Xo Novel
Requesting for a Tour
Requesting for a Tour
I stretched both arms above my head and heard my back make small cracking sounds. Please tell me
that this isn’t proof that I’m getting old. Fortunately, I had uploaded photos of my past artworks online
so I could just download them and put it on my newly created website. I was right, once the photos
were added in the website came to life. Black and white sketches looked chic and minimalistic against
the black and white color tone of the website while colored photos of my paintings added color and life
to the website.
Smiling a little to myself, I clapped my hands together happily to applaud my own achievement for the
day. If only my grandmother was still around, I’m sure that she would be the one applauding me for my
effort and hard work right now. If heaven really does exist, then she’s probably watching me from up Content © NôvelDrama.Org.
above…
After a few more hours, it began to get dark outside as the sun had set. Hayden should be back soon,
hopefully. The website mockup was pretty much completed. I liked it and I prayed that Hayden would
as well. I’ll find out his reaction to all of this very soon.
The real problem starts now…
I still didn’t have a pseudonym that I wanted to use as an artist. So far, I’ve been using my name. It
wasn’t all that strange to use my name, but a pseudonym is probably cooler, I guess. I shook my head
from side to side. Who am I kidding?
Although I didn’t want to admit it, I believed the reason Hayden suggested for me to take on another
name was to conceal my real identity and my relations to Torex. The Torex corporate is legal in its own
right but since everyone practically knows that they’re a mafia gang, everyone is especially scared.
Even I knew all about that before I got involved with Hayden and the boss. Back then, my reaction was
the same as everyone else. Intimidated and scared.
I wondered if my association with the mafia would have an impact on my career as an artist…
…
“I’m on my way back…” Hayden informed me casually.
“Are you driving right now?” I asked suddenly feeling very panicked.
“Yes, of course I’m driving now,” he replied like it was supposed to be obvious.
“Can you not talk on the phone while you’re driving? You know, you should concentrate on the road…I
should hang up now…” I said quickly.
“Enough worrying. I can drive just fine. I’ll see you soon,” Hayden said curtly before hanging up.
He can drive just fine? Says the guy who just had a car crash recently.
There was a knock at the door and Auntie slowly popped her head in through the door. She beamed a
smile at me, and I knew that she was here to set up the dinner table. Hayden had been eating in the
room with me instead of eating in the main dining room of the mansion. I thought that worked well
because the smaller room felt homier while the main dining room of the mansion seemed more suitable
for holding a ball or a banquet.
Now that I thought about it, apart from the rooms that I’ve casually passed by, I haven’t seen much of
the mansion yet. Since I’ve been too focused on working on the website, I haven’t gotten around to
asking Auntie to show me around. Tomorrow might be a good day for that if she’s free.
“Auntie, do you have some free time tomorrow?” I asked.
“I can always make time for you. Honestly, at my age, I’m not that busy like the other younger maids.
They just keep me here because I’ve been here a long time and all,” Auntie replied too honestly before
laughing.
“I disagree with that. I think you contribute so much to this place. At least, you take care of Hayden and
me very well,” I replied comfortingly.
“Well, thanks for your kind words. What can I help you with tomorrow?” Auntie asked curiously.
“Hayden mentioned that you can give me a tour of the mansion. I think it might be fun to take a little
tour around too. Would tomorrow work for you?” I asked brightly.
“Sure…if that’s what Hayden wants then…” Auntie replied.
For some reason that I couldn’t phantom, she seemed quite confused that I had requested for a tour of
the mansion. Perhaps, she’s been here so long that she doesn’t find the mansion new and exciting
anymore.
“Thank you!” I thanked her cheerfully.
…
Hayden is running a little late for dinner and I started feeling uneasy. I stared at the food laid out in front
of me on the table as I clutched my mobile phone tightly in my hand. My brain started a debate whether
I should give him a call or not. I knew well what this feeling was called and since Hayden’s accident, I
have been experiencing it more often than ever before. Paranoia…
He was probably caught up in traffic but no matter how many times I told myself that my brain would
stray off to conjure up more gruesome scenarios. I closed my eyes and threw my head back. If I want
to spend my life with Hayden, I’m going to have to come to terms with his high-risk lifestyle or I’ll be
worrying about him all the time until I went insane.
The door opened and my eyes immediately went to the man walking in through the door.
“Hayden!” I cried out his name happily as I got up from my seat and approached him.
“You look so happy that I’m back…” he said before smiling at me.
“I guess I am quite happy that you’re back. Was the traffic bad today?” I asked.
“A little…” he replied.
Together we walked to the dinner table where dinner was waiting for us. I wondered if the food had
gotten cold already. Maybe I should get Auntie to heat it up for us.
“Is the food cold? Should I get Auntie to heat it up?” I asked.
“There’s no need. I want to spend time alone with you,” Hayden replied so straightforwardly that I
couldn’t help but blush a little.
--To be continued…