Chapter 8: Chapter 8

Alice Collins

I poured the coffee into one of the cups and picked it up with my hands. I took a sip of the dark liquid, being careful not to burn my mouth. I stared at the kitchen counter, beginning a process of reminiscing about past subjects. It had been three years since I was in Los Angeles, having a good time away from my mother and younger sisters. But those years did not prevent me from keeping in touch with them. Whenever I could, I talked to my mother via video call. My sisters were growing up more and more. Sometimes I felt bad for not being present in their growing up phase.

I always wondered why my mother didn't want to come and live here in Los Angeles. Perhaps it would be easier for her and my sisters. She could find a good-paying job, and the girls could have a good education.

Maybe she thought it would be a bother since I practically lived in Mr. Scott's house. But the last time we spoke, my mother promised me that even though she couldn't come here, she would let my sisters come.

No matter the distance or even our finances, my most sincere desire was that we could live together again.

"Alice?"

I heard a gentle voice enter the kitchen, awakening me from my thoughts. It was Mrs. Scott. She smiled serenely at me, as if smiling at her own son.

"Where is Betty?" she asked, maintaining her harmonious expression.

"Huh... She went to tidy up Joshua's room. I mean... Mr. Scott's."

I reprimanded the gesture considered impolite when referring to my boss's son.

"Oh, right." She nodded and walked over to the counter, messing with some things on it. "You don't have to refer to Joshua formally, Alice. He's not that old. And besides..." She looked at me, smiling compassionately. "You're practically family."

I give a grateful smile. I could never forget the moment when Mrs. and Mr. Scott supported me. Without even knowing me, they trusted me and allowed me to work in their house, and in return, besides a good salary, I would have a place to live and eat.

"You know..." she let out a low laugh. "We are a family. Everyone here. We take care of each other. We help when needed... and so on." She said, "Refer to the younger ones normally. As you would refer to your friends. Just don't overdo it."

She said her last words between laughs, making me laugh too.

"Thank you... Mrs. Scott."

I exhale another grateful smile on my lips, looking at the cup in my hands.

"And... your mother? Did you keep in touch with her?"

"Yes. I always talk to her when I can." I turned my gaze back in her direction.

"Oh. Good. I'm sorry you're away from your sisters and mother."

I shake my head.

"It's okay. I feel like no matter the distance, but if I keep them in my heart... I will always feel them close to me."

"Beautiful words, Alice."

"Thank you, Mrs. Scott."

***

Joshua Scott

"Finally they arrived!" I say upon seeing my long-time friends arrive. Both had moved to a different city, except for Jack. As I was going to spend some time at my parents' house, I decided to invite them to spend the weekend with me.

"You must have missed us a lot," Jack said ironically.

"Especially you," I winked.

"Where can we leave our bags?" my other friend asked.

"You can leave them in the hallway upstairs. Alice can take care of them later," I said.

"Alice?" Jack asked. "Who's that? Another one of your 'distractions'?" he joked.

"My dear friend," I put my hand on his shoulder. "Be quiet." I blew him a kiss.

"Where is this going, Scott?" he laughed and went upstairs.

I shook my head and went to the game room, heading for the pool table. I could already predict that Jack would continue to say that I was just playing with the hearts of all the girls I went out with, and this time Alice would be the victim. However, it was a different situation. She wouldn't be part of the percentage of girls I'd only see once. As an employee of my parents' house, I would see her every time I came here. It wouldn't be such a simple situation to deal with. And Julie was enough.

"She's peculiar," Mark, my other friend, commented, entering the game room.

"She brought a bag full of dumbbells," Jack laughed.

"You brought dumbbells here?" Mark raised his eyebrows, surprised by Jack's obsession with a muscular body.

"I can't let my muscles rest," he said playfully.

"The girl seems nice, maybe this time you two won't mess it up," Lucas, my other friend, said, looking at me and Jack with a stern look. "Since you always screw everything up."

I directed my gaze from the pool table to Lucas and Jack.

"I'm not guilty of that. Besides, that doesn't happen anymore," I shrugged.

"Oh, no? And that girl, the first on the list? Joe told me you reconnected with her... Her name is Julie, right? His daughter..." he said thoughtfully.

"Julie and I never had anything serious. Her father knows that," I replied.

"And you bring your 'case' to this day," Jack leaned against the wall, crossing his arms, and said, "You always see her when you come back to Los Angeles. I don't know how you're not with her now."

"What a lie, you asshole!" I laughed. "I haven't been to Los Angeles in over five years," I replied, and Jack burst out laughing.

"I know, man. I'm just testing you."

"What we had was something from our adolescence. I'm not a heartbreaker like you think," I said.

"I doubt it," he retorted.

"Give the guy the benefit of the doubt, maybe he really has changed," Mark replied, smiling ironically.

"Gosh! Do I have friends or a bunch of enemies?" I laughed.

Both boys laughed too.

"Okay, okay... I'll give you the benefit of the doubt," Jack joked. "After Madelyn, you really changed."

Inevitably, hearing her name made me unexpectedly hit the pool ball with a lot of force, which even startled me.

"Relax, Scott," Jack said. "Maybe you should move on."

"Nothing is stopping me from moving forward," I replied. "I'm not doing badly. If that's what you're thinking. I'm living my way, on my own terms." I looked at the two of them. "It's not a different situation. I lived this in the past, and I don't see anything wrong with acting that way again."

"But this time... you're not just a boy anymore."

"If I date seriously or not... what's the point?" I furrowed my brow. "Everyone will know what I'm doing. It won't be any different." I looked seriously at Jack.

"Well... Guys... Let's not get into this subject," Mark said, but we completely ignored him.

"Why don't you take some time for yourself?" Jack asked. "Worry about yourself first. Then you decide what you want to do about it."

"Because every time I worry about myself... I end up thinking about what I shouldn't."

"Try to occupy your mind with other things."

"I'm trying."

"Your first step would be... abstinence."

"How?" I asked confusedly and couldn't help but put a sarcastic smile on my lips.

"Abstinence from women."

"So, your suggestion is that I should... turn gay?"

"No!" He rolled his eyes. "I'm just saying you should relax, enjoy life without fucking everything up."

"Okay, and...?"

"Because you know what happened to the other girl who worked here."

"Are you insinuating that something could happen between me and Alice?" I furrowed my brow with an incredulous smile on my face. "I'm not going to get involved with her..."

***

Alice Collins

It was already midday, and the house seemed to be upside down.

"Alice! Hurry up, girl!" Betty said impatiently.

"Don't rush me, Betty!" I retorted, equally impatient. "This is all a mess! Oh my God!"

I looked at the various suitcases thrown along the hallway of the upstairs floor, all the way to Mr. Scott's son's room. It was a disaster. I never imagined that when Joshua said he was going to bring some people here, he was referring to five extremely messy guys who were going to spend a week here. If in the first second they dropped their suitcases all over the house to go to the pool, imagine after a week.

And that mess? Who was going to have to tidy it up?!

I sighed as I looked at all the mess. How would I be quick with more than ten suitcases scattered on the floor?

"Take these two bags next to you," Betty said, making me look directly at the long bags on the floor. "I'll take these two on wheels."

I bent down to grab the handles of the two bags at the same time, one in each hand. I lifted my hip up, trying to get some strength to lift them, but they didn't move at all. I was paralyzed, with my hips up and my arms down, still holding the handles. It was a weight I didn't know how to decipher. By appearance, you couldn't imagine they weighed so much, but when I picked them up, it was totally different from what I had imagined.

I tried again. Failed. What was in those bags? Rocks?

"Do you need help?"

I heard a slightly deep and hoarse voice behind me. I looked at the masculine legs, a bit thick, under mine.

"Huh?" I quickly straightened up, as I wasn't in a very pleasant position. I continued to face away from him, still unable to see his face. "Huh... Um... " I let out a slightly embarrassed laugh. "No... No. I can manage alone..."

Trying to show him that I could handle it on my own, I tried to put some strength in my arms again, but I felt one of the bags practically ripped out of my hand.

"Stop. You could hurt your back!" he said as he held the bag.

I realized he was holding it easily. I watched him a little impressed. It looked so much lighter, seeing him holding it with just one hand.

"Huh..." I got up from the ground, letting go of the handles of the other bag. "Not to offend you, but... do you guys carry rocks?"

"What?" I saw a smile and a chuckle forming on his lips. He seemed to have enjoyed what I said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to transfer that image to you," he said. "These two bags are mine. Leave them. I'll take them to Joshua's room."

I nodded and stepped back, giving him space to grab the other bag. I watched his path as he made his way into Mr. Scott's son's room. He seemed to effortlessly carry those two suitcases, unlike me, who had tried several times and hadn't managed to move them even an inch.

I let out a sigh and leaned against the wall, feeling a little tired from exerting myself for nothing. I closed my eyes for a few seconds and opened them again, seeing him come back from the room.

"I can take the rest, if you want," he said.

The tall, blond, and athletic man, with clear eyes and a white long-sleeved shirt that clung perfectly to his chest, stood a little closer to me because of the width of the hallway.

"That would be the right thing to do..." I whispered to myself. "No, it's okay. This is my job, so... I should take them to the room."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes!" I forced a smile, trying to convince him that his help was not necessary.

"Jack!"

Another voice emerged in the hallway. My attention was drawn to the guy who, unlike the one who had helped me, was much thinner and had no muscles, but was still attractive. He walked towards us with a smile on his face and greeted me.

"What's up, Ben?" Jack asked.

"Joshua's father wants us to meet now."

"Okay. I'll be there soon."

His attention turned back to me after he had finished talking to Ben.

"Well... See you later...?" He narrowed his eyes, waiting for me to say my name.

"Alice." I smiled shyly.

"Alice!" A small smile remained on his lips until he turned his back on me and walked to the end of the hallway.

"Bye," the other guy said as he followed him.

I watched them until they disappeared after going down the stairs. I turned my attention back to the other six bags and realized it was time to continue working. I picked up a backpack from the ground and a wheeled suitcase, heading to the room where it seemed like everyone would be sleeping together, which I found a little strange since there would be six men in a not-so-big room.

***

I went down the stairs after finishing putting the rest of the luggage in Joshua's room. Betty had disappeared and left me alone. I was so tired that at the first opportunity I had, I would throw myself on a bed and take a century to get up again.

I entered the kitchen in search of a glass of water. Mr. Scott, Joshua, and his guests were gathered in the garden. I could see them clearly from the kitchen through the window. I leaned over the counter, watching them as I drank water.

"What are you doing?" I choked on my water at the sudden sound of Betty's voice.

"Oh my God!" I coughed a little, trying to ease the tickle caused by the water choking in my throat.

"What are you doing?" she repeated the question.

"Drinking water," I showed her the glass. "What's up?" I frowned as I looked at her.

"You won't be able to leave for a week," she said, making me speechless. "Orders from Mr. Scott's son."

"What? What do you mean?"

Quickly, the scene of yesterday's drunkenness collided with my head.

"We have guests. The house is a bit crowded. So, we need as much reinforcement from all the staff as possible. Until Joshua's friends leave."

"What?" I looked at her a little perplexed. "But wait, I won't be able to leave the house at all?"

She nodded her head.

"That's almost like private imprisonment! And I have an important matter to resolve tomorrow night."

"Well... change it to next week."

"I can't! It has to do with the Arts college. I can't miss it!"

"If you leave, Joshua can get angry with you!"

"Why? The house has seven employees. And Mr. Scott knows I have college issues to deal with!"

"Well, the order was given by his son. And Mr. Scott does what he wants."

"That's very unfair, you know? Joshua didn't hire me."

"But he pays your salary. Actually, he pays all of ours."

"How?"

"Joshua is an excellent son. He provides his parents with everything they need and more."

"I thought he was just another guy visiting his parents."

"It's much more than that. He's very rich. Very much so."

"And what does he do?"

"I'm not sure. I'll try to remember later. But that's all I had to say. Now, I have to serve some drinks to the guests."

Betty left the kitchen, leaving me alone, still indignant to know that I would have to spend a whole week inside the house, unable to go anywhere.

My thoughts are interrupted by someone entering the kitchen. The guy I had met in an embarrassing situation in the upstairs hallway approaches me.

"Excuse me, where are the Jeotgarak? Joshua said there were some here."

"Uh?" I raise my eyebrows in confusion at the name of the object.

Jack chuckles at my confusion.

"They're metal chopsticks. Korean hashis," he explains.

"Oh!" I remember seeing some somewhere in the kitchen, but a long time ago. "I'm not sure if Mr. Scott still keeps them, but I'll check for you."

I cross to the other side of the counter and examine the drawers as I open them.

"You've been working here for a long time?" I see him lean over the counter, resting his elbows.

"For almost three years," I reply with a friendly smile.

"That's a long time, isn't it?" He seemed impressed.

And suddenly, his tone of voice briefly resembled the same surprised tone Joshua expressed when we first met.

"Have you met the girl who worked here before you?"

His question made me look up at him curiously.

"I didn't know there was another one."

"I figured you wouldn't know," Jack allows himself to display a look of someone who knew something but preferred to keep it a mystery; which I used to define as just a way of getting attention.

"Why? Is there something wrong?"

"No, it's not important. Anyway, did you manage to find the hashis?"

I shake my head and glance briefly at the last drawers opened.

"Maybe they were thrown away," he said.

"Would you mind buying some for me? If it's not too much trouble, of course."

He gave me an intense look, accompanied by a sly smile, which left me speechless at first, but then I remembered what Betty had told me.

"Well... Of course, it's not a bother. But... Joshua ordered me not to leave."

"It's just Joshua," he shrugged. "It's okay to go against what they say sometimes."

I reflected for a moment.

"Betty told me I should be available for whatever they ask of me."

"So, does that mean you can go?" He opened a contagious smile.

"I can come back before they notice I'm gone," I returned his smile.

"Alice, you're amazing!"

He went around the counter, approached me, and pulled me into a hug, an act that left me a little confused, embarrassed, and speechless. But there I was, with my face buried in his chest.

After hugging me, he put his hands on my face and looked into my eyes.

"And beautiful," he added.

Immediately, I felt my face burning and my heart racing. He was so close to me that I thought he was going to kiss me at any moment.

"What are you doing?" I heard someone say.

Our gaze met Joshua's, who was standing at the kitchen entrance in just his swim trunks. He looked at us indifferently.

Jack sighed and moved away from me.

"Alice, could you leave us alone?" Joshua said, and his gaze didn't direct towards me, only remained focused on Jack.

I agreed with what he said and walked towards the kitchen exit, passing by him.

But it was obvious that I wasn't going to leave. I wanted to know what Joshua had to say about what had just happened, as he seemed so indifferent to what he saw.

"What are you trying to prove?" I heard Joshua say.

"What do you mean?" Jack asked.

"Were you trying to hit on the girl?"

"Why? Does it bother you?"

"She's not like the others, Jack."

"And what makes her different for you? Your parents didn't tell you about her? Because they knew that if you found out, she would just be another girl the son of theirs would take?"

"You're being ridiculous."

"Are you going to tell me it's not true? And that competing for girls wasn't cool?"

"We're not teenagers anymore, Jack."

"That's not what you said about the last girl. Before Alice."

"That was three years ago."

"That doesn't change anything, if you had the chance."

The direction that conversation was taking contributed to my shock.

"You always benefit from all of them, Scott. It's time to give credit to someone else."

I heard Joshua release a mocking laugh.

"So that's what you're trying to do? Want to go back to the past and prove that you got a girl before me? Is that it, Parrish?"

"Don't you get tired of thinking you're superior, Scott?"

"I don't think I'm superior. I'm not to blame if all the girls we've been with chose me in the end."

"You're nothing but a piece of shit," Jack spat out the words.

"Just get out of my house, Parrish. Before I make you leave myself."

Joshua ended the conversation, and I heard footsteps approaching the kitchen exit. I tried to hide behind one of the living room furniture pieces and saw Jack passing through the room with a sulky face. But after the discussion with Joshua, his list of friends must have decreased indeed.