C10 A Cook Too?!

"Cole, how in the world did your apartment get infested with rats?." I stared at him in disbelief.

Only two days ago I had a break-in which Cole tried to convince me that it was just a prank because apparently, nothing was stolen and the door and windows weren't broken. Now, it was news that his apartment had been infested with rats and would really appreciate it if he could stay at my place till the Pest Control Company would get rid of the rats; and till he would get his apartment back in shape.

"How would I know? I woke up one night and they were everywhere. It was like a stampede" he replied with a shrug. "Although I must confess I saw the signs but didn't think it mattered until it got to this point."

We were going to move out—that was my decision. Trying to make me believe it was a prank didn't really work with me because I was certain it wasn't just a prank.. The words were written in blood but according to Cole and Dave—who happened to walk in few minutes after Cole did—it was fake blood therefore there was no need to involve the police. But there was still that feeling at the pit of my stomach that everything wasn't all right but I decided not to discuss further about it.

With their help, I cleaned up everything and rearrange my room before Esther got back. It was a sight neither of us wanted her to see and knowing Esther, she would take the matter farther out of hands. The whole place was fixed before she got back and even though she asked why Cole was around that late—9 pm to be exact because he had never stayed after dropping me off, well, except when he entertained Mrs Shina's blab about our wedding which didn't exceed ten minutes— it was pretty easy to distract her with the story of how much of a hunk my boss was and how I almost hit him with a shovel.

"I do not have an extra room to accommodate you Cole," I said calmly

"The parlour is comfortable enough or I could share Dave's room with him," he suggested.

"Dave would never allow that," I told him. Dave just happened love his space too much to share it with anyone, that, I was sure of. I knew it was probably unwise to be apprehensive about Cole but it was too much of a risk to trust anyone at that point.

Yeah but you let him drive you to work every day, that tiny voice in my head said.

Well I hadn't gotten a threatening message then, I defended.

"It's just for a little while and I'll be out before you know it," he gave me a side glance, "no need to think too much about it".

I knew but one tiny little flaw about me was I overthink things that I shouldn't overthink and treat matters that demanded caution and utmost care, with negligence. So maybe I was overthinking Cole's request; after all he had been the most transparent with me amongst all the employees of the Ogden enterprise.

"Okay you can stay but you will contribute to the house chores as I do not fancy men incapable of even the simplest house chore," I instructed in a tone firmer than I had intended.

Cole gave out a hearty laugh as he pulled the car to a stop in front the metal bars. "Yes ma'am," he said gleefully.

My eyes narrowed in suspicion at him. "You're way too happy about all the recent development in my life and I am impelled to believe you have secrets you do not wish to tell me."

A guarded look was suddenly on his face quickly replacing the beam that was once there. "I wear my heart on my sleeve Daphne." He paused. "You shouldn't worry about anything."

Well, I worried because over the six weeks I had been there, Cole switched mood more than a girl on her period. One minute he was throwing his little jokes around and laughing hard; and the next minute, he was distracted and doing things absentmindedly or too quiet with a guarded look on his face. I feared all the confused scenarios and attitudes were beginning to interfere with my brain's ability to function well.

I slid out of the car and walked to the gate that was suddenly opened before I even knocked or use the bell. As the polite lady that I was or concluded that I was, I greeted the statue stationed at the gate whose only response was a grunt as usual. Unbothered, I continued till I was in the parlour which unsurprisingly, was clean as a whistle—again.

Truth be told, I was beginning to get bored out of my mind doing absolute nothing productive, according to Gabby's words—well except eat, sleep, watch films and maybe dance sometimes which had abruptly came to an end ever since I discovered the tiny cameras—in his house.

I lay on the three seater sofa about to relax into it when something made my eyes shot open in fright. There was just about enough time for me to roll off the chair and clumsily fall on the floor. I jumped to my feet cussing inwardly at the startling sound that disrupted the peaceful ambience and almost made my heart jumped out of my chest.

Where's that cussed sound coming from?

I traced where the incessant noise was coming from to an object placed on a stool beside the stereo set; it had buttons on it and a cord. I approached it slowly and with uncertainty, picked the handset up and held the receiver close to my ear.

"I was beginning to conclude you're considerably slower than a sloth since it took you approximately three minutes to receive my call." Gabby's deep and firm voice resonated from the other side of the phone making me flinch; and with a great amount of effort, I bit my tongue to prevent the snarky remarks that had almost made their way through my mouth in response.

"Hello to you too sir," I finally said, giving myself a mental pat on the back for being able to bridle my tongue.

"Cease the pleasantries Delia and present yourself in my study at once." His voice boomed—not scary but enough to make me flinch again—through the receiver and before I could ask where his study was, the call was dropped.

Calm down Daphne; don't let him get to you

I released my tight grip on the handset—which I had imagined as Gabby's neck—and return it back to its place. Several calming breaths and mantra—to remind me that violence wasn't an option—later, I made my way upstairs to find his study.

Well, you guessed right, I wasn't on the fit side to climb the flight of stairs without panting like I had just run a marathon but hey, I made it. The passage was coated in its usual darkness barring the ray of light that was seeping in through an opened door. Instinctively, I walked into the opened door and found the mighty Gabby seated behind a desk while being hunched over scribbling things down in one the many files that were sprawled on it.

The whole room was painted in grey from top to bottom including the ceiling and the floor was made of dark brown wood panelling. There were one long couch and two small ones in the room, a tea table and two big shelves; and that was all that the quite large study had although you would expect something more, maybe artsy or just full of office stuffs but that wasn't Gabby. Though, the room was organised with precision, the desk Gabby was working on which was rather unkempt.

"You seem to be slower than my intended conclusion since it took you even longer to find my study," he said calmly like he hadn't just boomed at me on the phone a moment ago. He dropped his pen and looked at me through his bespectacled eyes and Lord—Dear Lord— if I was being honest—brutally honest—Gabby was indeed capable of making any woman's knees buckle in desire. And unfortunately for me, I was feeling every part of my body vibrate with desire and not the desire to strangle him like earlier, but the desire to do something more er—sexually pleasing and engaging with him.

Concentrate Daphne, I yelled at myself. We are not here to gawk at this fine specimen who also happens to be our boss. We should ignore him and focus on work, just work. Those plump looking lips, chiselled jaw, dark brown eyes and ripped biceps shouldn't matter—just work Daphne. And we're not going to ever admit his deep voice does something sinful to us too.

Oh who was I kidding? Despite his arrogance and the overwhelming urge to throttle him the few times I had met him—he was making me feel some things I hadn't felt in a long while.

"Now make yourself useful and fetch me a meal," he said

That seemed to snap me out of sexually self-induced stupor I had thrown myself into. He didn't just say what I thought I heard right? Surely he must be joking if he did or maybe I'm just overthinking and jumping into conclusion again. "What would you like me to order for you sir? Pizza? Or would you like some Chinese?"

He gave me a blank look. "Have you suddenly gone mad too?"

Did I say something out of line?

"Delilah—"

I rolled my eyes at him. "It's Daphne for Pete's sake," I corrected but you know what?—He ignored me and continued giving me the blank look.

How the hell am I getting attracted to this man?

"Delilah, I expect you to get your behind in the kitchen and cook me a meal," he said calm and collected as he went back to writing away on his files.

I should get angry right? But why is the mention of my behind further fuelling my sinful thoughts?

Calm your raging hormones Daphne, this fine specimen just asked us to cook for him and that is unacceptable!

"I wasn't employed to cook your meals sir."

Wait—who just said that?

That couldn't be my voice. It was supposed to sound stern leaving no room for argument like I had heard and replayed in my head but why did it come out croaked then ended like a whimper?

Gabby's brow furrowed a bit—just a tiny weeny little bit. "I believe it was an order not a request".

Order?!

Order?!

Who are you to order me around?!

He's your boss you dummy. And not to mention a wealthy and powerful man too; you shouldn't say things that will put us in danger, that annoying voice said again.

And she was right because after scrolling through several vague articles online, I found one that managed to give a little more details about the family. And the discovery: the Ogden family were stinking rich—no, stinking wealthy and in the top five most powerful families in the country meaning they could get away with anything. So arguing with this man might just meant I was digging my own grave but—

"An order that would not be carried out sir". I spoke again even though I knew I should give up right then because I was failing miserably at trying to make my voice portray what was on my mind— and I shouldn't be that eager to die too.

He looked up from the pile of files on his desk sharply. "Diane, I will have you know that I have no use of tardy, incompetent and disrespectful employees in my establishment and seeing that you're all three, it might be most favourable to you if you quit".

I think he's trying to get rid of me. I concluded he was.

I moved closer to him, leaned forward and placed my hands on his desk. "If I didn't know better, I would think you are bent on getting rid of me".

Something flashed in his eyes but I couldn't discern what it was. "As much as that would be comforting, I do not waste my time on trivial issues like you".

Did that hurt? A little

And as the little delinquent that I was, I opened my mouth to protest but before I could get a word out, he was out of his chair and around the desk in a second. He stepped towards me until his face was dangerously close to mine. "Either do whatever I say or quit—your choice".

For a moment, my heart stood still and I forgot about his rudeness and arrogance and gazed into his dark brown eyes. Then my eyes went to his lips, and I became aware of how his warm breath fanned against my face when he spoke. My lips suddenly went dry and I felt myself being drawn into whatever he was making me experience and I was willing to release myself into it but his swift withdrawal brought me back to my senses—or so I thought..

He walked back to his chair, relaxed himself into it and folded his arms across his chest with a look of triumph on his face. "Now, my meal".

Not trusting the words I would say or how I would react, I turned on my heels and rushed out of his study to carry out his order.