Page 10 of Stuck with Mr. Grump

I wave him off. “It’s fine. I can manage on my own.”

He shows me exactly where to go and I walk out of the living room, following his directions and finding the bathroom easily. After doing my business, though, I start to get curious about the rest of the house. Figuring no one will mind me giving myself a little tour, I walk a little further inward, which turns out to be a huge mistake. The labyrinthine corridors of the mansionsoon have me disoriented. As I turn yet another corner, I nearly collide with a small boy.

He steps back at the last minute and I falter before standing up straight, looking down at the kid with flushed cheeks.

“Hi,” I greet bashfully.

He stands at about three-and-a-half feet, with a mop of dark, slightly tousled hair that contrasts strikingly with his light green eyes and his warm caramel-toned skin. Despite his young age, there’s a certain seriousness in his gaze, a curiosity tempered with caution.

“Who are you?” he demands, his small brows knitting together in a frown.

My lips tilt up in a smile.He’s such a cutie.Kneeling down to his level, I offer a gentle smile.

“Hi, there. I’m Emilia. I’m visiting with my siblings. What’s your name?”

He hesitates as if weighing the risk of sharing personal information before replying, “Sean.”

“Nice to meet you, Sean. I took a wrong turn and got lost. This house is so big. I feel like I’m in Oz.”

His frown eases slightly, a flicker of interest lighting up in his eyes. “Oz?”

I nod with a small laugh. “Yeah. It’s from a movie calledThe Wizard of Oz. The main character Dorothy gets transported to the magical land of Oz and she finds herself in a strange place, all alone.”

“She must have been sad,” the little boy says gently.

My heart aches a little at how easily he understood that.

“Yeah, she was. The movie was my favorite when I was younger. I used to read the book, too. They’re really fun.”

His green eyes brighten. “I’d like to read the book.”

Before I can respond, a deep, authoritative voice interrupts.

“Who the hell are you? And what are you doing with my son?”

I look up to see a man towering over us, his presence commanding and intense. He’s tall, with broad shoulders and a physique that suggests he works out often. His dark hair is neatly styled and his chiseled features could easily grace a magazine cover. However, the deep frown etched on his face adds a formidable edge to his handsomeness, making him appear unapproachable.

Rising to my feet, I feel a flush creep up my neck. But I refuse to let him intimidate me.

“Hi. I’m Emilia.”

His eyes, a mirror of Sean’s striking green, narrow as they assess me.

“Sean, come here,” he calls for his son. The little boy immediately goes over to his father’s side.

His father steps closer, positioning himself protectively between me and his child.

“This is private property,Emilia,” he sneers. “And you’re currently trespassing.”

Geez, dramatic much?

“I promise I’m not,” I say quickly, keeping my voice steady. “I’m here with my siblings to meet Sterling Harrington.”

His gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I feel pinned under its intensity.

“I’m Sterling Harrington.”

Oh. Well, that checks out.He really is a jerk.

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