Chapter 8: Too close for comfort
1139 Words
The morning air inside the mansion felt unusually quiet again.
Ava had begun to notice a pattern.
Leo leaves early.
The house staff moved silently through the halls.
And somewhere in the house, Jed.
It had only been a few days since his arrival, yet Ava felt as if his presence had changed the atmosphere of the entire house.
She tried to ignore it.
After breakfast, Ava decided to help the staff organize a few things in the sitting room. A small charity gathering was scheduled to take place in the mansion later that week, and she preferred making sure everything was arranged properly ahead of time.
It also gave her something to do.
Something to keep her mind occupied.
Two housemaids were adjusting the flower arrangements while Ava reviewed a list of items on the table.
“The decorations for the main hall should arrive tomorrow,” she said gently.
“Yes, madam,” one of the staff replied.
Ava nodded and moved toward the large window to check the outdoor arrangements.
She was so focused on the list in her hands that she didn’t notice someone walking into the room.
Not until she turned around.
And walked straight into him.
Her body collided with a firm chest.
The sudden impact made her lose her balance slightly.
A pair of hands quickly caught her by the arms.
“Careful.”
Jed’s voice was calm, almost amused.
Ava froze.
She hadn’t expected him to be standing there.
For a brief second, neither of them moved.
Jed’s hands were still holding her arms to steady her.
Ava could feel the warmth of his touch through the thin fabric of her sleeves.
Her heartbeat suddenly felt louder than it should.
“I’m fine,” she said quickly, stepping back.
Jed slowly released her.
“You should probably look where you’re going,” he said lightly.
Ava frowned.
“You were the one standing in the middle of the room.”
Jed raised an eyebrow.
“I was walking through the doorway.”
“Well… you could have announced yourself.”
Jed chuckled softly.
“Should I ring a bell next time?”
Ava looked away, annoyed at the way he always managed to make her feel flustered.
She turned her attention back to the list on the table.
“We’re preparing for a small gathering later this week,” she said, keeping her voice neutral.
“I noticed,” Jed replied, glancing around the room.
“You’re very involved in managing the house.”
“It’s part of my responsibility.”
Jed leaned casually against the edge of the table.
“And does my brother help with these responsibilities?”
Ava paused for a moment.
“Leo is busy with the company.”
“That wasn’t exactly my question.”
Ava placed the list down and folded her arms.
“Why are you always asking questions about my marriage?”
Jed studied her expression.
“Because you always avoid answering them.”
“That’s because they’re not your concern.”
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Jed sighed softly.
“You’re right.”
The simple agreement surprised Ava.
“I don’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” he added.
Ava didn’t respond.
She picked up a small decorative vase and moved it slightly to the side of the table.
“Anyway,” Jed continued casually, “you seem very determined to keep yourself busy today.”
“I have things to do.”
“Or you’re trying to avoid certain people.”
Ava turned toward him sharply.
“I’m not avoiding anyone.”
Jed held up his hands slightly in surrender.
“Alright.”
But the amused look in his eyes told her he didn’t believe her.
Ava exhaled slowly and looked back at the staff members who were still adjusting the decorations.
“You can place the rest of the flowers near the staircase,” she instructed them.
“Yes, madam.”
The staff moved away, leaving Ava and Jed standing alone in the sitting room.
The silence suddenly felt heavier.
Ava bent slightly to pick up a small box of candles from the floor.
Just as she lifted it, one of the candles slipped from her hand and rolled across the polished floor.
Without thinking, both she and Jed bent down to grab it at the same time.
Their hands touched.
Ava quickly pulled her hand back.
But the sudden movement caused her to lose her balance slightly.
Jed reached out again, instinctively steadying her.
This time, she ended up closer to him than before.
Too close.
For a brief moment, their eyes met.
The room seemed strangely quiet.
Ava suddenly became very aware of how close they were standing.
She could see the faint amusement in Jed’s eyes.
But there was something else there too.
Something she couldn’t quite name.
Her heart began beating faster.
Ava immediately stepped away.
“I can handle it,” she said quickly.
Jed slowly straightened.
“I know.”
She placed the candle back into the box and turned away from him.
“I should check the arrangements in the garden,” she said.
“Of course,” Jed replied.
Ava walked toward the door, trying to ignore the strange tension she still felt in her chest.
Just as she reached the hallway, Jed spoke again.
“You know something, Ava?”
She paused but didn’t turn around.
“What?”
“You seem much calmer when you’re not trying so hard to avoid me.”
Ava clenched her fingers slightly.
“I’m not avoiding you.”
Jed’s voice carried a faint smile.
“If you say so.”
Ava didn’t respond.
She simply continued walking down the hallway toward the garden.
But even after she stepped outside into the fresh air, she could still feel the lingering warmth of Jed’s hands on her arms.
And it unsettled her more than she wanted to admit.
Back inside the house, Jed remained standing in the sitting room.
He looked down at the candle still resting in the box on the table.
A slow smile appeared on his face.
It was becoming increasingly obvious that Ava was trying very hard to keep her distance.
And for some reason, that only made him more curious.
He leaned back against the table thoughtfully.
“This might be more interesting than I expected,” he murmured quietly.
Outside in the garden, Ava walked along the stone path, trying to calm the restless feeling in her chest.
She told herself again and again that nothing was happening.
Nothing had happened.
Yet somehow, the simple moment in the sitting room had left her feeling strangely unsettled.
Because for a brief second…
being close to Jed hadn’t felt uncomfortable.
It felt natural.
And that was exactly what frightened her.
- Writer
