Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Lucas Alberto's POV

Her blue eyes are so deep. Those ice blue eyes that always draw me in with one look, even from afar. Her pale cheeks are turning pink lightly. I take a step forward to stand closer to her than I already am. Although I am holding her chin to make her look at me, her eyes are moving around my face staying only one second if they met mine. I can't help the smile appearing on my lips at her innocence.

I can smell that she is not wearing any perfume. Just like when she was a kid. She never liked the smell of perfumes or scents. As I took one step closer she let out a breath and looks into my eyes in shock. There are those orbs again. Deep, deep and so deep.

Annabel Piccolo's POV

Shock, happiness and the feeling of giddiness build up in me as I look at the person standing in front of me. My stomach is doing flips. My heart is beating fast. The tip of his fingers holding my chin is not helping either. He is standing too close. My mind stopped working. I can't help the tension and bite my lip before they turn into wide grin, showing him how happy I am that he is here.

Oh calm down you all! I tell myself, to my stomach, to my heart and to my nerves. You stop working at the right time when I need you! I scold my brain. I look up at him and meet his eyes for a second. My gaze travels around his face remembering every inch of it. They stay a minute on his lips. Quickly gathering my thoughts and my nerves I look up to meet his eyes.

Why do I still feel so nervous around him?

Should I say something?

How are you?

Have you had your breakfast?

Okay maybe the easy one. Good morning! Then my mind started working.

Wait! What is he doing in my room at this early in the morning? My eyes widen as I look around the room. It's messy as it always is. Not that there are clothes spread or any of my things left carelessly on my bed, but there are books all over the room, my table, few on my bed, my pens and pencils. I take a step back and blush.

What must he be thinking now? Oh God!

I finally dare to look up at him. His fingers left my chin as I turned to look around my room a second ago. He leans against the table beside which we are standing. He has a smile on his face and I knit my eyebrows together as if I have committed a sweet sin. I smile shyly. He put his hands in his pocket and shakes his head chuckling. My heart did a jump when I hear the sound. I look up at his face and find his eyes swimming through my room while mine are on his face.

He is so close to me. His face is cleanly shaven and the dark blue suit is fitting his perfect figure correctly. I watch as he turns around to look at the table sprawled with books, but clean as well. He picks up a book which is regarding archeology with his right hand. Then his eyes fall on the book to his left, I can't see what it is though as his frame is covering it. I see him smile as he picks that book with his left hand.

What is it- Oh My God! No! How much more will I be embarrassed today?!

He holds the book and turns to me with a smirk and I bite my lip and look away. The book in his left hand is The Duke's Seduction. He is looking at me chuckling. Clearly holding back his laughter. He is the Duke and I must say he is enjoying this after he read the title.

Is there no way that I can come out of this situation?

I take the book away from him and walk past him to put it in the shelf. I put it there and come back to see him going through the books on the table. He is looking at them confused. He is not touching any of them. I walk to him and take a look at what he is looking at. There are all types of genres. He turns to look at me and I smile walking to my chair in front of the table. Just then Gemma came in.

"Hey Mr. Duke, let's go. Mom is calling us for breakfast." She calls and I look down. It's over. He will be going and now I don't know when I will see him again. I look down at the table. He turns to look at me. I don't look up, but I can feel his gaze on me.

"I am coming. Just taking her phone number.Will be down in a minute." He informs and I get the hint. He wants my number.

"We should go down together. I don't want mom to asks me questions about you." She sighs and groans. "Can you make it quick. Anna just give number. Mom called you to come down as well." She said standing at the door of my room checking her phone.

I sneak glances at him and pull out a paper and pen. I start writing down the number, but the pen is not working. A silver color pen is slid on the paper that I am trying to write and without looking up I take the pen. Writing down the number I fold the small paper neatly and give the pen along with the paper to him. He just takes the paper and puts it in his pocket. I look at him questioningly.

Take the pen? I sign with my eyes.

He just winks and my heart did that jump again, this time just higher. He looks at the shelf where I have put the book about the Duke and smiles before walking to Gemma. My heart is doing front and back flips. I can't stop the smile, but I held it in by biting my lip.

"Let's go. Anna!" She calls me and I look at her. "Come down." She says and I nod my head at her. He is looking at me, but I held myself in to not look at him. I fear that I might smile and blush for no reason. My when did my heart ever listen to my brain. My eyes went to meet his once Gemma turned around and he gives me a smile and a nod, which I return shyly, before walking down.

Once they left, I can't stop myself anymore. I squealed twirling around in my room and sat on the chair in front of the table breathing. The wide grin is plastered on my face until I hear her voice, my step-mom's.

"Anna! Come down." I can hear the anger in her voice. That brought me out of my day dream. I stand up from the chair going down. I can hear the chatter coming from the dining room as I descend the stairs. I breathe in a lungful of air.

Stay strong.

Walking in I see my step-mom, sitting in the chair at the head of the table. Gemma and Lucas sat opposite to each other. Normally I don't have breakfast down here. I enjoy it either with the workers or eat it myself in my room while reading books. She never cared if I ate or not. I wonder why she called me down today. I go to them and was about to pull out a chair beside Gemma, Lucas is looking at me.

"Go and get the food. Help the maids put it on the table." She orders and I nod before going into the kitchen. I was just about to smile at the staff there when I hear other voice.

"I will help her." Lucas? He walks in as I take a bowl from the kitchen counter. Turning around I find him just behind me and gasp. I know he is coming but I didn't expect him to come this close. There is our staff here as well. I clear my throat asking him to move with my head nod, but he just stands there. Taking the bowl out of my hands, he walks out. I take the other bowl and fell the staff staring at me with gleeful smiles. They have seen our little mute conversation.

I compose myself before carrying it out. I put it in front of Felisa and was about to go sit beside Gemma when I hear a chair moving. I look and find Lucas holding out a chair for me. My heart swelled, I go and sit in the chair. He pulled out a chair for himself before sitting in it.

"Such a gentleman." Felisa praised him. He is. "Let's start. Rio." She called one of our maids. He came out to serve us. I smile at him as he serves me. I look at the table and then Gemma, then the surroundings around me. Everything here is so elegant, classy and neat. Then I look down at myself. I am just wearing a grey track pant with a white T-shirt and my hair is in a messy bun. I let out a breathe.

I feel so small with all of them in the room. Too simple for this place and ambiance.Almost out of place. They slowly start talking and I immerse myself in the bliss of the food and having him beside me. No one asked me question nor did I ask them anything. Felisa is the one mostly talking. I can see that she is so excited that the Duke is here, in her house, in her dining room and having breakfast with her.

I still feel the tingles from his touch. I am so stupid!

"My Gemma is so talented!" She gushed and I look at Gemma to find her rolling her eyes.

"Yeah. She is." Lucas says sarcastically and Gemma pokes her tongue out like a child. I smile at their exchange and this didn't go unnoticed by her.

"What are you smiling at? You don't even go out to feed yourself. Loafing around your father's money. At least she does some work." I just look down at my plate and didn't know what to say. She is right though. Getting busy with the chores at the house, I didn't find any time to go and get a job. Even with the maids around, there is always some work for me to do when she orders.

"So she is unemployed right now?" Lucas says and I feel even more sad. I can't help the tears that are about to fall down. My vision is about to become blurry.

"Yes. That's what she does. Just roaming around the house as though she is the queen or will be in her room reading those stupid books." I blink to stop the tears from falling down.

"Well then, I have a vacancy in the research department. She can join if she wants to." I want to look at him, I almost did. But I didn't want him to see how weak I am. If I look at him, I am sure the tears that I am holding in will fall down.

"No need of that, Sweetie. Why do you have to bear her? I will see what I will have to do about it." She replies for me. I still look down at my plate. I want to say yes. I want to take up the opportunity that is knocking on my door.

"Mrs. Piccolo, with all due respect, I think it's her decision to make." I can hear the tint of anger in his voice.

"W-well, i-if she wants to she can join," she stutters and I muster all the courage I have in me. My lips have become dry and I wet them with my tongue before looking up at her. Her angry face is signalling me to say no. Behind her, at the entrance of the kitchen, I find Melody, our head chef. She assured me with her eyes to say yes and she has got my back. I look back at Felisa.

"I want to take this job." That was all it took for her to listen from me before she is shocked and her eyes went wide. I know there is going to be a lot of scolding that I might be getting and to put it out honestly, I don't think that I will be able to join the company, but I am happy that I mustered enough courage to say yes to his offer.

"Good then. I will talk to my P. A and she can join the company from tomorrow." He says and I look back at my plate. There is still a hope left in my heart that maybe, even though if she gets angry, she will let me go to this job.

God, please help me!

A/N:

Hey my lovelies!

Hope you guys liked it! Love in the air! Did you guys feel it? Let me know. Do comment what you think about it. Also, do you guys like the cast of Lucas?

This is Annabel Piccolo.

And this is them together. Do you guys like them? Tell me, please.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.