Although that’s what I thought, the truth was I was very anxious and a little scared of meeting her. It wasn’t like I was scared of her as a person. She seemed like a kind and cheerful person. What I was truly scared of was how Hayden was going to introduce us. I mean, she’s his girlfriend, right?


    And…I don’t even know what I am to him…


    Only eight days left.


    I sighed loudly before I got up and showered. The n was for Hayden to take me to Amelia’s house sometime before noon. That meant that we still had plenty of time. I showered and got dressed and applied some basic make up. Maybe, I’ll go with a slightly darker shade for my lipstick today.


    After a whole lot of insistence from my side, Hayden was forced to give up on his idea of having a professional makeup artist and a hairstyliste in to help me dress up. I still didn’t understand what the whole big fuss was about. Sure, I didn’t want to look like a damsel in distress in front of Amelia but that didn’t mean that I thought that it was necessary for me to outshine her.


    Not that that would be possible anyways…


    "Ready?" Hayden asked when I stepped out of my bedroom.


    I was dressed in the dress, the shoes, and the jewelries that he had chosen. He’s got to be satisfied, right?


    "Yes…" I replied.


    Hayden’s eyes were immediately on my face before he started scanning my whole body from my face down to my toes and then up away.


    "Hmm…passable, I guess…" he muttered.


    Passable? I wanted to roll my eyes at him.


    To my surprise, Hayden was dressed quite politely as well. He wore a white suit with matching pants and a pale pink shirt. I guess he has to suit up and look good in front of his girlfriend. No, I’m not feeling depressed. Not at all.


    The ride to Amelia’s house was much longer than I had anticipated. Apparently, she did not live in the city but on the outskirts of town. Hayden didn’t say much during the ride as if he was thinking of something on his own. I was in a simr situation. While staring at the scenery that was passing by through the car’s window, I thought about how Hayden was feeling or what he was thinking.


    Isn’t it crazy? Taking me to see his girlfriend. He might not think much of me but we’re in such a messy contract. To put it bluntly, I was the girl he was cheating on his girlfriend with. My hands clenched into tight fists without me realizing it.


    "We’re here," Hayden announced before he got out of the car.


    "This is a house…?" I said in bewilderment.


    Shocked at the vast size of the building in front of me. I immediately understood why this property had to be on the outskirts of the city. It was simply too big to be in the city. The building was surrounding by a mini forest and a vast garden filled with rose bushes. The building looked like a mansion built for nobility. Nothing more and nothing less.


    Hayden led the way to the front entrance of the mansion, and I quickly followed him. Therge double door of the mansion opened, and we were immediately greeted by two men dressed in butler uniform. For a moment, I felt like I was trapped in a period drama of some sort. Just like the exterior, the interior of the mansion did not disappoint.


    "Wee Master Hayden. Madame Sophia will be here to wee you soon," one of the butlers said before he bowed to show his respect.


    Hayden only nodded in acknowledgement before we were led to the living room where we sat down on the sofa to wait for Madame Sophia. I had no idea who she is, and Hayden did not bother to exin.


    "Sorry for the wait, Master Hayden," a woman said.


    She must be Madame Sophia. The woman seemed to be in her fifties. Her hospitable smile made her look years younger though.


    "Madame Sophia. Sorry for the trouble," Hayden said with a formal smile.


    "Oh, you brought along a guest," Madame Sophia said before smiling my way.


    "Hello…" I said softly.


    "This is Malissa," Hayden introduced me without providing any other information.


    If Madame Sophia was curious about who I was, she didn’t ask. She just smiled and told us to follow her. I knew without being told that she was taking us to meet with Amelia.


    Finally, the moment that I had been both looking forward to and dreading had arrived.


    "I’ll leave you two now. Master Hayden, thank you foring to visit Miss Amelia. I’m sure that she will be very happy to see you as always," Madame Sophia said before taking her leave.


    Amelia must be behind theserge doors. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t stop my legs from shaking. Why the hell am I so nervous about this?! I found it so frustrating, and I was starting to feel angry at myself.


    "Shall we?" Hayden said invitingly.


    His hands were already on the door’s handle and without waiting for my reply, Hayden pushed the door wide open and entered the room. I gulped before walking forward, following him into the room.


    The first thing that struck me was the coldness of the room. The room wasrge and decorated in light pastel tones of white and pink. A real princess’s bedroom.


    "Malissa, this is Amelia…" Hayden said in introduction.


    I wasn’t sure what I had imagined Amelia to be like exactly, but one thing was for sure. The Amelia that I saw right in front of me…wasn’t it…


    "Amelia, we’re here to visit you…" Hayden said in a tender voice like I have never heard before.


    This has to be some kind of sick joke. It must be. Why did he bother to dress me up as if I would be greeting royalty like this? Everything that he said didn’t make any sense at all.


    I couldn’t understand anything that I was seeing yet at the same time some things started to make sense. Why did the boss enter me into a contract to live with his son for the sake of an heir if his son already had a girlfriend? Everything that the boss said was starting to make sense.


    --To be continued…