Chapter-11

Annabel's POV

"Can you pass me that plate?" I ask Greta extending my hand. I am helping them in kitchen.

"Really? Not even a word?" Greta asks giving me the plate and stand in front of me.

"Non (No)." Greta and Melody are asking me whether we spoke or not. It's been a week now, since I have started working in Lucas's company. So, far, the work, colleagues and the work life has all been good. In fact, I like it so much. I forget about all the drama and can finally focus on something. It makes me feel... Liberated. I can now say I have friends outside the palace. They are a delight.

But as far as it comes to Lucas and me, there is... nothing. I mean... there is so much going on. We have got closer. We text and he really likes my work, as per Daniel said. But, did we talk? Non. We just... didn't. He dropped me and Gemma home at least thrice this week. That didn't go unnoticed by Felisa. She still doesn't like me going to work, but doesn't say anything.

Lucas and I... I don't know. Do we really have to put things in words? I am excited and want to talk to him. But I don't know why I am scared. At this point, it's slowly turning into a competition on who is going to talk first and one of these days, I feel like I will lose since I have to speak or answer my boss at some point if we are in meetings together.

"You know that you can't keep going on like this, right?" Melody asks. I nod my head at her. I was about to say something, when Felisa enters the kitchen. She gives me a sharp look.

"Bring out the food. Everyone will be at the table in a minute." She orders and walks out. I don't look at her.

Today is Saturday. Lucas's family is here and they have discussed about opening a new company jointly. Marcus, the investor of the project has arrived and they all greeted each other. Everyone knows him, except for me. I am meeting him for the first time. He seems like a polite gentleman that's in his late twenties. Even I attended the meeting. Felisa didn't want me to, but Papa held my hand and made me sit down. Lucas and I did sneek a few glances in the middle.

Three ideas were put forward. Everyone went with the Oil and Petroleum and the other is Manufacturing company. Both families liked the ideas and decided to make a final decision once they have analized pros and cons of both ideas. Apparently, the project needs a lot of funding and Marcus is the one doing that.

Once, the meeting is done, I come to kitchen to help. Felisa didn't ask me to, but I wanted to run away from them all. It feels strange to be in a room with all of them and my heart is just going up and down with Lucas there. I can't help the smile whenever he looks at me and I am just... Ugh!

Greta and Melody take the food to the table and come back in. I just sit there.

"Don't want to go out? Everyone's here." Melody says.

"Non. Felisa wouldn't like it if I joined them. I don't want to make a scene in front of everyone." My mind goes back to the time she threw wine at me in front of all of them. I just can't. She hands me a glass of water and I take it. I hear footsteps. Turning around, I find Lucas. He is standing there, in the kitchen, with all his charm and a smile. Oh my! How can I handle that? Melody and Greta look shocked.

"Can I have some water?" He asks them, while looking at me.

"Sure." Greta goes to help, but Melody pulls her.

"Anne, why don't you help him? We have to... um... take the things... out." She says and Greta nods her head in agreement. They both rush out of the kitchen. He takes a step into the kitchen and I take one back. What is this? I can't believe they betrayed me right when I need them! Oh, he's coming close. I put down the glass I was holding. As he takes another step towards me, I turn around and take an empty glass. I hear his footsteps and know that he is getting closer. Picking up the bottle near, I open the cap.

The drumming in my heart begins. I feel him behind me, just a foot away. My hand shakes lightly. He reaches out from behind me and puts his hand on mine. I nearly drop the bottle. His chin is almost touching my shoulder.

Thump!

Thump!

THUMP!

"Lu-" I was about to say his name.

"Annabel." Felisa's angry and authoritative voice breaks my trance and this time I actually drop the bottle spilling water on the floor. Lucas takes a step back. Embarrassment is clear in his face. I turn red. This is not good. "Your father is calling you." I nod my head before picking up the bottle from the floor. "Do you need something, Lucas?" I can hear the anger in her voice while she is talking to him.

"I just... came for water." He must be shocked to see her react this way.

"There's plenty available on the table." She tells him. I take a cloth to blot the water and clean it.

"Let me help you." Lucas tries to get down.

"You don't have to. Leave it. Melody and Greta will clean it. Come and join us for dinner."

"Okay." Setting the bottle aside, I make a move to go out, Lucas follows behind. Felisa doesn't move until we both come out of the kitchen. I feel like a teenager that just got caught making out with her boyfriend. My heart is still beating fast, but now, of fear and embarrassment. I go into the dining room, to see everyone gathering around it. Lucas is right behind me.

"Oh, here you are Bell. Where have you gone after the meeting?" Papa asks and I go to him.

"I was just helping in the kitchen."

I sit beside him, my other side is Marcus and Lucas sits opposite to me. Lucas's mother is here too. Felisa, Mrs. Alberto and Gemma, sit at one side. Dinner goes smoothly. Everyone is talking. I just eat my food silently and don't lift my head. I am scared of what Felisa will be saying once everyone leaves.

Are you alright?

My phone pings. I open and read the message from Lucas. Instead of responding, I just give him a small smile.

"So, how long have you been working at Mr. Alberto?" Marcus asks, as I fiddle with my food. There is a kind smile on his face. I can't help but smile back.

"I just started a week ago. Lucas offered me a job there." I reply and turn to Lucas, who is looking at us both.

"That's cool. Your father seems very happy about it." Marcus says. I look at Papa for a brief second, who is talking happily to Mr. Alberto.

"He is, I think." I look back at Lucas. "It's all thanks to him." He knows that I am thanking him. But I don't think he heard me over the noise around the table.

"It must be hard working with the Devil." Marcus words, make me flip my head at him and I nearly giggle.

"How do you know that the staff calls him that?"

"Well, I might be the one that started it." He smiles wickedly while sipping his wine. That really shocks me.

"What?!"

"He still doesn't know that yet. So, I hope you will keep that secret."

"I will." I can't help but laugh. "Really though?"

"Aha."

Marcus is such a sweet guy. We talk about random things and he makes me laugh. I have never met someone like him. I see Felisa looking at us. Oh, I am in trouble tonight. I sigh and look at Lucas, who is looking at his plate, but not eating. He seems as though he is angry. I take out my phone and text him.

Are you okay?

He looks at the text but doesn't reply. That makes me frown. He doesn't even look at me. What happened?

Once we are all done with the dinner, everyone gets ready to leave. It's been really late. They all get in their cars. Lucas doesn't even look at me before leaving. He just gets in his car and waits for his parents. Once they do, he drives off. I sigh. My heart feels heavy.

I go to my room and decide to get ready for bed.

"Getting ready to go to bed?" Felisa's voice brings me out of my thoughts.

"Um... Yes."

"I am not going to beat around. What was it that I saw in the kitchen today?" Her voice sound monotonous. "Do you like him?"

Oh no! I hope she didn't notice that I like him.

"Tell me."

Do I like him? I mean I do. Of course, I do. But... Oh God! Why does it have to be this complicated?

"Stop right now, if you do." She orders. How can you stop the feelings you have for someone? "Do you really think, he will be yours, even if you father agrees? Do you think someone of such status would want to have a child born out of an illegitimate affair to be their daughter-in-law?"

My heart slowly breaks.

"Don't forget who you are and what you came from? You are that bitch's daughter and you will remain so. You can't be anything more. Don't forget and don't even dream about it." She spurts out angrily and leaves.

Tears spill down. I fall on my bed.

Mama! I wish you were here!

Sobs escape my mouth. I feel like I can't breathe for a second. I think back to the times, Mama was with me. Getting up form my bed, I go to the desk and open the drawer. There lies my favourite book of all time. An album. I take it to the bed and sit down flipping through the pages. The pictures of her smiling, pictures of me putting paint on her face, pictures of her bathing me and pictures of Mama, Papa and me, all in one book. Tears pour down. They were the happier times.

"What's my little Bell doing?" I hear Papa's voice and immediately wipe away the tears. He comes and sits on the bed.

"Hi Papa." I sit up straight.

"What you got there?" He takes the album from my hand and flips through the pages. His eyes fill with emotion. His hands linger on the picture of their wedding day. Mama is wearing a simple white dress and Papa is in a white shirt and black pant. They look happy together. I haven't seen him that happy since then.

"Papa."

"Mm." He doesn't look away from Mama's picture. I hold his hand and that gets his attention.

"I want to move out of the palace, Papa. Now that I have a job, I want to get my own place." I finally say it. All these years, I didn't move out the palace because I didn't want to leave Papa alone here. I knew me staying here would keep him happy, but I can't anymore. He doesn't say anything. He puts his other hand over mine.

"I knew that this day will come, but I am never ready for it." He sighs and smiles. "You can move into our pent house. It will be closer to your office."

"No, Papa. I want to find a place myself."

"What? No. I don't want you to go through all that trouble. We have a-" I cut him off.

"Papa." He stops and looks at me. "I want to find a small house, maybe like an apartment. I don't want to move into big house. I want to look for it myself."

"Small house?" He asks.

"Yes."

He chuckles. "You are just like your mother." He looks at the picture for a second and then at me. "I think, I have the right place for you. You will love it."

"What?"

"You lived there with your mother. It was your Mama's house. It still is."

My heart flutters. "Papa!"

"I am sorry, Bell, that I didn't tell you sooner. I will take you there tomorrow."

"Oh my God!" I hug him. "Thank you, Papa!"

"You are welcome, dear."

A house that mom lived in? The thought itself makes me feel warm. It puts a smile on my face.

I miss you, Mama! We miss you!

Dad kisses my forehead and gives me a smile before leaving. My phone pings. I pick it up and lay on the bed. It's from Lucas.

Was he that funny?

It read.

Who?

Marcus.

A smile spreads on my lips. Is he jealous? Is that why he didn't say goodbye?

It's nothing like that, Lucas.

We will see about that, Angel.

I giggle. I don't know why. Another text appears from him.

I wish you completed saying my name earlier. How I wish to hear you say it. You have no idea.

Oh my!

A/N:

Hey mu cute dumplings!

So, so, how is it? Just so much is happening, right? They get so close and then... Boom! Just the love in the air! Bell is taking steps towards her freedom. Tell me what you think.

Please VOTE and COMMENT.