Chapter 2 DISTANCE

Kara's POV

"What was the name of that girl, the model on that fashion station we watched two nights ago?" my mama asked, her face glowing as she moved to the counter with the blended fruits in the pink glass cup.

Her thick black hair, which I fortunately inherited from her, swayed heavily behind her, and I did an eye roll, wondering why she didn't fix it into a doughnut style since she was cooking. My mama had been asking for the name of the female model for days now and I was honestly getting tired of hearing it.

"The one who wore that purple gown..." She trailed off with a thinking look when I didn't respond.

I stabbed the China breakable plate with irritation when she asked me the question again, glowering slightly at her before rinsing the plate and wiping it clean.

"You didn't answer me, Kara. What's wrong, I noticed you've been brooding for a few days now." The concern was thick in her tone, her Italian accent clearly evident. I shook my head.

"Nothing is wrong. Well, except that you've been asking me the name of the model repeatedly. It's getting tiring!"

"I like her. That's why."

Squinting, I stared at her really hard. How would she say she liked a female model? Oh no, I wondered what she could be up to this time.

The last time she asked me a suspicious question like this, she had ended up getting a golden retriever for the young master Stephano and to say the least, he wasn't happy with her. For days, he kept moping around the house and he kept everyone in the mansion on edge.

"I mean no harm dear." She giggled.

"By the way, when will you submit those assignments you told me about?"

"We are on a short break, mama. I'll submit them when we resume."

Turning around, she gave me a suspicious look. "Wouldn't your lecturer think you a lazy bone then?"

"No. He knows we're on holiday." I stated in a deadpan tone.

"Whatever. I also went to college and I'm just asking because things have changed over the years." She snorted and went back to what she was doing, not before narrowing her eyes at me.

"I am not arguing now am I?" I sang.

Being a third-year student at Premium University in Trapani, Sicily, wasn't all that fun because it was an academic environment where we got challenged and thoroughly equipped in all areas for individual growth and usefulness in our area of study, but I was studying economics which I loved with passion and that was good compensation.

At the age of twenty-two- which would be in a year, precisely in August - I would graduate and find somewhere good to start working. To say the least, I couldn't wait for that to happen.

Despite it being a university with high standards and all, I loved my University because it exposed me to so many things about life, and I already met so many amazing people through it. Not to forget the amazing opportunities it offered to students. The only problem I had was that there was this particular person whom I totally didn't like, and he was somehow entangled in every aspect of my life.

The person was also paying my tuition.

He was my mama's boss and the one taking care of all my expenses, probably since I was in high school. With his cold demeanor and naturally clenched jaws, he just gave me the chills.

His piercing blue eyes were always inspecting like he was waiting to actually find a fault in everything. But I was grateful to him and his family for their constant support since I was a child. I had never even for once been in lack of anything; they even pampered me so much because I was regarded as the last born that deserved all the doting and attention.

I shook my head and did a skyward eye roll, only to come face to face with a young master's portrait hanging on the wall at the far end opposite the kitchen, which was where I was standing. As usual, he was staring blankly even in the portrait. As if he was bored of life.

My hands clenched slowly and I stared at his face impassively before turning back to what I was doing.

My mama left the kitchen, so I wiped my hands and took my phone, checking my notifications on Facebook and Instagram.

I sneered when I saw the model my mama had been asking about, heaving a sigh as I clicked on her account and checked her latest pictures. I couldn't help but heave another dreamy sigh some seconds later.

Melanie Ambrogio was an Italian model and she represented so many agencies worldwide, as long as they could afford her. She was beautiful, carried her body with grace, and she had amazing confidence,, and also had the perfect model shape. Her slender figure and burst were really admirable. Most of those who knew her or had been co-starred with her said she was totally humble and easy to roll with, but then that wasn't really my business.

I double-clicked on her pictures to signify I just liked them and then left her page, moving to Harry Styles and Zayn Malik's posts and making crazy obsessed comments on them with a goofy grin. My mama entered once again with a sigh, adjusting the mitten as she made sure her hands were comfortable in them.

"What did Gonzalo want the other time?"

"Oh. You know how much of a troublemaker he is. He came to see how his childhood friend was doing."

"So, he's also resuming with you guys?"

"Sure. Most universities are resuming the same week. It was just a week break for lecturers." She checked the corn soup and hummed in approval, stretching the spoon in my direction for me to have a taste.

"The taste of love is what I call it."

"Yeah, you've given me the taste for years so there's no way I would magically forget it now, is there?" I raised a questioning brow but she pushed the spoon further into my face.

"Hush and taste it already."

"This is a good mama." I complimented and licked the tip of my finger properly.

"Lest I forget my dear, kindly get the bath

ready for the young master. He's been in his study for a while now." She spoke softly and returned to her chore.

Stiffening, my face morphed into a familiar scowl. I left my Instagram page, not giving Shawn Mendes's Picture-where he was staring at something and smiling-alike.

Young master.

I felt my heart thump repeatedly in my chest, feeling cornered.

Now, the other stay-in house helps; Mimi wasn't available at the moment, Stephanie wasn't around, and the last one, Preeti, was on holiday to see her family in India. Dread filled me. Knowing I had no choice, I wiped my right hand where there was still a soup stain on my dress and got down from the stool with slumped shoulders, deciding to prepare his bath ASAP.

"Yes, mama," I replied gloomily and exited the kitchen. My legs felt heavy with each step I took up the stairs. Halfway through the hallway, I could already smell his musky cologne.

He was using strong, solid Cologne and it fitted him because he was a solid devil. No, he wasn't a little demon but the devil himself. Tall, handsome, undoubtedly good-looking convincingly, and had this unnerving aura around him. The fragrance was really strong and I couldn't avoid it, making me inhale it anyway. I entered the young master's room and shut the door with a soft click as I entered his bathroom and prepared his bath.

I knew I had to inform him that I had done so.

I quickly went into the study and did just that, trying to make as little sound as I could.

"Your bath is ready."

He didn't raise his head up, so I cleared my throat slightly.

The tendrils of his sleek black hair fell over his face as he concentrated on the paperwork before him, and I averted my gaze to keep from staring at him. It didn't feel totally right to stare. His jaws were tightly clenched. I couldn't deny the fact that he was beautiful to look upon though. He had blue orbs that just reminded me of the ocean and a really structured face with a pointed nose. His cheekbones stood proud and defined his slightly rosy lips.

Yes, he was attractive to the eyes and oozed confidence, but he was also intimidating in every way, and I made sure to steer clear of anything related to him whenever he was around. It had been hard to do before but when I gained admission into the private university, I was glad I wouldn't have to move around in an awkward air with the so-called young master.

But for now, I had just returned from the private hostel where I was staying, and I knew I would just have to bear it till I left for school once again.

"Welcome sir," I spoke so softly that it was almost hard for me to hear myself at all.

"Hmm." He grunted slowly. Then he raised his head up and fixed me one of his blank looks, succeeding in reminding me that I was wasting his time.

"Yes?" He spoke gruffly.

His expression was still hard, so hard that I wondered what he would look like when he was in his office. His employees must be really intimidated by him. I kept quiet and watched his two eyes look over me, wondering why they suddenly became intense when he clenched his jaws even tighter.

"Speak."

"Your bath is ready." I gasped quickly, opening the door and shutting it quickly behind me as I walked away from the man. It is more like running.

I knew the man hated me. Now I was convinced that he just did because the raw irritation in his eyes was something I definitely didn't miss. What was it with that man?

He really did have something up his sleeves, thinking he could treat everyone the way he wanted, especially me. He usually took his time staring into my soul and my heart as if I carried the sins of the whole world and he wanted me to burn.

"You did it?" Mama asked when I got back into the kitchen. I did an eye roll and took a calm exhale.

It was about time I started looking for a job so that I wouldn't have to come home during the holidays and could begin earning money to prepare for my future. I needed to become independent. It wasn't as if he didn't pay my... oh yes, he did pay my bills. I had more than enough money in my account to buy land if I wanted.

But still!

Most importantly, I needed to distance myself from him.