Chapter 68: Chapter 68
''I am in love with your smile,
I am in love with your voice
I am in love with your body
I am in love with your laugh
I am in love with your eyes
I am in love with you.'' - wallpapercave.com
Adrian's POV
After being stuck at the head office with a mountain of pending work, I was frustrated as ever.
I missed Azura, I missed kissing her sweet mouth, holding her in my arms, and seeing her every day. My work was mainly at the head office so I needed to devise a way to be with her every day. I couldn't go to Parkland Manor daily. Therefore, I had to think of an alternative way.
I was so addicted that I knew I would go crazy if I didn't get to kiss her every day, see her or listen to her sweet voice. So when I finally had a little time to myself, I went to Parkland Manor to meet her and talk to her. I tried convincing her that moving in with me was the best option available to her. Being the innocent, sweet soul that she was, she agreed and I was glad. I just waited for her duty to get over, so that we could go and pack her things and go home.
My housekeeper could cook basic stuff but I already fired her when I caught her stealing the food that she cooked for me. I would have given her if she asked but I hated thieves. Mom was eager to send Martha, her trusted housekeeper, or Jenny, Stefan's trusted housekeeper, but I had my own plans.
So when Azura's duty was over, I went to the cafe and waited for her. I didn't care what others thought of me. Azura changed into a pair of jeans and a black top and joined me, ready to leave.
We drove to her apartment and Crystal opened the door and yelled, "Nana, look Azzee, and her boyfriend are here."
Nana came out of the kitchen and hugged me, "So good to see you, Adrian, stay for dinner," she said while Azura kissed her cheek.
"Yes Nana," I said. "Actually, I wanted your permission. I want Azura to move in with me."
Nana thought for a moment, "I don't mind as long as she visits us every now and then," she said with a chuckle.
"Of course, she would Nana," I reassured her but I could see the worried expression on Azura's face. She didn't look happy to move in with me. I knew that she hadn't agreed and I had forced her into this but what could I do? I was helpless.
"She'll pack her things and come home with me tonight. Is that okay with you, Nana?" I asked as she chuckled sportingly. It seemed as if she was the only one who understood my predicament.
"I see, well what's the hurry, my boy?" she laughed. My cheeks colored as I tried to think of an answer to her questions. Seeing my dilemma, she smiled. "You have my permission, dear boy. Go Azzee, pack your things. Dinner will be ready in 15 minutes." I looked at Azura who looked disappointed and dragged herself to her room to pack. I wondered what was bothering her. Should I go after her? I was dying of curiosity.
"I think I should help her," I suggested as Nana nodded smiling. I went to her room, knocked, and went in.
The twins were sitting on her bed, helping her pack. "Why can't I come with you, Azzee?" asked Zachary as he handed Azura her stuff to pack.
"No silly, you can't. They can't kiss, with you staring," said Crystal as Azura's eyes widened and she gave me a discreet look. I couldn't help but grin at their topic of discussion.
"Shut up, Crys," said Azura glaring at her.
"What? That's what girlfriends and boyfriends do," said Crystal, frowning.
"I promise I won't look," said Zachary as Crystal rolled her eyes.
"Let Azura settle down there. Then you both can visit and stay when it's a holiday at school," I said and they seemed to love the idea.
"Yay," they chorused. I noted the way Azura was avoiding me and I wanted to talk to her so badly but with her family around, it was an impossible task.
We packed up three trolley suitcases filled with essentials and a box full of books. Dinner was ready so we had dinner with everyone. Emerald came in and hugged Azura, whispering something in her ears as we left. I noted that both Emerald and Azura were avoiding me.
I felt so relieved that Azura was going home with me to where she belonged, our home. I could see her whenever I wanted, be with her, spend time with her, talk to her and most importantly kiss her whenever I wanted.
I helped her to the passenger seat and climbed into the driver's seat and we drove off.
"Finally! So, is something wrong? You hardly spoke to me all evening," I couldn't help but tell her.
"No, I'm just tired. What time do you need your breakfast tomorrow morning?" she asked me formally. I frowned at her tone. Did she really think that I was forcing her to move in with me to be my housekeeper?
"Eight in the morning but we can discuss all that later," I said.
We reached the condominium, and I drove through the huge carved iron gates, through the tree-lined avenue, and straight to the underground parking of my block. Azura stared wide-eyed around her, taking in the surroundings. It was a luxurious complex with state-of-the-art architecture, and with the best views of the Hudson River. Stefan's penthouse was next door, but he rarely stayed there anymore after shifting to his mansion. There was a time when we all used to stay in his penthouse and enjoyed life, with friends and parties, but it all changed when Stefan met Annabelle and built a mansion to be with her.
Tristan shifted to his penthouse and started planning a reunion with his childhood sweetheart Amelia.
Julian loved Cassandra at first sight and shifted to our parents' old house after they shifted to Southampton. He wanted a future with Cassandra there.
I bought the penthouse opposite Stefan's which was vacant and stayed all alone. Sometimes Theo and Xander gave me company. Tristan also stayed over whenever he wanted to. Mom and dad came sometimes. Mom brought Martha to rearrange, clean, and vacuum my home. Although it wasn't necessary as I have a temporary housekeeper coming three days a week to clean, she won't listen. So I just let her do what she wanted.
We walked through the grand entrance lobby to the elevators. The elevators took us to the twentieth floor, where I punched the security code and opened the door. We brought in all her luggage and I closed the door and turned towards a dazed Azura. "Welcome home," I said and she gave me a quizzical look. It then dawned upon me that she was here to work.
I showed her around my two-storied 5600 sq. ft duplex with unhindered views of the Hudson River and the famous Manhattan skyline. Upstairs there were 3 bedrooms with ensuites along with a wrap-around balcony connecting all the bedrooms providing stunning views from each bedroom. I showed her my kitchen and she gasped at the opulence of the smoked oak flooring contrasting with high-gloss, white eucalyptus grain cabinetry creating a luxurious fresh element all around.
"You have a beautiful home," she said, touching the shining appliances. "I don't know how to use most of these, but don't worry, I'll figure it out," she said when I stared at her open-mouthed.
"I can only make coffee. Cooking is my worst nightmare, I'll burn the apartment down if I try. So you have to figure it out yourself," I confessed as she smiled a little nervously. I wanted to make her feel at home but was clueless about how to go about it.
I led her upstairs to her room which was just beside mine. Opening the door, she went inside the beautiful room, smaller than the master bedroom, but tastefully decorated in powder blue, beige, and white.
"This is your room. Hope you like it," I asked her seeing her jaw-dropped stare, taking in the large expanse of glass, floor-to-ceiling bay windows with beautiful views beyond.
"This is too beautiful. I love it already. If I get used to this, I would have difficulty returning to my place. Don't you have a housekeeper's room or something?" she asked as I simply stared at her. I was offering this beautiful heaven and all she wanted was the housekeeper's room?
"You're not my housekeeper, Azura," I told her as I went to get her luggage into the room.
"Then what are we? Friends?" she asked when I returned while she inspected the en-suite.
"No, we're not friends. We're just helping each other," I said irritatedly. I didn't want to be just her friend. I wanted more.
"That's what friends do. So we're friends since we cannot be friends with benefits," she said as she checked out the closet.
I was irritated beyond words. Why was she friend-zoning me? I wasn't even implying the friends with benefits deal at all. She was just misunderstanding me.
Unable to stop my rapidly beating heart, I reached her in two long strides and pulled her into my arms. She gasped with surprise and looked at me with wide eyes. "We're more than friends. You're mine. Only mine," I whispered into her ear, grazing my mouth along her jaw. She opened her mouth to speak but I just smashed my lips to hers. She was still and frozen for a minute but I parted her mouth and plunged my tongue into her mouth.
"Kiss me, Azura," I ordered her, releasing her mouth a little. It brought her out of her shocked state. She pushed me away and rushed into the en-suite and I stared at the closed door. What was I doing? Why was I behaving like a caveman around her? It was obvious that I had become addicted to her. Couldn't she see that I was totally into her? That she was made only for me? If she thought that I would let her leave, then she was heavily mistaken. I would do everything in my power to make her stay with me forever. I would make her fall in love with me just like I have fallen for her.
Did I really think that? Is this love that I felt for her? Did I love her? I was so confused that I abruptly turned and walked out to my bedroom, slamming the door shut and thinking about my feelings for her.