Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Grayson woke up early the following day. The first thing that came to his mind was to get back to Kendall for interrupting his intimate moment with Brittney last night. He took a warm bath to start his day, groomed himself, and knocked madly on the room next door.

"Hailey, open the door!" he yelled, unconcerned about whether the lady was still sleeping or not.

He waited for a few seconds for the woman inside to open the door, but a minute soon passed, and there had been no movement. Thus, Grayson turned the doorknob instead.

However, it was locked.

"Hailey, I said, open the door!" he roared for the second time.

Still, no one answered from the inside.

Annoyed, Grayson returned to his room, picked up his cellphone, and called Kendall. However, she also didn't answer the phone.

Grayson's face then flushed red due to anger. Unwilling to give up, he headed to his study table and took a piece of paper containing a long list of things he painstakingly brooded over before going to bed last night. Then, he dashed downstairs to look for Kendall.

Halfway through his search, Grayson decided to approach the busy maids to ask.

"Did any of you see Hailey? The new girl here?" he asked in impatience.

"No, sir," the maids responded in chorus.

Hearing that, Grayson nodded and left without saying anything. When he saw Esther in the hallway toward the pool area, he stopped and asked, "Esther, did you see Hailey?"

"I'm not sure if she's still there, but I saw her heading that way earlier," the old maid answered while pointing in a specific direction.

Finally, Grayson got the answer he wanted. He was about to leave when he suddenly remembered something, so he stopped and turned to the maid again.

"Wait, is she helping with the house chores?" he asked blankly.

Esther, however, only shook her head in response.

"That woman is truly stubborn!" Grayson complained as he went in the direction Esther had pointed.

Not long after, his annoyed expression had been immediately replaced by curiosity. He had just taken a few steps, but he could already hear Kendall's voice from a considerable distance.

"Three hundred eighty-two, three hundred eighty-three, three hundred eighty-four..." she counted.

Baffled, he followed her voice, which seemed to be coming from the gym. Grayson's burning desire to scold the woman had then grown bigger, causing him to quicken his pace. However, he gradually slowed down when he was only a few steps away from the gym's doorway. When he saw the woman he had been looking for inside, he paused in his tracks, utterly mesmerized.

"Three hundred ninety, three hundred ninety-one..." Kendall continued counting as she seriously did sit-ups. She was wearing black cycling shorts, a midriff top, and rubber shoes. Her long hair was tied in a high ponytail, exposing her fair and slender neck. And to Grayson's surprise, Kendall's figure was also on point.

"Three hundred ninety-nine, four hundred!" the latter exclaimed in delight.

After completing four hundred sit-ups, she lay down on the yoga mat, evidently tired. Then, she took a few deep breaths, stood up, and wiped the sweat on her forehead. She was about to leave the gym when she saw Grayson standing in the doorway, which caught her by surprise.

"Hey, since when have you been standing there?" she asked.

Grayson, on the other hand, couldn't answer. His heart pounded hard, and it went even wild as Kendall approached. Beads of sweat were still dripping on her forehead, but her expression remained lively.

Of course, Grayson couldn't help but scan the woman's entirety, given his character. All he could do was bite his lips lightly upon seeing Kendall's rosy cheeks and lips. Her lustrous neck and shoulders, above-average chest, slender arms, flat belly, narrow waist, and well-shaped thighs didn't escape his eyes.

Kendall noticed hints of lust and amusement in his eyes, making her laugh inwardly. She thought even he couldn't resist her charm.

"You're drooling," Kendall teased as she messed his hair. Then, she walked past him, causing Grayson to snap back to his senses shortly after.

"Hailey!" he called as he came after her.

When Kendall looked back, he swallowed nervously, trying to avert his eyes from her.

"Why?" she casually asked.

"Just to be clear, I wasn't... turned on. I was just amazed that you finished four hundred sit-ups," Grayson stuttered with his face flushed red, wanting to explain his initial reaction.

Kendall, on the contrary, only shrugged and smiled. She turned her back, utterly unbothered. Since she had already been with Grayson for some time, she knew the man would get turned on easily.

"Wait!" he called again.

"What is it now, Grayson?" Kendall stopped and replied, sighing in both annoyance and frustration.

"Why aren't you helping the other maids? Didn't I explain that you should help with the house chores while you are here?" he asked weakly.

"Do I really need to do that?" Kendall asked back and reasoned, "It's not that I didn't want to help, but I'm afraid I'll just worsen things if I do."

Ignoring her words, Grayson handed her a piece of paper.

"What's this?" Kendall asked, knitting her brows.

"I've made a list of the things you should do and follow while you stay in my house," he casually replied.

Hearing that, Kendall nodded and took the paper without any complaint. Then, she continued walking.

"Read that, okay?!" Grayson reminded.

Irritated, Kendall shouted, "I will! God, Grayson! Do you really have to be so annoying early morning?"

She then slammed the door shut as soon as she entered her room. Looking at the paper Grayson gave only intensified her annoyance, so she crumpled it and threw it in the dresser.

"Lord, lead the way," she frustratedly said. "Should I really sacrifice my precious life for that heartless man?!"

After venting out, her gaze fell on the crumpled paper in the dresser. Curious to see what was written on it, she picked it up.

[Things to do and follow while staying at Grayson Hoffman's house.]

1. Wake up at 5:30 am.

2. Clean your room regularly.

3. Cook at least one dish a day.

4. Clean Grayson's room 3x a week.

5. Bring food and drinks to Grayson's room.

6. Always follow Grayson's instructions about household chores.

7. Clean at least one portion of the house a day.

8. Do some gardening on weekends.

9. Clean the swimming pools once a week.

10. Expect to do errands for Abigail on behalf of Grayson.

11. Give Grayson a body massage at least once a week.

12. Study with Grayson for at least 30 minutes daily (Applicable in the house only; the campus is excluded).

13. Allow Grayson to hang out alone with his friends two times a week.

14. Be very respectful of Grayson's privacy.

15. Do not interfere with Grayson's personal matters unless asked.

"That guy!" Kendall yelled in annoyance before crumpling the paper again. She threw it on the floor and trampled on it.

"I'm already putting my life on the line for him, yet he still has the guts to enslave me!" she complained.

Wanting to wash her irritation away, Kendall went to the bathroom and soaked in the water until she calmed down. When she came out, her expression had already lightened.

She was about to put on her clothes when she heard three consecutive knocks on the door, so she had no choice but to open it.

"What?!" Kendall angrily asked upon seeing Grayson.

The latter, on the other hand, swallowed due to the former's current look. Kendall's hair was wet, and water dripped down on her neck, making the man slightly tense.

"I-I need a glass of water," he stuttered.

"Can't you see that I had just taken a bath? What? Do you want me to go downstairs looking like this? Can't you ask someone else to bring you one?" Kendall snapped.

"And why would I do that? Isn't obeying my orders included in the list I gave you?" Grayson asked, raising one of his brows.

With that, Kendall fell silent. She only glared at him, trying her hardest not to lose her calm.

"Fine! I have to get dressed first, so wait for your water until I finished," she surrendered, not wanting to argue anymore.

"Make it fast, okay?" Grayson ordered with a grin.

"Yes, your majesty!" Kendall sarcastically replied.

After dressing up, she went downstairs to get a glass of water. Displeasure filled her heart, but she tried not to let it show. Once she delivered the water to Grayson's room, she hurried back to her room and continued fixing herself. She was combing her hair when she heard someone knock on her door again, so she walked over and opened it.

"What is it now, Grayson?" Kendall asked in irritation.

"I need another glass of water," Grayson innocently replied.

Kendall sneered at the latter's request. "Grayson, do you have a heater in your room? Why do you get thirsty so fast?!"

"Hailey, are you going to get one again or not?!" Grayson exclaimed.

"Of course, I would!" she replied before going downstairs for the second time. "As if I have a choice."

Kendall wasn't as bright as Grayson, but she was mindful and observant. She knew the man was power tripping, so she directly brought a whole pitcher over so that he wouldn't bother her again. After taking it to Grayson's room, Kendall returned to her room to arrange her things for school.

A few seconds later, Grayson knocked again.

"What do you need now, Grayson?! Do you want coffee? Juice? Iced tea? Soda? What? Tell me!" Kendall impatiently asked.

"Let's eat breakfast together," Grayson replied calmly.

Because of that, Kendall was rendered speechless.

"Oh, alright," she replied in embarrassment after composing herself.

...

The school bell rang at break time. Grayson and Kendall then headed to the canteen but sat at different tables. The former was with his friends while the latter was with Nancy.

The two were quietly eating until Nancy broke the silence and asked, "Hailey, I was wondering why you and Grayson are always together now. What's the catch between you two? I mean, didn't he use to avoid you?"

Kendall didn't speak for a moment as she pondered for an answer.

Not long after, she replied, "Oh, that's because we often meet in a place where we both usually go to."

"And where is that?" Nancy asked again.

Lost for a concrete answer, Kendall said the first place that came to mind. "At the racetrack. Both of us are into car racing," she replied and smiled faintly.

"Really? I didn't know that you were into things like that! You are so cool!" Nancy praised.

"I'm not a racer like Grayson, though. I find it thrilling, so I often watch it with my friends. He and I always come across each other whenever I go to racing venues," Kendall added, which Nancy nodded at.

The latter said, "That explains why you two have gotten closer. But why don't you join Grayson and his other friends here at UM?"

"I can't stand them!" Kendall bluntly joked. "They were too smart for me, so I'm finding it hard to get along with them. Even Grayson and I sometimes couldn't understand each other, so I didn't want to be stressed more. But I am close with Grayson's friends outside the campus, especially those who are also into racing."

This time, Nancy didn't respond. Her eyes were glued on the woman who had just entered the canteen, causing Kendall to do the same.

"Do you know who that woman is, Nancy?" Kendall asked, looking at the woman who once threatened her.

"She's Cady, Grayson's ex-girlfriend," Nancy replied and nodded. "They broke up a long time ago, but she still acts as if she's still Grayson's girlfriend."

"Is that so?" Kendall muttered. "Looks like you know a lot about Grayson."

She then noticed how Nancy's cheeks blushed upon hearing what she said. With that, Kendall couldn't help but smile, sensing the latter was secretly into Grayson.

Not in the mood to tease Nancy, Kendall diverted her attention to Cady instead. She watched her as she approached the table where Grayson was and stood in front of him. The latter fascinatingly looked subconsciously at Kendall when Cady came.

As much as Kendall wanted to give Grayson a suggestive look, she remembered one of his conditions on the list.

'15. Do not interfere with Grayson's personal matters unless asked.'

Still, Kendall took out the crumpled paper from her bag and reread it carefully.

"What's that, Hailey?" Nancy asked, looking at the small paper in Kendall's hand.

"Oh, nothing. It's just a list of errands my mom gave," the latter replied with a smile.

After saying that, she focused on reading the list. She thought deeply and looked at Grayson with a meaningful gaze.

Then, she turned to Nancy, stood up, and shyly said, "I'm sorry, Nancy, but I have to leave first. I have something important to do."

"Oh, sure. I'll see you again in our next class," Nancy replied despite her baffled expression.

Kendall then nodded and approached Grayson's table. When she got his attention, she pointed toward the door, implying that she wanted him to come with her. However, Grayson only shook his head and continued talking with his friends while his ex-girlfriend was beside him.

Still, Kendall didn't leave. When Grayson looked at her again, she pointed to the door for the second time. Before he could even refuse, she had already glared at him.

With that, Grayson thought for a moment, obviously on the fence.

Then, he turned to his friends and said, "Excuse me, guys. I'm afraid I have to go first."

He rose from his seat and left the canteen with Kendall. "What's the matter? Why are you being such a killjoy?" he irritably asked.

"We have something important to talk about," Kendall seriously replied.

Grayson's expression then calmed down. "And what's that about?"

"About this," Kendall said as she waved the list in front of him. "We have revisions to do. We need to discuss everything carefully before finalizing."

Grayson smiled at what he heard and suddenly stopped. "Who says you can give an opinion about the rules I wrote?"

"Grayson, I am the party involved here. Not because I am staying at your house means you could deprive me of my right to verbalize my opinion and refuse to do something I don't want to do. Isn't this like a contract? Because for me, it looks like one. So, both parties must agree to the conditions first," Kendall reasoned.

Grayson thought for a moment, inwardly doubting the genuineness of Kendall's intentions. He knew she was the kind of woman who would tower over anyone if she could. As much as he wanted to refuse, she gave him a deadly glare as if she would not take no for an answer.

"Fine! I'll hear you out, but keep in mind that the final decision is still mine," he stated.

The two then looked for a quiet place to talk. As soon as they sat under the shade of a large tree, Grayson pulled out a ballpen, took a piece of paper to write on, and placed it on top of a thick book.

"Okay, let's start. Tell me your concerns," Grayson started.

"Condition one, wake up at five-thirty in the morning," Kendall read. "What if I stayed up late? How would you expect me to wake up early?"

Grayson raised one of his brows and probed, "And why would you need to stay up late? Why? Do you have work that I don't know of at night?"

Kendall then rolled her eyes and answered, "For example, I studied all night, or we went out and came home late. Of course, I would feel tired because of that. For your information, my body and mind can't function well whenever I lack sleep, so I can't promise to perform at my best if you insist on this condition."

Grayson scanned Kendall's expression and got convinced later on.

"Alright. Condition number one, wake up at five-thirty in the morning unless you went to bed late the night before," he read as he wrote. "Okay, what else?"

Kendall scanned the old list again and said, "Condition number three, cook at least one dish a day. This has to be clear. Who will eat the food I prepared? You, of course! Put that there to avoid problems."

Hearing that, Grayson glared at her.

"If you don't want, then strike that out. I don't want to spend so much effort cooking one dish every day just to be wasted. I'm sure the maids won't eat my dish because they are far better cooks than I am, so if you don't want to eat it, then delete it."

"Fine! I'll change it," Grayson said, annoyed. "Condition number three, cook at least one dish a day, but Grayson must eat it."

"You could've just deleted it," Kendall muttered, loud enough for the man beside her to hear.

"I said I'll eat it, so why are you still throwing tantrums there? Shouldn't I be the one who is complaining?" Grayson smirked. "Now, what else?"

"Condition number four, clean Grayson's room 3x a week. How ruthless can you be, Grayson?" Kendall chastised. "Aren't you aware of how big your room is? It's insanely big, Grayson! How could I clean it myself? Change that, okay? I don't mind cleaning it, but let me ask for the other maids' help as well."

Not wanting to prolong the discussion, Grayson nodded and wrote on his paper. "Alright. Condition number four, clean Grayson's room 3x a week with the help of other maids. Anything more?"

Kendall looked at the old list again and searched for what she could change. Then, she smiled and asked, "Condition number seven, clean at least one portion of the house daily. Cleaning my room counts, right?"

"Of course not!" Grayson strongly objected. "That's cheating, Hailey. How would I know if you clean your room every day?"

"But you said clean one portion of your house! Isn't the room I am staying in also part of it?" Kendall reasonably said.

"Alright, let's change it. Thank you for giving me an idea," Grayson said as he began writing with a smile plastered on his face. "Condition number seven, clean at least one portion of the house daily except Hailey's room."

Utterly dissatisfied, Kendall glared at Grayson.

"Don't give me that look," he uttered. "We're here to finalize these conditions, right? I accepted your requests earlier, but I can't just write everything in your favor. Is there anything else you want to change?"

Kendall then shrugged and recited, "Condition number eleven, give Grayson a full body massage at least once a week. What the hell is that for? That's sexual harassment, Grayson! Scratch that out if you don't want me to break your bones during the massage!"

Grayson chuckled at Kendall's reaction. "How was this a form of sexual harassment? I wanted a massage because my body often hurts after racing. I just thought you could do it instead of going out. And don't ever think that I will ever want to be touched by you, okay? You're not my type."

"Still, I don't want to. Besides, I don't know how to do it properly. If you really want to get a massage, I'll drive you to a massage parlor, no matter how far it is," Kendall assured. "If you don't delete that, I will break your bones, and I am not joking."

"Okay, fine! I'll remove it. There's no need to overreact," Grayson bleated. "Anything else?"

Kendall's expression suddenly became even more serious as she firmly said, "Here's the last and most important thing. Condition number thirteen, allow Grayson to hang out alone with his friends twice a week. I am against this."

Grayson instantly reacted as expected.

"And why won't you? Does that mean you have to come with me wherever I go? Is that what you want?" he scoffed as he rose from his seat.

In the face of Grayson's serious expression, Kendall only smiled and nodded.

"What the hell, Hailey?! If you're joking, let me tell you that this isn't funny, " he snapped. "Alright. Tell me why you don't want me to go outside on my own, and I'll decide if it's reasonable or not. Explain it to me because I cannot understand!"

"It's boring at home," Kendall replied shortly.

"That's it? That's why you don't want to let me go alone?" Grayson asked in disbelief. "I'm sorry, but I can't take you every single time with me. You keep meddling with my business, so how could I enjoy myself? Hailey, you should know that I am still young and that I still want to live my life to the fullest. How am I supposed to do that if you're always following me?"

Kendall could see that Grayson was utterly annoyed, so she cleared her throat and guaranteed, "Don't worry. From now on, I won't interfere with your personal affairs. I'll pretend to be blind and deaf to whatever you want to do. Just take me with you."

However, Grayson didn't get swayed. "No, I disagree! If you can't accept my conditions, start looking for a place to move in."

"If that's what you want, then fine. I'll leave," Kendall fumed. "And why would I have to look for a different place when I have a house to return to?"

Hearing that, Grayson instantly calmed down. "What do you mean?" he nervously asked.

"I'll go home and follow my Mom's wish for me to transfer. That should be easier than doing all these conditions, right? Perhaps, this is my karma for disobeying my parents." Kendall sighed and nodded. Then, she turned her back against Grayson and walked away.

"Hailey, wait..." he softly called.

However, Kendall just ignored him and kept walking.

"I said, wait. Let's talk about this again," Grayson persisted.

Still, she pretended not to hear anything.

"Fine! I'll accept your request! Come back here, please," he said, totally giving in.

Hearing that, Kendall stopped walking. A wide smile instantly flashed on her face, but she immediately pretended to be serious when she turned around. She walked toward Grayson, and they sat down again under the tree.

"What did you just promise?" Grayson asked in helplessness.

"I said from now on, I won't interfere with your personal affairs, and I'll pretend to be blind and deaf to whatever you want to do," Kendall repeated.

"Are you sure you can do that? I know you, Hailey. You're quite impulsive," he asked, wanting to be sure.

"I promise!" she guaranteed as she placed her right hand on her chest.

"Alright, I'll change it," Grayson surrendered and wrote again.

After that, he raised his eyes at her and sarcastically asked, "Are you now happy that most of the changes made are in favor of you?"

Kendall repeatedly nodded, unable to take the smile off her face.

Grayson, on the other hand, fell into a trance upon seeing the woman's bright and sweet smile. He couldn't help but wonder why she kept getting prettier in his eyes as the days progressed.

"Hailey..." he softly called.

"Why?" Kendall asked with a full smile.

"Nevermind," Grayson shook his head and replied.