Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Chapter Thirty — Five

Ava's POV

“One random question, if you don't mind me asking, why did you come to my house when it was almost burglarized by the intruder?” I asked him. But then suddenly I became shy when the events of that night replayed in my head.

That day, I had hugged him, out of fear. I had not even realized that I was holding him, let alone who. As the realization hit, I suddenly became self-conscious and regretted bringing this question up.

But I was still curious why he came that night so late. Did he need anything that day? Or … well, I could not answer the reason.

“Oh, that day? Actually, I was leaving that day for a meeting abroad. Your house was on the way to the airport, so I decided to drop by your house. To let you know that I was going out of station for a few days. Moreover, before going abroad, I wanted to check in on you to see if you had settled down comfortably or not. So, that was another reason.” He answered me. His tone was casual. Therefore, I hoped he was not reminded of the way I hugged him. Another thought made its way into my mind and I almost panicked.

“Wait. So, after all that happened, were you not able to attend the meetings? Because you stayed with me after the intruder was captured.” My mouth half opened.

“Oh, no, so you did not attend the meeting?” I asked with shocked lacing my face. I had not even known about it. That night, he had stayed with me even after the intruder left because I was so shaken up by the incident. He had calmed me down, stayed beside me as I reported the whole incident to the police and filed a case against the intruder. And he had driven me home by himself. Of course, he had missed his meeting.

I looked at him, guilty. He shook his head.

“No. I was not. But don't feel guilty. If it makes you feel better than the whole meeting was postponed later. So, I did not Actually miss my meeting.” He said, smiling.

That did make me feel better. I mean, if he really ended up missing his work then my guilt would have surpassed all boundaries even after knowing the circumstances that night were exceptional. I would still feel guilty, but now the pressure was off.

“Oh, that is good that it got postponed, otherwise you would have missed it.” I said, and Jasper straightened.

“Don't worry. It was not that important. If it was, then I would have surely attended it and made it happen.” He said. Sounding was too sure about it. I was impressed by the way he casually said that he would make it happen. Like he had everything in control.

I wanted to ask him why he was driving the car by himself back then if he had a chauffeur, but did not. I know it would feel like an interrogation, so I kept my mouth shut. Why did it matter to me anyway? It was his life, he could do whatever he wanted without being answerable to anyone.

“Two more places are left after this one, well, except if you want to count the library as one of those. Do you want to see it?” He asked, pulling me out of my chain of thoughts. I gave him a big smile.

“OF course. Show me the other places.” I said, enthusiastically.

“Then let's go.” He said, and got out of his garage.

It was a windy day. And there were broken leaves and dry sticks everywhere. We both walked side by side and got into his house. I could faintly hear Maria singing a song. Jasper heard it too and both of them exchanged a smile. Yup, Maria was singing. Walking in together, made me feel very, I don't know, happy. Or maybe it was just that I was getting to spend some free time together with a person who was making me feel happy.

“What is the other place apart from the library?” I asked him. He gave me a little mischievous look before shrugging.

“You will see for yourself.” He said. I raised a brow at his cryptic way of keeping it a secret and shrugged myself. Yeah, we will see.

The way Jasper was behaving with me right now was nice, but it was confusing me too. Or if I had to rephrase it, then I would say that it was hard for me to follow the sudden change of environment.

At one place, I had to see him as my boss, a superior, an authority who was running the company that I was working in. Where I had to call him Sir and pretend like there was no other connection between us besides an employee and employer.

However, on the other hand, at home, I had to face him at home and drop the demeanor of the business person completely and treat him as a … friend or even a housemate. Where we eat together and live in the same place.

And not to mention, that I had to see him having sex. It happened just yesterday and the memory was still fresh. And it was hard to differentiate whether it was my boss, or my housemate. No matter how much I tried to differ one from another, it was still the same person. I could not look at him as a housemate and entirely ignore the fact that I had seen him insult my work in the office.

Damn! That moment burnt. Even remembering it made me feel bad, the way he insulted me.

And I could not see him in the office and ignore the fact that he was nice enough to make time, just to show me around his house.

It was all so confusing.

“Is something wrong?” Jasper questioned me, bringing me out of whatever the phase that I was in.

I raised my head to look at him, only to see that he was looking down at me with his forehead ceased in a worry.

I shook my head.

“No. Nothing.” I told him. He straightened, but his forehead's lines did not fade nor did he look away from my face. He knew, I was ignoring his question,

"What were you thinking?” He asked me.

“Where is your bedroom?” I asked him.

Oh my god.

His shocked expressions matched mine.

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“That was what you were thinking?” He questioned me, in credulousness lacing his tone. His flabbergasted expressions made me die out of shame. I shook my head frantically.

This whole situation could not get any worse.

“What I mean was … I had never seen your bedroom or any other room for that matter, apart from mine, and I did not even know where the other rooms were.” I explained in the hope that he would see my point.

Jasper's face had morphed into a blank expression, and he was watching me as I tried to explain why I had said what I had said.

“Also, if I'm not wrong, then I am pretty certain, you have some rooms only reserved for guests. Where are they all? I wanted to avoid stumbling into your room, without realizing that it is yours. That's why I was asking.” I told him.

Jasper seemed lost at words and to be frank so was I.

Even though I had explained the reason, it still felt very wrong to ask.

An awkward descent over both of us. I did not know what to say to make this awkwardness less. I wish god helped me out of this situation.

“Sir, Ava, you both are still here?” A voice broke through the awkward silence, and both Jasper and I turned to our side to see Maria coming over us, holding a bucket filled with dirty clothes.

Well, damn. Did God just answer my prayers? I thanked god immediately.

“What happened, why aren't you both going around the house? Aren't you showing her the house?” She asked us, adjusting the bucket of clothes in her hand. I eyed her movement.

“We just came here from the garage. I was showing her around, but stopped to take a break.” Jasper told Maria. I nodded my head eagerly, agreeing with his words.

Maria smiled at Jasper's answer.

“If you both are taking a break, then should I bring some refreshments? Juice, Fruits, or anything else?” Maria asked me.

I shook my head in answer and glanced at Jasper who, after seeing my denial, shook his head too.

“No, Maria. We are alright.” Jasper told him.

“Do you need help with holding that basket? It seems heavy for you.” Jasper asked her when he saw her pushing the basket above her hip, stopping it from sliding down over and over again.

“Yeah. Do you need any help with this chore? I can help you if you want me to. I can see the house later sometimes.” I said. Offering her, my help. I felt terrible, watching her struggling with her overloaded basket. I raised my hand to help her as the basket slid down her waist again, but she pushed it up and took a step back out of my reach.

She smiled and shook her head. Looking at me like I was ridiculous.

“Don't be ridiculous, honey. This is my work. I get paid to do this work. Why would you leave the house tour just to help me with my work?” She asked me. Her expression made it seem that even the idea of receiving help was ridiculous and immoral.

Maria shook her head.

“No, you both go on with your work while I take care of this. I had taken all your dirty clothes from your room. If there is any cloth left that wants me to clean, then let me know. Okay?” She asked me.

I gave her a curt nod with a smile, and she walked away, cradling the basket over her hip. My eyes moved with her as her figure disappeared in one of the rooms.

“Now, you see what I was saying earlier. I was not kidding when I told you that she did not want another worker alongside her. She hates receiving help and likes to work alone. She loves this work. You still want me to ask her about hiring another worker to help her with chores?” Jasper asked me from beside me.

I did not know how to answer his question. He had a valid point there. Now that I had seen Maria obsessing over her work, I wondered if it would be a good idea to invade her bubble and force another helping hand to her.

From the first day that I had come to this place, I had seen her doing all the chores. I still remembered the first day when I had told her that I would do the bed myself, she had denied my help.

She seemed so contemptuous to do every work of the house alone. I knew this obsession was not healthy, but I also knew that this was what made her happy. Furthermore, not to mention, this obsession of hers was harmless. So, I guess it was okay?

“No, I would not tell that now. You were right.” I told him, my gaze still fixated on the place where she had disappeared.

Jasper sighed beside me.

“Come on, there is one more place to show you, then you can be free.” Jasper told me.

I forced myself to tear my gaze away from the place where Maria had disappeared and turn to look at Jasper.

“Only one more?” I questioned him. Both of our moods and expressions are serious. Devoid of any humor.

“Humm …” He replied. My gaze once again drifted to my side.

“Okay.” I said. My mind hazed over Maria.

Jasper tapped my shoulder and I looked at him.

“And the bedrooms and guest room thing. Maria will show you that.” He told me. I felt a tingling sensation at the mention of that question. I bowed my head and looked at the ground.

“Let's go.” He instructed and I complied.

We began walking when, suddenly, he spoke.

“My bedroom is right beneath your room. On the ground floor.”