Chapter 8: Crushing Conflict
905 Words
Four minutes later, Chloe stepped outside. She had managed to comb her hair and tied it into a small bun at the back of her neck.
Niles was outside, playing with Bells, Judy’s dog. Danny mimicked him. Judy stood over them, firing Niles with questions.
“The fact that your mum runs a restaurant is not a guarantee that you can cook,” Judy was teasing.
“Really? I just told you I’m a chef. Why are you doubting me?” Niles chuckled, rubbing Bells’ back.
“How about I come to your restaurant, or your house one of these days and you prove it?” Judy challenged.
Niles raised his head to look up at Judy, but his eyes met Chloe's instead. He left the dog and stood up to his full height. He was quite good-looking, Chloe observed. His sandy brown hair glistened with a nice smelling hair cream. Chloe resisted the urge to reach out and touch it.
"Hey Chloe, how're you doing?"
She suddenly felt shy and buried her hands in her pockets. “Cool.”
“Danny says you’ve gotten a job in the city and will only be home on weekends. Is that true?”
“He said that? Well, yeah.”
“What kind of job is it?” His tone was curious, almost protective.
She shrugged. “Cleaning.”
“Oh.”
“Yeah, she will be a live-in housekeeper,” Judy cut in.
“Why did you choose that?” Niles asked, his brow furrowed.
“Well... I need money. What else?”
Niles glanced briefly at Judy. Danny had already run off with Bells.
“What? You need privacy? Ok. A dollar per minute,” Judy joked, disappearing toward the back of the house.
“Chloe,” Niles said quietly. “I don’t think this job would suit you. The stress, the way some people treat their housekeepers; I mean... you are a softie. And those kinds of people could be bloody mean.”
“I know, right? But I can be bloody stronger and determined. Of course, you don't even know me or what I can do. I just need the money, anyway.” She stared at her toe nails, the nude cortex polish she had applied almost gone.
She wondered when and how she will spill the news of her misfortune. Somehow, she was not as bothered as she had been the day before. A strange determination filled her.
“When will you be free, Chloe? Let’s go out on a date.” He reached out, gently pushing a strand of hair from her face.
“A date?”, Chloe asked. That was certainly out of the blues.
“Yeah. We barely know each other. We have only met twice, in my mum’s restaurant, when you guys came to deliver the corn. But I haven’t stopped thinking about you since then.”
“What?!” Judy’s voice rang out behind them.
They both turned toward her.
Didn’t she just turn around to the back of the house? Chloe thought, startled.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to eavesdrop or interrupt. I was just passing by.” Judy’s voice was shaky, though she masked it with a careless laugh. “I am just surprised that... I mean... so you have a crush on her, Niles?” she blurted.
“Who wouldn’t?” Niles’ eyes softened as he turned toward Chloe again. “She is like a bright sun in a gloomy day.” His gaze lingered on her dreamily. “What do you think, Judy?”
“I think you are both crazy.” Judy scoffed and stomped into the house, her scowl as sharp as the slam of the door.
“Chloe, say something,” Niles urged, his voice dropping to a pleading note. “Let’s go on a date. Even if we don’t turn out to be a... an intimate couple, that’s fine. I just want to hang out with you. It will be fun, I promise.”
Chloe hesitated, searching his face. His sincerity was written all over his face, and it made her heart skip. “Okay… maybe Saturday evening. Next week.”
Niles’ eyes glowed with happiness. “Oh, that's great. Thank you. Here, give me your number then.”
“I didn’t think you had eyes for him,” Judy said coldly when Chloe stepped into the kitchen a while later. She was hunched over the counter, peeling potatoes with a fury that seemed to slice more than just the skin.
“Because he asked me out?” Chloe asked, cautious.
“And you refused?”
“He is not bad. Neither is it a bad idea,” Chloe answered with a shrug, moving toward the pantry to grab a knife so she could join in.
Judy’s laugh was short and bitter. “When I said I had a crush on him, you rolled your eyes and told me he might not be who I thought he was.”
“No, Judy. I was referring to that actor from the movie we watched last week. By the way, you have a new crush every week off and onscreen”
“You are just a pretender and a bitch.” Judy hissed, her grip on the knife tightening. “I would advise you to turn down the stupid
date.”
“What date?” Another voice cut in.
- Writer
