Chapter 8: .•4.1•.

She could barely even realize what was happening as at some point throughout the night, she suddenly picked up the faint and melodious sounds of piano keys.

They gently caressed her eardrums, over and over again, with each note feeling more and more awake, until she had fully risen herself into a sitting position, hazily looking around the room.

Rubbing the sleep off of her heavy lids, she listened for a few moments longer, struggling to focus onto it since she could barely hear it as it came from somewhere inside the house.

Few more moments passed as she simply listened, strangely enough feeling so drawn to the beautiful song, even if she had never been very fond of this particular instrument before. She hadn't even taken it much into account. Yet for some unknown reason, she seemed to can't get enough of it now...It enticed her and beckoned her to come closer... listen to it better...

And against her better judgement, she climbed down from the bed, careful enough to put on the thickest and longest robe she owned as she most definitely wasn't going to make the same mistake twice and give anyone else a view at her sexy lingerie. She then tiptoed downstairs, choosing to hide herself behind the wall as she closely listened, enraptured by the magical sound.

She even found herself taking a seat on the floor, making herself a little bit more comfortable -well, as comfortable as one could get by sitting onto a cold and hard marble flooring- listening to the song as she sat completely still.

Sometime throughout the tune, she slowly started to feel so...curious...

So intrigued that she dared scoot closer and take a peek, only to notice the same male from the other night dressed the same way -top hat and all- and with that same frightening appearance painted over his face as from her spot, she could perfectly see his side profile, the ghostly male sitting on the stool in such a calm, tranquil manner whilst his long fingers expertly touched the keys of the piano.

Gazing at the side of his neck, she noticed what appeared to be a big and red-colored rose tattoo with dark leaves and thorns. She did not fail to also notice that both the back of his hands were tattooed as well as her eyes interestedly trailed all over his form, finding herself so intimidated and yet so...intrigued by the sight of him.

What was his deal? Why was he looking like that? Surely there had to be a story behind all that...

So lost in thought, she almost missed the way that his dark eyes ever so subtly shifted in her direction, the girl however being quick to hide herself back behind that wall, her heart now drumming wildly inside her chest as the thought of being caught by him terrified her to no end.

.••.

For days on end, it had became her routine to do both her jobs. Serving at the cafe and then returning to King Estate to clean up the piano before she went to bed. She would also wake up throughout the night to go downstairs and listen to the ghostly male play, his slow and sometimes sad songs deeply reaching to the strings of her heart as she would sometimes even find herself shedding a few tears whilst sitting there, in her usual spot behind the wall.

And tonight was no different as she sat there yet again, her back resting against the wall as she hugged her knees close to her chest, so lost within her own mind as she closely listened to the wonderful lullaby.

She hadn't even realized when her eyelids had fluttered closed for a moment, with each passing second dangerously slipping further and further away to dreamland, almost failing to hear that abrupt stop and the deep masculine voice that followed.

"You can come out now,"

Her heart immediately froze with fear. Her eyes were now wide open, remaining completely still for a few seconds whilst her mind struggled to comprehend and digest what just happened.

Sweet Jesus.

What...How...?

Oh my god, get up you idiot! That is your boss talking to you!

Her mind urged as she eventually snapped out of her utter state of shock and proceeded to reveal herself, still wondering how he'd known that she was there, like a trembling leaf now standing in the doorway as the scarily intimidating male attentively stared at her from his seat.

Crap.

"Mr. King, I'm so sorry I didn't mean to-"

One look. One piercing look was all it took to leave her speechless, feeling her pulse banging within her throat as her green eyes lowered to her grey fuzzy socks, unable to stare into that smouldering for gaze any longer.

"It's okay. You can stay if you want to,"

Her surprised gaze quickly rose to meet his, searching for any hint of jest, noticing the male hadn't even bothered to pay her any more attention as he swiftly resumed to his previous activity, now acting like she wasn't even there.

She hesitated for a few good moments as she wasn't even sure if she wanted to, eventually giving in as she quickly walked to the vintage floral-patterned couch and climbed onto it, however taking a somewhat defensive position as she once again hugged her knees close to her chest, resting her chin atop them.

Listening to the peculiar male before her play, her curious eyes once again trailed all over his form, from this angle noticing that he had not one but two identical red roses, each inked on both sides of his neck, making his appearance all the more dangerous as she kept on watching him, taking in every detail and every aspect of his entire presence.

Who...are you?

Her mind whispered as she eventually started to feel her eyelids droop once again, the image of those dark eyes intently watching her being the last thing she saw before she fell into the arms of a deep slumber.