CHAPTER 3

"Fuck,"

It was the only thing that he could say, though in his mind, as he looked at the woman in front of him whom they introduced as Elizabeth, Aunt Liza's daughter.

He didn't know if the world was just playing games with him or the odds were really with him at that moment. She was the woman he bumps into at the hotel's lobby, the woman who gave him a hard-on all the way here! Was the world really that small or was it just a mere coincidence? Because if someone would say that it was just a coincidence, he would consider himself a lucky motherfucker.

"Hi, Arduous. Nice to meet you,"

Elizabeth stretched her hand to him that made him stare at it secretly. Her hands looked soft and tender with her slender fingers and aesthetically gel polished nails. And he wondered how her hands would look once it moved up and down around his shaft.

Placing a smile on his lips, he took her hand and bowed slightly to kiss it, "Likewise, Elizabeth."

Her name sounded soft and sexy through his mouth, the royal name suited her perfectly.

Whilst Elizabeth who was oblivious to Arduous' thoughts smiled. She knew that he was the man whom she bumps into at the hotel and meeting him there surprised her too, what a coincidence. Perhaps it was also the time for her to properly apologize for what happened at the lobby as she wasn't able to do so earlier.

She was in a hurry.

"Elizabeth is too long, you can call me Eli, instead." she replied.

Arduous' lips twitched, "Eli? Alright then,"

"Thanks. My hand, please?"

Smirking secretly, Arduous let go of her hand but gave her a knowing squeeze before finally letting it go. Realizing what it meant, Elizabeth bit her lips as she blushed which he found amusing. It was different from the women he had seen before who would normally take a hot look at him and shamelessly flashes desires in their eyes.

His thoughts were cut off when her mother talked and invited them to go in the dining room where as expected from his mother who liked cooking and arranging dinners, was prepared with fancy foods and dishes. If only not because Ella was a consistent gym goer, he wouldn't be surprised if she'll gain weight over time that she was staying under their parents' care.

"I cooked Arduous' favorite dishes since this is the first time that he came home this month." her mother started as she always does being known as a conversation goer. "He has been so busy since he took over the company."

"We'll, at least you know that the company is in good hands with your son if that's the case. He's giving his full focus on what you and Ardent have worked hard for."

He was listening to his mother and Aunt Liza as they walked when he heard Elizabeth talk to him, surprising him and making him smile mischievously at the same time. They were walking about two meters away after their parents while Ella was busy with her phone while leading the way.

"Uhm, your name was derived from an adjective…"

It made him almost chuckle with her choice to start a conversation using his name, but even so, he nodded.

"Well, yes. As you heard from your mom, my father's name is Ardent which is also an adjective. It has been like a tradition to our family to name their eldests from an adjective."

"Really? So, you mean it's not just you and your dad who has an adjective name?"

He nodded, "My uncle's name, who was my father's cousin, was Benevolent. While my aunt, who was also my father's cousin, was Magnificent."

"And your names aren't just the usual adjectives that I hear daily,"

"They don't. It's kind of weird but yea,"

Elizabeth nodded at that and resumed walking until they reached the dining hall where his expectation wasn't mistaken. And once there, his conversation with Elizabeth was halted when he heard his father, Ardent Winston.

"Arduous!"

"Hey, dad!"

He got on a fist bump with his father as they have always been before he was asked about the company and its status and that was how their dinner started. But even when he was already engaged in a business conversation with his father, he made sure to have his moves and sat beside Elizabeth who was with his sister.

As their dinner went, he noticed how Elizabeth ate good— with food. She wasn't like the women he had been with during dinners and meals who wouldn't put too much food on their plates, reasoning that they were on a diet. Elizabeth never hesitated to put all sorts of dishes on her plate and even gets an extra several times during the whole time which he couldn't help but to comment on after they ate.

Their parents have already gone through the living room with champagne with them, while Ella was as always, busy with her own thing. He was left with the woman who gave him a hard-on all the way to their dinner whom he didn't know he would see there.

"So, what's your plan now?" he asked casually.

Elizabeth, who didn't get his question right away, frowned, "Huh?"

"You just got back from London since you were sent to your father, right?"

"Oh, yea, so, you knew about that?"

"Your mom and mine are almost inseparable, remember?

Elizabeth just smiled at that and stood up to follow their parents in the living room. At that moment, he could see from the woman's actions that she was kind of innocent which got his attention and interest more, especially when Ella mentioned about her break up.

Virgin, huh?

It was obvious that she was still probably distancing herself with men during the whole time that they talked and mostly, he was the one who was initiating an interesting conversation. From his peripheral vision, he could see their parents eyeing them knowingly and he wasn't oblivious of what it meant.

They had set him up on numerous blind dates especially his mother and Ella so he wasn't surprised to know that they were eyeing Elizabeth for him. Only at that moment, Elizabeth was the only one who seemed to match his taste and got his interest.

She was pretty, flawless, and slim. It would be easier for him to carry her around and do his fantasies on her.

When it was already time to go, his mother was insisting for him to stay that night. And knowing that Elizabeth would be there, he was considering staying until he found out that she was actually staying in the hotel where he left Liliene.

"Eli's flight was just last night and she already booked that hotel for a week. Liza forgot to mention that they could stay here."

"Can't she just cancel the remaining nights for her booking?" Ella asked.

"I already paid in advance and there was no refund, so I had to stay until Tuesday."

"Oh,"

His father sighed and patted Ella's head knowing how interested his daughter was in Elizabeth. After all, she was an only daughter and doesn't have any other siblings to bond with aside from him who was already busy with their business.

"It's okay, darling. She'll stay here for three months."

His lips slightly curved hearing that.

Three months, huh? Sounds good.

"Anyway, I'll call our driver to drive you there and make sure you'll be safe." his father continued which he instantly contradicted.

"No need,"

Everyone looked at him when he said that, his mother's eyes narrowing, asking. Smiling innocently, he resumed.

"I'll drive her to her hotel."