12. Astonished
1537 Words
Chapter 12. Astonished
“Leanne!! Yuhuuu!!” Sharon’s heels echo in the hall’s alley in searching for Leanne. She was about to call Leanne on the phone when she found Leanne crossing the room. “How far is the preparation?” she asked.
“All the vendors were here, already. Some of them are in progress setting their stuff.”
“Good!” she said with a big smile that made Leanne frightened a bit because the image of a crazy female clown crossed her mind since her thick lips were in very contrast-red lipstick.
“Oh! I want you to gather all my preloved-stuffs in the basement, my purses, suitcases, handbags, shoes, and take it outside. It is a charity party, so we’re gathering old stuff to sell!”
“Oh, and the raised money is for who?” Leanne tried not to sounded cynical to her ear and pretended not to know her answer.
“For my friends who's been dreaming to have the high-class brands stuff and lifestyle, but don’t have enough money to buy the new ones.” She proudly replied.
Right, I can’t have this kind of conversation!—Leanne thought inside. She just nodded, and about to leave her.
“Oh, don’t forget! Tonight, all employees in the house have to wear the specially made pink-maid-dress! The party is all about luxury, and feminine, and pinky glamourous—”
“W-wait, can you make an exception? My crew and I will manage a lot of things already, we would be more comfortable if—”
“This is a very important event. I will make no exception. For those who resist, can hand me their resignation letter!”
“I- - know, but—” Leanne is trying to give more reasons.
“All the dresses are already with Linda,” Sharon said while turned her back and leave Leanne.
Leanne still standing there feeling upset. The only reason Sharon made them wear the uniform was only to make her party looks great in the pictures that she’s going to posts in her social media. And her employees are her monkey in heels to perform!
Leanne was sighing, she got no choice other than to obey her horrible boss’s request. She’s heading toward Cheryl’s playground room to check whether she has had her lunch, and found that she had it already before going to the mansion basement with Linda to collect Sharon’s precious.
The access to the mansion basement can be reached from one of the stairs near the kitchen when Leanne opened the doors and heading down, in the same time Ace and One—who’s just came back and walked across the room. Not having any other things to do, Ace decided to follow them to take the tour of the whole basement. Even though Leanne and Linda didn’t realize his presence.
He walked and looking thoroughly in the basement foyer. The basement was huge, the walls mostly were made from white bricks and woods, with a low ceiling, and its space was classified into a different storage room. Wine cellar room, housekeeping storage room, -- He read from the door sign.
He passed the opened door where Leanne and Linda were in, with the sign of ‘Gold’s treasures’ written on the door. He could hear their chatter for a while, when he passed-- they still didn’t know that he’s there.
After walked pretty far around the basement, finding Calvin’s garage that filled with both vintage and sophisticated cars, Ace went back to Sharon Gold’s Treasures room.
“Linda, be careful you’re pretty in a high place, there.. just throw the bags from there, I will catch it.”
Ace heard Leanne talked to Linda.
“Yeah, only when I can reach it first!” said Linda while at the same time having a hard time reaching one suitcase. “I don’t understand where’s the charity part from all of this.”
Leanne sighed. “You know her. Let’s just hope today would end faster. Oh, she wants us to wear the pink maid dress to excel her ‘very important event’!” Leanne tried to duplicate Sharon’s voice and attitude, which made Ace smirking in silence when he saw her expressing her emotion.
“No way!” Linda paused in disgust. “The last time we’re forced into the costume she pointed, I had to deal with jerks. Ugh!”
“I know.” Leanne rubbed her temple for a second, feeling the same frustration as her friend felt. Suddenly she felt hard to breathe for a while and a glimpse of dizziness. She didn’t realize that Linda has called her name the second time.
“Leanne, are you okay?”
“Y-yeah. Just felt that the air is a little bit thin around here, isn’t it?”
“You haven’t had your lunch, have you? You looked a little bit pale.” Said Linda.
Ace came closer to the door, so he could get a better view. He was considering to drag Leanne out of the room and supervise her himself to have lunch, but he held back, thinking it through once again.
“I’m fine, I just...had a bad sleep last night.” Said Leanne.
“I can ask Sam or Aimee to help me--” before Linda finishing her words, one small suitcase on the very top shelf near Leanne, slipping from its place. “Leanne! WATCH OUT!”
It was too late for Leanne who’s facing up, the suitcase fell near her eyebrow. “Shoot!” she cursed, before realizing that soon another bag and suitcases avalanche was falling upon her.
Leanne raised her hand to protect her head since she felt it was too late to evade it anyway. It took her by surprise when a strong hand and body tackled her body in a sturdy-- yet harmless way too at the same time, rescuing her from taking the multiple hits from the bags.
Leanne looked at him with her round eyes, surprised by his presence in the room. It’s him. Rescuing me-- again.
After watching all the bags stumped on the floor, Ace stared at Leanne's eyes. Noticing her bruise that appeared from the first hit.
“Leanne are you okay?!” said Linda.
They both spoke at the same time, saying the opposite replied. “Ye-yeah.” Said Leanne.
“No,” Ace replied. “She got bruise near her temple.”
“I’m fine. It doesn’t even hurt at all.” She quickly replied she’s lying though.
“You should take a break for a while, Red.” Said, Ace.
“I agree! Leanne, you should rest and eat..” Linda took sides, Ace’s side.
“I will.. after I finish preparing everything.”
“That’ll be what—until tonight has passed? You really have to make everything hard, don’t you..?” said Ace implicating her stubbornness from his words, while taking a quick glance at her lips which Leanne acknowledge.
“No, I’m just doing my job—”
“Hey Linda, you got this covered?” Ace cut in and ignoring her words.
“Yes, Sir!” Linda quickly answered.
Without any hesitation, Ace was lifting Leanne’s body, carrying her with her stomach on his shoulder, and took her out of the room.
“ACE! Oh my God! Put me DOWN!” she struggles a bit and feels ashamed at the same time, considering that she was sensing his strong hand on her thighs. Ace lightly carrying her through the foyer and stairs without saying anything.
“Ace! I’ve got so many things to do!” she talked all the way. “She’d kill me if she knows I’m not around to prepare her event!” She’s yelping when Ace’s hand fixed its position into a sturdy grab of her thigh and butt.
Ace was about to take her into the kitchen, or the living room, but he called off his intention and changed course to his room. The room that Sharon would ever think to find Leanne.
“This is CRAZY!” she raised her voice.
When he reached his room, he lightly tossed Leanne’s body on his bed and pinned her on the bed. “I’m just trying to save you some time, rather than spending it to argue with me.”
To be so close with him while still feeling the sensation from his touch, moreover to feel his body on top of her, just made her cheeks reddened instantly.
“P-please, I-I can’t be seen o-on your bed—li-like this.” Her heart beats so fast.
- Writer
