Chapter 5 5

FEDRIC'S POV

I have no idea what possessed my grandmother to make me drive this girl around. God, my car has never carried anyone like Mathilda before.

What if her messy red curls shed all over the back seat? What if her clothes smell cheap? What if her backside isn't even clean enough for my luxury leather interior?

The thought alone irritates me.

Thankfully, Paula is sweet and understanding. I really didn't make a mistake choosing her as my girlfriend.

We've been together for almost three months now, and I'm sure she's the one I want to marry. It almost sounds ridiculous when I say it out loud, but it's true - I love her deeply.

Paula is the first woman who's ever made me take a relationship seriously. Until she came along, women and beauty were just distractions to me - games to play when I was bored.

But Paula changed that. She made me feel something real. She made me believe that love could be more than a fleeting impulse. Her face is stunning, her heart kind, her manners elegant - everything about her is perfect.

The only problem? My grandmother disapproves. Every time I bring up Paula's name, Rosa's face turns cold, her expression unreadable. She changes the topic as if Paula doesn't exist. I don't understand why.

"Here's fine," Mathilda's voice suddenly said from the back seat.

I slammed the brake a little harder than I should have, startled. We had stopped near a small shop not far from her house.

"Hurry up," I snapped. "My time isn't meant to chauffeur you around. If it weren't for my grandmother, I wouldn't have even let you into my car."

"Fredric," Paula said softly, her tone a warning. "Watch your manners."

"Thank you, Paula," Mathilda replied before I could respond. "I wouldn't have come either if it weren't for Mrs. Rosa."

I turned around sharply, glaring at her. How dare she talk back? The nerve of that girl.

As soon as Mathilda shut the car door, Paula reached out, touching my cheek gently. "Why are you so angry?" she asked, her eyes calm and soft.

"Didn't you hear what she said? She's just a weak girl. She has no right to talk to me like that."

Paula smiled faintly. "You know the kind of person Mathilda is, don't you? She's beneath you. It's not worth it. You and I live in different worlds from hers - surely you understand that."

Her words made me pause. I hadn't expected her to sound so blunt, so sharp. But something about it thrilled me. Paula could be both kind and cruel, and I liked that about her - it reminded me of a rose: beautiful but with thorns.

"Honestly," I said with a grin, "I thought you'd defend her. Turns out I was right about you. People like Mathilda... they take advantage of kindness. I've seen it too many times."

Paula laughed, her red lips curving into that perfect, seductive smile. The way she looked at me made it impossible not to lean in.

Our faces drew closer - just a breath apart - when the back door suddenly opened.

"Oh, sorry," Mathilda muttered, climbing in with a backpack.

Perfect timing.

Paula and I instantly pulled apart. The moment was ruined. My first kiss with her - gone, thanks to Mathilda.

"Let's go, Fredric," Paula said with a small laugh, trying to diffuse the awkwardness.

I bit back my frustration, slammed the car into gear, and drove off toward my grandmother's house.

If Mathilda hadn't interrupted us, I would've finally kissed Paula. I haven't even touched her before. That's another reason why I respect her so much - she's not like the shallow women I've dated before. Paula has standards.

I glanced at the rearview mirror. Mathilda was staring out the window, lost in thought, her reflection faint in the glass.

"I don't know what you're planning next," I said coldly, "but you should understand something. You'll never fool my grandmother, Mathilda. Don't even think about taking advantage of her kindness."

"Fredric," Paula said softly. "Why say that to her? I'm sure Mathilda isn't that kind of person. Even if she's not on our level, there's no need to be cruel."

Paula looked at me with that charming smile, and I couldn't help but smile back. We were in sync - perfectly aligned in thought and tone. She understood me better than anyone.

Still, I meant every word. I've always had a feeling about Mathilda - that quiet, poor girls like her might act innocent but secretly crave opportunity. They might use sympathy to get what they want.

It's better to warn her now than regret it later.

"Fredric, look," Paula whispered, chuckling. "You've made her cry."

I turned around slightly. Mathilda was wiping her eyes, silent, her shoulders trembling.

I sighed. "Save your tears, Mathilda. I just want you to understand your place. My grandmother may be kind, but I'm not a fool. Don't try anything. Got it? Stay for a day if you have to, but don't overstep."

She didn't move or answer. She just sat there, quiet and still.

Pathetic.

For a second, I almost expected her to argue - to shout or defend herself. But she didn't. She just kept silent, and somehow, that silence irritated me even more.

Weak people like her don't fight back. They just crumble.

---

"Mathilda, why are you crying?"

The question made me flinch slightly. Grandma's voice was sharp, suspicious.

"I'm not crying," Mathilda said quickly, forcing a smile. "Some dust got in my eye. I'm fine. Anyway, Mrs. Rosa, I should get back to work. I'll return later. I left my father alone at home."

She was good at hiding things.

I exhaled, relieved. "Well, Grandma," I said, "can we go to lunch now? I'm starving."

Mathilda walked past me, glancing sideways. Her look lingered for a second - hard to read - then she turned and left. I gave her a cold, mocking stare in return.

"Mathilda, wait," Rosa called out. "After work, stay where you are. Fredric and I will pick you up."

I frowned instantly. "What? Pick her up for what, Grandma?"

Rosa smiled slyly. "I thought we could go out together this evening - just the three of us."

"Three of us?" I repeated. "As in... you, me, and *her*?"

"Exactly. And Paula's not coming," she said simply.

Mathilda looked surprised but didn't speak. She just nodded politely, muttered something, and hurried away.

I turned back to Grandma. "Why are you making such a ridiculous plan? Paula and I-"

"Enough, Fredric," she interrupted. "No arguments. My decision stands. You're coming with us. Without Paula."

I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "This is insane."

Rosa ignored me completely and started walking ahead. Paula gently rubbed my back, but even her touch couldn't calm the irritation boiling inside me.

I wanted to scream.

Everything was perfect - the day, the mood, my time with Paula - until Mathilda ruined it.

Now I was stuck in the middle of some absurd plan I didn't understand, my first kiss stolen, my temper flaring, and my grandmother's stubbornness making everything worse.

I clenched the steering wheel once more before stepping out of the car.

*This is madness,* I thought bitterly. *Mathilda has ruined everything.*