6. Valerie

I walked to the door scared with one thought on my mind. Has my aunt found me? Did she want to take me back? I was scared, I wouldn’t want to go with her. I like staying at Thompson's house. Though Victor has been on my neck asking me to date him but I wouldn’t trade the peace I’ve found here for anything.

Opening the door, I was shocked and surprised to see a delivery guy standing at the door holding a banquet of flowers and a big box wrapped in a red ribbon “Good afternoon, Miss” He greeted me as he took out a piece of paper from the flowers “ Are you Miss Williams?”

“Yes, I am. How can I help you?” I asked him curiously as he smiled.

“I just need you to sign this document and the rest of this will be yours” He replied as he handed me a notepad. “ Just sign here” He pointed to the extreme end of the book.

“Sure” I reply as I collect the book and pen from him and append my signature before returning it to him.

“Thank you ma’am. Have a nice day” He smiles as he thrust the flowers and the box at me before turning to walk out of the door.

I collected it wordlessly as I walked back into the house thankful that Mrs. Thompson has gone to bed, I wouldn’t know what to tell her If she asked where I got the flowers from? Because I don’t even know who sent them .

Maria was at the foot of the stairs looking at me “ Come Valerie. Let me see that”

She motioned to me as I walked slowly to her, confused as to who could send me flowers. Maria stretched her hands to me as I handed her the flowers while she curiously watched the box on my hands.

“Wow! They are lovely. Who sent you this?” She asked me. I guess she is as surprised as I am.

“I had no idea” I answered truthfully as I searched my brains for anyone who could possibly do it but no one come to mind.

The guys in my dance class can never do something like this. No, never.

“What’s inside that box in your hands?” Maria asked me, pointing to the box in my hands.

“I don’t know” I replied as I was getting tired of her questioning, I want to escape to my room and sleep this off wishing for it to disappear when I wake.

“I’m sure you will find out soon. When you do make sure you tell me immediately, okay?” Maria told me. I nodded as she waves me off.

“Thank you” I replied as I walked off into the maid’s quarter.

Audrey and Gia we’re eating while Lisa was going through her assignments for her cooking class when I walked into the room.

Immediately, they saw me they all quiet down as they turned to regard me with curiosity on their faces.

Gia was the first to break the silence which seemed to have fallen among us as we all looked at one another.

Gia stood up and came closer to where I stood in the doorway. She dragged the flower from my hands causing the box to fall to the ground and its contents spilled on the floor.

I gasped at the most ethereal clothing I have ever seen. I bent down to pick it as it felt soft on my hands. It was a short white gown made from the most expensive silk I had ever seen. I searched inside the box for a note from the sender but there was none.

Gia gasped when she saw the dress in my hands“ Wow! Valerie, where did you get that? Did Victor give it to you?” She asked me as she waited for my response.

Silence envelopes the room as they all stare at me expecting my response. I was shocked that they all thought that I could accept a gift from Victor. Moreover, why would he want to send me gifts in the first place? We are not dating.

I scoffed at her. Victor can never do this for me, not when he has Leslie by his side “ Give that to me. Though I don’t know who sent this to me but I know it definitely not Victor” I replied as I dragged the flowers from her hands.

I put the dress back into the box and went to drop it inside my bag. When I returned Gia was holding a piece of paper which had fallen off from the flowers.

I collected it from her as they all gathered around to read it “ For a beautiful lady. I like your smile, I hope you keep smiling the more for me…. Your Secret Admirer..

Gia read it out as they all applauded in admiration.

“ Wow! Congratulations Val. You’ve got yourself a secret admirer. Who is he?”

“ I don’t know Audrey. Who do you think it could be?” I asked her. She was the only one I considered a friend and felt close to. I felt like I could tell her things about me without getting scared that she might judge me. Though I haven’t told her that Victor asked me to sleep with him. I still don’t know why I can’t bring myself to tell her that?

“Maybe he’s a fan,” Audrey replied, shrugging as she looked at me.

“Fan?” I asked her not quite knowing what that meant. The only fan I know is associated with celebrities or a very wealthy person and I was neither any of those.

“Yes, a fan. Maybe someone who has watched you dance and fell in love with your dance. He could send you this” Audrey replied pointing to the flowers on my hand. I nodded at her, she might be right. It might be a fan.

“Whatever, fan or not. I’m just glad it isn’t Victor” Gia exclaimed as she went back to her bed where Lisa was still working on her assignments haven't ignored us.

Lisa watched Gia with a shock expression on her face “ You know what Gia? I pity you. You and this your stupid crush on the young master, it isn’t going to get you anywhere. You better get yourself a boyfriend cause young master is no longer available” Lisa snorted at her as she went back to her book.

“Says who? Young master will soon discover that I’m the woman for him” Gia replied with a dreamy look on her face.

“Even I, I’m curious too. How did you know the young master is no longer available?” Audrey asked Lisa with a frown on her face.

I ignored them as I walked out of the room in search of a flower vase for my beautiful flowers. I’m going to water them daily like a little baby.

Oh! I’m so excited right now. I felt my heart burst from so much excitement. This is the first time I’m receiving a gift from another person except my parents who are gone. I missed them so much…

“I overheard his parents say that young master will be getting married soon” Was the last words I heard from Lisa as I walked out of the room. I always knew Mrs. Thompson had been planning Victor's marriage to Leslie. That’s the reason why I couldn’t allow myself to fall for him even though I’m attracted to him.

Speak of the devil and it will appear in front of you!. Victor was lying down on his back on the couch at the swimming pool bare with only a blue brief which enhances the colors of his eyes.

My heart skipped a beat as I felt goose bomb on my hands. I gulped nervously as my stomach tightened in excitement. I always get butterflies in my stomach anytime I’m with him. I don’t know what it means? I wish I had a friend I could talk to. Someone who is not Audrey..

“Come here and help me apply this lotion on to my back” Victor's husky voice called out to me immediately I turned to escape out of the back into the comfort of my room.

“ I’m sorry but I can’t do that ?” I replied gently. I don’t think I can survive with my hands on his body. Even without touching him, I’m already feeling things I shouldn’t be feeling. What should I do?

“Valerie Williams!” Victor screamed at me as he turned to watch me with his eyes half closed due to the harsh rays from the sun “ I wasn’t seeking your opinion. You are my personal maid and you do whatever I asked you to do. Now get to work!” He shouted at me

I screeched from the harsh tone of his voice and the reminder that I was his personal maid. I nodded since I didn’t trust my voice not to sound husky. I walked up to him as he handed me the lotion and turned on his back.

I spread the lotion on to my palms and massage it gently on his back. Enjoying the feel of his soft skin on my palm. How could someone be so soft and beautiful? I feel like running my tongue on his back. Snapped out of this Valerie, he’s your boss and you are his maid.

Victor groans excitedly “ Spread it all through my back. I’m enjoying this. You have beautiful hands just like your smiles”

I smiled at his back. If he only knew how he’s affecting me. I continued working magic on his back as he kept on groaning and moaning. And I kept dripping wet underneath in answer to his moaning.

This was torture. How can I handle this? Unable to cope with my heart all over the place, I dropped the lotion beside him and took to my heel

“ Where are you going Valerie? Come back here” Victor called out to me but I didn’t stop. I ran breathless into the room.

Audrey looked at me curiously. “ Are you alright?” She asked me with concern on her face.

I nodded as I turned to look at Gia and Lisa who were fast asleep on each of their beds.

“Are you sure? Where’s the flower vase? I thought you went to get that” Audrey asked surprised as she continue watching me

“ Ah!. Yes. Flower vase? ” I exclaimed in shock. I have completely forgotten about that, thanks to a boy with golden hair and blue eyes.

“I will get it immediately” I told her as I turned to walk out of the room.

“ Wait! Don’t worry, I will get it ” Audrey’s voice stopped me on my track as I turned to look at her surprised. Why will she want to go instead?

“ I wouldn’t want you running back here empty handed” She replied answering my unasked question. She walked close to me and sniffed the air beside me “ What is that scent? That smells like Victor’s lotion?”

I was shocked as I watched her. How did she know that? Does she have a crush on Victor too? “ I__ I__ was______”

“ It’s okay. You don’t have to explain yourself. You are his maid, it’s normal to have his scent on you. Okay?” She smiled and walked out of the door as I smiled sadly at her.

I sat down heavily on the bed exhausted. If only she knew what I’ve got on my body isn’t only his scent but I’m beginning to develop feelings for Victor Thompson and I’m scared that I might make mistakes that I would regret later.

God? Why is all of this happening to me? Why does Victor have to affect me badly? With the ways things are going, I’m not sure I could hold it in any longer…

Audrey walked back into the room holding an orange flower vase in her hands “ Thank you, I will do that” I told her immediately I saw that she wanted to help me put the flowers in the vase.

“ I can do it, what are we friends for? Moreover, Maria asked to see you. She’s in her room” Audrey told me as I stood up and walked out of the room to Maria's room which was an extension of the maid quarter also wondering why she would want to see me.

Maria was reading a novel on her bed when I walked in, she stood up to regard me with a smile on her face“ Valerie, how are you? Are you scared I asked to see you?” She asked me with a knowing smile on her face.

“ Yes. I don’t know why you want to see me”

Maria smiles up at me “ It’s nothing. I found out who send you that box and flowers”

I sat up shocked as I watched her “ Really? Who sent it to me? Was it a fan?”

“Kind of,” She replied, lost in thought. “ You can call him a fan. That is, if you regard Victor a fan” She said with a coy smile on her lips.

“What? Victor sent me that? How did you know?” I asked her as I couldn’t believe it. He never mentioned sending me anything when we were at the swimming pool earlier.

“Let’s just say I had my ways. Now to the main reason I called you here for tonight. What I want to say now, I want it to be between the both of us alone and no one else. Okay”

“ Yes Maria” I replied as I braced myself for what she was going to say

Getting into the bed that night was pure torture cause I couldn’t bring myself to sleep after Maria words.

In my mind, it felt like when I heard that my parents were dead. I was numb as tears streamed down my face as I forced myself to sleep. Praying I recover tomorrow.