Madeline’s POV

Calixto introduced me to Cerila, and I felt so happy when I realized she has the same age as me, but she is shy, or she is just keeping a distance from me, and she immediately left my room after she prepared my dress for dinner.

“Seriously? I just wore this dress a while ago. Why do I need to change again? ” I complained at Calixto while he looked at me with confusion on his face.

“Maddie, you should look gorgeous and presentable the time you meet your future husband. You can also apply some perfume since you have so many expensive perfumes in your dresser that you can spend. It was all chose by Hunter.” He explained, and I don’t want to argue with him. I just nodded.

“They will serve dinner at seven o’clock, Hunter rarely comes home for supper, but because of you, he must get home earlier than usual.” He said, and I looked at him.

“If you are his right hand, does it mean you are like his assistant?” I asked him curiously.

“Sort of, but I am more than an assistant to him, Ms. Brownwood since I mostly attend to his matters, not only that I may look old to you, but I am still strong, occasionally I also act as his escort, don’t get me wrong Hunter is good with martial arts of all types, but he nevertheless needs me, sometimes.” He said, and I wonder if Hunter always causes trouble.

“Is he a troublemaker?” I asked.

“Of course not.” He smirked and look so amused with my questions.

“Why does he need an escort anyway?” I mumbled, and I didn’t expect him to hear me.

“Your future husband is an influential man, Ms. Brownwood; that is why.” He replied.

“I will leave now, please don’t be late. Cerila will accompany you to the dining hall later but be ready before the clock strikes at seven o’clock; Hunter hates tardiness.” He said, and I nodded.

“Do you have some manuals with you?” I asked, and he raised his eyebrow, and I can tell he was confused with what I mean.

“Manual for what?” He inquired.

“A guide being his future wife. It feels like he has many constraints, and I don’t want to be punished, Mr. Morgan. Or manual being a resident of the big house. I said, and he laughs.

“There is no manual, Ms. Brownwood. There aren’t any restrictions besides, I know you hate being late too, so I assume you still have the same attitude while you are staying here at the Divenson mansion.” He said.

“I should go now. I don’t want to be late, or else my wife will not let me come in inside our house.” He added, and I send him to the door, and before I can close my bedroom door, Lily appears on my threshold.

“Hello, Maddie! Can I get into your room??  She asked, and I nodded, beaming at her as I widely open the door for her.

“Can I sit on your couch, Maddie?” She asked.

“Of course, have a seat, please, Lily,” I replied, and I can’t believe her politeness towards me, or she is just different from her siblings. I sat beside her, and he turned her head to face me.

“I am a little hurt, you know.” She spoke as she looks at her hands.

“May I know why? I asked.

“Because Hunter didn’t tell me he is getting married, and I hate it, he doesn’t let me meet you first before he proposed to you.” She said, and I can look at the tears in her eyes, and I am not sure how I will comfort her.

“I thought he loved me.” She declared, and she looks so cute, and she is more beautiful compared to Charlotte.

“Hey, we are sorry, Lily, but as you can understand, your brother is a very busy man, but he loves you so much, that is why he doesn’t have enough time to introduce me to you,” I said.

“Really?” She said, and this girl looks so adorable.

“Yes!” I exclaimed, and I hate myself for lying to this innocent girl, but I only did it to make her feel better. It was just a white lie.

“Do you love my brother, Maddie?” She inquired, and I swallowed my saliva. How can I answer her question when I don’t even meet her brother yet?

“Of course I do,” I replied, and another lie.

“So much?” She asked me again, and I smile. How can she ask me about love when I didn’t even know how it feels to fall in love.

“Yes, so much,” I answered, and she hugged me.

“Please, Maddie, don’t leave my brother, okay?” She begged me with puppy eyes, and I smiled and nodded my head at her.

“Can I sleep here in your room?”

“Of course,” I responded enthusiastically. I love Lily to accompany me.

“How I wish I can, but I am sure my mom won’t allow me to slumber here in your room. Please don’t mind them, Maddie. I heard it they don’t appreciate you, but my brother loves you, and I like you, so it is more than enough reason that you should stay here at the Divenson Mansion.” She declared, and her honesty shocked me.

“I should leave now, or my mom will go crazy if she can’t find me in my room. See you later at dinner, Maddie.” She said, and I take her to my door.

“See you later, Lily,” I replied, and she walks out of my room gracefully after she waves her hand at me. I leaned my back at my door after I locked it. I am terrified of Parker’s look, I just hope I am mistaken, but I can’t stop feeling so nervous. It is now official his entire family except Lily hated me.

When the clock strikes at six-thirty in the evening, I am already getting on my dress, and I put light makeup on my face. I don’t really like cosmetics, but my job requires a pleasing personality, and having makeup on my face is one of the primary house rules since we are dealing with customers. I love my wardrobe’s cerulean color, and I felt like a princess wearing this type of dress. I sprayed some perfume, and it smells so sweet, and I can tell by my dress’s brand, it is so expensive. I am still staring at my reflection in the mirror when I heard some knocking on my doors, and when I opened it, I found Cerila standing in my doorway.

“It seems you are now ready to move to the feasting hall, Ms. Maddie. Please follow me.” She said, and I walk behind her. When I arrive in the dining room, they are all complete, and my world stands still when I come face to face with Hunter Divenson. I tried to keep myself footed on the ground as his beautiful hazel-green eyes hypnotize me. He looks so handsome, and his body built is so perfect. When he rises, I realized he is so tall, and I guess he stands six feet and one inch or more. Calixto was right, and his boss is very handsome. Hunter is the type of person who can make the entire crowd go crazy over him.

The minute he smiles at me, I almost fainted, and I can’t stop myself from beaming at him. His perfect white teeth are shining like diamonds, and even his smiles are excellent. He stands and moves closer to me, and I realized he is more handsome up close. And I got my entire body shivers not because I am so afraid of him but because of the foreign feeling that I went through. I can feel butterflies in my stomach the moment he puts his hands on my waist.

“I am sorry, Maddie, if I wasn’t here when you arrived, I promise I will make it up to you.” He said, and before I can reply, he claims my mouth, and I think I will die. And this is my first time to experience a kiss, but the way he brushed me is so spectacular that I kiss him back hungrily. It felt so wonderful, and all the bad things I want to throw at him were all gone the minute I enjoyed his sweet lips. We both kissed hungrily, and by the time he stopped kissing me, I hold his arm, and I felt so glad that he is still holding my waist.

“So, eager to kiss me, Ms. Brownwood?” He whispered in my ear, and I felt he nibbled my ear before he finally let me go. And I got goosebumps covered my entire skin, and I can’t stop myself from blushing. He pulls a dining chair and assisted me to sit down, and then he pulled his chair and seated beside me, and by the time I looked at the other members of the family, I find them smiling at us. Are they for real? They all seem so nice to me. Gone are the hard stares and contempt.

“Shall we start our dinner, now?” He asked, and his mom smiled.

“Of course, dear.” His mom said sweetly at him. The food is all mouthwatering, but it erased my hunger after Hunter kissed me. He makes my knees feel so weak.

“You should eat, my love. I don’t want you to look skinny on our wedding day, and I admire your gorgeous body, so you should maintain that for me?” He spoke and looked at me with his smile, and I nodded, and I felt like I lose my ability to speak and think. Hunter occupied my mind, and his presence made me feel so nervous nicely. Our nearness makes me go through so drawn to him, and I despise myself for feeling this way.

I want to despise him, but how can I neglect him when he is this handsome and irresistible? I know he looked attractive in his portrait in the living room, but I can’t believe until now that his genuine beauty was perfect. He looks like a Greek god and some model in a magazine. He looks so young, and I wonder how old he is.. And I realized at this very moment my heart is in big trouble.