Love Began with the First Meeting

The early sun slanted through the floral curtains into the room. Ximena furrowed her eyebrows, and her eyelids trembled. However, she didn't open her eyes.

The lack of sleep for many days in a row had made her tired and wilted, but to her surprise, she had slept soundly last night.

She half-turned on the bed, hoping to prolong the scarce rest of the previous night. Feeling something was odd, her eyes snapped open. A pair of dark eyes were just a few inches from her face. Ximena widened her eyes and let out a piercing scream, backing away from the man, whose face consumed her vision. Up close it was hard to recognize him and for a moment her heart pounded in fear.

"Oh my gosh!"

Flustered and rattled, Ximena had fallen out of the bed.

Groaning with pain, she furrowed her eyebrows and put her hand over her hip, which had hit the floor upon impact. Finally recognizing the man, she was so embarrassed that she wanted to die.

Aaron slowly leaned forward and casually looked down at her over the edge of the bed. He coldly asked, "Am I a ghost to you?"

She looked up at him sternly. Getting to her feet, Ximena wordlessly limped to the bathroom, her hand still pressed to the painful joint. After she had washed up, Aaron was no longer in the room upon her return.

Looking first at the empty bed, and then at the city lying in the sunshine beyond the window, Ximena frowned. "I can't believe that I slept for so long," she murmured.

The dream of last night was still playing before her eyes. Someone was holding her in his arms and whispering tenderly in her ear. Now it turned out not to have been a dream at all!

Smiling half-mockingly, Ximena got dressed before walking downstairs. After finding that Aaron was not downstairs either, Ximena couldn't help looking on the third floor, only to find that no one was there.

"Miss Mo." The housekeeper walked up to her. "The breakfast is ready."

Ximena nodded and walked towards the table. The food which she had been tired of these past few days, was now suddenly extremely delicious. Staring at the splendid breakfast on the table before her, her eyes became a little unfocused. "Your Highness..."

Ximena's culinary reverie was broken by the housekeeper's words. She stiffened for a second and then noticed that a neatly-dressed Aaron had taken the seat opposite her and began to eat his breakfast without a word.

Suddenly aware of a tension in the room, she found it difficult to breathe, and began stuffing down bread almost compulsively.

A glass of orange juice was set down before her and she instinctively turned to look at where it had come from.

Aaron casually withdrew his hand and said, "In case you are choking."

Ximena glanced at the juice and didn't respond, silently fuming and stubbornly chewing at the dry bread.

"Last time you said you wanted to find a studio. Any good ideas?" Aaron asked as he took a sip of coffee.

Ximena stared at him inquiringly. She did want to start a fashion studio, but she had thought that he would only see it as a joke.

"There are a row of shops being presold in the CH Mall," Aaron continued, "and I booked one of them." He stared at Ximena and said, "It belongs to you."

Ximena felt her heart throbbing but she didn't have the heart to find the reason why. Instead she coldly said, "Is that breakup fees? Or money for sleeping with you?"

With eyes darkening, Aaron stared at Ximena. He casually said, "You may think whatever you want. It makes no difference to me either way."

After finishing his words, he set the coffee cup down and began reading the financial newspaper.

Biting her lip, Ximena knew that Aaron had just been nice and hadn't intended to offend her, but she still couldn't help retorting that way.

Her thoughts were interrupted by the ringing of her phone. She picked it up, "Hello, this is Ximena."

"Miss Mo," a flattering sales voice came from the other end of the line. "The newest season of clothes, bags and accessories have arrived. Would you perhaps like to come and try some on? We've certainly got something to suit your tastes." Ximena glanced at Aaron before responding, "Okay, I'll come by a bit later."

"I'll take you there." Aaron folded the newspaper and set it aside.

Staring at him, Ximena became more and more confused. But he was the one who paid the bills, so there was no reason for her to turn him down. She could just blow his money on anything she wanted. Ken drove stonily down the hill. Inside the car, no one spoke at all along the way. The sound of their breathing dominated the confined space. The atmosphere seemed heavy.

Looking in the rear view mirror at the two passengers on the backseat, Ken found that they were looking in the same direction. Ximena was staring out the window and His Highness was staring at her. Frowning slightly, Ken withdrew his gaze and quietly let out a sigh. Was His Highness seriously falling in love with her? Then what about Miss Zhuang?

The tension in the car lasted all the way until they reached the shop. Ximena said goodbye to Aaron with a tight little smile on her face before getting out of the car. "Welcome, Miss Mo." As soon as she stepped inside, Ximena was surround by several sales assistants who acted like bees that had spotted a beautiful flower. Aaron stared at her through the window and his face gradually softened. His stony expression disappeared and his cold eyes became warm.

"Your Highness," Ken interrupted his concentration. "Are we going to Leng's Corporations or ...?"

"To Leng's." Aaron withdrew his gaze once Ximena had entered the shop. "Some die-hards need to be kicked out."

Ken nodded, started the car and drove towards the Leng's Corporations.

"Aldrich's health has worsened again. He had surgery last night because of an arrhythmia..."

The news was spreading across the island like wild fire. At the hospital, the operation that had lasted for nearly ten hours, was still not over.

While James was sitting in his wheelchair, Gale leaned against the wall and Ted stood with his arms crossed over his chest. All of them wore grim expressions.