Chloe Lancaster.
The first thing Gray noticed was how different she looked compared to when he last saw her.
Her long, chestnut-brown hair was tied back in a simple ponytail, not a single strand out of place. She wore a pale blue blouse, tucked into a soft cream skirt that reached just past half her thighs. Her long legs were on full display.
Chloe's face was calm, but a smile slowly formed on her lips. She was happy to see Gray again.
"It's been a while, Gray." Her voice was softer than he remembered.
"Yeah, it has," Gray answered with a smile on his face. "You look well."
Chloe let out a soft chuckle as she walked toward him, each step she took was measured, her heels making the faintest sound on the polished floor.
"You also haven't changed."
That made Emily laugh from her spot by the window.
Emily's laughter faded into a warm smile as she stepped away from the window, walking over to stand beside her younger sister.
"Well then," she began, her tone shifting slightly to something more formal. "Gray, thank you again for coming today. As we've discussed before, from this day onward, you'll be serving as Chloe's academic tutor."
Chloe's eyes flickered slightly with interest. Clearly, she had been expecting this. She didn't say any words but just continued to smile.
Chloe used to be at the top of her class. She always had a natural talent for number and language as she grew up in a household that introduced that to her since she was a child. However, lately, or two years ago, her focus on studying hasn't been the same.
It started when their mother died. Her death brought a lot of sadness to their family, and being the youngest, she was closest to their mother.
Since then, her grades have dropped, but it wasn't to the point that she was failing. But still, it wasn't good, especially for them, who got a reputation to protect.
"I just really want Chloe's grade to improve a little. We'd really appreciate it if you can do that."
Emily's tone remained gentle, but the shift in her gaze was unmistakable. She remained friendly, but her eyes had gotten sharper.
"It doesn't have to be perfect. Just… enough to help her regain her footing." Emily said softly, casting a fond glance at her sister, who was looking at her on the side.
But then, Emily's eyes turned serious as they met Gray's.
"That being said," she continued, her voice now laced with quiet authority. After all, this was still a job and not a charity.
"We can give you enough time, but we don't have the luxury of waiting too long. If we don't see noticeable improvement within a month, I'm afraid we'll have to reconsider your position."
Gray didn't flinch at it. He knew it well why he was here, and he was more than determined to make it a success.
"I understand," he replied calmly, giving her a firm nod. "A month. I'll do my best. Don't worry."
"I don't expect anything less than," Emily said, her features relaxing slightly. Her smile returned to her face as she placed a gentle hand on her sister's arm.
"I'll leave you two now, then, since I still have some things to do. Don't worry, as the maids here would serve you well."
"Thanks, Emily."
She turned back to Gray one last time. "If anything comes up, just message me."
"I will."
With that, Emily gave Chloe one final look before she exited the room with quiet footsteps, and the door closed softly behind her.
Now, it was just the two of them.
Chloe slowly walked over to the sofa near the marble fireplace and sat down, crossing her legs elegantly as she looked up at Gray with a faint smile.
"So," she said, her tone slightly teasing, "should I start calling you Mr. Tutor now?"
Chloe had a playful personality. She was often not serious.
Gray let out a low chuckle as he casually walked over and took a seat on the sofa across from her.
"You could," he replied, leaning back slightly. "But that's too formal. Just call me Gray instead."
"Gray, huh?" Chloe raised a brow, her smile widening as she tilted her head. She stared at Gray for a few seconds. Her forehead creased slightly.
'Why does Gray look different now?' she wondered, curious about it. "It's like he was the same just days ago, but there was something different about him."
Her gaze quietly scanned over his whole body. His jawline seemed more defined, his skin looked clearer, and his hair was somehow effortlessly neat. There was something about the way he also stood up. It was like he was confident, but not to the point that it looked arrogant.
'Is it just me, or did he get more handsome?'
She didn't remember him looking like this before. Back then, when they saw Gray in the restaurant, he looked presentable, but you would notice the tiredness in his eyes.
But now…
It was so different.
Chloe can't help but stare at Gray's eyes as if it was pulling him in
'Did he always have those eyes?' She swallowed hard before blinking.
She quickly turned away, pretending to fix a wrinkle on her skirt.
'Get it together, Chloe. He's your tutor now. That's all.'
Still, as she glanced back at him from the corner of her eye, a small smile tugged at her lips.
Gray caught the way Chloe briefly looked away, then stole another glance at him from the corner of her eye.
He wasn't blind. Of course, he'd notice it. But he didn't say anything about it. Instead, a small smirk played on his lips as he leaned forward slightly, sitting in front of her.
"So," he began, voice relaxed but clear, "should we start now?"
Chloe blinked, as if pulled back into reality from whatever thought she had just been swimming in.
"Start?" she echoed.
"Yes. Let's start."