Past Mistakes
Chapter Two
“When I was a little girl I used to read fairy tales. In fairy tales you meet Prince Charming and he’s everything you ever wanted. In fairy tales the bad guy is very easy to spot. The bad guy is always wearing a black cape so you always know who he is. Then you grow up and you realize that Prince Charming is not as easy to find as you thought. You realize the bad guy is not wearing a black cape and he’s not easy to spot; he’s really funny, and he makes you laugh, and he has perfect hair.” ? Taylor Swift
I was cleaning Sir Ares’ room in a hurry. I wiped the bedside tables, drawers, mirrors and headboard. I was like Supergirl, wiping everything in a flash.
I’m done here… I have to go now. He’ll be here in a minute and it won’t be good if he finds a maid in his room. It’s against the house rules.
I grabbed the rags and the furniture spray cleaner to go. But I stopped when I heard someone walking outside the bedroom door.
My goodness. It could be Sir Ares.
The doorknob rattled and my instinct told me to hide. I quickly ran to the nearest window and hid behind the thick floor length curtain.
This is so stupid. I hope he won’t catch me hiding here.
Ares was inside the room now. I could hear him moving towards the bed. I peeped a little and finally had a glimpse of him. He was standing near the bed. His back was facing me.
He stood there, tall, lean and very confident. He was scanning the room, then removed his jacket and threw it on the bed. He really had muscular arms and a powerful set of shoulders. His profile spoke of power and ageless strength. Even his movements were swift, full of grace and virility.
Then he faced towards where I was hiding.
Uh-oh…
I immediately sank into the darkness of the curtain so he wouldn’t notice me. After awhile, I peeped again. He was taking his white shirt off, making me blink my eyes several times. He was absolutely handsome with an attractive male physique. He’s so gorgeous.
He shook his head and then smiled. Maybe he was thinking about something funny. Then he unbuttoned his faded blue jeans and removed them.
I can’t take this anymore…. I swear I’m going to scream if he’ll remove his boxer briefs.
AND HE DID.
Oh my God! I clasped my mouth with my hands. Preventing myself from screaming.
He’s n@ked! I saw his gorgeous naked back and sexy butt.
He was moving towards the bathroom. I guessed he was going to take a shower. Oh God, please let him take a shower now so I can go.
I was sweating profusely.
I have to get out of here or I’m going to faint. I can’t breathe.
I heard the water running in the bathroom. So I slowly went down on the floor and crawled behind the bed. The bathroom door was closed, so I stood up and ran to the door, and very slowly I opened it.
At last I’m free.
At eight in the morning, I was reading the morning paper to Mr. Niarchos at the breakfast table when Ares joined us.
My heart lurched upon seeing him again. He looked so strikingly gorgeous in a gray shirt and faded blue jeans. His messy dark brown hair made him look so hot.
“Good morning, grandpa,” Ares greeted, but his sharp and assessing eyes were directed at me. I didn’t miss the frown set into his features as he pulled the chair across where I was sitting and sat down.
“Good morning, Ares.” Mr. Niarchos smiled. “We will go to the office this morning and I will introduce you to everyone.”
“Great.” Ares replied and looked at me again.
“By the way, this is Rachel White. She’s the daughter of our gardener, Gregory. Remember him?”
“Yeah, of course. He saved me from drowning in the pool when I was ten, right?” His eyes were cold as he held mine.
Mr. Niarchos nodded. “Right. Rachel, this is my grandson, Ares.”
I swallowed a lump in my throat. My heart was pounding so fast and I was sweating. Nervously I bit my lower lip. “Good morning, sir.” I said shyly.
He nodded then dismissed me abruptly.
They were discussing the shipping industry, their valuable clients, new equipment from Germany and other things that I didn’t know anything about. I just stayed there in silence, listening to them.
I couldn’t help looking at Ares all the time. He looked so gorgeous sitting there, eating his breakfast and talking. His deep voice was strong but with a velvet edge that sent shivers to my skin.
I know it sounds ridiculous… but I think I really like him.
I was inspired… and happy, because of Ares.
I was excited to wake up every morning because that was the time I could be with Ares at the breakfast table.
He didn’t talk to me. He didn’t even look at me. But I was contented just merely looking at him. Everything about him was beautiful… beyond perfection.
When Ares was at home, I couldn’t help following him when he had workouts at the gym, in the pool when he was swimming or when he was playing billiards alone. I was there looking at him behind the walls.
“What is wrong with you? You’re like a lovesick puppy, always following Sir Ares.” Mrs. Diaz confronted me one evening.
“I’m not. I’m just doing my job.” I defended myself.
Mrs. Diaz rolled her eyes. “Don’t lie. I saw you hiding behind the walls. You’re overdoing it, dear… following him around. Remember I told you that he won’t notice a low-class girl, so stop it. You’ll just get hurt.”
“I know he won’t notice someone like me. I just admire him. What is wrong with that?”
“It’s wrong because you’re hiding behind the walls. What if he catches you doing that?”
I heaved a sigh. “I’m very careful.”
“Hmm… it’s still not nice, dear.”
But the universe and my lucky stars were in my favor.
About two weeks since Ares arrived at the mansion, I got a chance to talk to him. One evening, I wasn’t able to sleep so I went to the rose garden for fresh air. I jumped when someone said my name.
“Rachel.”
I was terrified when I saw the shadow of a man coming towards me. I immediately stepped backward.
“Don’t be afraid. It’s me, Ares.” He said, then finally I saw his face illuminated in the moonlight.
“Oh.” I exclaimed. I shouldn’t be here. I violated the house rules again. I was invading Sir Ares’ privacy. “I’m sorry sir.” I turned around to go but he stopped me.
“Don’t go.”
I stopped and hesitated. Then I faced him again.
“You can’t sleep too?” He asked.
“Yes, that’s right.”
He chuckled and came closer to me. My eyes froze on his lips.
I blinked my eyes several times, embarrassed for staring, and pulled my robe tighter. I suddenly felt conscious of what I was wearing underneath – my worn out cotton blue pajamas. Then I ran my hands through my messy hair, combing it.
“You have nice hair.” He studied my face with his enigmatic gaze for an extra beat. Then he surprised me by picking a red rose and putting it behind my ear. “There. You look more beautiful now.”
I felt my knees weakened, like I was going to fall flat at his feet. He said I was ‘beautiful’. Did he actually find me beautiful?
“I… I… um… thanks.” I stammered then cast my eyes downward.
“Your father did a good job in maintaining the rose garden, beautiful.”
“Um… yeah.” I didn’t know what to answer to him. I was mesmerized by his presence. The excitement I felt deep inside me was very overwhelming… the firm set of his jaw… his intense brown eyes… I found a joyous satisfaction in studying his profile.
“My grandmother loved roses. She was the one who planted most of the roses here.”
“Oh… really…”
“Do you love roses, Rachel?” He captured my eyes with his and I turned to liquid again.
“Yes.”
“And what are the other things that you love?”
“Cupcakes.”
“Hmm.. Cupcakes.” His eyes shone bright in the pale light of the moon. “Grandpa said that you sing very well.”
sweetdreamer33
I was embarrassed. I wished Mr. Niarchos didn’t mention it to Ares.
“Not really. I only sing in the shower.”
“Wow. I wish I could hear you sing someday.”
“Oh no… I’m really embarrassed. I don’t sing with an audience.”
“My grandmother loved roses. She was the one who planted most of the roses here.”
“I… I can’t sleep.”
“Maybe you’re thinking about a lot of things.”
“My grandmother loved roses. She was the one who planted most of the roses here.”
“Or you’re thinking of someone?” His eyes turned dreamy.
Yes. You.
“I have to go. Goodnight Rachel. I’ll try to get some sleep. You should too.” He said before he spun around and left.
“Cupcakes.”
I wasn’t able to sleep well that night. I kept on thinking about him. He said I was beautiful. Maybe he liked me too.
Hope and chances. Maybe there could be ‘us’.
This time. I liked him. A lot.
Mr. Niarchos went to Greece for a two-week vacation. Ares invited his friends to the mansion. They were five of them. Two of them were men and the rest were girls. I realized that they were pairing each other.
They were in the pool, swimming and playing with a ball. I was hidden behind a wall, keeping an eye on them. The blond girl in a very skimpy black bikini was clinging her arms around Ares neck.
Ugh! I hate that girl. I was instantly jealous. I wondered if she was Ares’ girlfriend. No… he didn’t have a girlfriend. His grandpa never mentioned any.
I saw the girl whisper something to Ares, then together they went out of the pool holding hands. They were heading inside the house.
“Rachel!” I jolted when Mrs. Diaz shouted behind me.
I turned around to face her. “What?”
“You’re doing it again, keeping an eye on Sir Ares.”
I groaned. “I’m just waiting here in case they need something.”
She twisted her lips. “You and your excuses. Go back to work.”
“Okayy….” I heaved a sigh and turned to go.
“Rachel, wait. Will you get the clothes for laundry from Sir Ares’ room while he’s with his friends?”
“Sure.”
I put the rags and furniture spray to the supply room and went directly to Sir Ares’ room.
I was outside Sir Ares’ room. I turned the doorknob and slowly opened the door.
I froze.
What I saw caught me by surprise – Ares’ n@ked back, with the girl’s legs straddling around his waist. They were having s*x.
My heart sank. I felt shattered. All hopes were gone… crushing down like a broken glass.
Very slowly, I closed the door and ran as fast as I could to my room.
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