Genre: Romance
Rating: NC 17
Disclaimer : Standard disclaimers apply. The characters belong to Shalz R.
Chapter 8: First Day In The New House
"How did she know?" Ian thought as he lay in his new bed. He couldn't figure it out. Tyler and Adrian were in their rooms. They liked their rooms, but she had help to those, from Ashley and Lauren. But for his room, she had no help. How did she do it? How did she know what he wanted? She had put everything in the house, all that he wanted just like wanted, even more than what he wanted! "I wish I could see the designs that she was trying to show me that day. I wonder what she had designed back then. If I had seen them then, I sure would have become interested in it. I wish I had seen them."
Thinking thus, he closed his eyes, and sleep overtook him.
The soft morning rays of the sun, coming in through the bedroom windows, and the small skylight in the dome of his bed area that was covered all around with white net curtains, woke him up. He turned around, on his stomach, in his bed and looked at the rippling stream in the distance of his estate, and the view relaxed his mind. He sighed and just lay there looking out of his window. He didn't even have to sit up for looking out; the window ended where his bed started. He lay for a long time, thinking nothing, just gazing the view, before he got up.
As he turned to get up he faced his splendid balcony garden! He sighed again. He got out of his bed and the view to his right, reminded him of the woods and lake. He felt like going for a walk. The thought itself rejuvenated his mind. He washed himself and got ready for his walk. The sun had still not fully woken up. He went into the balcony, took the stairs that went to his swimming pool. From there he moved to the right gates. The doorman opened the gates and he moved out for a walk in the quiet woods. Everything was peaceful, everything in its place. Stephens had worked hard to put his house in his order, and she had worked well. But the one thing she could not put in order was his life. Even though all was there, something was amiss. Something, someone in his life was missing. He went for a long walk. By the time he came back, it was quite sunny and the woods were alive with the birds chirping.
On his way back he went in the stables, and got his horse and rode around for a while; he rode to the stream and along its banks until he came to the pond, where he took the boat. He got into it and tried rowing around for a bit. He liked the views, the birds, the stream, the pond, the waterfall, but nothing interested him; he did not enjoy being there as much as he thought he would.
He walked to his pool, swam for a bit, and got ready for his breakfast. At the table he met his buddies.
Adrian and Tyler were happy and had thought that the change in the house would be good for him. After all the last time he had visited the house, he was looking better. Now that he was here, he should be picking up very well. They were disappointed to see Ian in the same detached mood. He had his breakfast in silence, like he did ever since…
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Tyler tried to start the conversation, "Hey Ian, how do you like the work done?"
"Very beautiful!" Ian replied concentrating on his plate.
"Yeah! Highly creative isn't it!" Adrian joined in.
"Yes, very." Said Ian quietly.
"You've been to the waterfall?" Tyler asked.
"Yes. This morning I went for a walk in the woods, and to the stables and stream on my way back."
"And that glass window in the office is a masterpiece! Don't you think!" Adrian asked him.
"Sure is." Ian replied, as he sipped his coffee, and Adrian and Tyler noticed a small twinkle in his eyes as he did so, like he was reminded of something.
He finished his breakfast and took his cup of coffee to his new office. Adrian and Tyler thought to his work, but actually to the picture that adorned it. He entered the room, and stood in front of the window gazing at the picture. He stood there for a moment or two, and was about to step closer to it, when he heard Adrian and Tyler on their way to the office. He became aware of his surroundings, and walked to his desk and sat down.
Tyler and Adrian came in discussing something they seemed very excited about. They were listing out names of distinguished people as they came in… as if in competition with each other.
"Richard Garrett."
"McKenzie."
"Slingsby."
"Mr. and Mrs. Maxwell, of course, as also Kevin and Dianne Raymond."
"What's going on?" Ian enquired.
"The party, Ian, the party!" Tyler said, excited. Not enough information, Ian looked to Adrian.
"We're listing out the guests for the party!"
"What party?"
"The house warming party. We've renovated our home, we ought to celebrate it!" Tyler said excitedly
This was another of their plans to get him out of his shell. Tyler saw his resistance building up on his face, and before he could say anything, he said, "I think I'm going to call Mrs. Maxwell up and tell her about our great plan for the party!" And he dialed the number even as Ian tried to stop him.
"Mrs. Maxwell? Good morning! We came back last evening, here Ian would like to talk to you." Ian almost gritted his teeth.
"Yeah Mom! How are you? Yeah the house is great! I like it very much!"
At this Tyler wanted the phone back and started to pull it out of Ian's hand, "Gimme Ian, I want to talk!" he shouted right into the phone. Ian handed him the phone just to get him off.
"Mrs. Maxwell, we are planning a party. Huge party. House-warming party. I don't know when. Ian won't tell. Here you ask him."
Tyler handed him the phone back, and smiled wide, and got a look from Ian that said wait till I put the phone down. Tyler ran and stood behind Adrian, and mocked Ian's stern expression from there. Adrian laughed out.
"Yes, Mom. These two are planning the party. I don't know. Ok I agree that the house is great and a party is in order. Fine just tell me when you can make it and then we will plan it out. Tell Kevin and Dee also. Fine. I'll talk to you soon." Saying so he looked at Tyler, ready to come at him, "Yes Mom. Bye Mom."
He put the phone down and walked up to Tyler standing behind Adrian. Adrian stretched out his arms by his side in an attempt to protect Tyler, both laughing their heads off. Ian stopped there and said in a threat, "This is the last time you played that trick on me." Turned and left the room.
"Oh shit! I thought I had him this time. The old Ian! You know for something like this, Ian would have ran around the house after me, just to get his hands around my neck. I'm disappointed!" he announced.
"Yeah, me too. I thought we were going to have some fun after all." Adrian said, their backs to the door as Ian re-entered the room to get his coffee cup.
"I don't like this Ian. I want the old Ian back." Tyler shouted exasperated. Just then Adrian turned around and saw Ian standing there. Tyler had not seen him. Adrian touched his shoulder to quite him. Tyler saw Ian and looked like he was caught doing something he shouldn't have been doing. Ian walked in, took the cup and left the room again. Tyler and Adrian exchanged a sheepish look.
Two minutes later he walked back in. "OK. About that party. What do you want?" he asked.
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