Tempting The Billionaire Professor

CHAPTER 7 HIS CARD

After we ate breakfast, Liam Carlton stood up from his seat while he’s wiping his lips with a tissue. Somebody came in, a young maid who was holding a phone and she was handling it to Liam. My eyes lightly narrowed when I realized how that little kid looked at Liam. Seemed like she likes him without the knowledge of her boss. I was wondering too is she’s Nancy.

When one of the maids walked past by me, I lightly grabbed her arms to get her attention.

“Hey, excuse me. I just want to ask something. Is her name, Nancy?” I said, while pointing to the woman whom I think is 17 to 18 years old.

The maid in front of me smiled and shook her head.

“No. Nancy is old. She’s almost a grandmother to Sir Liam. She’s quite strict like he is. But she has a warm heart. Whenever there’s a newly hired staff here, may it a maid, gardener, or a plumber, Nancy was the one who’s taking care of them. By the way, Miss, it is Nancy who changed your clothes and laundry your clothes last night.”

I gave her a small smile. I can’t help but to be ashamed of myself. For some reason, there’s a part of me who’s jealous of Nancy.

“Where is she?” I asked the maid once more.

“Oh, she’s in the backyard. That’s where she wants to do her job. Do you want to see her?”

What amazed me is that, this maid in front of me is really welcoming. She’s same with the other one who delivered me my clothes in Liam’s room.

But of all the maids I’ve seen, there’s one of them I’m starting to hate. God, I know I am not a jealous kind of person and it’s far from my character to hate someone I haven’t had a chance to talk to yet. But then this girl who’s standing beside Liam is on another level. I feel like I hate her already even though she’s not doing anything bad at me.

I just hate her energy.

“And she?”

The maid snorted when she looked at the woman. I raised one of my brows when I noticed that. The maid I am talking seemed irritated to her as well.

“Well, she’s Janice. The newest and youngest maid here in the house. Everyone hates her. She’s like a pest to us.”

“In what way?”

She sighed heavily. She shifted her glance to Liam and bring it back to Janice once more.

“I know you know what I’m saying Miss. It’s easy to spot the reason why all of us hate her.”

I don’t want to assume but I think we shared the same reason why we dislike the young woman. She’s too happy, touchy, and she never hides her interest with Liam. That’s so sick.

One more thing, Liam seemed to not mind that kind of attitude of hers. Like, he’s letting her to do it.

After he’s done talking to the phone, he handed it to Janice. The young woman ran back towards the living room so she could put back the phone. Afterwards, she walked back inside the dining room.

“Do you have anything you want me to do, Sir?”

I can’t help but winced when I heard her voice. It sounded like she’s trying herself to use a sweet voice. Liam raised his hand and made a swaying movement.

“Nothing else, Janice. You may go.”

I saw the disappointment in her expression especially when she turned her gaze to me. I noticed the sharpness of her look. I wasn’t the type who backs up whenever someone’s doing me a bad deed. And now, that girl Janice irritated me to the core. Instead of looking down, I stared at her and gave her a glare.

Did she think that I will be afraid of her? There’s only one thing that makes me scared. Losing everyone I love. I am afraid that someday, it was only me who’s left here.

“Hey, Kate. Did you hear what I said?”

I returned my attention to Liam and lightly shook my head.

“I’m sorry, I didn’t hear anything. I… I…”

I bit my lower lip and looked away. I feel embarrassed that I fell in the abyss of my thoughts while I’m in front of my target.

He was looking to me directly and to my spoon and fork which are on my plate. The food is barely touched. I’m not really in the mood to eat right now. I tried and by eating several of it, already made me full or at least makes me feel that I am full.

I heard him sigh. I knew that he still wants to eat and he’s not done yet but he stood up and went to me.

“What—”

Before I could continue my sentence, he grabbed me by the hand and pulled me towards the sink.

“What are you doing?” I asked, totally confused with his sudden action.

“Let’s wash our hands so we could proceed on the second floor.”

I didn’t remove my focus on him. When he put his gaze on my face. His eyes slowly lowered on my lips. That’s when he looked away.

“Don’t look at me like that.”

I frowned at him.

“What did I do?”

He hissed at me and abruptly moved away from me. I opened my mouth to show how offended I was with his action.

Really huh? If there’s someone who should do that between the two of us, that must be me. I’m the woman here.

“Clean yourself and follow me on the second floor.”

He immediately turned around and rushes towards the stairs. I heaved a huge sigh.

After I finished drying my hands, one of the house maids came to me and helped me lead the way to Liam Carlton’s work room. But I gestured her to stop when I saw the view of the second floor.

If the house’s first floor is looked grand, I could say that the second floor is way better than the first one. There are lots of plants on it. I suddenly remember my Mom because of the non-ornamental plants hanging around the area.

“You seemed amazed.”

I looked behind me. There, Liam was standing and looking at the wonderful plants he has in his mansion.

“My parents, especially my mother who’s now living in Florida loves plants. All of these are hers.

“Why didn’t see bring all of these?”

Liam chuckled.

“She wanted to. But Florida tends to maintains the warm temperature throughout the entire year. So, no matter how hard she tries to grow plants there, she never succeeded.”

“I see.”

He didn’t speak afterwards. All I heard was a deafening silence between us.

I am expecting him that he will lead me to his work room but he just stood there.

“It’s my first time to bring a woman here.”

My forehead creased when I heard that.

“I doubt that. You have your maids here and they’re all women. Technically, you have brought several women here before me.”

He turned to me.

“You are so much different to them. They are my maids whose job is to clean my house, cook for me, and do my laundry. While you, you are a stranger to this house And I barely know you. But there’s something in you I want to know. That’s why I hired you to become my assistant.”

I lightly shook my head. He should be the one who’s my target. Why do I feel like my plan is already backfiring to me?

Did he figure out who I am already?

I bit my lower lip and shifted my gaze to the other side of the place.

I thanked all the saints when I saw him started walking. He went inside a big room and all I could do is to follow him.

“Can I ask something?”

I was so brave to get his attention when I know he’s so damn serious.

“Do I really have to do this? I mean, isn’t it my job can only be done at school? And Cornell University is far from here. We’re in Manhattan just so you know and I’m still on my academic break.”

Without saying anything, Liam walked towards me.

“I am quite confused, Kate. Back then, you told me that you’re willing to do anything just to get the job. And when you said anything, you mean, you will follow on whatever I asked you to do. Right?”

I bit my lower lip and lightly nodded.

“We had our negotiation, remember?”

I swallowed hard. It’s hard to accept the fact that he’s using his card against me. He wants me to follow whatever he wanted to say and I have no choice but to do it. Unless I’ve decided to quit which is not in my plan.

I looked down and gathered all of my strength before answering him.

“Yes, Sir. I remember that.”

He smiled at me and held my hand.

“I won’t push you to do things you don’t want to do and that includes having s****l interaction with me. Also, I would like to clear it to you, I don’t f**k women in my house nor in my office. What I did last time was out of my character and I want to apologize for that.”

Oh, he never really has to say sorry. I actually enjoyed that part. For the first time, I feel like someone is really into me.

“I hope we can start anew.”

He offered his hand to me and as a sign of gratitude, I accepted his hand and gave him a small smile.

“Alright then, as you know, this is my workplace. But this isn’t related to teaching. This is my art room.”

I looked around and all I see are papers hanging on the wall. It’s too late for me to realize that those were drawings and also there were paintings on the far-left corner of the room.

I narrowed my eyes when I noticed the familiar man on the painting. The painting is hanging in the middle of the room.

I lightly pushed him aside and walked towards it so I can see it clearly. I suddenly felt the heaviness inside my heart. No matter how hard I try to make myself believe that I am okay, every single time I am seeing the photo of my deceased parents, it made me feel sad and alone.

“I made that a week ago.”

I turned my back at him so I could wipe the tears on my cheeks. I don’t want him to notice that I was crying.

When I looked at him, I smiled.

“You did such a good job of painting him. Is it okay if I ask who he is?”

“He’s a father to me even though I’m not his real son. I met him when I was nineteen. He taught me a lot about business. When my parents separated and chose to live their lives away from me, this man helped me and guided me until the end of his life. This was supposed to be a gift for him for his birthday. But he died.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to…”

He shook his head.

“No. It’s okay.”

He sighed.

“He’s a wonderful man and well-loved by his acquaintances and friends.”

That’s true. My father is a social butterfly. All businessmen here in Manhattan likes him.

“By the way, Sir. Do you live here in Manhattan?”

He lifted his gaze on me.

“I mean, I thought you live in Ithaca since you’re teaching in Cornell. I actually didn’t expect that I’d see you here.”

“I have a house in Ithaca too. But my original house is here in Manhattan.”

“I see that.”

I walked in a certain table so I could start cleaning it when Liam stood behind me and touched my shoulder.

“Hey what—”

I craned my neck but I stopped when our nose touched. His hand tapped mine which made me let go of the papers I’m holding.

“I didn’t say you could touch that.”

“What?”

He moved closer to me, almost kissing me.

“I said, don’t touch that.”