CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

As Natasha held her heart in her hands, waiting for Sarah to reprimand her for whatever course, she silently prayed that Sarah, somehow, hadn't found out about what she did earlier on. If she were ratted out, that would be the end for her.

"I'm done," she announced with a quick smile. Maybe creating a distraction will save her.

She came closer and enveloped her in a hug. "Good job," she said as she pulled back. Sarah was a very affectionate woman. "Just don't snoop around the main building whenever there are guests. Lorenzo doesn't like it," she warned, the frown on her face gone.

"I'm sorry. I'll be more careful henceforth. I didn't mean to cause any trouble."

In her short time there, Sarah became a mother to her. Since she didn't have any experience of a mother, having lost hers at a tender age, she hung on to Sarah's affection.

Natasha grew up fast to take care of herself and her sister. Even though she was on a mission, enjoying genuine love wasn't a crime. Sarah wasn't the target. There was no need not to reciprocate her love. Part of her loneliness was easing out.

Giving her a nod and after saying goodnight, Natasha headed for her room. Her legs felt heavy as she walked up the stairs, tiredness overtaking her.

She stopped when she noticed the door of the sitting room open. The sitting room was between her room and Lorenzo's. She looked around her. No one was there. With a confident gulp, she slowly made her way toward the room.

As she got closer, she saw that the lights were on. Leaning forward, she peeked inside. There was no one.

It was true that she had been warned against prying. But, she wouldn't be able to complete her mission without that. She needed to see, feel and hear as many details as possible. And, studying all corners of her environment was also important.

Not communicating with Luca for over a week might give the man ideas. If she eventually called him, she needed to have something worth his while. Yes, the fact that she was in Lorenzo's nest wasn't something she was ready to release to Luca yet.

She could be wrong about this man. The only thing she had as evidence was the name. Nothing else.

She walked in and went straight to the rack of expensive clothes next to the large windows. A day before the guest arrived, she had been assigned to clean the sitting room which doubled as where Lorenzo's new outfits were kept for him to make his choice before being taken to his closets.

When she got in, the first thing that got her attention was the different racks of clothing. They were new supplies for Lorenzo and his stylist to finalize what he wanted and didn't want.

Natasha has always loved fashion and was great at it. When everything eventually ends, maybe she would make a career of what she loves and build something out of it.

It was only the texture of fabrics, their scents, the patterns, and the beauty that came to be when she made clothes that kept her sane most time.

Back home, she still had boxes of clothes she made during her leisure time, and others she was yet to make.

As she got closer to the racks, her heart started to beat faster. She knew she wasn't meant to be there, but she couldn't stop herself.

She stopped in front of the rails and leaned forward, placing her hand gently on the different fabrics, feeling every one of them.

There were suits, shirts, sweatpants, shorts, hoodies, and cargo pants. In Natasha's head, she began to tailor a suit that would look gorgeous on Lorenzo with the measurement she had by observing his physique.

If only she got the chance to create an outfit for him one day.

Realizing herself, she stopped her hands when they gripped so hard on one of his white shirts, bringing the fabric closer to her nose to sniff.

She was asked not to be in any room except the kitchen and hers unless she was cleaning. This might get her in trouble.

Her fingers were itching to just take the untouched material hung over the rails of the rack and get to work. Just one cloth.

With a heavy sigh, she stepped away, her hand falling from the clothes.

Giving it a final sad glance, she walked away, her body turning into itself with desolation.

Closing her bedroom door behind her, she leaned against it with a sigh and then shut her eyes tiredly.

The lights were off, except for the tiny lamp on her nightstand. While talking to Sarah, she found out that she was the only maid who didn't live in the maid's quarters. Sarah was surprised by it, but could she really question Lorenzo's decision? She didn't think so.

Natasha started to undress, slowly removing her dress, and her body ached. Throwing the black dress on the nightstand, she reached blindly for her nightgown on the bed.

Just when she was about to put it on, a deep, rough voice came from behind her. "I have to say, you have a lovely body."

Natasha shrieked loudly and swiveled around toward the voice.

She tried to focus on the intruder, but he was effortlessly hidden in the darkness. She didn't have to see him to know who it was. She knew that voice. Her body knew that voice. Lorenzo.

She took a step back in fear, her nightshirt pressed against her body, hiding her nakedness from his eyes.

Shaking from head to toe, she swallowed hard, and her stomach started to cramp in fear—maybe in anticipation too.

Suddenly, the lights were on. She had to blink a few times to adjust her eyes. Lorenzo was sitting in her sofa chair, leaning back comfortably.

His left ankle was crossed on top of his right knee and there was a small remote in his hand, which he probably used to turn on the lights. He wasn't wearing a suit. But he did have his black slacks on and a gray linen shirt, which was unbuttoned at the top, to reveal his chest. His hard, muscular chest.

Natasha forced away the thought. Keeping her eyes on him, she saw his gaze intensely focused on his body. There was no embarrassment. No awkwardness. Lorenzo was completely calm and confident as his eyes raked over her body.