Love over Desire

Chapter 1 The Unexpected Guest

Sadie massage her temples after reading the annual milk production report. Eight years past since she invested in dairy farming using the farm's earnings. It's been steadily declining over the months. Her dairy cows are getting old, and they haven't been replaced since she started dairy farming.

SADIE'S POV

Knock. Knock. Someone's knocking on the small office in the farmhouse.

"Come in," I said to whoever was knocking.

"Ms. Sadie, everything's ready," one of my staff said.

"Okay, thank you," I replied. "By the way, someone will be picking up the order today," I added, handing him the list.

"Okay, Ms. Sadie," he said, taking the list and leaving my office.

I tidied up the papers scattered on my desk and placed them neatly on the shelves behind my chair.

I stood up, grabbed my bag, and headed out of the office towards the parked closed van. I have a delivery of milk and freshly harvested vegetables, and I'll also have the closed van's monthly maintenance check-up, so I'm heading to the city.

"Sadie," Nanay Annie, the Gonzalez family's longtime housekeeper, called out to me as I was about to climb into the van.

"Yes, Nanay?" I asked respectfully. "I'm going to the city. Is there anything you'd like me to buy for you?"

"Nothing," she replied. "Here, take this. I cooked this for you so you won't get hungry on the road. It's quite a long drive," Nanay Annie said, handing me a paper bag.

"Thank you, Nanay," I said, taking the paper bag.

"You're welcome, Sadie."

"Oh, Nanay, please tell Aunt Macy that I've left. She hasn't come out of her room yet. I don't want to disturb her sleep. Please take care of her," I told Nanay.

"Yes, I'll tell Macy. Just be careful driving," she reminded me.

"Okay, thank you," I said and got in. Before starting the engine, I prayed earnestly for my safety and for a smooth journey to my destination. The road is no joke. You have to pass through high and steep roads before reaching the city..

"Great, just great."I exclaimed. I hadn't even gotten far from the town center when my van decided to give up on me. Thankfully, I managed to get up the steepest part of the road before it died. I'm still lucky, in a way. "My staff checked the van before I left, why did it break down? I have a delivery to make," I muttered to myself. I got out of the van and started looking for the problem. I know a little bit about car repair, but just the basics. I fiddled with it for a while, and thank goodness, it started when I tried to turn it on.

I called the hotel manager, Sanya, who's also my best friend. "Hello Sanya, sorry for the delay on the delivery. My van broke down on the road," I said.

"Ha? Are you okay?" She asked, concern in her voice.

"Me? Or the goods?" I joked.

"Haha, of course you! " Sanya answered. "We still have stock even if the delivery's delayed," she added.

"Okay, thanks. Just letting you know."

"No problem. Okay, I'll back to work now, drive safe," Sanya said.

"Okay, thank you," I said. The call ended.

As the call ended, I called my brother to ask if I could use his apartment for the night. It was too dangerous to drive back home, especially at night. My brother doesn't live there permanently, so it's usually empty. Alex's phone kept ringing, but he didn't answer. So I sent him a text message... a minute later... he replied with a simple "Okay,...!" I sighed. "He's probably busy racing," I muttered. Her brother is a car racer. "He probably values his racing car keys more than his family."

Finally, I arrived in the city. The eight-hour drive turned into ten hours. Since I was sticky and felt like a grease monkey, I decided to go to my brother's apartment to take a shower and change clothes. I have my own spare key, so there was no problem. When I entered his apartment, I was met with the smell of alcohol and cigarettes. I instantly covered my nose. I winced at the state of the apartment. There were bottles and cans of alcohol scattered everywhere, along with cigarette butts. Clothes, I wasn't sure if they were clean or not. The trash can was overflowing, and he hadn't even bothered to throw it out. I wondered if a human actually lived here. I had no choice but to clean it up. I didn't want to spend the night in a place that was so dirty.

So, there I was, just minding my own business, cleaning up, when BAM! I feel something sticky. I pick it up, and I'm like, 'What the actual heck?!' It's a used condom! I swear, I almost threw up. I dropped that thing like it was a hot potato. 'Alex, you freaking pig!' I yelled, 'cause who else could it be, right? My brother's such a player. And then I'm thinking, 'At least he didn't leave behind any other, um, evidence from his little adventures.' Seriously, the thought alone made me shudder."

After a few hours, I managed to clean up the entire apartment. I took a deep breath and decided to make some coffee. I was exhausted from the journey and all the cleaning. My brother loves coffee, so I knew he'd have some stocked up.

Luckily, my brother had an electric kettle in the apartment. I didn't have to bother heating up water for coffee. Once I finished making coffee, I took my cup and my bag and went into the single room of the apartment. I placed the cup of coffee on the side table next to the bed. I took out my clean clothes from my bag and placed them on the bed. I grabbed a clean towel I had taken from Alex's cabinet earlier and went to the bathroom inside the room to take a shower.

"Who are you?" I gasped, nearly jumping out of my skin. I tightened my grip on the towel that was the only thing covering my body. There was a half-naked man lying on the bed. I swallowed hard, staring at his well-defined physique. It was clear he was a gym enthusiast. I swallowed again. Why did the temperature suddenly feel like it was rising inside the room? I was sweating profusely, even though I had just gotten out of the shower.

He smiled, revealing a set of dazzling white teeth. But his eyes, as they raked over me, seemed to be stripping me bare. It was as if he was suggesting I'd be even more beautiful without the towel covering me.

"I didn't expect the surprise Alex told me about to be this beautiful," he said with a suggestive smirk.

"WHAT?" I exclaimed, shocked. I couldn't believe my brother would set me up with this creep. My eyes darted around the room. I needed to change clothes immediately. But where were my clothes? "Where are my clothes? I think you're lying on them," I said, trying to maintain my composure.

"Oh, this?" He said, holding up my bra with a mischievous grin. "Are you going to put it on?" he asked with obvious interest.

"Yes, damn you pervert!" I exclaimed, cursing him under my breath.

"Pervert, right?" he said, tossing my bra back to me. "Put it on. I'll just be lying here, admiring the view," he said with a smirk.

"You really can't say anything decent. You're such a pervert," I said through gritted teeth, my anger rising. "Hand over all my clothes. I'm going to change in the bathroom, and then you get out of this room. Leave the key you used to get in my brother's apartment," I demanded.

He stood up. "Your clothes," he said, pointing to my crumpled clothes.

I rolled my eyes at him, grabbing my clothes.

"I love the way you roll your eyes. It turns me on," he said.

"Pervert," I muttered as I ran towards the bathroom.

His laughter echoed through the room as I slammed the door shut. I covered my chest behind the door, breathing hard. He's a pervert. "But you're attracted to his body, aren't you?" I teased myself. "YES! OOH HELL NO!" Damn Sadie, come back to your senses! I scolded myself.

HAPPY READING ♥️

_TAGAILOCOSNAK