BECOMING HIS PERSONAL ASSISTANT (2)

THREE

"Did Ajax tell you all to be cold to me? I don't understand why I have been asking a simple question and you all will look at me like I have a frog in my mouth." Melinda said, wincing as the shaving blade touched her skin. She glared at the three unmaidly maids that had been pruning her hair. They were 'unmaidly' to her because they were not dressed as maids.

"Get her ready for waxing" The woman who seemed like their leader said before walking away.

"We do not speak of Ajax. He is a good man. Any questions you have should be directed to him." One of the maids who seemed friendly said.

" Erm mada..." Melinda started

"Lucrecia" The friendly maid corrected.

"Okay. Lu, I just want to know if he is a prince."

"Ask him yourself." The other replied coldly, talking through gritted teeth.

"Being too inquisitive will get you nowhere." Lucrecia said as she reached for Melinda's face to pluck her eye brows.

"But I don't even know what's happening. I wake up one morning and then one powerful young prince comes to whisk me away." Melinda retorted, earning a stifled giggle from Lucrecia.

"By the way, why do I need all this plucking and pruning?" She asked. " I feel like I'm going to be transformed into a mannequin."

"Ajax loves his staff looking dignified. He asked that you are properly plucked and pruned as you'd say it." Lucrecia replied, air quoting 'plucked and pruned.' "Besides.." she continued, "Given the fact that your role here calls for this rigmarole, I see no reason why you should be complaining."

" I'm supposed to be a cook.." Melinda started but she was cut short by the looks the maids exchanged.

"What's going on? Why.."

"Enough. No more questions."The senior maid cut her short. She returned with a basket of lemons and rose flowers.

"Let her get waxed now, so we can put these things to good use." She continued, sending Melinda a glare when she sensed she was about to speak.

"I just want to know what's going on." Melinda was almost at the verge of tears as they moved her to the waxing tub.

"If I were you, I wouldn't dare provoke that young Man. He is sweet but poisonous whenever the need arises. If you are still confused at this point, it means that's how he want you to be. And I'm afraid you've already gotten on his bad side and you my dear have spoilt his mood this morning. What you should be thinking about right now is how to be on your best behavior so that you don't get stung." The senior made snapped.

That did it. Melinda was silent, sulkingly silent.

"Lu..What's the real colour of my hair?" Melinda asked, after she had been thoroughly waxed, soaked in milk, bathed with lemons and rose petals. She was seated now as Lucrecia styled her hair.

"Ha.. it's a rare breed."

"Is it actually white?" Melinda asked.

"It's a mixture of blonde and white. It's a pretty hair you have here my dear, even though it's strange. Normally, I would have given it another specific tone but it's okay the way it is. It makes you special."

Melinda glowed with warmth and affection towards Lucrecia. "Thanks Lu. At least, you're not like someone else who pointed this fact out in the most derogatory manner. I was called a white haired bird. Can you imagine?"

" Ha. That's funny. But if you think of white birds, they're all pretty. Dove, Egret and the likes of them.."

"Except Jabiru and White stork. You know that right ?" Melinda scoffed with an exaggerated eye roll. "You are a masterpiece." Lucrecia said, glowing with pride as she examined Melinda.

"What?" Melinda was questioning her look over.

"You look perfect." She said, as she turned Melinda around to the mirror on the dresser.

"Oh my God. Who is this person?" Melinda shrieked. She touched her face, her hair. Her hair was really beautiful. Lucrecia had transformed the hair from boringly straight to interestingly wavy.

"I'm not even on make up." Melinda cried. 

" Yeah, you won't be needing make up for now." A familiar voice said. The voice she was beginning to dread, yet longed to hear. She whirled to face him. Lucrecia and the other maids were gone. It was just him standing in front of her. He was wearing a sweat shirt and a faded jeans. His hair and face looked damp like he just stepped out of the shower. She stole a peek at his eyes. Grey and hard as steel as usual.

"Ajax." She gasped. She protectively clung to her towel. 

"I see you like your new look." He said, inching closer to her to really look at her face and understand what changed.

"Erm..yes. I look dignified. Just the way the maids say you like it." She stuttered, taking a step backwards, only to bump into the dresser. She jolted. He came closer to her still, trapping her between him and the dresser as he placed both hands on it.

"And I see you've been bothering the maids." He reached for her chin to make her look at him. Melinda swallowed. His lips looked invitingly wet. Butterflies fluttered in her stomach.

"Erm..not really." She replied quickly in false bravery. She was melting inside. She felt vulnerable.

"Soon enough, you won't be confused. How old are you Melinda?" He asked softly. His fingers lingered on her chin. 

"I am twenty years old...How old are you?" She asked, in a bid to sink the nervousness and fear that washed over her. She didn't trust his soft voice.

"Meet me in my office. It's at the top floor. It's the only room with a black door." He replied, walking away. Melinda couldn't stop herself from ogling at his strides and the places his sweat shirt clung too. Muscles. Gracious lean and perfect muscles.

"This is bad." She face palmed herself. "This is really bad. I am supposed to be hating him for turning my life upside down and not drooling each time I see him."

"I'll advise against it."Lucrecia said, appearing from God knows where. 

"It's like appearing and disappearing is a norm here. Teach me how to do it. I need such skill." Melinda replied. Lucrecia giggled.

"Let's get you dressed."