Hi guys! Sorry for the late update. Been super busy lately:) Anyway, i hope you like this chapter :p

ELLIE's POV

I woke up at 6 am and just like usual, I took a bath before I went downstairs to have my breakfast.

"Bonjour, Ellie. Your breakfast is ready" Martine, the head maid, said. I thanked her and then began eating my breakfast. My grandfather usually wakes up at 7 am so we don't eat our breakfast together. He usually goes to bed late that's why he wakes up a little bit late.

"Don't tell me, you're going to ride Carême to the falls again?" I grinned at Martine and nodded my head while eating. Martine was like a family to us because she had been working for my grandparents since my father was 10 years old.

My grandparents gave Martine and her family a house near the ranch as a reward because Martine's husband, Benoit, saved my father from a man who attempted to kidnap him for ransom when he was a still a kid. He fought the kidnapper and successfully unarmed him just before he took my father inside his car.

Martine and her husband were very happy and grateful when my grandparents gave them the house because they were living in an apartment that time.

"Yep. It feels like my day isn't complete without me going there" She shook her head and pour some juice in my glass.

"You're like your brother. You two love horses. If he isn't in America, that boy will surely be here with you"

"Martine, Reg is not a boy anymore. He's a grown up man now" I laughed.

"It still feels like yesterday when you three used to come to this house and your grandparents were always happy hearing all the screams and laughs of you three. You were still small back then. Now, you're all grown up. How time flies so fast"

"You're right. Time really flies. I missed mamie a lot" I suddenly felt sad when I remembered my grandma. She's the sweetest person I've ever known and I love her so much. I felt my eyes watered. I looked at Martine and she looked sad too.

"I can't still believe that Madame Claudette and your papa are already gone"

I took a deep breath to calm myself down. I quickly ate the remaining food in my plate before I stood up.

"Thank you for the delicious breakfast, Martine. See you later" I said and quickly went out of the house. Even though it has been years since my mamie died, I couldn't help but to get sad whenever I remember her. Then I suddenly remembered my father too. I heaved a sigh and went to the porch and sat on the hammock. Hearing about their deaths still makes me sad and gloomy.

I looked around. It was so quiet and the chirping of the birds were the only things that could be heard aside from the gentle breeze of the summer season. I heaved a sigh again as I stared at the sunrise.

I don't know why but when I feel down, I always stare at the sky, particularly to the stars at night. But since it's still morning, the sky was so clear and the stars were nowhere to be found yet.

I didn't know how long I stayed sitting there, staring into space before I decided to go to the horse stable and get Carême. But when I reached the stable, I was surprised to see someone already inside and feeding the horses.

I discreetly approached him and saw that it was him. I stopped on my tracks when I noticed that he was topless and my throat suddenly went dry because how hunk he was. His muscles were on the right places and he had a sexy behind for a man. Every move he made as he feed the horses was making his biceps and triceps flexed and it looked edible.

He looked so strong and I suddenly wondered how would it feel to be in his tight embrace and surrounded by those strong arms. I bit my lower lip as an unfamiliar feeling surged throughout my whole being. What the---! Are you fantasizing about this rude guy, Ellie?! No! I am just admiring his body and that's all about it!

"Good morning, querida" I was pulled out of my trance-like state when I heard his teasing tone. Even his voice sounded so good and sexy in my ears and I wanted to kick myself because of it.

"What did you say?"

"I said, good morning" He repeated as he flashed his boyish grin. My heartbeat suddenly hitched as our eyes met. I discreetly pulled myself together and did my best to act normal in front of this stranger.

"No, not that. The last word after the 'good morning" I voiced out impatiently. He chuckled.

"Querida?" I frowned at him when he repeated that word.

"What is the meaning of that?"

"Not telling" I zeroed my eyes at him and crossed my arms across my chest, beginning to get annoyed.

"Are you really that rude? I am the granddaughter of the owner of this ranch where you work at, you know?" The corner of his lips lifted as he smirked. He didn't even get affected of what I've said to him. If not, his smile became even naughtier.

"So? What do you want me to do, querida?" Argh! That word again!

"Stop calling me that! I am your employer's granddaughter so you should treat me with respect!" I said with an arrogant tone. I didn't mean to be so aristocratic or what but because he irritated me and my patience ran out, I felt like retaliating and wanted to rob off that confident smile off of his face.

"That's right. You're the granddaughter of the owner of this ranch but you're not my employer. Your grandfather is the one who'll pay me. And besides, respect is not given, it is earned, querida" I scowled at him as I felt like cheeks reddened because of anger. How dare him! This arrogant man!

It has only been a day since I met him but he managed to make me feel angry at him for talking arrogantly like that. Yes, he's attractive, I give him that but I didn't like the way he grinned at me. You don't like it because it has an effect on you? The other part of me said.

Of course not! Why would I get affected by him?! I contradicted it.

You know that feeling when you feel so mad and you wanted to say a lot of things to that person but unfortunately you couldn't even form a word to say for some reason? Argh! This man is really annoying!

I'm not impatient person but I've never lost my cool to someone before. I always managed to smile to people even though I get pissed off but it's totally different with this man.

It was just our second encounter but I nearly shouted at him for being so annoying and jerk. He doesn't even care if I'm the granddaughter of his employer. What a rude guy!

I sidestepped him and then walked towards my horse. I heard his annoying chuckle but I ignored him and went to get the saddle then fixed it carefully on Carême's back.

"Are you ready, buddy?" I asked Carême while running my hand along her long white silky hair.

"Is she yours?" I heard the annoying guy behind asked me.

"Yes" I answered proudly without looking at him.

"Be careful" I turned around and gave him a deadpan stare.

"Hello? I know how to ride a horse. Now, if you'll excuse me, we need to go" I said and then got on Carême's back. To my further irritation, I heard him whistled and when I threw him a glance, I caught saw how impressed he was of what he's seeing while watching me. I wanted to roll my eyes skywards because of his silly reaction. Just that and he was already impressed? Duh!

"Stop staring at me like that or else I'll make Carême kick you!" He just shrugged his shoulders like he was teasing me further before he approached Carême and touched the horse's head gently. He ran his hand along the horse's hair.

"This horse suits you" He said to me before he crouched down a little bit and talked to Carême.

"Take care of our little bratty princess" He mumbled but I heard it. There was a playful expression on his face. I was about to yell at him when he suddenly went to Carême's side and hit his back with his hand which made the horse run out of the stable, preventing me from yelling at him.

I wanted to shout in frustration.

I've never encounter a worker in my grandparents' ranch that behaved this way. He was the only one who dared talking so casually towards me and he's a jerk too. To think that he's still new here! He's so full of himself! Argh!

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After I went for a horseback riding, I went back to the house and change my clothes. Then after that, I stayed in my room because I didn't have the interest of doing anything anymore. I decided to watch a movie. I was almost done watching the movie when I heard a knock at the door.

"It's open" I shouted so that the person could hear it from outside.

"Bonjour, ma chérie. What are you still doing here in your room? Aren't you going to do something? This is the first time" My grandfather said while staring at me with his eyebrows creased. He sat on the edge of the bed.

"Papy, I am fine. I just don't feel like going out today" I answered and paused the movie in order to concentrate on talking to him.

"Really? This is not like you. Whenever you're here, you never stayed inside the house. You're always outside that's why I got worried. I thought you were sick" I chuckled softly.

"No. I'm fine. Don't worry. I'll go out later"

"Are you sure?" I nodded with a grin. He stood up.

"Okay. If you're going at the hill again, call Rex with you. I don't want you wandering around alone, especially in that part of the ranch. It's dangerous" I frowned at him.

"Since when this ranch became dangerous, papy? Whenever I am here, I always go there alone. What's the difference now? This place is safe and besides I don't want to have anyone tailing me wherever I go" I whined. He heaved a sigh.

"Ellie, listen to me. A daughter of one of our helper here in the ranch got almost raped by someone last night. We reported it to the police but unfortunately, that person was wearing a mask and he quickly got away. Thankfully, a passerby saw what he was doing to that poor girl before he successfully raped here. Poor girl, she's traumatized now" I couldn't believe of what he I've heard. Since I was little, I felt so comfortable and safe wandering around the ranch because it was safe.

We have many workers because the ranch was really huge. Not only because of the many animals that we have because the northern part of the huge land is the farm where there's a lot of fruit trees, plants and different kinds of crops that they harvest every season.

This ranch was the first property that my grandparents bought as a married couple. They hired people in order to take care of the whole place. Because there were a lot of animals which produces milk, my grandparents decided to venture in milk and cheese business.

They managed to succeed until they decided to sell fruits and vegetables from the farm too. Their business grew until they managed to have several businesses which grew bigger as time goes by. And now, it's one of the most successful companies in the world.

My grandfather is already old but he doesn't want to just relax and do nothing. Even though we've been asking him to live with us, he declined. He wanted to live simply like the way they were long time ago.

Even though I've been coming here every vacation, I've never really spent time at the farm because my papy was always telling me that I had nothing to see there.

I just pass by to that part whenever I go to the hill to see the waterfalls. I just greeted our workers there but I've never stayed longer than 10 minutes. But I've never thought that it was dangerous there.

The number of the helpers of the farm was greater than here at the main ranch but my papy knows them all. Every helper are living at the free shelter provided by my grandparents. They've been doing this since the beginning in order to help the people earn more rather than spend their salary in paying their apartments.

The people loves my grandparents that's why they stayed loyal to them. Everyone know each other so there aren't any troubles aside from little arguments and misunderstandings between the helpers, which is normal.

This was the first time that someone committed a crime like this and it would surely cause panic to the people.

"Oh my. That person is still on the loose?" I asked exasperatedly.

"Yes, that's why I need you to be careful from now on. I already told Rex to be with you if you need to go out of the house"

"Papy, he's just a helper here at the farm and not a bodyguard. What does he know about protecting someone? Can he even fight?"

"I know him and I assure you, he's capable enough to protect you"

"Just hire someone, papy. I don't want to be with that guy" His eyebrows arched.

"And why's that?" I groaned inwardly. Yeah, what's wrong with being with him anyway? The other part of me asked.

I don't know too but I just don't feel comfortable around him. My mind answered. I mentally shook my head.

"N-Nothing. I just don't like him" Honestly, I don't know why I'm against it too. Maybe because he pisses me off by the way he talks to me. I find his confident behavior towards me annoying.

"As far as I know, he's a nice man. Anyway, I have to go. I have a meeting with a buyer of fruits two hours from now so I need to go. Follow what I've said, Ellie. Don't go out without Rex with you" I wanted to protest further but he kissed me on the forehead and went out of my room in a rush. I heaved a sigh.

Here I was thinking not to go near that man again because I felt uncomfortable around him. But now, he'll be guarding me wherever I go and I didn't like it!

But that rapist must be scared to death by now because the police are already looking for him. He wouldn't have the guts to do it again for sure at the same place. If you would ask me, he must left the ranch already so I really don't need someone to guard me. Not him, anyway.

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