My Summer in London (My Summer #1)(12)

Masking his reaction, he threw me a steady look. “No one forces me to do anything, Serena,” he stated in a matter of fact tone before eyeing me with such intensity that I almost forgot to breathe. “You can begin on Monday after you finish with your classes.”

I was flabbergasted. What had just happened here?

“Mon-day?” I stupidly stammered, astonished at his rapid change of heart.

“That’s splendid!” Margery gleefully exclaimed while I still kept openly staring at Cruz, my soon-to-be boss.

f*uk. Me.





Chapter Seven





“You’re engaged?” I exclaimed irrationally, feeling emotionally bereft and embittered.

It took me about a minute or two after Margery was out of earshot to confront him. If I had chosen not to, it would forever eat me alive. Still, I had to stand my ground and face him, and it was a now or never situation.

“Yes,” he replied without batting an eyelash.

Damn. I could feel something crack.

“How come …? Why didn’t you mention it last night?”

“I don’t know.”

“What do you mean by ‘you don’t know’? How can you not?” I pressed. If it were me who was engaged, I would have told him. He wasn’t necessarily being deceitful about it, nor was he leading me on … but I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling that there was something there. Now I realized how wrong I had been.

Something passed across his eyes before he gave me a frown. “Serena, last night—”

“I’m sorry I kissed you,” I immediately interrupted. “I don’t know what came over me. I’m not usually like that. Maybe it was being in that beautiful, magical garden that made me get carried away.” My reasons sounded unconvincing to my own ears, but it was the best I could do, and whether he believed it or not was out of my control. “Can we just forget that happened? Is that possible?”

“If that’s what you wish.”

I wasn’t wishing on anything. My heart was stammering out of control, and I had no idea why I was reacting as if he and I were dating and he had led me on. It was too much. It was almost making me freak out inside.

“Thank you, Cruz,” I whispered, looking at him, but not really. I didn’t have it in me to stare into those metallic pools that made me feel so alive it was frightening. “I’ll see you on Monday or whenever.” As graciously as I could, I managed to get up without making a fool of myself. “Have a good day.” I gave him a wan smile then spun on my heels, almost sprinting out of the dining room.

My heart galloped as I raced towards the stairs, seeking my bedroom so I could fully grasp everything. It was a relief I didn’t run into any household staff. I’m sure it was easily seen how upset I was.

Holding my breath as I grappled with the bedroom door, I stilled when I heard him say my name. My heart stampeded madly against my chest as I tried to ponder every rhyme and reason for him coming after me. In the end, I knew I couldn’t keep staring at the doorknob. I had to face him and ask him that myself.

“Yes?” I asked as I turned on my heels to face him, barely meeting his intense gaze.

“I …” He breathed out heavily, frowning down at me. “I hope this won’t be a problem between us in the future.”

I hastily shook my head. I didn’t want it to be awkward between us, either. “No, it won’t be a problem. I promise.” I was going to start working under him in two days’ time. Whatever qualms I had prior to working with him had to be squashed, swept under the rug.

He gave me a curt nod, accepting my promise without hesitation. “One more thing …” he hesitantly drawled. “I’m sorry if I led you on. It wasn’t my intention. Well, to be quite clear, I wasn’t sure what I was doing.”

“No, it was my fault. It’s perfectly fine. Let’s forget any of it happened.” I was dying to kill the damn memory.

“Very well.” His frown vanished, replaced with that toe-curling smile I adored too much. “I will see you come Monday, then.”

Why does this man have such an effect in me? I wondered as I swallowed what little moisture I had in my mouth.

“Of course,” I said in a scratchy voice.

“Good day, Serena.” He threw me one last look before leaving me to my own devices.

“You, too.”

Watching him walk away, I released a long, melancholy sigh then shook my head, dismissing any lingering thoughts. The man was engaged. Engaged. He was going to marry someone. He was already spoken for. And for me to daydream about him was disrespectful. I supposed it was better this way. He was out of my league, anyway. He was too good-looking, too rich … well, too everything.

Once school started, hopefully I would meet great friends so I could have my own life, totally separated from these folks. There was nothing wrong with Archer or Cruz, but they were not on my level. I was at the bottom, while they were on top.

It was basically my second day here in this country, and I had already caused problems. I wondered how the rest of my stay would pan out. Hopefully, it would be with less drama, great memories and experiences, and nothing related to the matters of the heart.

With my body clock still stuck on Pacific Time, I decided to stay in today and unwind, unpack, and call my family back home.