Blurred Lines

Chapter 5

"Ava,right?" Zoe asked me as soon as Neil and I got to our table.

Not waiting for me to answer she continued "so I've been thinking,and I realized your friend is right,we are going to be in each others' space for the next two to three months,we should get to know each other".

I nodded ignoring Neil's smug look at being told she was right "ok,why don't we start with the basics?" I said at the same time Neil said "I'm her best friend" putting an emphasis on best "and it's Neil".

"Okay Neil. Since we're starting with the basics,let's play 20 questions,this way the three of us can get to know each other at once" Zoe said.

"I'll start,favorite color?. Mine is Green" Neil winked at me.

I rolled my eyes at her "Green".

"Lilac. Age?,I'm 17" Zoe continued.

"18".

"17. 18 in two months. Favorite artist?. Mine is Nicki" I said.

"Cardi B." Zoe said.

"The vamps." Neil said.

"I love the vamps!" Zoe exclaims.

We went back and forth with our questions until lunch break ended and we had to go back to our various classes.

**

After school Neil and I stood beside Neil's car at the school parking lot waiting for Zoe.

"That's her" Neil piped.

I looked at where she was pointing and true enough I saw Zoe talking on the phone her gaze moving everywhere, probably looking for us.

I waved so she knows where we are. As soon as she sees us she started making her way over to us still talking heatedly on the phone and the look on her face that probably meant she was chewing out the person on the other end of the phone made me pity the person she's definitely arguing with.

"I hate you" we caught her end of the conversation before she hung up as she got to our spot.

"Who was it?" Neil asked ignoring my meaningful stare.

"My brother" Zoe said in disgust "he got caught up at work as always and won't be able to come take Ava and I to his apartment" she ranted "and I refuse to let his driver come pick me up" she continued irritatedly.

"Why not?" Neil asked.

This girl and her curiosity.

"Cause he's a sleaze. He's loyal to Christian though so I don't want him gone,Christian needs loyal people around him"

"Oh,how will you get there then?" Neil voiced my thoughts

"I don't know. Do you mind taking a cab?" Zoe asked me.

"Tell you what?,how about I drive you there?,you can point me in the right directions" Neil offers a little too cheerfully causing me to narrow my eyes at her.

"Really?. That would be great" Zoe gushed.

"It's settled then,hop into the Neilalator and mama Neil will get you there safely" Neil grinned rubbing her hands together.

Rolling my eyes at her and the stupid name she gave her car, i got into the passenger seat and waited for them to get in.

Zoe soon sat in the backseat.

Neil still grinning got in saying "where to madams?"

I have a feeling she's enjoying this way more than she should.

**

25 minutes later we got there and I was stunned,from the corner of my eyes I could see Neil's jaw drop.

When Zoe said apartment earlier she forgot to add that it was a freakishly huge mansion by the lake side.

The fact that it was five O'clock and the sun was just setting only added to the house's appeal because all the lights were switched on making it illuminated and the lights reflecting on the lake.

A door slamming startled me out of my reverie.

Glancing back I saw that Zoe already got out and was impatiently waiting for me to do the same.

I glanced at Neil and saw her jaw was still dropped. I nudged her and her mouth immediately snapped shut.

She looked at me and mouthed "wow".

I nodded agreeing with her.

I kissed her cheek and told her goodbye getting out of the car. Nodding she started the car.

Waving she backed out of the driveway and was soon out of sight.

"Shall we?" Zoe asked and we headed to the house.

When we got to the main gate,it automatically swung open and I followed her in.

When we got to the large front door she pressed a code in the door,and an eye scanner immediately revealed itself scanning her eye.

Once the scanning was done,the doors also automatically swung open and a voice echoed

"Welcome miss Taylor"

"Thank you ivy".

"Ivy?" I mouthed at Zoe.

"She's like the house keeper and the security all rolled in one except she's an electronically operated system. She's a sentient machine."

"So she's self aware?."

"When we were at the gates,it opened automatically because ivy recognised me through the camera. So yes,she's self aware".

Wow there's a camera out there?,I didn't even notice.

She walked deeper into the house and I stifled a gasp.

If I thought the outside view was stunning,the inside is magnificent,I think my jaw is never coming back up.

When we got into the living room it was dark, then Zoe called out "ivy,lights."

The lights started switching on one after the other making clicking sounds,the last light to switch on was the huge chandelier and when it finally did,I was left breathless.

There was a pure white huge spiral staircase leading upstairs to the second floor.

Everything I can see so far has been pure white except the art works on the wall and the rug which was black.

The chairs,cushions,the big round glass coffee table,even the big flat screen TV set was white.

I was spinning around the room with my arms stretched wide when I heard Zoe's voice.

"Are you coming?" She asked amusement lurking in her eyes.

I was embarrassed to have being caught gawking at her brother's home and I mentally berated myself about it.

"Yes when I'm done getting over how huge and beautiful this living room is" I said cheekily winking my dimples at her.

Shaking her head Zoe chuckled and said "maybe I should give you a tour before we go to library".

"That would be the grandest thing ever" I replied grinning.

"It's settled then,let's start with the kitchen".

The kitchen was as big as our living room and kitchen combined together at home and that's saying something because mom loves her kitchen and is very proud of how spacious it is and our living room was also pretty big.

The kitchen walls was also painted pure white with blinding white tiles,so pure I thought I could eat on it.

Everything here was white and top of the art,the oven,the range,countertops,coffee machine,high stools,the island,sink and a lot more.

I put my hand to my mouth to check if I was drooling,that would be really embarrassing but this really is my dream kitchen since I love cooking.

The next place we went to was the dining room.

It was also pretty huge although not as big as the kitchen and the scheme was just like the kitchen's everything was blindingly white,and in the middle of the huge dining table was a bouquet of lilies.

The game room was next,and I felt whiplashed because of the sudden colour contrast.

"This is my brother's pad,his sweet haven when he finally decides to stop thinking about work which he rarely does now" Zoe said sadly.

Everything here was black,the various electric gadgets that I had no idea what they were called.

A leather sofa,the wall and marble floor was also black,the huge LED TV Zoe said was 3D.

Even the lighting here was muted. The only thing not black was the pink peonies that was in the corners that Zoe said her mom insisted was to be put there which only made the room more beautiful in my opinion.

We went to other equally huge and beautiful rooms,two ensuite guest bedrooms,Zoe's room,the three powder rooms which was a fancy term for bathrooms,everything was white except the game room,the library and Zoe's room which was a contrast of different shades of lilac,pink and white.

We didn't go to the master's bedroom though,Zoe said it was Christian's space and it would be like invading his privacy.

We went to the basement,it was really huge and beautiful,there were glasses there which allowed you to see inside the lake and the fishes swimming in it.

By the time we finished the tour,an hour had already passed,giving us one more hour to start our research.

The library was really huge,the floor was made of pine,same colour as the floor to ceiling book shelves and the chairs were beige with white throw pillows with a round glass coffee table in the middle.

Once we chose the books we wanted to use today,and I was settled comfortably on a chair,Zoe excused herself to go make us some snacks and refused my help when I offered.

After what felt like a minute but was actually 30 minutes I heard a voice ask

"Who the hell are you?".

I glance up startled by the deep smooth velvet like quality of the voice and made eye contact with the silvery-grey eyes of Christian Taylor.

I inhaled sharply and instantly regretted it.

I was drowning in the heavenly scent of hot,clean,male skin.

I was sure no man in the world smelled this good. This sexy. This edible.

He stood there his tie askew as if he was trying to remove it moments ago.

His brown hair was messy,like he had been running his fingers through it and I immediately felt a ridiculous pang of jealousy. Of his freaking hand, wishing I could run my hands through his hair and I immediately clenched my hands.

I looked up again and saw that his grey eyes were blazing with unmasked fury and I saw him clench his jaw,probably wondering how I got into his highly secured house.

Where the hell is Zoe?,I thought frantically,gulping when I realised I was alone with Christian Taylor.

A dangerously angry but calm Christian Taylor.

This is going to end well.

Not.