17. Ignored?

Author's POV

Arabella looked at her uncle who was looking at her while standing behind the bush. She was frozen in her place.

"We need to talk"

Brian gestured for her to come closer.

"Arabella, I am here!"

Julie waved at her from the other side of the street.

"Come fast!"

Arabella looked at her and ran towards her without a second thought. She quickly reached her and sighed in relief.

"What happened, why did you run like you have seen a ghost?"

Arabella shook her head while looking back. Brian was still looking at her from the bushes, she quickly looked away from him and went back.

"They gave me half an advance salary. Here!"

Arabella handed her the money.

"Shit!"

Julie jumped in excitement.

"You are amazing... We will buy some healthy food for Matilda in the morning... Did you keep some for yourself or not?"

Arabella shook her head.

"I don't need it. You can use it for Matilda."

Julie shook her head at her.

"Are you crazy. Keep this and buy something for yourself. You earned this, you deserve self appreciation."

"Self appreciation?"

Arabella didn't understand the meaning.

"My god, you are so naive."

Julie huffed.

"It means gifting yourself something because you have worked hard."

"And what happens with that?"

She was curious.

"You feel good and happy... I always buy green clothes when I do something praise worthy."

She grinned.

"Tomorrow you will go to the market and will buy something for yourself."

Arabella kept the money in her pocket and nodded.

"Okay."

She went to the washroom to freshen up.

"She is so unaware of things. Poor girl!"

Julie looked at her sadly.

The next day Arabella went back to work. She did her work and helped Cami. As discussed with Garry she wanted to ask Arthur why he increased her salary.

Cami asked her to take Juice to men who were working out in the backyard.

"Thanks!"

Garry grabbed his glass.

She waited for Arthur to come but he wasn't stopping his pull-ups. She stood there with a tray while staring at him with her dove eyes. They were working out shirtless in the chilli morning and weren't even flinching.

Arthur looked at her and saw how her cheeks were tinted pink due to cold. She was looking so cute like that. He stopped and grabbed the juice for himself so she could go inside the warm house.

"Chief, can I ask you something?"

She mumbled while he was struggling to take his eyes off her face.

"Later!"

He placed down the empty glass.

She pouted but nodded and walked away. He smiled at her cuteness, he knows what she is trying to ask but he wasn't going to entertain her. He was struggling to distract himself from his little Dove.

In the afternoon she went to his office with his lunch and set down the table for him. Arthur was looking at his screen but his mind was on her.

"Chief, can I ask you one thing?"

She turned towards him once she was done setting the table.

"Later!"

He ordered and dismissed her.

She nodded and walked out.

He sighed and shook his head.

"Fuck, why is she so cute?"

The same happened in the evening, she was giving him his evening snacks and he was still not looking at her.

"Chief, can I ask you one thing?"

Arthur's heart almost melted, since morning she was asking him only one thing in her cute timid voice and he was dismissing her. His self control was in trouble.

"Later!"

He ordered with a heavy heart. It was difficult to trouble her like that.

She let out a cute huff and walked out. He chuckled when he heard that small huff of her.

"Cute!"

Arthur got busy in his work after that. Arabella was coming downstairs with empty water jugs and at the same time Arthur came out of his study while talking on the phone.

He was scolding someone.

"Enough!"

His deep scary voice made her flinch and the empty jug fell down from the tray. She yelped when the jug shattered on the stairs.

Arthur's head snapped towards her and he cursed.

"What the fuck!"

She gulped nervously.

"I am sorry. I'll clean this."

She stepped down and the piece of it pierced her good for nothing shoe.

"No, stop! Wait there."

Arthur rushed towards her.

"What the hell are you doing?"

She flinched when he grabbed her arm and made her sit down on the stair.

"I am sorry. I'll buy a new one. It was a mistake."

She apologized.

He shook his head with a deep sigh.

"It's not about fucking jug."

He took off her shoe and saw that it had just tore her shoe and not the foot.

"What is this? You call this shoe? Is this how your orphanage takes care of their kids?"

"Jesus, how did this happen?..."

Cami gasped when she saw the glass on the stairs.

"Sorry, I'll clean it!"

Arabella looked guilty.

"No, you might hurt yourself. I'll do it."

Cami cleaned it while both of them were sitting on the stairs. She noticed how her boss was sitting beside the girl like she is his favourite thing to protect from the glass. She smiled softly at them and went back to the kitchen.

Arabella looked at Arthur who was already looking at her. Her stomach felt the sudden butterflies and cheeks got pink. She cleared her throat and looked down shyly.

He smiled at her cute reaction and looked at her shoes.

"This is dangerous for your little feet, Dove... We need to buy new shoes for you."

"I'll buy new shoes."

She agreed.

"Right, you will buy the same cheap shoes which will rip in seconds."

He easily ripped her shoe in front of her and her eyes widened.

"See!"

"It's because you are strong. The shoe was not that bad."

She complained with pout.

He looked at her amused.

"Is it? Wait! Cami, come here."

Cami came and Arthur ordered her to rip her second shoe.

Cami easily did it and Arthur raised his eyebrows at Arabella.

She huffed and covered her face embarrassed and he laughed at her.

Cami's eyes widened when she saw him laughing. She saw Garry and mouthed.

"He is laughing. My god!"

"I know!"

Garry grinned at her. They both walked away leaving them alone.

"Sorry!"

She huffed.

"So, good new shoes?"

He ordered and she nodded.

"You are free, can I ask you one thing now?"

She asked and Arthur got trapped. He was avoiding her since morning but it wasn't possible now.

She looked at him curiously while he was blank for a moment.