Chapter Thirty-one Evan Sterling’s POV (Ten Years Before)

For about a minute I tried to rake my brain for what the fuck just happened as I watched the puzzling creature sashayed away, trying to hold back a laugh. I thought she looked familiar. There was something about her facial structure that reminded me so much of our housekeeper and that was where the resemblance ended. The color of her eyes was unique, not something you see every day; they were hazel alright, but with prominent gold flecks that made the color exotic and hypnotizing. Her face was devoid of makeup, showing off her natural beauty and exposing how young she must be. Her lower lip was fuller than the upper and was a pale pinkish color that made me think of kissing her just to get her to shut up! And that body… Christ, she was hot. She had a body that was to die for. I have never recalled getting this excited in a few minutes of meeting any girl before and once I reached for her I wanted so badly to keep her body close. My cock stirred and I shook my head. Whoa, man let's take it easy. My reaction to the girl was weird as fuck. She made me wish I was single and had the time to pursue her, taming that wild mouth of hers would be something. A small smile tugged the corners of my lips and I recalled I was still standing under the rain like some love-struck idiot. I scoffed and turned away to get my bathrobe before going back inside.
Going for a swim was an impulsive move. I needed an excuse to get out in the rain and just live a little. My life for the past years since I graduated from college has been from the boardroom to the bedroom from one meeting to the other. Learning everything I could from the bottom up to understand how the banking industry works. The idea was my mother's and even though I didn't agree at first I saw her wisdom in no time and being incognito was mine. Which paid off and pissed my old man off. I found it was easier to learn stuff when no one knew you were the son of the owners. It meant lots of work, but I didn't mind and now, I was practically running the financial institutions, leaving my father to handle his old clients, and my mum the social aspect of it. The fact that I have a girlfriend at all was a miracle. I hardly have time to see her and she had been nagging me about that for weeks. I planned to make time to see her this weekend. I was certain the fact that it had been a while since I got laid must be a contributor to my reaction to the feisty girl. I chuckled to myself wondering if she was even seventeen. My goodness. Speaking of robbing the cradle. I shook my head. No matter the reason for my reaction to her. She was off-limits. The last thing I needed was a sexual harassment suit.
I stopped at the start of the stairs that led upstairs to my room and found my way to the kitchen instead. Ms. Sophia was making coffee when I walked in. The chef paused what he was doing to give me his full attention and Ms. Sophia dropped her coffee cup to take a few strides toward me.
"Good evening, Mr. Sterling, is there something you need?" Ms. Sophia asked.
"Dinner will soon be served, sir, I'm almost done," the chef interjected
"It's okay, thank you, Mr. Johnson, I only came to have a word with Ms. Sophia," I said, gesturing to the woman, "Please can I have a word with you alone," I added.
"Of course, sir," she said and hurried to follow me out of the kitchen. When I was certain we were out of ear range, I turned to face her, and she looked up at me with curiosity. I almost smiled when I saw the set of her jaw. Ah! That was it. I thought. They must be related.
"Sorry to take you away from your duties," I began.
"I was just getting coffee, sir. I just finished serving Mrs. Sterling. She got back early and was feeling a little under the weather," she said with a warm smile.
"Thank you. I will check on her when I go upstairs. I actually asked to speak with you because I just met a young lady who bore a striking resemblance to you--" I paused when she went pale and quickly added, "you are aware she is here, right?" Just to be sure she didn't run from home.
"Yes, she um… she is my niece…" she said, then slipped her hand inside the pocket of her dress and let out a sigh. "I'm sorry Mr. Sterling, I should have let you know immediately she came. You see, we lost my twin sister and brother-in-law a few months back. They died in a car accident. My senior brother who could have taken her in was out of the country and I… um decided she could visit, temporarily, of course!"
"I'm sorry for your loss. Poor thing. How old is she?"
"She would be eighteen in four months -- if my calculation is precise. She is attending the Charlestown community college for an accelerated study…”
"What course?"
"She is taking anatomy as a pre-med course. She is a very smart girl like my sister, and responsible too. Just four weeks ago she took a job working as a waitress at Drawbridge Dining and goes there after school. I'm such an airhead I forgot to drop the key for her and forgot my phone."
"It's okay, I suppose she intended to move to campus soon then?"
"Um...yes.."
"No problem then if anyone gives you trouble just say I gave you the permission for her to visit."
"Thank you so much, sir."
"Don't mention it… I suppose you need to go and let her have the key. I'm afraid I may have scared her off," I grinned sheepishly. She chuckled. "Let me throw something on and drive you down there "
"No, no you don't need to at all. I will just use an umbrella..."
"I insist. Let me make myself decent," I said, turned, and left. I found myself wishing I could see her face when she found out I had guessed who she was. I chuckled to myself. Time traveler my foot.
I knew the older woman was uncomfortable but I wanted to be the one to take her back to the chalet. Not that I was hoping to see her again, I just felt it was a decent thing to do.
"What's her name?" I asked, breaking the silence in my Jeep as I drove towards the northern part of the estate.
"Sir?"
"Your niece, what's her name?"
"Estera Roberts," she supplied with a smile. I nodded and looked away.
"Estera," I repeated the name under my breath, allowing myself to recall those enchanting eyes and that stunning face of hers and her body. 'Yea,' I thought. The exotic name fit the exotically beautiful girl perfectly.
When we got to the chalet’s driveway I parked right in front of the building and reached behind the passenger’s seat to give Ms. Sophia an umbrella. She thanked me, got down, and hurried across the lawn to the porch. I watched as she paused looking around then she called out, “Estera darling where are you?” But I didn’t hear anyone answer. “She is not here yet,” she added.
“Okay, stay here and wait for her while I drive around and try to find her,” I called out through the open window.
“Oh, Mr. Sterling, we are causing you too much trouble. I will go and look around for her.”
“It’s okay, Ms. Sophia, with my help we will be able to find her faster,” I replied.
“Thank you so much!”
“It’s no problem at all,” I said, wound up the side window, and drove away, thinking if I was an angry young adult, wet, and wandering in the pouring rain where would I go. A thought struck me and I thought if she was as dauntless as she sounded she would have found the outdoor sauna built to look like a stream somewhere west of the grounds. The place was secluded, shaded by trees and the pathway could have caught her attention if she was walking from the main house to the chalet. The reflective light inside the stream often created a glowing greenish hue at night, almost making the clearing magical. I drove in the direction and parked under a shield, stepping out to see if I needed an umbrella. I hadn't visited the place in a while and never came there during the rainy season either.
When I found I wouldn’t be needing an umbrella, I pulled up my hoodie to cover my hair. It was chilly out and I felt bad that I hadn’t made an effort to stop her but then she was a stranger lurking in my backyard. With my hands in my pocket, I walked down the path that led to the sauna stream, the trees were so well-groomed that they shielded the entire path. I nodded in approval. When I was about twelve feet away from the stream, I stopped to look around. The stream was covered with steamy vapor and the light emanating from it glowed dully, illuminating the area. It was quiet with no sign of life and I felt disappointed that my deduction was wrong. ‘Perhaps she wasn’t curious enough to explore the area,’ I thought, then heard the rippling of water and my heart skipped a beat when a figure emerged from the stream, completely nude.
“Dear God!” I muttered under my breath, seeing her beautiful body on total display. Her hair which was held up and in a bun atop her head before was left loose now, and it fell down her shoulders, covering her left breast, but leaving the other one uncovered. She was round, full, and luscious. My entire body stood at attention for her. I couldn’t help trailing my eyes down her front to the v spot between her legs and I saw it was matted with hair, I released a shaky breath. Her hips were wide and round and her long slim legs drove my imagination into overdrive. “Jesus! Evan, she is underage!” a voice screamed in my head and I cleared my throat awkwardly to announce she was not alone.