Beneath the scars

Chapter 7

Asia’s POV

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual.

After getting dressed, I tied my hair into a loose ponytail and walked downstairs. The house was still quiet. One of the maids greeted me with a smile before disappearing into the kitchen, while the gardener was already outside arranging several pots of flowers that had been delivered earlier that morning.

I stepped into the garden and breathed in the cool morning air.

"Good morning, Madam."

"Morning."

The gardener pointed toward a row of rose bushes that hadn't been planted yet.

"They arrived before sunrise. I wasn't sure where you'd like them."

I looked around the garden for a moment before walking closer.

"Not against the wall."

He nodded.

"I was thinking the same ma’am.”

I smiled faintly because John the gardener had worked in the fletcher mansion for years and even while he had become older he still knew exactly how I liked the garden.

"They'll never get enough sunlight there."

He waited while I looked around again before pointing toward the empty space beside the stone pathway.

"Plant them there."I directed with my finger pointing at the spot.His gaze immediately followed my finger.

"That way they'll have room to grow."

"Yes, Madam."

I crouched beside one of the unopened pots and gently brushed a leaf between my fingers. It reminded me of something my father used to tell me whenever I insisted on helping him in the garden as a little girl.

"If you keep cutting a flower before it blooms, you'll never know how beautiful it could've been."

I smiled to myself picturing him in my mind like he was there.

"I still remember, Dad."

And just then one of the maids appeared at the garden entrance a few moments later.

"Madam, breakfast is almost ready."

"I'll be there in a few minutes."

She nodded before going back inside.

I stayed outside for another minute before heading upstairs to freshen up. By the time I came back down, breakfast had already been served.

I poured myself a cup of coffee, picked up the morning business journal from the table and settled into my chair.

I barely reached the second page before I heard footsteps coming down the staircase.

Kelvin.

He slowed slightly when he saw me sitting there.

"Morning," he said.

I looked up briefly to meet his eyes at that moment before quickly returning to the newspaper in my hands.

"Morning."

He pulled out the chair opposite mine and sat down. For a few seconds neither of us spoke.The maid served his breakfast before quietly leaving us alone.

Kelvin cleared his throat.

"About yesterday..."

I turned another page in the newspaper with my eyes still focused on the papers.

"Hm….what about it?.”I asked him in a very relaxed tone.

"I know I was supposed to come pick you,I just got caught up with a lot of work…”

I nodded once.

His brows pulled together slightly.

"I really was busy."

Busy.

The word “busy”almost made me laugh.Busy sharing lunch with Jane at the restaurant I'd spent months asking him to take me to.I folded the newspaper neatly and placed it beside my plate.

"It's alright."

He looked surprised like he had expected me to argue with him. I was really sure he had rehearsed what he had to say but I had no time for that today.

"It's alright?"he asked with disbelief wrapped around his face.

"Yes."

"You aren't angry?"

I picked up my coffee.

"Should I be?"

He stared at me for a second before reaching beside his chair and placing a neatly wrapped shopping bag on the table.

"I bought you something."

I looked at the bag but made no move to touch it.

"Thank you."

"You don't want to see it?"

"I'll open it later."

He nodded slowly.

Something about my reaction seemed to throw him off.Usually, I would've smiled and thanked him three times before opening it right there at the table.

I held his gaze for a second before smiling politely.

“I know you were…busy…Kelvin but I would have loved you to be there.”

“I know…so that’s why I’ll make it up to you.”

Well that was my queue to make the demands to what I actually want.

"Actually," I said, setting my coffee down, "there's something I wanted to ask you."

"What is it?"

"I've been sorting through some of my dad's old business files."

He nodded.

"There are still a few company documents that need updating."

"Okay."

"I'm having Daniel Brooks help me organize everything."

"The lawyer?"

"Yes."

He didn't seem bothered at all even with the lawyer’s name I just mentioned.

"Some of the paperwork still requires your signature."

"That's fine."

"I'll bring them to you once everything is ready."

He didn't hesitate.

"Just leave them in my study or let me know when they come.”

I nodded once as I could sense his desperation to cover up what had happened yesterday.

"Thank you."I responded.

He shrugged as though it wasn't worth another thought.

"No problem."

Exactly the answer I'd expected.

He never asked which documents,he simply agreed.

One signature closer.

The thought stayed in my head, but never reached my face.

Just before standing, Kelvin glanced toward me again.He checked the time on his watch before standing.

"I have to go."He picked up his briefcase before pausing.

"And... thanks."he said with a breath of relief.

I looked up.

A smile almost escaped me,he really believed that.He genuinely thought I'd simply... moved on.

"Have a good day, Kelvin."

"You too."

A few seconds later, I heard the front door close behind him.Only after I was sure he'd left did I lean back in my chair.I looked at the untouched gift still sitting on the table before sliding it toward the edge.

The maid appeared from the kitchen.

"Madam?"

"Could you put this upstairs for me?"I asked her.

"Of course."

She picked it up carefully.

"Would you like me to open it?"

I smiled.

"No."

She hesitated.

"Not yet."

Once she disappeared upstairs, my phone buzzed.

It was Rachel.

We had talked for over an hour and made plans for the next day.