117 Something In The Shopping Bag
Sitting at the study table, Anna circled the 2nd date on her notepad before dropping the Quilt back into itâs ink bottle.
Normally, her heart would always clench at the thought of dying soon but recently, it didnât matter anymore as long as she was able to enjoy a little bit of happiness before leaving the world.
If the heavens could give her that, then sheâll be more than contented.
âWhat are you circling?â Came the questionable voice behind her and she instantly froze on her seat for a few seconds, looking like a criminal that got caught in the act. Her heart missed a beat due to the deep alluring voice whispering into her ear and that familiar scent of his that uninvitedly invaded her nostril, made her want to lean back against him and take in more of his scent, but she didnât dare to try the things in her head.
Roshan, who leaned behind her to see what she was busy doing, had his gaze fixed on the notepad and saw she circled two dates.
âWhat are you busy doing?â
Anna immediately regained her composure and closed the notepad. Shaking her head, she said, âItâs nothing serious, I was just marking a few...uhm...I....â She barely knew what excuse to come up with as the words refused to leave her tongue.
âAnna.â He drawled, making his impatience known and her mouth instantly moved faster than her mind.
âMy birthday.â She said it and her heart relaxed a bit at the thought of how quickly she remembered her birthday on time.
.....
âYour birthday?â
She nodded with a smile, still refusing to look his way, âon the 30th of this month is my birthday so I normally start counting the days whenever we enter the month of autumn, a childish habit that hasnât left my system yet.â
She explained with a smile and it wasnât a complete lie either. Her birthdays was always the best days she anticipated for as a child. She wouldnât even sleep the night to her birthday due to excitement, cause it was the only time her mother would take her out after being kept at home for almost all her life as a child.
âMy mother was always afraid of letting me step out of the house for reasons unknown to me, aside the fact I was cursed, she always said the world outside was dangerous and I should stay hidden from it. I didnât understand her point back then and I constantly disturbed her, so on my birthday she always took me out, hiding my meteor mark with a jewelry headband.â
A sad smile formed on her lips at the sweet remembrance of her mother, but she discarded it quickly before it brought tears to her eyes. Why remind herself of good memories when knowing she wouldnât experience them again.
âItâs just a habit.â She quickly placed it back in the drawer and closed it. Getting to her feet, she finally turned to look at the glacier who stared back.
The enchanting being looked fresh out of the shower as his black hair seemed damp and messy and his unblemished skin glowed. Worst of all, he was dressed in black pants and a black long sleeve loose shirt that had two to three buttons left undone.
It exposed his smooth, sculpted chest, leaving a tantalizing glimpse thatâd make one want to unbutton the whole thing and see everything hidden beneath those clothes of his.
He looked seducing! And to think he was standing really close to her just now....
âGoodness Anna! When did you start having such thoughts about a man?!!â she inwardly scolded herself, but it didnât help her situation at all. Everything about him was irresistibly tempting. He was a lethal beauty, a mixture of effeminacy and manliness. The best thing she had to do was excuse herself from his captivating presence.
âMadame Alina must need me now,â she forced herself to speak, âand the beast event must have started already, why donât you come watch?â
âYou go,â he moved away from the chair she was sitting on before, âIâm in the middle of something, Iâll come when Iâm done.â
She nodded before taking her leave from the room. After she was out of sight, Roshan opened the drawer and picked the notepad. He stared at the two circled dates for a few seconds before letting his eyes divert to the 30th which was already circled.
âWhy did she circle this?â His eyes narrowed in doubt.
Anna hummed softly as she strode past the carpeted corridor, wanting to cheer herself up with a little sweet tone and get rid of the heat that had been awakened by the glacier himself.
âMiss Ann, there you are.â Williamâs brogue voice caught her attention and she stopped in her tracks. She turned to see he was heading towards her direction and when he stopped in front of her, she dipped her head in a polite bow.
âA lovely morning to you sir William.â She greeted him charmingly. William on the other hand lifted his shoulder in a gesturable manner, feeling all pompous about how politely she greeted him.
âAt least you have some good manners unlike that brother of yours.â He harrumphed, meanwhile Anna just rolled her eyes with a knowing smile.
âAnd to what do I owe this sudden call?â She asked, bringing Williamâs mind as to why he called her in the first place.
âAh yes! Nicholas requests your presence in the garden.â He told her, but Annaâs expression turned blank and her brows quizzically knit themselves.
âNicholas? But isnât he joining the event?â
âNo,â came Williamâs response as he adjusted the bowtie of his shirt, âheâs participating tomorrow, todayâs a normal duo for all beastmen to see whoâd be worthy enough to face Nicholas tomorrow.â
âOh, I see,â she nodded in understanding, âBut....why did he ask for me?â
âI canât answer that Miss, Iâm just following orders.â
A soft sigh left her lip, she already attended to his wound early this morning and he looked fine. Was something wrong?
âOkay then, Iâll go see if he needs anything.â
âShould I escort you?â
âThank you, but no,â she politely declined, âI wouldnât want to waste any more of your time Sir William, Iâll find the garden myself.â
âAs you wish.â
She bowed politely once more before dismissing herself from Williamâs presence.
The moment she was out of sight, a slow smile formed on Williamâs lips as he found her really nice. It made him wonder if Madame Alina will be successful in bringing her and her son together.
He left the corridor as well.
~
Roshan, who kept his mind occupied on the Grimoire, trying to figure out reasonable reasons as to why the rest of the letters were gone, stumbled slightly on something behind him and when he turned around, it was the shopping bag Anna had dropped by her bedside.
Seriously?
âSheâs not even here but her things are tormenting me just like her.â He hissed out, sounding less annoyed than usual while shaking his head. He reached to pick the bag of clothes from the ground and placed it on her bed when something interesting caught his attention.
With his Hazel-green eyes glinting like that of a sly fox, his hands reached into one of the bags to pick the red sexy lace nightwear that left his eyes widening at the sight. It was a see-through short-lace nightgown with wonderful net designs, enough to bring out the sexy delicate curves of a woman.
âShe... bought this?â He was really taken aback by it. And when he dared to give himself a mental image of a particular someone in the dress, he involuntarily gulped hard.