Chapter 7

• KENNEDY
• One thing I was sure of, Thayer was freaking rich. If Alessia was his relative from his father’s side, then they were filthy rich. 
• I was in his bathroom as I looked down at least twelve paper bags from a known brand, from underwear, shoes, dress, belt, coat, and even makeup. I didn’t know which one to try first. But of course, I should start putting underwear on. Then I put on the peach long-sleeve mini dress. I was surprised with the size that it was perfectly fit for me. And also the Follies pumps by Louboutin. 
• I put a little make on my face. I was not ashamed to show off my freckles on the top of my nose. Then I brushed my hair and applied the nude lipstick on my lips. Once I was done, I looked at myself in the mirror. I was far from how I looked yesterday. The fluffs under my eyes were gone. The glow on my face was back. 
• It was time to move on and look for a new apartment while I had new friends to help me move my things out.
• I stepped outside the bathroom and carried back the bags. I placed them at the corner of the room, but Thayer was nowhere to be found. 
• My stomach twisted. 
• I grabbed my phone. Thankfully, it was now fully charged. Then I found a note with very masculine handwriting.
• Meet me on the rooftop.
• T
• I entered the elevator. Once I reached the last floor, I followed the arrow that would probably lead to the rooftop.
• I stopped in front of the man around my age wearing a waitstaff uniform.
• “Miss Gilby?” 
• “Yes?”
• “Please, follow me.” He turned around.
• I followed suit. “Where are we going?”
• “Mr. Ash asked me to take you them.”
• “Thank you.”
• I tried not to look surprised but miserably failed as I ogled in awe at the three men in well-tailored suits. But my attention was quickly caught by the man in the middle. His hair waved in the blows of the wind with his hands in his pockets. The way he stood, he exuded confidence, glamour, power, and authority. 
• Who was this man? He was still a huge puzzle to me that I had no idea of solving. 
• I cleared my throat. They unanimously turned around. I felt suddenly self-conscious when three pairs of eyes were pinned at me. 
• “Hi. Did I interrupt your sightseeing?” The view from the top was magnificent. The weather was just perfect. No wonder Thayer chose this place.
• “Can I have the honor of sending you to the table?” It was Ash, and he looked handsome as ever with classic slicked-back dark hair. 
• “The honor is mine.” I hooked my hand around his arm. 
• “You look beautiful, Kennedy.”
• “Thank you, Ash.”
• “Madam.” Lud suddenly bowed slightly, making me chuckle. 
• “Wow! What’s that for?” I joked. “Thank you for choosing this dress. It’s beautiful.”
• “I’m glad you like it, ma’am.”
• I unhooked my hand around Ash’s arm and faced the man who never ceased to amaze me. If I was in a fairy tale land, I would have thought he was my prince charming. His dark blue suit and Faconnee blue tie made his eyes stood out, and his aura a power as a god.
• “You cleaned up pretty well.” It was an honest compliment. 
• He smiled. “You look stunning, Kennedy.”
• “Thank you, and to your personal shopper.” I looked around, and two were gone. “Wait. Where are they?”
• “They have important matters to do.” 
• “Did they even have their lunch?”
• “It’s almost dinner, Kennedy.”
• I sat down as he assisted me. “Thank you. Why here?”
• “Skyscrapers, towers, mountains, anything tall fascinates me. And I barely able to watch sunrise and sunset in New York.”
• “It’s beautiful. Don’t you watch the sunset in your country?” Where he came from still intrigued me. He was not definitely Brit nor Australian, but for sure, he came from a very prominent family. Thayer may not ring a bell, but maybe it was his middle name.
• “Have you experienced almost half a year of winter?”
• “Finland?”
• “In Lapland, it wintered at least two hundred days a year.”
• I drunk my water. “Wow.”
• “Levi was gorgeous at this time.”
• “Let me guess, Levi would be your next destination.” The appetizer arrived—Spinach artichoke bites.
• “I hope you don’t mind me choosing the wine.”
• I raised my glass, swirled the dark red liquid, and it smelled divine. I took a sip and let it settled in my tongue before I swallowed it down. “Good choice. I love Shiraz.”
• “Glad you like it.”
• “It feels like you know me well, Mr. Camren.”
• He dropped his gaze down, and he looked melancholy. 
• “I’m sorry. Did I say something that upset you?” 
• He dubbed his lips. “No, Kennedy. I came here to visit my sick grandfather.”
• I almost choked with my food. I quickly grabbed the water and gulped down. “I’m so sorry. How’s he?”
• “He’s been in a coma for almost three months.”
• “I don’t mean to pry, but is he Alessia’s father?”
• “Yeah.”
• I tried not to start with a touchy subject. I was still wondering if Thayer had someone special he left in his country or wherever he came from because I felt right now that we were on a date. The setting, the ambiance, and it was just the two of us in wine and dine.
• “I don’t think I have enough space for dessert.”
• “Are you sure?”
• “Yeah. The lamb was delicious.”
• “I’ll have it sent your room.”
• “That won’t be necessary.” I stared at him. I had no guarantee I would see him again. At least, I remembered this gorgeous man across the table.
• “Please? If it makes you feel better. The dessert is already paid for. You don’t wanna go it to waste, do you?”
• I rolled my eyes. “Good excuse.”
• “What do you have in mind after this?”
• “Can we stay here for a while?”
• “Of course.”
• “I wanna soak my feet in the pool.” I looked at the inviting pool to our right.
• After our early dinner—late lunch, I took off my shoes. I sauntered towards the pool. The yellow lamp lit up, giving a gorgeous glow to his medium skin. 
• I dipped my feet into the water. It was warmth, soothing my feet perfectly. “You should try this.”
• He was sitting beside me, facing opposite mine. He turned his head to look at me. “Looks like you’re enjoying it.”
• “I don’t think you will catch an athlete’s foot or skin diseases, Thayer. Try it.”
• “Thank you, love, but I pass.”
• “Do you have Polydactyly?”
• “What’s that?”
• “Extra toe.”
• He barked out laughing. His voice echoed. He shook his head in amusement. “I swear I have ten toes and ten fingers.” He showed me his long fingers. He was wearing a platinum or white gold ring on his finger. 
• “Heirloom?”
• He chuckled. “Sure. Doesn’t this look like a wedding band to you?”
• “It was a valid question, and you asked me about this necklace.” I showed at him.
• He took it from my fingers. My skin warmed, tingles spread all over. Electric jolts shot right below my tummy, spreading billions of butterflies. This was just an innocent touch. I wondered how I felt if he would just yank the back of my hair, devour me, and crush his mouth to mine.
• My breathing increased. My pulse quickened. My lips went dry as I stared at his hand, toying the simple pendant of my necklace.
• I still couldn’t understand. Even in my clear mind, this lust and attraction we had with each other. Yet, this man had the strongest self-control I’d ever met.
• I licked my dry lips. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I lifted my gaze, meeting his—greener than the virgin forest. I swallowed hard. He was burning two holes back at me with such intensity of desires burning in his eyes.
• “Fuck.”