The Grounds of Desire

Chapter 4

A few days had passed since the encounter in the stables and Mia couldn't seem to get Alex out of her mind. It seemed he’d come to invade her thoughts every waking moment. She couldn't believe she’d opted in for her father’s helper. Maybe if she didn't, her interactions with her spoilt employer would be less frequent. Yet, she knew she couldn’t let her Dad down.

At least for now, it looked like Alex had gone into hiding. She kept her fingers crossed in hopes that she wouldn't have to face him unnecessarily again. She fell back into her routine but it didn't take too long before Romero got a call informing him of a visit from the Reynolds. Mia wasn't too pleased about it.

“ But Papa, what do they want?”

“They haven't visited this area of the grounds in so long. Are we in trouble?”

Her father chuckled. He knew exactly why this meeting was being held, “ Mija, you do not have to concern yourself with that. Let me do my job.”

Romero felt honored, it wasn't every day his employers decided to come to his house. They usually called on him if the need arose.

“ Is it about Mr. Alexander who came back some days ago?”, Mia just couldn't keep her mouth shut.

Her father frowned and looked at her, wondering how she knew about him. Mia knew the implications of that look and quickly added that she’d run into him at the cafe but left out all the things that had gone wrong. Romero looked at his daughter with suspicion buy said nothing.

Later that evening, Mia's heart raced as she stood in the foyer of the house she shared with her father, awaiting the arrival of Alexander's parents. Tonight marked a significant turning point, as Edward and Eleanor Reynolds would introduce Alexander to her father, Mr. Romero, as the new supervisor of the estate.

Still seething with anger, they stood waiting as Edward and Eleanor entered in a vintage Rolls-Royce, exuding an air of authority and sophistication as the driver, Oliver, an elderly yet energetic man, quickly ran to the side to open the doors for them. Having spent a lot of time in London, they carried themselves with an air of royalty. Alexander was standing by their side, his demeanor was composed and confident. Mia could feel a mix of emotions bubbling inside her—anger, frustration, and a tinge of fear at the thought of what his presence would do to her once-routine life.

Mr. Romero, a humble and kind-hearted man, stood tall, his weathered hands clasped together. He had dedicated his life to caring for the estate, pouring his love and dedication into every task. Mia knew her father's presence at the meeting was crucial, as he held a key role in the maintenance of the estate. They could have simply asked him to their house. That would have been much better for Mia. They lived on the same estate after all! What she wouldn’t give to not face Alexander again.

As the formal introductions took place, Mia's eyes darted between the Reynolds family and her father, her hands clenched tightly at her sides. She could barely suppress the anger that simmered within her. How could they expect her father to work alongside a man as ill-mannered as Alexander?

Mr. Romero's warm smile faded slightly, sensing the tension in the room. He suspected that there was more to Mia's quiet gaze, he knew his daughter very well. She wouldn’t be so quiet except there was a storm brewing. However, the reality of the situation was beginning to dawn on him, and he worried about his daughter's heart.

Alexander, seemingly unfazed by the brewing storm, wore a bemused expression. He understood the weight of the situation, but he was amused by this girl with her unwavering anger. She’d be a perfect distraction for him. His eyes met Mia's briefly, a flicker of something he didn't quite understand passing between them.

As the meeting progressed, discussions centered around the responsibilities Alexander would undertake in overseeing the estate's maintenance and improvements. Alexander occasionally piped in where it was necessary, either in agreement, or stating his opinions.

Mia struggled to maintain her composure, her anger and disappointment growing with each passing moment. He sounded a Prince when he spoke with that rich baritone that unsettled her.

Focus Mia!

It felt like an intrusion, a deliberate attempt to control her life and further disrupt it. Who knew rich people could be so demanding?

The awkwardness between Mia and Alex became palpable, leaving an awkward silence in its wake. Yet, it seemed their parents were oblivious to it. Mia fought to keep her emotions in check, her gaze fixed on the floor as her father engaged in polite conversation with Edward and Eleanor. Eleanor spoke very little, only agreeing occasionally. She was the image of the perfect wife. Mia admired her but flicked her eyes away when Eleanor gave her a direct stare. What was that about? She couldn't bear to look Alexander in the eyes anymore, as he was stirring things within her. She didn't want that, so she stared at the floor. She was angry and that was all that mattered.

Eventually, the meeting came to a close. They had come to the conclusion that more hours would be put into caring for the gardens at all times of the week. Mia thought it outrageous that they thought the garden needed more hands. Her father did a fine job of tending those overgrown bushes! He spent his life in the garden and they couldn’t be appreciative. As Edward and Eleanor bid their farewells and prepared to leave, Mia forced herself to look up, her eyes locking briefly with Alexander's. There was a hint of something in his gaze.

Remorse?

A silent acknowledgment of the discomfort they both felt?

"I hope this arrangement will prove beneficial for all parties involved," Edward said, his tone laced with formality.

Mr. Romero nodded politely, but his eyes betrayed his concern. Mia could see the weight of the situation settling on them. She’d have to say goodbye to her usual life.

As the Reynolds family departed, the doors closing behind them, an uneasy silence filled the room. Mia and her father stood there, feeling the weight of her dad’s questioning stare.

Finally, Mr. Romero broke the silence. "Mia, my dear, I know this isn't easy for you. But we must tread carefully and think of the consequences our actions may have on all our lives."

“What are you talking about, Papa? Her father knew her like the back of his palm, he had seen that something else was brewing underneath all of that anger. Mia's anger subsided, replaced by a sense of resignation. She understood her father's concerns and the seriousness of their situation. Nodding in agreement, she acknowledged the fact that their lives may change forever.

Days turned into weeks, and Mia found herself working alongside her father, juggling between working at the cafe and the estate, their shared tasks serving as a reminder of the meeting with the Reynolds family. Though the weight of their expectations pressed upon her, she refused to let it dampen her spirit completely.

Meanwhile, Alexander took on his role as overseer with a calm demeanor, immersing himself in the estate's affairs. Mia caught glimpses of him from afar, their encounters brief and tinged with a sense of awkwardness. Each time they exchanged polite but distant pleasantries, Mia tried concealing the intensity of both her anger and the other feeling she couldn’t define beneath a thin veil of professionalism.

Days turned into weeks, and Mia and Alexander's paths continued to intertwine on the estate. Their encounters remained laden with unspoken tension and the ever-present awareness of something deeper. Yet, in those brief moments of seeing each other, a flicker of excitement remained alive inside her.