Hate at first sight

''This house means a lot to me. I inherited it from my grandparents and also, I lived here until 8 months ago that I had to go away because of family issues but now that I'm back, I intend to stay here till I die.''

The way she spoke seriously made Butler James smile. ''Do you really have to stay here? I could get you any apartment of your choice in any district and still pay you any amount you want for the house.''

''I have to stay here; I need to stay here…that way I won't forget about my grandparents.'' Inayah clasped her hands as she spoke about her grandparents.

Though they were the major reason, she still had another reason for wanting to stay in that house. She was waiting for someone.

''Your grandparents?''

''Someone. In short, I can't sell this house and I can't move out. I'm sorry!''

''Is alright, I understand. Thanks! Then, I should get going.''

''Okay, have a nice evening, sir!''

''Bye!''

Butler James looked at the house once again and smiled and murmured to himself as he walked towards the mansion. ''Looks like the young master is going to throw a fit. This young girl is quite tenacious than I thought''

/////

Jasper stood by the window looking at Inayah's window as he spoke on the phone to Butler James.

''She said she can't sell it. Okay, I will take care of it myself.'' He hung up and murmured to himself. ''Looks like I have to use other means to make you move.''

He furrowed his brows as he sipped his wine. ''But, why is her house light turned off? Is she not home yet? Does she not know is dangerous for a girl to be out this late?''

Jasper drunk all the wine in his glass and went in to change and go out.

....

District H Night Market.

Inayah looked at the bubbly district filled with people doing their business and smiled.

She was with Clara exploring the night market. Night market in District H was the go to place for entertainment.

There were always a lot of food and good things.

Clara turned to look at her excitedly and spoke, ''Ayah, isn't this place the most beautiful at night times?''

Inayah had an indifferent expression while watching the people having fun. She wanted to be in her bed sleeping but her dearest cousin just had to pull her out to come to this place.

''Did you call me out at this time, just to come and watch the night market with you?''

''My dear cousin, can please not be a sadist? I called you out because I thought you would be bored at home. Thanks to your quickie attitude, you don't even have a single friend.'' Inayah looked at her and chuckled. ''Enjoy this night, okay? It doesn't come often.''

Inayah nodded her head, ''okay, I will my dear cousin.''

Meanwhile, at a place not far from where they were at, Jasper arrived at the market square in his motorbike and pulled over.

He parked it at the empty parking space before taking out his face mask.

He looked around the area and put his hands inside his pockets and started walking towards a group of people singing and dancing.

His unusual tall physique and curly brown hair made heads turned wherever he went.

''Ayah, let's buy some meat.'' Clara said, pulling Inayah from one place to the other.

''Clara, I'm tired. Can we go home already?''

''Let's buy the meat first. Tonight, I'm sleeping at your place. I want to see him.'' Clara said and gave Inayah a wink.

''Him? Who?''

''Mystery man from the glass mansion. Is he handsome?''

''I've never even seen him before, okay? I have no idea how he looks like.'' Inayah said as they turned towards the meat stall.

''Really? Then, is he tall. Did he look handsome?''

''Get a grip on yourself, will you? Even though I've never seen him before, judging from his stature he should be old. How can you be asking me these questions?''

Jasper was walking around when he saw a familiar figure making him stop in his strides. A soft chuckle escaped from his lips the moment he looked around and saw them at a distance and watched them at they stood by the meat stall.

He cocked his brows and looked at the picture of the two girls in his phone, recognising them immediately.

''Haven't you heard? Age is just a number. Besides, he is rich. Wait! What if you are being watched? What if he is a stalker? Oh my God!'' Clara said and started laughing. She was intrigued by the whole idea of finding out who the owner of the mansion was.

''Why don't you write a novel? Since you have such a rich imagination? Why would he watch me? Is not like I'm beautiful or anything.'' Inayah nudged Clara's shoulder.

''Don't you see in movies? The man falls for the lonely poor girl and he hides to see her every day…'' Inayah hit Clara's head lightly. ''Hey, it hurts.''

''Then snap out of it. We are not acting a movie and this is me we are talking about. Do I look poor?''

''I was only giving scenarios, no need to snap!''

''Just buy the meat and we will go, okay? I'm going to get us some water. Come to the mart when you are done.''

''Whatever!''

Inayah turned suddenly to look behind her and saw Jasper looking at her. She quivered and suddenly thought about the man in the mansion.

Even though he was wearing a mask and half of his face was concealed, his eyes seemed to burrow into her soul and this sent shivers down her spine.

She instinctively held Clara's hand and stepped backwards.

''Clara, I think I'm being watched!'' Inayah said making Clara to look at her with a confused gaze.

''What?'' Clara frowned. She didn't think that Inayah would take her words seriously.

''That man over there, I think is him!'' Inayah pointed at the man in front of her but when Clara turned, she didn't see anyone.

''What man?''

''I saw him…over there!''

''Who?''

''The man at the villa. I definitely saw him. He was over there a few seconds ago.''

''Ayah, is midnight, the place is a bit dark, how are you so sure you saw him? Okay, I know I said weird things just now and maybe that made you feel jittery but, there is nobody there. Besides, why would he come to this place at this time?'' Clara asked.

''I'm sure he was the one I saw!'' Inayah knew she wasn't exaggerating things.

''Maybe we should just go home. You are acting weird and is freaking me out.''

''Why don't you believe me? I definitely saw him and I am not hallucinating.'' Inayah walked away and Clara called after her.

''Ayah, wait. I'm sorry, okay?'' Clara ran after her.

//////

Inayah and Clara got down from a taxi chatting as they walked into Inayah's apartment.

''Hey, I'm sorry, okay?''

''Forget it. You don't believe me anyway.'' Inayah felt crazy.

''I believe you, okay? I know you're serious and I feel creepy about this whole thing too.''

''More than me?" Inayah cocked her brows.

Clara rolled her eyes. ''Well, not more than you. But, I just feel creepy especially about the tattoo on your shoulder; I mean you don't even know where it came from. And then, this rich mystery man living in the mansion who saw you almost naked. Everything is creepy.''

''I know, and I intend to put an end to it tonight.''

''How?''

''Let's go in first. Is late already!''

''Okay.'' Clara followed her into the hall. After they left, the man in the motorbike also arrived and went into the mansion.

Clara picked a face cream and after coming out of the bathroom wearing one of Inayah's robes. ''So, what do you plan to do?'' She asked.

''Provoke him!'' Inayah replied as she picked her clothes and went into the bathroom to take her bath.

''What?'' Clara carried the cream with her to stand by the door chatting as she applied some on her face.

Inayah turned on the shower as she spoke. ''I am going to provoke him!''

''How?''

Inayah smirked. ''I am going to write 'Stalker' 'Pervert' and all kinds of nasty words and paste on my window and when he looks over here, he will read them.''

Clara placed the cream back and went inside to the sink to wash her hands and said to Inayah. ''Instead of doing that, why don't you avoid him and don't look out the window again. Keep your room light off all the time.''

Inayah turned off the shower and started cleaning herself as she asked, ''why?''

''He is a powerful man; he could destroy you at the snap of a finger.''

Inayah walked out with her after putting on her pyjamas. ''That reminds me. A certain elder came today and wanted to buy my house.''

''What? So, what did you tell him?''

''I told him I couldn't sell it.'' Inayah sat down to apply her face cream.

''This house has been here since 30 years ago, even the recent development in District H hasn't affected it. Why would someone want to buy it, suddenly?''