A/N: This took me forever to update, and I’m wicked sorry. I didn’t mean to torture anyone. I’ll try to be more regular and, trust me, I will be after this holiday! –sighs- So many presents, so few days.

Hope you enjoy! Thanks to those three of you that did review. Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Chapter 2

She was mostly through with sketching Daniel’s luscious body when her subject spoke again.

“You’re bleeding.” He told her calmly.

She looked up at him worriedly, then looked at her arms and hands to see what he was talking about. When she couldn’t find anything but charcoal, she looked back up to him about to comment and he gestured lower on his body to make it more clear to her.

He was quite calm about the whole situation.

When she realized what he meant and saw the blood through her jeans she growled and stood up quickly, then regretted it, but didn’t want to sit and ruin his stool or anything.

“Uh, Mary!” She called out, quickly, with panic in her tone.

The woman came rushing in a moment later. She whispered her problem to Maryin a hushed mannerand the woman began to pull her out of the room.

“Mary.” Daniel called out, somewhat amused by the whole situation. “Let her bathe and dress her in Annie’s old clothes.”

Mary nodded several times. “Yes, Master!” She called out to him and left pulling Amanda with her.

Amanda was brought down the lift until they had arrived in the servants quarters and thankfully that man George wasn’t there. This was embarrassing enough without everyone knowing. Mary gave her a few towels and promised she would have clothes for her when she came back out. Amanda took a shower, washing away the muck of the city streets and the freezing rain that had almost soaked all of her clothes anyway.

When she came back out, Mary had placed a box of tampons on the toilet and clothes on a table on the side of the room. She smiled thankfully. What a sweet woman. She thought idly.

She looked over the clothes after taking care of herself. They were almost the same size as she was. She was shocked. Who was this Annie person?

She shook it off as she dressed in stretchy black pants and a red blouse.

Very stylish, in her opinion.

She exited the bathroom and thanked Mary a few times over. Mary guided her back up to the lift and to Daniel’s workroom again, then she left with a gentle smile still in place. Amanda almost dreaded returning to Daniel. This was so embarrassing -she didn't want to be taunted by Daniel on top of it.

Upon entering the room again, Amanda was startled to see a man about her height looking over her sketch with a bag of groceries resting on the stool she'd been using. He reached out his hand and traced the contours of the sketch without smudging it in the least.

“Beautiful.” He murmured, then he heard Amanda shuffle around, and he turned to her with a frown creasing his brow. “And who the hell are you?” He demanded rudely.

“Is Mary the only polite person in this place?” Amanda snapped back with a scowl. “My name is Amanda. I’m auditioning for apprenticeship with Daniel.”

His gaze narrowed on her as she spoke. “What would Daniel want an apprentice for?”

“Excuse me, but who the hell are you?” She replied shortly.

“It wasn’t my idea, trust me.” Daniel stated as he glided back into the room, his feet bare and only loose silky pants for warmth around his lean body. “Annie thought I could use some more company and she was a bit overcome with the amount of fan mail she received from Ms. Amanda.” He gestured to her casually.

“Damn that bitch.” The boy snapped. He looked to still be in his twenties and stood a bit less than a foot shorter than Daniel. “You aren’t going to take her, are you?”

“I’m standing right here!” Amanda yelled with clenched fists. They didn’t even pay her a glance. Daniel walked away from the boy and up to the sketch.

“I don’t know. I think she has potential.” He stated as he looked it over. Amanda felt a swell of pride from the hidden compliment the art master had bestowed upon her.

“That’s her work?!” The boy asked sharply.

“Have you ever seen me do a self portrait?” He asked the boy, glaring at him seductively with his blonde hair draping over one of his eyes enticingly. Amanda could feel a warmth enter her face and chest. So handsome...

“No.” The boy answered and looked the sketch over again. “Will you color it in for me?” He asked leaning closer to Daniel.

“You want it?”

“Yes, but only if you color it for me.”

Daniel smirked at him. “I suppose I could manage that… for a price.”

“I suppose I could manage any price you ask.” The boy told him firmly with a small smile.

“Does that mean…?” Amanda interrupted.The compliment she had received had left a lingering fluttery feeling in her stomach.

Daniel turned to Amanda as if just noticing her. “You have until the end of this week to convince me you would make a good apprentice.” He told her sternly.

She jumped up and down with glee, then jumped into his arms, circling her arms around his neck. “Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!” She cried out happily, as she laughed jovially. Her idol really wasn't that much of an ass. He was really quite kind, but didn't know how to show it because he was never in public and never had to be social. He was untainted by the world's views and criticism because someone else read his fan-mail. He was perfect to her.

---

Daniel was stunned when the woman latched onto him. Her large breasts pressed against his chest warmly. He found himself slightly aroused, but he hid it behind his blank face.

“Get off, please.” He told her and she released him, no less pleased with herself or him for being kind. He wanted to growl. This was why he avoided public matters; crazy buggers like this one seemed to feel the urge to touch him or hug him. He hated anyone touching him.

He glanced at the man that stood beside him. She must have been a bit older than he was, but she was gorgeous with her auburn hair that was shorter than his and flared out like fire when it was dry. She was quite attractive. He found it humorous that she had begun to bleed while sketching him. It was an odd twist of fate.

“I’m sorry.” She said turning to the man beside him. “I didn’t mean to snap at you earlier, I’ve just had such a rotten night up until this point.” She put out her hand to him. “My name is Amanda Jane Pearl. And you are?”

---

He glared at her hand, but once he caught Daniel’s heated gaze, he stretched out his arm and took her hand a bit roughly, but she returned the strong grip. “Sean Fay Grant.” He answered. They parted and he felt as if he had competition for Daniel’s attention suddenly. He vowed he would insure Daniel’s complete attention on him for all times that night.

“I’m off to bed.” He declared a bit loudly as he picked up his grocery bag and walked over to Daniel. He pulled out a small bottle of ointment and gave to Daniel, who took it without even looking at it; losing it in the palm of his hand.

---

Amanda watched this curiously, then sighed with relief as Sean left. “Night!” She called after him cheerfully, but he didn’t acknowledge her.

She turned back to Daniel who seemed somewhat distracted.

She glanced at her watched and frowned. “Uh, do you think I could have a couch or something for the night?” She asked carefully. She didn’t want to blow her big chance at being his apprentice because she lived too far away.

“Why?” He asked.

“I live four hours away and…”

“You can have a bed, you know.” He interrupted passively. She became ecstatic.

“Thank you!” She cried out happily.

He became slightly irrated with all these 'thank you's, but found her somehwat amusing and her cheer was quite endearing. “Mary!” He called out gently and the maid came back into the room with a soft smile. “Could you show Ms. Amanda to Annie’s old room?”

Again with this Annie person. She thought to herself as she turned ot Mary.

Marybowed her head. “Of course, Sir.” With that said, she led Amanda out of the workroom and back to the lift.

A/N: Sorry it took so long for this to come out, but I was working on Christmas presents and updating my other stories and –believe it or not- I knit, which takes a lot of time and concentration. The only thing that sucks is that I can’t knit and update at the same time, so it’s one or the other. I’ll have to get back to it now, but tell me what you think.

Did you enjoy? Was it good? Do you like how it is going? Would anyone care to take a jab at where they think this is going? Review!! Please?