Bethany smiled as she watched the fabric being rolled into massive bundles, her legs crossed and her back straight against her seat, she tried to contain herself from Patting herself on the back. That's was a close call!
She had almost flipped the entire room upside down until a very defiant, a very very defiant part of her managed to talk sense to the remaining parts and it was able to convince her to surprise them and show them just how proper she was bred to be, turned out it was all a test.
She allowed herself glance at him as they made by their way to the car and his eyes were on her too. Just like she had imagined, he didn't look away like some teenager, he looked on and smiled confidently like a man, her man.
**********
"Alice." Adam called making her squirm.
'I am so dead.' She thought.
"Alice, Nana is she okay?" He asked peering to see a hiding Alice wondering why she was hiding in the first place.
'Was it that serious?'
"Adam." Alice called, her voice stern.
"A man should not be impatient. Give the girl some space." She cautioned and though she tried to sound serious, she couldn't help the tease that slipped into her voice.
"Nana, I.." but before he could finish his statement Alice stepped out from behind nana, a puzzled look in her eyes.
'Was he all worked up because he cared about her health?'
'Was he not mad at her?'
"Sir, I am sorry we took so long and I truly apologize for doing that to you." She gestured at his cloth timidly and allowed her eyes drop to the floor.
The plan may have been to stop him from arriving early at white house but maybe throwing up on him was a bit too much.
Nana looked between the two as Alice seemed to suddenly find something interesting in her shoes and Adam shamelessly stared at her, she wanted to understand what was going on but to do that she would have to interrupt this beautiful session, so instead, she decided to displease her curiosity and slowly tiptoed away from them.
"Are you okay?" He finally asked, his eyes still holding hers.
"I am sir." She replied unable to do anything more than that.
"Okay, I'll have someone drop you home." He said turning to leave.
"Sir," she called, her timid voice forcing him to turn back, he had never heard that side of her voice before. Today he is seeing a totally different side of her, like how her eyes seemed to reflect the grey of her suit, or how the hair she always kept in a ponytail looked quite enchanting as they lay freely on her back and how the suit pant made her leg look longer than they really are, making her look chic.
No, it is not that he had suddenly fallen in love with her or anything like that, he just happened to notice a feminity he had not previously paid attention to.
"May I come with you for the fabric selection?"
He didn't know exactly what it was that made him have the urge to smile but he did, he then proceeded to nod in affirmation and went as far slowed his pace so she could catch up to him.
'Well, a man may as well loosen up once on a while right?'
Alice could not hide her joy as they walked side by side to the car, she did not even know where to start reminiscing the day once she is alone in her bedroom.
Would it be more appropriate to start from when she had stepped out and he had drooled at the sight of her?
Or when he had been pounding the door with all his might eager to find out about her well being?
Or should it be when he had gracefully took her in his house and asked her to be dressed from a set of expensive cloth?
"Hhh," she sighed dreamily.
She knew she was seeing things that were not there, that she was exaggerating the whole thing but what is a girl's day dream or in her case night thoughts without a bit of dramatic extras?
"Alice!" Victoria's piercing voice brought her out of her day dream only for her to find two pair of eyes staring at her.
'Oh God, so much for waiting till she was alone in her bedroom.' she mentally face-palmed.
Quickly, she gathered what was remaining of her courage and mustered a smile.
"I am sorry, I was just wondering how best I would apologize for earlier, I am really sorry." While the others proceeded to comfort t her and inquire about her health, Adam simply gave the order and the driver turned on the engine. As soon as they left, Nana closed back the curtains she had been spying from a huge smile on her face.
'There might be nothing now, but with time.....' She thought.
The ride to white house was uneventful, Alice hoped her plan had worked and whoever B&W had sent had already left, that will be her first major success in this world and she really hoped she would attain it. Soon enough, they arrived at the magnificent building and despite having read the description in the book, Alice was not ready for the view that greeted her. Unconsciously, she let out a gasp making the others look at her, question in their eyes to which she only shrugged and said, a shy smile on her face.
"Have never seen it up close."
They nodded in understanding each knowing better than to ask her questions that would make her uncomfortable even though they were all aching to know the story of the lost but found princess from the princess herself. Adam who was quietly listening to their conversation felt his heart clench at her plight. She was not the daughter of some small town merchant, she is the first daughter to David White, whom even among the elites of the high class society was a member of the high table. Adam was not one to bother about other people's business but he found himself wondering just how they had lost her, how she had lived all these years alone, fending for herself in this harsh world, how she felt when she realized all along she had parents somewhere, parents who can provide way beyond whatever she had ever dreamt off, he wondered how she got the morals that made her want to be independent, how she was able to grow so well even though she had no restrictions. He wondered if during her previous life she had ever been treated kindly and if now she was, even though he could almost swear she wasn't judging from his last encounter with bethany and that made him ask himself, just how many other people were making her life miserable?
Was he part of them?
Did she deserve it?
One look at her coming down from the car, clear nervousness in her body language made him clench his teeth.
What would he lose if he was a bit kind to her?
She hadn't done anything wrong,what would it take to give her the benefit of doubt?