POV: Natalie

The night is never a safe time for anyone, but it’s an even worse hellhole living under Don Ramirez’s roof.

Even so, I trembled as I snuck to the garden in the dead of the night, half regretting my decision to defy my father after getting locked up in my room for three days, and getting fed bland food he knew I couldn’t stomach.

The other half of me was praying hard no one finds me out here.

He can’t know I snuck out through my window, else I may never get another chance to see the light of the day this time for real.

My fingers brushed carefully over the soil until I felt the warm surface silk.

I unwrapped the clothing and picked my books, clutching them tightly to my chest as if anyone dared to snatch it from me, then trailed my fingers on the words as I flipped the pages, reading them only to myself, unable to control my flushed cheeks.

For a while , I was lost in a world where an unreal person was getting a love that I had only craved for.

Until I heard the light crack….

Every nerve in my body stiffened as I sprang off the cold grass like I had been bitten. My books slipped to the ground.

I wasn’t alone.

I looked behind the garden hedge, but there was nothing.

Yet I felt it, something was there. My senses became heightened instantly, it was more dangerous to be out here, I hadn’t thought about that until now.

Panic surged through every fiber of my body.

Oh God. Oh God.

My gaze shifted quickly to my window, Whatever happens, I need to make a run for it at least.

Without another thought or worry, I grabbed my book, ignoring what fell from my hand as I hurried towards my window.

But then, I felt a sting on my foot, and I froze.

Lord no please, just save me today, just please…

Slowly, I looked down at my feet with my heart hammering in my chest.

But no, it wasn’t a bug, or a thorn, or anyone trying to grab my foot.

It was….a note?

Okay Natalie, breathe.

That’s all I’ve said to myself all night, yet here I was panting profusely as I paced round my room with my thumb in my mouth clearly making calculative thoughts about the damn envelope that lay in my bed, unopened, and untouched hours since I picked it up.

‘What the…..heavens?’ Danielle’s voice rang through the room as soon as she opened the door.

‘Oh thank God, finally!’ Ignoring her expression, I quickly went over to the door to drag her in, but she stopped halfway.

Her gaze held a mix of worry, and fear, and it was expected.

I hadn’t slept a wink all night, heck I haven't had a good sleep in days.

‘I know I look a mess, but we’ve got more to be scared of,’ I said as I motioned to my bed, and her gaze following mine.

‘And before you ask, I haven’t opened it.’

Without another word, she went over to the bed, and picked up the envelop, and with a final look my way, she gave a brief sigh and tore it open.

All the while I clasped my both hands together, holding my breathe and praying for heaven’s sake that it wasn’t a letter bomb.

If there was anything like that.

I watched with intent as Danielle's face shifted from worry, to expressionless, and slowly, her lips curled in a wide cute smile, and for the first time, I saw her eyes lit up. I’d never seen her this happy, maybe because I have never felt that spark too.

I didn’t know when I let out a sigh, and quickly rushed over to her.

‘Oh miss Nat, this is the sweetest thing. It’s specifically designed for you.’

She folded it back and that was when I saw it.

The name engraved in front of the note.

Jamiel Russel.

It didn’t ring a bell, but it sure did make my heart flutter like it was familiar to it.

I looked up to Dani as she handed it to me with the smile still fixed on her face, and before she said the words, before she gave a knowing nod, and whispered ‘It’s from the gardener to you,’ it was so clear that my heart knew even before my brain clocked it.

And suddenly I felt all the resentment I’d harbored three days ago for him, give way to my long held desire.

I scanned through the carefully handwritten words.

A love letter?

I’ve never had a crush, or anyone write me a love letter.

My flushed cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling for too long, but I didn’t care until my eyes began to scroll through the last words, my chest burning with uncertainty as I tried to put the pieces together.

Tonight…garden….meeting you.

And suddently every memory of our first physical meeting, came rushing back like adrenaline.

How stupid of me.

Getting swoon by mere words after he’d helped catch me for my father when I tried to escape.

Pfff.

‘What does he think he’s got on me? Love letters? What are we, in the 80s?’

Danielle’s expression altered from a hundred to zero, just as quickly as mine did.

But I paid no mind to the pressing questions that hung in room, waiting for me to provide answers.

‘He wants to meet me…..’ The words flew from my lips before I could stop them, as if Danielle didn’t already know that.

I stared at her in disbelief, all the while withholding the actual words I wanted to scream out loud.

But none of the pressing questions and fearful thoughts was enough to hold me from standing at the garden, underneath the moonlight that same night, looking into the eyes of the very man I’m supposed to hate and stay far away from.

What am I doing?

‘I shouldn’t have come here’ I whispered the words before I could stop myself.

And without hesitation, I turned, ready to walk away from this mistake before I get drawn into something that I wasn’t ready for.

But in a swift move, I felt his warm hands on my wrist.

Not harshly, just enough to thrill every part of my fragile body with his magnetic touch.

I instantly froze, and gently, he pulled me closer.

So close that I could feel his breathing, and him my racing heartbeat.

Oh God I can’t be here.

Every awakened nerve in my body screamed, but I was too lost in his eyes to listen.

And for the first few minutes, no words were said between us.

‘What do you want with me?’ I finally said as soon as I pulled away from his touch. Even though my heart knew the answers already.

For a while, He said nothing. And I thought he wouldn’t answer.

But then, he leaned closer, his gaze sending shivers down my spine, the kind of shivers that makes you forget every reason why you should hate the person standing in front of you.

‘Everything. To be yours, and you mine.’ His words broke through the quiet night but that wasn’t the only thing that made my heart skip.

It was his tone, they were gentle, new, different, and intentional.

He hadn’t said a word to me until now.

But no, I won’t ignore the sting I felt in my heart. Not for someone who had pushed me right into my….

Or wait, was I wrong? Did he really….?

My thoughts stopped as a realization hit me.

And before I could stop myself or let him get an inch close enough to touch me, I turned, and I ran.

And dear lord I would give anything to stop my racing heart right now.