Chapter 9:

   Gerard's arm was around Shally's neck when she was trying to help him stand up, their faces were so close that they could feel each other's breath, Gerard started looking at Shally's lips, he was bending to reach them without noticing it, Shally closed her eyes letting control of herself, just when they were on the way to have their first kiss, they heard a knock and Margret's voice; it's was like they got hypnotized or got into a beautiful dream but they woke up, they took their distance when Margret got in: "Gerard? I heard you called a servant to help you get to the bathroom? In the presence of your girlfriend?" Gerard tried to reach his mother to lean on her and to change the subject, he tried emotionally blackmailing her: "Misses DIAS? Your son had an accident, he almost died and instead of taking care of him you're taking rid of him? Shame on you, that hurts my feelings. Before I get a girlfriend I thought when I'll have one you'd get jealous of her and take care of me more just to make sure I love you more than her but it looks like I'm wrong, I'm so disappointed." Margret started laughing and caressed her son's cheek: "

× You naughty boy, you're using my feelings now against me? Really?

× Never. Why don't you help me today? Shally is working, let's not disturb her these weeks, okay?"

Gerard kissed his mother from her forehead, glanced at Shally and then headed the bathroom as for Shally, she got back to the desk to carry on her work but that was so hard after what happened; they both were thinking of their closeness of before and the feeling they felt when they almost kissed; Gerard sighed deeply liking what he felt and didn't like it in the same time, the only thing he was convincing himself right then is to stay away of Shally, as far as possible because what he felt rings the alarm of danger for Gerard; as for Shally, she shook her head to try to focus, she was trying to remind herself of the word she gave to her mother but it wasn't that easy, Shally found Gerard handsome since the first time she saw him but it's now that it started to affect her and gets charmed every time she sees his charming smile; Shally kept thinking of Gerard while working and after an hour she yelped trying to swallow her exhaustion from thinking of all these, she leaned her head on her hand and when she heard the sound of the door opening she looked, it was Gerard half naked carried by a servant to put him in bed; that was the icing on the cake for Shally, Gerard was looking so hot and so attractive, his body was just perfect, Shally was hypnotised by the picture in front of her that her head fell from her hand, Gerard looked at her if she's okay but Shally wasn't really that fine, she immediately took her things said good bye to Gerard without explaining anything to anyone and went home. At night, while she was having dinner with her parents, she was absent-minded thinking of what happened between her and Gerard, her mother noticed her and asked: "

× ¿Todo es bien Shally? (Is everything okay Shally?)

× ¿Uh? Sí mamá, ¿por qué? (Uh? Yes mom, why?)

× Mi parece que hay algo que te molesta. (It sounds to me that there's something that bothers you.)

× No, en absoluto, no te preocupes. (No, not at all, don't worry.)"

Shally's week is going to be about going to the office in the morning to work with Henry and after work she'll pass see Gerard to satisfy his mother and in the evening she'll go home, have dinner and work until it's late, she's going to sleep less and work hard to be able to accomplish all this. Shally didn't have a problem in any of these except seeing Gerard, when she got to his room the next day she found him reading a book, her heart started beating fast and she started to feel shy, she even avoided looking at him; as for Gerard, he didn't even raise his head to look at her, he just greeted her and continued reading the book, he wanted to avoid her as possible as he can. Shally sat on the desk to work while Gerard was reading his book calmly, it's been so for few hours then Shally started to feel hot and uncomfortable from the situation so she asked Gerard if she can go to the terrace to have some fresh air, Gerard didn't mind. Shally opened the door and got out to the terrace standing there feeling the fresh air on her face with her hair being carried; by curiosity, Gerard looked at her to see what she's doing and how she's looking today and as usual, he unconsciously looks at her like she's the most beautiful woman he saw, Shally didn't know he was looking at her because she gave him her back but Gerard this time noticed that he was looking at her so he took his eyes away, he then started to be bored of reading, he stood up and went next to Shally. Shally noticed him then said: "

× Oh! They got you crutches.

× Yeah, it's better than bothering people to help me get up and sit down, this thing on my leg started bothering me.

× You're just at the beginning, you have to handle it for a month, at least.

× (With an annoyed look) You're so helpful, thanks.

× (Teasing) Any time. You're terrace is amazing, the view from here is incredible, you're lucky to have such a house.

× (Wondering) Have you ever wanted to be rich?

× Yup, I thought about it many times actually, when I was working in four jobs and my parents weren't with me, I thought about it a lot, I was saying to myself that if I had money I won't be in such a miserable situation leaving my parents in an old people's house to be taken care of instead of taking care of them myself, I said to myself that if I was rich, my life won't be the same and will be much easier and much better, I'd have more free time to spend with my family and I won't be so exhausted running from a job to another, I will be able to buy anything I want whenever I want no matter how expensive it is but then I say to myself that rich life isn't that perfect, maybe if I was born rich I wouldn't be happy, I wouldn't know who to trust around me, I wouldn't know the real people from the fake ones, I wouldn't know who's there for me and who's there for my money, who wants me and who wants my money; there is also the way to behave, you need to watch the way you sit, the way you stand up, the way you eat, the way you walk, what you say, how you say it; you just won't be yourself and I don't like that.

× You're right about not knowing who to trust but not about the behaviour, we're just rich people Shally, not royal people to watch the way we sit and talk, it's true that we have some rules but not as you're imagining it.

× Anyway, it's different now for me, since I had the new job, I didn't really think about it; after all, I achieved the most thing I dreamed of which is to have a house, live with my mother and father and be able to recruit someone to take care of them when I'm busy working. Now I feel so happy and satisfied with my life and this was not going to happen if I didn't meet you, thank you for showing that day even if it was by coincidence."

Gerard smiled without saying a word, he was thinking of what could be her reaction if she discovers that it wasn't a coincidence and he planned all of that just to prove her a gold digger, so to make her not notice he tried to change the subject: "

× What would you do if you were rich? Not mentioning to take care of your parents, what's the most thing you want to do if you were rich?

× (Looking at the sky) Sky diving.

× (Not believing it) Sky diving? Like getting in an airplane and jumping with the parachute? You mean the real sky diving?

× (Laughing) Yes. Why are you so surprised? Can't I want to do the sky diving?

× (Impressed) It's not that, it's just...You really have the courage to do that or you're just saying this to impress me?

× (Smiling)I really want to do it, I don't know if I have the courage to jump but I have the courage to go try it, I'm pretty sure it will feel amazing, I can imagine how the feeling would be like right now and I feel so excited about it just by thinking of it.

× (Whispering to himself smiling) She's really full of surprises.

× Did you say something?

× (To change the subject) Did your eyes colour change or it's just sounding like that to me?

× I don't know, what's their colour now?

× Kind of hazel.

× That means they changed, it must be the weather.

× That's beautiful.

× My eyes or the fact they change according to the weather?

× Both actually."

Shally widen her eyes and smiled at him: "Did you just say that my eyes are beautiful?" Gerard made the expression of 'Here we go' on his face: "Don't flatter yourself or I'll regret saying it" but Shally didn't respond to him and kept teasing him: "Oh my god! Everyone needs to know that you said my eyes are beautiful, after all, this is the first time you do" Shally turned laughing to run outside the room but before she gets to move Gerard grabbed her from her hand and pushed her against him not leaving any space between them: "You're not going to tell them that, are you?" Shally shook her head 'No' without saying a word, just looking at Gerard's eyes and lips, it's then when Gerard noticed what he just did; when he was consciously trying to keep her far of him, he unconsciously keeps her close. In a romantic atmosphere, the couple was exchanging looks being dazed one by the other, their hearts were beating fast and their breath were cutting, just when they were about to kiss, Henry called; The two came back to the real word and Shally took her phone mentioning that the one calling is Henry, Gerard made a face as to say 'Really? That's nice' but in reality he was thinking 'I would be surprised if he didn't call'. So Shally answered the call and started talking without giving him the chance to say what he wants: "Henry, I'm working, don't worry" but that's not why Henry called, he wanted Shally to go to his house for work.