staring at me, probably amused by my reaction. He's heard me stutter around him but never to this extent that I was already searching for words. "I don't have a problem with people who don't share the same sexual orientation as I am but..." he trailed and suddenly looked down at my lips. I saw how he licked his lower lip. He leaned even closer until his lips are only centimeters from mine. "I like girls," he whispered.

My whole body stopped and trembled with his words. "I I'm sorry, I stammered.

He raised his brow with a smirk still playing on his lips. "Why are you sorry?" he asked me in a raspy voice.

I looked away and gulped hard. I am sweating bullets because of my anxiety. "Uhm..."

He chuckled before stepping away from me. "I was just kidding, Andrea," he told me. I glared at him and he laughed even harder.

What the hell? Did he enjoy watching me suffer an internal panic? I hate him!

"What the fu.ck?!" I couldn't help the profanity of my word curse but, I do it with compassion.

My heart almost leaped out of my chest. I was already on the verge of wishing I would faint that moment because that was the only way I could escape this conversation. ! I really need to control my mouth.

He was shocked for a moment before laughing again. I frowned at him and rolled my eyes as I downed the whole glass of milk immediately placed the glass on the sink, still occasionally glaring at him.

He smiled and shrugged. "Don't get mad at me," he said in a soft voice. "I just thought you looked cute when you were stuttering."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "I can't believe you played me!" I yelled at him not affected much by it. He was just staring back at me.

"I didn't play you," he cleared. "I was just proving a point that I am not gay." He pointed at himself. "Did you honestly think I was gay?"

I pursed my lips. "Well, I didn't want to judge you just because you're ripped. I mean, I don't have any prejudice against the members of the LGBT. I have some friends in the community and I support them all the way. So, I thought you..."

"You thought it was only right to not judge me and think that I am a member of that community, too?" His tone was challenging but I have even more. intention on embarrassing myself

"Anyway, you've proven your point. You're not gay. You're a man who likes girls. That's noted, Jeff," I told him just so this conversation would end now. I motioned to walk back upstairs to finally get some sleep but Jeff held my hand. Volts of electricity immediately ran through my system the moment he touched me. I looked at him and saw him staring at me intently.

"W-What?" Damn it! Why am I stuttering again? He smiled widely.

"Good night," he uttered before letting me go.

My heartbeat accelerated once more. I held my breath. Night," I replied before rushing upstairs with an extreme beating of my heart. What the hell just happened?