Chapter 33
Maya
The two days off after the concert in Tyrol did me good. I needed some distance from Josh. And Sophia must have had a great time on her trip with her kindergarten friend. At least, that's what I tell myself as I get off the bus at the stop on the edge of the Vienna Woods. There are a few hundred yards of walking ahead of me before I see Sophia again.
And Josh.
Maybe. But it's just as likely that he's too busy or caught up in some appointments. We might not even cross paths.
That would be for the best.
As long as I stay away from him, I'll be safe. I can't look into his eyes, smell the scent of his skin, or touch him. No matter how much I long for all of that, I can't give in. Not after what he did in Tyrol.
Once again, I go over the facts. Today is August fifteenth, and my employment contract ends in just over three weeks. I can make it. Somehow.
Lost in thought, I barely notice that I've arrived at the large entrance gate to Josh's estate. I enter the gravel path that winds through the avenue of maple trees to the front of his villa. The garage door is closed, and no unfamiliar cars are in the driveway.
He's here. And he has no visitors.
Great.
Taking a deep breath, I enter the house. Sophia rushes toward me. I drop my bag, walk toward her, and wrap my arms around her.
I spin her around cheerfully. "Someone is in a great mood."
Her eyes sparkle. "Because you're here. Now we can play again."
"Oh yes, that's fantastic." I put her down and let her lead me to the billiard room.
"Look at what Dad and I made yesterday." She proudly points at the half-height wooden dresser.
"Wow." That's all I manage to say. Josh and Sophia have created a whole collection of sparkling hair clips. I instantly picture them sitting together at the kitchen table, crafting. Josh's fingers covered in glitter dust. Some of it even sticking to his cheek.
"These ones are for you." She points at five particularly colorful hair clips. "Rainbow colors because you like them the most." There's so much joy in her voice. But that's not the only reason everything in me suddenly feels warm. One of the clips has a heart attached to it. Did Josh put it there for me?
"Do you like them?" Sophia tilts her head to the side, looking at me expectantly.
"They're beautiful, absolutely beautiful," I say. Then I hold her tightly in my arms. "Shall we try them right away?"
Sophia turns her attention to the neatly lined-up hair clips to choose one. I blink away the tears from the corners of my eyes. Before I can focus on the selection, Jasmin enters the billiard room. She's holding my bag between her index finger and thumb.
"Why was it lying on the floor in the entrance area?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.
I must have forgotten about it amid the joy of seeing Sophia again. "Sorry." I take the bag from her and place it on one of the fancy chairs.
"I am not your maid, miss," she says, turning around and leaving the room without giving me a chance to respond.
That's probably for the best because I wouldn't have known what to say anyway. I watch her remorsefully as she disappears from my field of vision, and just as she does, Josh appears in the hallway.
Our eyes meet. A blissful grin plays on his lips.
I want to look away, but I can't. Especially not now that he's approaching me. Faster than I can regain control, he enters the room.
"Do you like our artwork?" he asks in his soft voice.
I nod because I'm currently unable to speak. I'm too busy forcing my gaze down.
I succeed. Thank goodness.
