Chapter 5 Welcome home

" I have no reason to lie to you, Belle Charlotte!" Herman spoke softly showing his sincerity in those words.

I stared at him for a while before I said okay. He gave me one of those brief but killing smiles as he mumbled thank you and I just found myself smiling back before I turned to face the window.

We arrived at my place, of course Stacy was surprised to see both of us together.

" Welcome home Ms Belle and sir. Dinner is already served." She said as she bowed slightly to us.

" Just make sure one of the guest rooms is arranged for Herman, he'll be staying with us from today!" I said. I was surprised by sudden decision. How did I even come to allow strangers into my place so easy like that. I was beginning to doubt my actions and this stranger named Herman Rainer.

Stacy stood there surprised too.

" Stacy, you heard me!" I called out and Stacy jumped out of her stance.

" Oh sure, on it!" She said and left us.

" Welcome home Herman!" I said and headed for my room. Actually I wanted to Google him on the net. This is very unlike me.

Yes, I did Google him but there was nothing at all, it's like he is a nobody. " I got some spying to do, I don't know how I even came to welcome strangers in my house like that!" I said to myself.

Again, I felt my hair rise, like someone was grazing my skin. It was a good feeling but very creepy. I quickly turned to my door and it was open.

" Didn't I lock it on my way in?" I asked myself. I shrugged it off and went out to have dinner. Stacy and Herman were chatting and laughing. So I thought I was just being paranoid, no one was stalking me.

"my stomach is rumbling, can we eat now?" I said.

" Oh yes. Mr Herman, join us for dinner please!" Stacy said and Herman smiled.

" Just call me Herman!" He said and I ignored his courtesy and headed to the dining room before them.

Herman and Stacy came in after a while. They took their seats before we served and started eating.

I could see Stacy glancing at him time after time, she must still be surprised how I actually agreed to let him stay with us even though we hardly know him. We don't know where he comes from, everything about him is inconspicuous.

I helped Stacy clear the table. Herman offered to help too. Well, I do usually help Stacy sometimes, I take her like a close friend, she has been with me for quite a long time now.

So, you now know your room, you can take a rest. I'm heading to my room too. We will talk about work tomorrow when we go to the office. I am now tired." I told Herman who just nodded his head and smiled at me.

" Have a good night miss Charlotte." Herman said nodding slightly.

" We had promised to drop the formalities earlier, didn't we?" I asked him and he chuckled.

" Did we? Then my memory must be terribly bad to have forgotten such small details." He said with a childish grin.

" Now I'm scared, you can't be forgetful my work would be in danger if I employ you then." I said faking a scary face. Herman laughed at that.

Okay, Belle, do have a good sleep. At what time are we leaving for office?" Herman asked me.

" I always leave for office at six thirty in the morning. But my employees must be there by eight." I informed.

" Okay! And what about interviewees like myself? I'm yet to be employed, right?" Herman said with a straight face.

" You are an exception. Sorry to inform you that we are leaving together at six thirty tomorrow, so you better get your lazy ass out of the bed quite early. Breakfast is served by six if you're an early feeder. Personally I hate bothering Stacy so early, so, I do take breakfast later on at the office." I explained.

" I'm not an early bird either. So, let's not bother Stacy. And furthermore, I can make anything I want for me. And you too!" He said.

" It won't be necessary, really." I said.

" If you say so!" Herman said.

" Okay, good night Herman." I said just to cut short our conversation. I know we could even stand they for half of the night talking. They was something intriguing about this herman that kept me pulling on to him. Like I said before, he is a mystery I want to solve. Their must be something more than just what he's showing us.

Herman was just staring at my knitted face as I was thinking so hard. I didn't even realize that I've been staring at those beautiful eyes of him. Oh, damn, he was looking so handsome, especially at this moment under the corridor dim light.

" Ms Charlotte, I said good night." He spoke, jolting me back to my senses.

" Oh, yeah, right! Good night too!" I said clumsily before sprinting to my room and locking my door. What just happened back there? I mean, I was just staring at his eyes and I felt like I was drawn to them, oh my God! Like there was a certain pull. I felt it because I was still breathing heavily.

I was scared of whatever I was beginning to feel around this mysterious Herman. I sighed and threw my tired body on my king size bed.

Morning came fast and I groaned as my alarm went off. I was having a good dream. A very unforgettable I could say. But that's a story for another day.

I forced my lazy body off the bed and did my usual routine.