Suddenly, I Am Rich

The next morning, Gray did as he had said.

He went to Lancaster’s estate after taking half a day off from work.

The sun was already high by the time Daniel pulled up in front of the mansion. When the car stopped, he stepped out of it and adjusted the sleeves of his coat.

Gray let out a deep breath and looked down at his watch.

It was 1:42 PM.

He was still early, or maybe not early enough, considering his usual work time in his first week as a tutor. However, now that he has a new job, he has to adjust everything. Fortunately, Chloe understood it.

”I can’t believe I forgot about it...” he muttered under his breath. ”Of all the things I could forget, it’s really this one.” He shook his head.

He knew it was his mistake, and he didn’t have any excuse for it.

Chloe had every right to be upset. He promised to help her study and see her this week, but he had vanished for almost four days.

That wasn’t okay.

Gray walked toward the door slowly, his every step measured.

’I should apologize properly. Then do what I can to make up for it,’ he told himself.

He rang the bell at the side. A few seconds passed before the familiar intercom cracked to life.

”Hello?”

”It’s Gray Adams,” he said, keeping his tone calm. ”Miss Chloe is expecting me.”

There was a slight silence before the door opened.

”Please come in, Sir,” a maid rushed to greet him outside.

”Thank you.” He stepped inside the estate.

”Miss Chloe is in the study.”

Gray nodded, understanding what she meant.

”Thank you.”

Even though Gray already knew the way, the maid still guided him, and he followed, his eyes scanning the house briefly.

The place was quiet. Too quiet.

Each step they took echoed faintly against the tiled floor. The air inside was also cool and faintly scented with lavender. It seemed like they just finished cleaning the whole lower floor before he arrived.

As they passed the hallway, Gray saw the framed paintings and antique light fixtures that once felt intimidating when he first arrived. Now, it was funny how everything felt familiar already.

The maid stopped at the door of the study. She turned to him and gave a short nod.

”I will leave you now on your own, Sir,” she said softly, then stepped aside to give him space.

Gray raised his hand and gently knocked on the door.

There was a short silence.

”Come in.” Then a voice came from the other side.

Gray slowly pushed the door open.

The study looked the same, and, just as usual, at the center of the room was Chloe. She was seated at the desk with stacks of books in front of her. However, they weren’t academic books, but novels.

She was flipping through a page when she looked up.

Her expression was unreadable at first. Then she blinked.

”You actually came.”

”I did,” Gray answered as he stepped inside and gently closed the door behind him. ”I’m sorry.”

Chloe didn’t answer right away. She closed the book in front of her and leaned back in her chair, her arms crossed lightly across her chest.

”You forgot, didn’t you?” she asked.

Gray nodded once.

”I did.”

Gray didn’t blame it on anything. He knew it would be stupid to make up excuses so he just admitted it.

”I got caught up in some things at the store. Important things. But I should’ve messaged. I should’ve informed you beforehand.”

Chloe was quiet for a moment. Then she sighed and rolled her eyes jokingly.

”You’re lucky I’m not mad,” she said, almost teasing.

Gray’s brows lifted slightly, but the corner of his lips rose to the side.

”I mean, I was annoyed,” she clarified. ”But then I remembered that you’re the one with actual work and things to deal with.”

He let out a breath that was almost a laugh.

”Still. I want to make it up to you.”

Chloe raised a brow at him. For a moment, she looked guilty.

”Make it up to me? It’s fine, Gray. My exams are done. I was just making fun of you,” she said with a grin, trying to explain to Gray. ”I wasn’t really mad. I mean, I did wait for you... but it’s not like I need it or anything.”

Gray tilted his head, his eyes narrowing a little. He sheepishly smiled at her.

”Oh,” he said, leaning a little on the edge of the desk. ”So, you don’t want to go out with me?”

Chloe’s eyes widened. Her posture straightened instantly as the words registered in her head.

”What?” she asked, blinking fast. ”I—I didn’t say that!” Her voice cracked slightly near the end. Her cheeks turned red.

Gray held back a smirk. He was fighting the urge to laugh.

”So, you do?”

Chloe looked away for a second, then back at him, her lips pressing into a thin, nervous line before curling into a smile.

”I mean, if you want to make up for it, then why would I say no!” she muttered in panic, her eyes darting to the side like she didn’t know where to look.

Gray stood straight and offered her his hand.

”Then let’s go.”

”Huh?” Chloe blinked.

”Let’s go,” he repeated casually to her.

”Now?”

”Yup.”

Her mouth opened and closed once.

”You just got here.”

”Exactly,” Gray said with a slight shrug. ”Perfect timing.”

”But I’m not even dressed.”

”You look fine.”

”I haven’t even eaten!”

”Then we’ll eat.”

Chloe stared at him for a second longer, caught between confusion and disbelief. Her face was still a little red.

”You’re serious.”

”Yup.” Gray just smiled at her. ”I’ll give you fifteen minutes then.”

”Huh? That’s so short!”

”10 minutes.”

Chloe’s eyes widened.

”No! 15!” She quickly stood up and rushed toward the other side of the room where the door was. ”Wait here!”

”Alright.” Gray chuckled softly as he leaned back on the chair, his eyes following her for a brief second, before settling on the nearby stack of novels she had been reading.