Chapter 9 — I agree to your condition
562 Words
Valerie woke up to soft rays of morning light seeping through the thin curtains. She stretched with a quiet yawn, still disoriented from the night before. Her eyes landed on the phone beside her pillow, the one Alexander had given her. It looked sleek and perfect, almost too perfect for someone like her.
She picked it up gently, turning it over in her hands. Only one number was saved Alexander. No social apps, no photos, nothing. Just his contact.
I’ll stop by the Café today, she thought, get Jake’s number, she clicked her tongue
Valerie inhaled deeply, trying to piece together the right words.. how to thank Alexander without sounding awkward,
She pressed her fingers against the call icon.. but suddenly the phone vibrated in her hands, ringing sharply.
Startled, she gasped and threw it on the bed. The name on the screen made her cheeks fluster..
She hesitated… then, gathering herself, picked up the phone.
“Hello?”
****
Valerie walked through the grand glass doors of the company, her heart pounding softly beneath her calm exterior. The security guard at the entrance recognized her immediately and stepped aside, gesturing her in with quiet respect.
As she stepped into the elegant lobby, heads turned.
"Where did Mr. Alexander even pull this girl from… the slums?" a woman at the front desk whispered with a sneer.
"You’ve been here five years, yet Mr. Dravyen hasn’t looked your way once," a colleague chuckled. The girl scoffed, clearly offended.
Valerie heard them, but she didn’t flinch. They weren’t wrong.. she had come from the slums. What even she couldn’t understand was why someone like Alexander Dravyen was going out of his way for her.
The secretary, Miss Evelyn, gave her a blank, unreadable look before rising from her seat and gesturing toward the office.
As Valerie entered, she was met by the warm aroma of caramel-scented tea gently filling the air.
"Hey," Alexander greeted with a soft smile, rising briefly from his seat. He motioned toward the plush sofa across from his desk. "Please, have a seat."
Valerie nodded and walked over quietly.
Alexander reached for a small porcelain plate, placing a few delicate cookies on it, then offered it to Valerie along with the caramel-scented tea. She accepted them with a “thank you.”
Instead of returning behind his desk, he sat beside her on the long sofa.
“Mr. Alexander…”Came Valerie's soft voice. She looked up at him with sincerity and gave a small bow. “Thank you… I agree to your condition.”
Alexander didn’t smile. He felt no surge of victory in his chest. She’s doing this out of obligation, not love.
Still, he reached out gently, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face, admiring the softness of her features. She was even more beautiful up close. My Valerie…
“You don’t have to give me an answer now,” he said quietly, his hand pausing near her cheek. “When it’s time… you will.”
****
“I’ll take you back to your inn,” he added, standing up and collecting his keys. “You need to move in today.”
Valerie’s stomach twisted. Move in? The thought startled her. She’d be alone in that house..vulnerable. Anything could happen.
But part of her also knew… staying at the inn wasn’t safe either.
- Writer
