THE ROOM
1414 Words
MIA'S POV
I needed to get away from Ryan as fast as possible.
My cheeks still burned from the bathroom incident. Every step down the hallway felt like I was running from my own embarrassment. My heart refused to slow down. The image of him standing there, water dripping down his body, kept flashing in my mind no matter how hard I tried to push it away. I turned a corner quickly, desperate to reach the safety of the guest room.
And collided straight into someone.
The impact sent me stumbling back. I stopped abruptly, shock freezing me in place, dropping my eyes on the floor. For a second I could not speak. My mouth opened and closed like a fish out of water. Heat rushed up my neck and spread across my face.
“Sorry. Oh, I am so sorry,” I blurted out, the words tumbling over each other, not daring raising my eyes. I stepped back quickly, hands waving in front of me. “I did not see you. I was not looking where I was going. I am really sorry.”
I straightened up and finally raised my eyes and looked at the person I had crashed into. An elegant woman stood before me, wearing a sharp black suit that hugged her figure perfectly. Her face was beautiful but serious, with high cheekbones and perfectly styled dark hair. She carried herself with quiet confidence.
Of course it was one of his women, I thought bitterly, clenching my fists at my sides. Ryan Hayes probably had a whole lineup of beautiful women coming and going from this mansion. The realization made my stomach twist.
“I am sorry. Please excuse me,” I said again, ready to bolt past her.
The woman held up a hand, stopping me gently. “Who are you?”
Her tone carried a hint of something sharp and it was full of professionalism. I swallowed hard, suddenly feeling very small in front of her polished appearance.
“I am Mia,” I answered, my voice quieter than I wanted.
"You must be Miss Mia. Mr. Hayes explained your arrangement to the household so there wouldn't be any misunderstandings." Her lips curved into a small professional smile.
My face burned hotter.
Did she maybe know something about the arrangements? I nodded anyway, feeling completely embarrassed. Of course he would tell them.
“My name is Kate,” she continued smoothly. “I am the butler.”
I swallowed hard again, stunned. The revelation hit me like a bucket of cold water. Of course Ryan would hire a beautiful woman as his butler. He was Ryan Hayes after all. I cursed myself silently for jumping to conclusions.
“Let me show you to your room,” Kate said. Her smile stayed polite, not cold, nit warm.
She guided me down the long hallway. We stopped in front of a door painted a soft, pretty pink. I loved pink. The sight of it made my chest tighten with unexpected warmth.
“This is your room,” Kate announced. She opened the door and stepped aside so I could enter first.
When I stepped inside, I could not hide the shock on my face. The room was painted in soft pink and white tones. But that was not the most surprising part. The walls were decorated with elegant artwork of fierce, beautifully illustrated female warriors in shades of blue, violet, and gold. The room felt stylish, modern, and surprisingly the way I wanted it.
Well, it was nothing. Maybe many of his women slept here when they come for a one night stand.
I swallowed hard, already feeling disgusted.
But I was working. I could endure for the money.
But then something caught my eye,
At the bedside table, there was a photo in a small frame on, and there, staring back at me, was none other than me.
I was wearing one of Logan's oversized shirts and sweatpants, my hair in a messy bun, smiling brightly at the camera.
“How did…” I could not finish the sentence. The shock left me speechless.
“Kate, leave us,” a deep, rough voice said from behind me.
I turned to see Ryan stepping into the room.His sharp and clean suit shining in the morning, hair perfectly combed back. He looked like he had walked straight out of a fashion magazine.
“How do you know I love pink?” I murmured in a low tone. But that wad definitely what I wanted to ask. The silence between us was just too much.
"The room was painted pink already, Mia." Ryan said, making me drop my eyes in emberassment.
"Nothing to explain there."
It must have been one of the guest rooms Ryan used for visitors. Knowing his reputation, I refused to think too hard about who those visitors might have been
I clenched my fists at the sides.
But then I remembered the small photo fram and I quicky raised my eyes.
"And...and the picture?" I pointed at the bedside table, my heart throbbing in my chest.
"One of the photographers was deleting photos after the game. I asked if I could have that one."
I stared at the photo. I remembered that day clearly. Logan had just won his match. He told me to go home because he wanted to celebrate with his teammates and would bring my favorite ice cream later. I had waited for hours. He never came.
“You have been stalking me?” The question slipped out before I could stop it. My voice sounded small in the beautiful room.
Ryan chuckled softly, the sound warm and playful. “Not stalking. Just… noticing. There is a difference.”
I crossed my arms over my chest, trying to steady myself. The room smelled like flowers.
"When did you even put the picture in a frame?" I swallowed hard, moving deeper into the room. I could sense Ryan’s eyes on me.
"I can torn it down if you don't want..."
"Hell, no...no.." I rushed after him as he moved towards the photo at the bedside table.
"Oh, so you like it? I see." He blurted out, raising his hands on surrender, beaming like a child.
But then his smile faltered and he looked serious now,
“You are doing me a big favour, Mia. The least I can do is make sure you are comfortable.”
“Thank you,” I whispered. My voice came out quieter than I intended. “It is beautiful.” I pointed at the photo.
Ryan’s smile softened. “I am glad you like it.”
For a moment we stood there in awkward silence. The air between us felt charged. I could still smell his clean, fresh scent from the hallway. My cheeks warmed again as memories of the bathroom flashed through my mind.
“I should get ready,” I said quickly, needing to break the tension.
Ryan nodded. “Breakfast is ready downstairs whenever you are. We have an event today.”
He turned to leave but paused at the door. “And Mia?”
“Yes?”
“Next time you need the bathroom, just ask. I promise not to tease you too much.” His grin was playful, eyes sparkling with mischief.
I grabbed a pillow from the bed and threw it at him. It missed by a mile. Ryan laughed as he ducked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
I sank onto the edge of the bed, heart still racing. This arrangement was supposed to be simple. Business only. But Ryan Hayes was making everything feel complicated in the best and worst ways.
I touched my cheek where his thumb had brushed earlier. The memory sent another flutter through my stomach. I shook my head hard.
“Focus, Mia,” I whispered to myself. “This is for Mom. Nothing else.”
I quickly got up and I was about to undress when I remembered I didn’t have clothes to change to.
"Oh no. I can't ask him again. That will be too much emberassment for a day." I closed my eyes, holding my forehead in a sudden headache.
But then something caught up my attention.
The huge wardrobe.
Curiously, I decided to go and check if there was something.
Rushing to it, I grabbed its double doors and oushc it open.
And what I saw in there, frozen me in place.
- Writer
