CHAPTER 7 - NO LONGER A CHILD

“Pardon me. I can’t hear you, boss. I’ll send the information later.” Olive grinned her teeth listening to the dog named Raith, and the cat named Kate grumbles at the kitchen counter.

            “I said, let me do it!” Kate shouted angrily as she reached for the knife, tiptoeing her feet.

            “No! I’ll do it!” Raith lifts up the kitchen knife and the meat, making Kate jump from time to time. The chefs and kitchen staff standstill with sweat forming on their foreheads as they silently watched the scene. Kate was about to argue when a loud bang silenced them. Olive was irritated.

            “What if I’ll cut the heads of both of you? Will that knock you off?” She retorted, trying to control her tone and her temper, but the chefs and staff flinched.

            “Cut his head, Lady Olive. It’s his fault in the first place.” Kate hissed, glaring at Raith beside her. But Raith said the opposite thing. Olive’s blood rose higher as both started to argue again. She was about to open her mouth when her phone rang.

            “HELLO?!” Without looking at the caller’s I.D., she released her frustration at the caller.

            “I didn’t call a wrong number, am I right?” That voice. That very familiar voice. All of Olive’s range subside as she looked at the name of the caller. There was a forceful beating of her heart.

            “B-boss! Forgive me! I did not mean to raise my voice to you!” She stammered. Cold sweats started to form on her forehead.

            “Carsillion and I are on our way home. Make sure to cook the dishes. We’ll make the pastries.” Olive nodded and took a deep breath as Ashriel hang the phone. Calming herself, she looked at the two people who tossed her to her edge. Their mouths are now sealed, but they hit each other’s elbow.

            “Leave them. At the end of the day, they will be okay.” Xieaniel laughed, trying to comfort Olive.

            “I’ll make the beverages and appetizers. Will you give me a hand?” Olive massaged her temple before she nodded and followed Xieaniel to the second kitchen room.

            “Can you tie my hair, please?” He said, handing her a black hair tie.

            “What entered your mind to have long hair without knowing how to tie it properly? Tsk.” She hissed, crossed her arms against her chest, and tilted her head.

            “Uhm, you? You hate it when I cut it short, right?” He smiled. Olive felt the heat rising on her cheeks upon realizing his reason.

            “T-that’s because your hair is longer and silkier than mine. It’s such a waste to cut it short. Besides, braiding it is one of my stress relievers so-“

            “So, you need to tie it properly now since you’re the one who wanted it long.” He laughed. “The fruits are waiting.”

            Olive, who was good at making quick answers, closed her mouth and rolled her eyes to avoid his gaze. “Whatever.” She blurted out and snatched the hair tie from his hand. He sat down for her to reach him and gently tied his long, black hair.

            “Thanks." He pinched her fluffy cheeks and ruffled her hair affectionately after Olive tied his hair. "Can you still remember the last time you helped me prepare the beverages?” Olive stopped, trying to search her memory for an answer.

            “It’s been a year or two. I guess.”

            It has been a long time. She whispered to herself.

            “Don’t overwork yourself, Ruby. I told you before; it’s not bad to ask for help.” Ruby. That name fluttered her heart. He used to call her that in private to show her that he cares.

            “I’m no longer a child, Ethan. Stop calling me by that name.”

            “I’m no longer a child as well, so stop calling me ‘Ethan.’” Xieaniel threw a piece of cloth – rag -- at her. “Call me ‘sir.’” Olive didn’t let that slip. She opened the faucet and splashed some water on his face. Befuddled, he removed his eyeglasses and ran her fingers through his hair. Olive studied his face. Handsome as always.

            “So that’s what you want.”

            “What do you mean?

            Xieaniel splashed Olive’s face with water and laughed. Olive, being Olive, did not let it pass. She took a glass and opened the second faucet, splashing the water on Xieaniel's face. The whole kitchen room is now wet. They ran, splashed each other with water, and played like little children.

            “You little-“ Olive did not let Xieaniel finish his sentence and threw him another glass of water.

            “Shut up! You can’t beat me, Ethan!” She went to the edge, widening their distance. When Xieaniel motioned to run, Olive attempted to run out of the room but she took a wrong step and lost her balance.

            But her surprise, her body was being pulled. A force that is neither overly powerful nor effective. Xieaniel had Olive in his arm in an instant.

            Blink.

            “You nearly slipped. How come this reckless woman became the secretary of The Ruler?” Olive felt her heart pounded when she noticed that his face is only a few inches away from her. She gulped, yet he grins. Fully aware of her thoughts. Olive blinked a few more times before opening her mouth.

            “Ha-ha. T-that is why I became her secretary. Because I am reckless.” Olive faked a laugh, trying to avoid his gaze.

            “I thought this is the kitchen room. Since when did this place become the pool area?” Raith, standing in the doorway, frowned as he looked at the two people who are close to each other.

            Olive tried to release herself from Xieaniel but the waist he wrapped his arms around snapped closely to his body. Olive’s eyes widened but Xieaniel did not faze. Instead, he shot a sharp look to Raith. Kate who was also there understood the meaning of his eyes.

            “Ow, sorry, couples. We’re leaving.” Kate smiled like a cat and took Raith away from the kitchen room, leaving the two behind.

            “Look at what you’ve done,” Xieaniel said with his low-pitched voice, smiling at her.

            “M-my back hurts from this position. Let me go.” Olive did not wait for Xieaniel to respond and quickly pushed his face away from her, releasing her body from his arms. She turned her back, trying to hide her embarrassment. Olive was not the type of person who can easily be embarrassed. But with Xieaniel's presence, she cannot quickly regain her composure.  In her distress, she took the kitchen knife and started to slice the ingredients. Her heart pounded so fast that it can come out any moment from now. She took a heavy breath, trying to calm herself. Xieaniel observed her as her hand followed the rhythm of her heart.

            She’s cutting the fruits recklessly again. He thought.

            Xieaniel sighed and walked towards her. Her short, brown hair tied into a low ponytail, exposed her nape. Without any hesitation, Xieaniel moved his head closely and sniffed her scent. Sensing his closeness, Olive's hands moved faster. He was doing this habit for almost ten years now, but she can never get used to it.

        He could not stand to just look at her cut her hands any moment, so his warm hands covered her slender hands as he guides her.

            “I told you before; you are cutting fruits, not humans.” He whispered to her ears, making her hair stand. Olive flushed, thinking of the way to escape from him. Despite their wet clothes, she can feel his warmth.

            “Olive?” After some brief static, she quickly released herself from him and cleared her throat before responding.

            “I-I’m here, Boss!” Panicky, she wiped her face.

            “Olive, will you- what happened here?!” Ashriel blurted out. Olive saw the dog and the cat grinning from behind her.

            “Why is this place wet? And why are YOU so wet?!” She exclaimed. Transferring her gaze from Olive to Xieaniel and back to the kitchen room.

            “It was my fault, Your Highness.” Xieaniel stepped forward and threw her a cloth. Olive was about to open her mouth when he looked at her.

            “Go and change your clothes. You don’t want anyone of us to see your bare skin, right?” Her eyes widened and looked at her chest. She then realized that she is wearing a plain white shirt.

            “I-I’ll be back, Boss!”

            She walked with pace but ran as soon as she was out of their sight. Her body then slump on the floor of her room as she bit her lips. She looked at her hand that felt warmth a while ago.

            Since when did I felt like that whenever I’m with him? 

~ It is not bad to ask for help. What’s not good is pretending you can when actually, you can’t. ~