Chapter 36: Chapter 36

Chapter Thirty — Six

Ava's POV

“My bedroom is right beneath your room. On the ground floor.” Jasper said. His tone of voice was completely nonchalant.

I halted in my steps and glanced at him before I began walking again. Jasper did not stop this time though and continued walking. I had to run for a few steps to keep up with him.

He watched as I reached his side in hurried steps. Then, he spun around, his head straight and continued walking.

“If Maria is not available, then you can come and ask me for anything you need. I will try to help you. But only when Maria is not available.” He told me. I could not believe my ears.

Did he just say what I think he just said? Did he just tell me where his room was?

Well … I was not expecting that.

Why was I even over reacting to this small information? It was not a big deal.

I tried to be as nonchalant and as indifferent as he was.

“Okay.” I said casually. Subsequently, Jasper and I continued walking.

I noticed that we walked around the house and straight to another wooden door. And it seemed just the same as the wine cellar door that we had seen before.

What could be behind it?

Jasper opened the door and all the lights turned on, brightening up the room.

What I saw there was another shock to me. Although, it should not be considering the fact that I already expected something unexpected from this room as well, but it was still a shocker.

A private movie theater.

I gasped, but soon that gasp turned into a sigh.

I felt Jasper lean in from behind me, his hot breath ghosted over my hair.

“Again. Not impressed?” He questioned me.

I spun around to face him to find him smirking at me. I looked him in the eyes.

“Of course, I am impressed. I just think that I should not be shocked by now. I know that you are rich enough to afford the greatest luxuries in the world.” I told him. The sight in front of me certainly made an impression on me, but now that I was giving it a thought, I came to realize that it was not a big thing for Jasper. He was a billionaire. Of course, he had these expensive things in his house.

It was Me who was the problem.

I had assumed by the smallness of the house, well, according to other rich houses that I had seen in magazines for billionaires, that it would not have this sort of amenities.

“Lost in thoughts?” Jasper's voice whispered from behind me. Bringing me out of whatever spell I was in. I shook my head and spun backwards to meet his eyes.

“No. I think this place is great. Is it also made only for guests?” I asked him, lying about his previous question. It was way better to ask him this question than to tell him what I was thinking.

“No. It is not.” He shook his head. He nodded downstairs, gesturing towards the sofa aligned in the middle of the room, right in front of the big theatrical screen.

“If you want, then we could watch a movie.” He said. His suggestion took me off guard. A movie?

In here?

With him?

He can't be serious about this. Movie? It seemed like a dating offer. But I knew it was not. God! I needed to restrain my way of thinking about him. Ever since I had seen him yesterday in the pool with Charlotte, it's like I had lost my mind.

I should not forget that he was my Boss, and I was his employee.

I had to stop looking at him that way and focus on the fact that he was my boss, and I was his payinguest.

Also, I needed to keep in mind that people had sex. Everywhere. All the time. Thus, it was not a big deal that he did as well. He was a man. A red-blooded human being who was in his late twenties. What else did I expect from him?

Jesus. I gave myself a big shake internally and forced myself to stop thinking.

It was a Platonic offer as a roommate. That's it. There was nothing more to look into.

Nothing more and nothing less.

“But it's okay if you don't want to. I can understand. You must be tired.” Jasper said, noticing my silence and taking it as a rejection.

“No. No, no. Actually, I think that's a great idea.” I hurriedly denied him before he walked away.

“I was just thinking of getting something to eat while we watched a movie. Weirdly, I am a little hungry again.” I told him. This information seemed to ease him a little because he nodded before giving me a smile.

I just noticed that there were many smiley exchanges between us. Occasionally, when we were actually feeling like it, and sometimes just to fill in the silence or avoid awkwardness.

“Sure. You should go and sit down. I will bring us some snacks and something to drink. Maria would be busy doing laundry. Do you want anything specific?” He asked me. I shook my head in no.

“Okay. Then why don't you go downstairs and choose a movie for us while I go and pick up the snacks for us?” He suggested.

“Sure. What would you like to watch?" I asked him.

“That's up to you. Choose whatever you want, okay?” He told me and I gave a nod before he scurried away to get some snacks.

With a sigh, I descended the stairs and walked over to the movie collection. There were stacks after stacks of movies, and I began to search for any movie that could fit my and his interest. I made sure not to choose a romantic movie though, I could not bear the thought of having to sit down and watch a romantic movie with him.

Although, it did not matter. It did not matter what genre's movie I played, there always will be a love story in it. But at least the main focus would be on something else.

I tried to think what Jasper would like.

He was a guy, and therefore he must like action, racing or fight movies. However, since I was not one of those genres of movies, I tried to look into one horror section of movies. That would certainly work for both of us. So, I searched the whole horror section, but could not find anything that would fit my interest.

“If you could not find anything of your interest, then you can choose one from Netflix.” Jasper's voice boomed, and my whole body tensed in fear. He should have announced that he was entering the room like a decent person. He got me scared for a second.

“You have Netflix?” I asked instead. Straightening to my full length and spinning around to see him. He was holding two bags of chips and a bowl of popcorn in one hand, while his second hand was holding cold drinks. He had great balancing skills to be holding all of those things together and not letting any of them fall.

To my question, Jasper just gave me a pointed look, like really? Again, with that doubt?

He was a billionaire. Of course, he could afford it. I shook my head at his expression, dismissing his look. Walking over to him, I helped him with all the stuff he was holding and placed it on the nearby table.

“I was only asking because I doubted that you watched TV less than having a Netflix connection. You always seem to be busy with work and also, you actually do not seem like the type of person to watch TV.” I told him. Jasper placed the cans of cold drink on the table and settled down on the sofa. I sat down on the other side after opening the TV. Jasper pulled out the TV remote and started Netflix.

“I usually don't. Because I am busy with work, you were right about that, but not because of the lack of wanting. I like making time to watch movies and sports sometimes, whenever I am free. Moreover, I like to have variations in shows, so I have a Netflix subscription.” He said.

“And since today I am free, so I can watch whatever I want. So, which movie do you want to watch?” He asked.

“Conjuring.” Without thinking, I blurted out. Jasper's head turned in my direction, and my face heated in embarrassment from the look that he was giving me.

He was amused.

I glared at the TV to avoid his eyes.

“A big horror movie fan, huh?” He asked me before finding the movie and playing it. I was not a horror movie fan in general but when your boss asks you to suggest a movie and the only constant thing that was going through your brain was to not speak of any romantic movie, then it becomes your thing.

Horror movies were something that I could watch.

The Conjuring movie was already very famous, so I thought it would be a better idea to watch it. And it was a plus that I had already watched it. So, I would not scream and gasp in horror whenever a jump scare scene comes on screen. This movie had not much to begin with. At least, he would not see me how I look when I see a horror scene for the first time.

“Yup.” I answered his question as the movie started.

Adjusting a little, I settled down and both of us began watching the movie.

In the middle of the movie, I picked up a packet of chips and started eating from it. It was good. Subsequently, I picked up popcorn and stuffed it in my mouth before chewing with my mouth full and shut.

“Eat little by little, otherwise you will choke yourself on it like before.” Jasper said softly, and my whole body tensed. I moved my head to the side to find him looking at me. The amusement on his face was as clear as day. He was sitting across from me with his one hand draped over the armrest and one on his lap.

Since when he was staring at my face?

I could only imagine how I looked at the moment. A deer in the headlight, but uglier and with his mouth stuffed.

I chewed everything that was in my mouth and before swallowing it all down. All the while, Jasper never looked away from my face. When I was done, I spoke.

“Sorry.” He shook his head, turning his head back to the TV.

“No, don't be sorry. Just be careful, okay. Eat slowly.” He advised and I nodded. All of our attention turned right back on to the movies.

Thereafter, we both focused on the movie. Or so would I like to say.

In between the few scenes of the movie, I caught myself looking at Jasper? At his profile.

He was really good-looking, and I mean it.

He was tall with long legs and long arms. His face was exceptionally beautiful, like a male model. His casual posture and relaxed body appeared very attractive. His moves, whenever, occasionally, he reached over to take and eat a popcorn or a few, were smooth. Not to mention, his face, his slick jaw line that illuminated by the screen light gave him a very sexy look.

God! Why was I thinking about his looks? Wait.

Was I attracted to him?

That question was so Unwanted and unrequited that I shook it away before it transformed into something else. Instead, I tried to focus on the movie. I felt it would be better not to think about that. More so, I should ignore staring at him like that.

However, no matter how much I tried, I could not help but stare at him. Or at least take glances at him from time to time.

At one point he even caught me staring at him, but I managed to make it look like an accident by asking him to pass me the bowl of chips. From then on, I had been careful not to stare at him for more than a few seconds, and certainly not to get caught.

The movie was just like the last time I saw it. Everything was the same. At one point, one scene caught me where I was not expecting a jump scare, but thankfully I managed to keep my gasp in while the rest of the movie, I managed to keep my expressions in check.

The movie ended and I glanced at the time. It was Seven PM in the evening. A little shocker.

For how much time were we spending wandering around the house and watching TV? The time spent like water when you are enjoying the company and busy doing something.

“Maybe, we should meet for dinner directly now.” Jasper said, standing up and closing the TV. I stood as well and began collecting all the packets and bowls from the table that was now empty.

“Sure.” I said. Suddenly, I felt weird butterflies in my stomach at seeing him at the dinner table again.

“I will get these things to the kitchen.” I said, pointing at the bowl in my hands.

He nodded, and I left the room and walked into the kitchen. Maria was not in the kitchen. I was relieved, I did not want her in the kitchen at the moment. So, I threw the wrappers in the trash can and placed the bowl into the sink and made my way back into the living room when I heard Jasper's voice.

“ … dinner at home.” He said. He was on his phone, talking to someone.

His words caught my attention, so I did not enter the room and stood where I was standing, listening to his conversation.

“Fine. I am coming to pick you up. We will have dinner at one of my restaurants. Okay?” He told someone.

Wait, not someone, I knew who was behind that call, Charlotte. My whole mood soured. A ping of jealousy making way in my heart.

“Yeah. Just let me inform Maria.” He said.

I knew he just cut the call and was going to walk out any time, so I did it first instead. I walked in, at the right moment when Jasper put his phone in his pockets. He spun around and met my eyes.

“Hum … Ava. I had to go outside for important work. Can you tell Maria that I won't be having dinner here?" He asked. With my insides burning, I forced a smile and gave him an assured look.

“Sure.” I replied.

“Thank you.” He said, and then he hurried past me. Going for someone he cared more than me.

I swallowed to hide the hurt and then went in my search for Maria. To deliver her the message.