When I met you

The Mansion

Akermisia Miller

I climb the stairs with a certain apprehension and then walk down the corridor completely absorbed in my own confusion, thinking and rethinking the latest events that are wandering through my mind in a rapid frenzy. When I finally reach the door, I enter the room. Livia is still awake, reading a book with the bedside lamp on. My best friend lifts her eyes to me, setting aside her reading glasses and sitting up on the bed as she notices the truth my face cannot hide.

— I kissed Adam Melchior.

— You did what? — Her eyes immediately widen; my friend is surprised. I don’t blame her, I am too.

She throws the book aside and crosses her legs to pay attention to that moment.

I take off my high-heeled boots and join her on the bed, wrapping myself in the feather blanket.

— I kissed a spoiled egocentric jerk! — I put my hands over my face, because it was unbelievable that I had made the mistake of letting him kiss me and then actually continuing. Worse, I had liked the kiss.

— Akê, you did what? — she repeats, still in shock.

— What is wrong with me?

— There’s nothing wrong with you. — Livia says, comforting me. — Those guys have something, you know.

I let out a weak laugh. — Yeah, I still haven’t forgiven you for trading me in for that package of blue eyes.

— Oh, but it was a very handsome package, and he kisses so well. You can’t blame me for giving in to temptation, I’m not blind, friend.

I smile knowingly at Liv.

— How did we end up in this mess, huh? We never got ourselves into trouble like this.

Livia, just like me, lifts her feet up. The two of us lie with our legs propped against the wall, staring at our current deplorable stage in life.

— Ah, I have no idea.

— Tomorrow there’s a lunch at Adam’s house. I’ll have to go.

My friend turns her face toward me with a sweet smile. She was so kind.

— We can go together if you want. — Livia squeezes my hand. — It’s just for fun. I think we can allow ourselves an adventure in college.

I bite my lip as I think about it.

— If we think we’re going to get hurt, we leave.

— Deal. — Liv smiles. — Now tell me, how did he manage the miracle of getting you off the shelf..?

— Livia Teresa!! — I throw a pillow at her face, but it’s inevitable; she teases me for the rest of the night.

✶

On Saturday morning we head to the Melchior mansion, located in one of Austin’s noble residential areas. The avenues on that side of the city were lined with tall, perfectly aligned trees whose canopies formed a kind of elegant and welcoming green tunnel. On both sides stood grand mansions, each more impressive than the last, with sophisticated façades, imposing columns, and glass windows reflecting the morning light. When we finally arrive, the wrought-iron gate is already open, waiting for us.

— Holy s**t! — Livia rolls down the car window as we drive in. This isn’t real. The house was surrounded by vast perfectly trimmed lawns with a white stone path winding all the way to the entrance. The classical structure stretches so far that I can barely see the end of it. And there are windows everywhere. — My God, can you imagine how much they spend on curtains??

I smile.

This house is an illusion. It can’t be real.

— How rich are the Melchiors? — I ask as I park my little car among convertibles and pickup trucks.

— Veryyyyy. — Livia laughs. And then together, we walk toward the massive front door.

The interior of the mansion is just as extravagant as the exterior. Black-and-white detailed tiles cover the floors, the ceiling never seems to end, and I’m tempted to shout something just to see how far the echo travels. Our first view is of staircases on either side, white symmetrical steps curving upward and meeting at a balcony overlooking the entrance. The chandelier above my head must contain a hundred crystal lights because it glitters like diamonds when I look up.

— Girlsss!! — Leonardo appears, placing one arm around Livia’s shoulders and the other around mine. With an euphoric smile, he kisses our foreheads. — We’ve been waiting for you…

— Don’t be a liar, Leonardo, you didn’t even invite me. I came as Akermisia’s friend, not as your guest… — Livia fires back, and I feel so proud of her for that.

His face falls.

— You’re so attractive when you’re angry… — Leo kisses Liv’s cheek. — You’re my favorite little crazy girl. — He turns to me. — I have a huge weakness for redheads, you know?

— Oh, I can imagine. — I shoot back.

— Look, Akermisia, I don’t know you, but you’ve completely shaken up our friend’s life these past few weeks. Thanks for the entertainment; the asshole Adam beat up really deserved a good beating…

I give him a small smile, just a slight tug at the corner of my lips. Leonardo wasn’t that bad, and that was the worst part.

I tilt my head slightly upward toward the open area on the second floor, looking at some random fixed point, and I’m surprised when I see Kalon standing there. He tilts his head in a calculated manner, and when our gazes meet, my heart beats a little faster. My God, that guy was terrifying.

I return his stare with an implicit challenge, feeling his closed-off expression soften slightly, though his well-defined jaw remains permanently tense. I wonder if his features ever become softer, but I imagine not. Adam has an aura of confidence that naturally belongs to him, but Kalon… I can’t see beyond him. He senses the tactical challenge I throw at him, sees it, and doesn’t like it. Then Kalon turns away, stepping back from the railing and walking off. Footsteps echo through the cavernous house, he closes some door, and thankfully disappears.

— Isia.

Adam appears, and contradictorily I feel happy to see him. His light hair shines in the daylight streaming through the many windows of the house. He’s wearing nothing but shorts, his godlike abs completely exposed to my view. I notice that behind him there is a glass door and beyond it an infinity pool where everyone else is gathered. Melchior keeps approaching with a smile that warms the atmosphere. His hands find my waist with a naturalness that startles me. Leonardo removes his left arm from my shoulder and focuses on Liv, leaving Adam and me behind.

— Adam. — I greet him back.

He smiles. — I think this is the first time you’ve called me by my name and you’re not angry with me.

— Don’t fool yourself. I’m always angry with you. Sometimes I’m just better at hiding it.

Adam grins.

He guides me toward the kitchen, where he grabs one of the bottles spread across the table and pours me a drink. The noise outside is a spark of music and laughter drifting through the glass. I try to ignore it as I sit on the stool beside the marble counter, observing the gleaming stainless-steel appliances.

— Here. — Adam hands me the drink. — You look beautiful.

I try not to blush at the simple compliment that sends a shiver through parts of my body. I was wearing white shorts and a blue blouse that highlighted the golden-brown shade of my hair.

— Oh, Adam… you need to improve that charm of yours. — I retort, taking a sip. The liquid goes down warm through my throat, and I’m grateful for it.

He gives a half smile. — But it was with that charm that I got Akermisia Miller to kiss me. — he whispers near my ear.

I place one of my hands against his chest to stop him, pushing him slightly away from that dangerous spark that formed whenever we were too close.

— Easy there, Melchior, way easier. I’m surprised you think a simple kiss is such a big deal.

I stand up and head toward the pool, but he stops me, pulling my arm back toward him.

— We both know it was more than that.

I stare back at him. — Please, we’ve only known each other for a few weeks. We’re complete strangers. You already got what you wanted, proved you were right. You should be satisfied.

— Don’t do this. — His voice deepens, rough. Adam takes another step until we’re close enough that every breath we take makes our bodies brush against each other. — Come with me.

— What’s your problem? Can’t you stay in one place? — I roll my eyes.

— And you? Can’t you stop throwing tantrums?

— The party is outside. I thought that’s what you invited me to.

The pressure on my arm eases as he finds my fingers and intertwines them with his.

— Of course I invited you. — His eyes light up. — But first we’re going on a tour. While I show you the house, we can try to solve the problem of being strangers and ask each other questions with quick and objective answers.

— Fine. — I mutter under my breath. — But I’m taking the bottle with me.

I grab the glass and the bottle before following Adam Melchior through the white corridors of the mansion.