Maya's eye glossed over the new contemporary romance book she had bought in a bookstore in the next estate.
It'd been quite a show because of the hefty men Xavier had insisted she show up with as the book owner just gulped again and again.
She doubted the woman had even counted her money because she seemed so eager to get rid of her and Maya didn't blame the middle-aged woman one bit.
Though she also didn't enjoy the company of two stiff men who only spoke monosyllables when necessary and had a permanent scowl on their face, she'd been desperate to get something to do, something to keep her company so the last incident that occurred when she had decided to explore Xavier's swimming pool because of boredom won't be repeated.
None of them ever mentioned the incident to each other and honestly, there was never an opportunity for it to come up.
Xavier was always gone to work before she woke up in the morning and he came back when she was already locked up in her room with a book, readying herself to go to bed.
She had even conveyed her request to go out by slipping in a written note through his door when he had left and she had seen his reply the next morning, his perfectly outlined one-line order penned on a sheet of paper:
"Go with the bodyguards or no deal."
She opened a page of one of the books she finally decided on to start with, sniffing the pleasant scent that could only be found in new books.
She leaned against her bed, snuggling her body with a pillow, and then allowed herself to be transported into a world of hopeless romantics and happy endings.
She was on her third book when she heard footsteps and Xavier's voice as he barked out orders to a substitute assistant that he recently hired.
She winced, not wanting to be in the position of whoever he was using such words at on the phone.
Her eyes widened as her glance met the clock next to her bed. It was 6:00 pm already! Her tummy growled reminding her she hasn't had anything to eat and had been putting off making something even when Xavier's cook had knocked on her door more than thrice to ask her what she'll like to eat.
Engrossed in her book, she had put it off and the last time he had knocked, she had told him she'll fix herself something when she was ready.
Wearing her flip-flops she headed to the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge looking for something she could eat. She grinned noticing the pints and pints of ice cream.
She remembered telling Ma Christabel how much she loved icecreams and made a mental note to thank her later when she saw her.
"You know you shouldn't be planning to lick that when you haven't eaten all day." Xavier, had a frown on his face as he walked towards her.
She wondered how he knew she had not eaten and importantly how he had changed so fast because now he was wearing a plain T-shirt that outlined his body and a jogger that emphasized that he was sex on both legs.
He was like a sexual fantasy on casuals and Maya could only blink wondering how unfair God could be to give such an infuriating man such good-looking genes.
"Besides, you are running away from a criminal, not men. Don't turn into a fat unwanted lady, now." He added making her whip her head backward to glare at him.
"I think I can live with being unwanted and fat rather than being an obnoxious prick. You didn't even bother to ask me how my day went?"
"Why should I?" He shrugged raising his brow.
"I don't know okay." She mumbled at a loss of what to say, "Maybe courtesy,"
He smirked, "Exactly why I didn't. I don't do things to be courteous. I ask you things when I want to know the response and I don't if I'm not interested." He shrugged making her roll her eyes at his answer, "Besides I know how your day went, you read those stupid books you bought the last time you went out and skipped meals."
"They are not stupid! Besides, that is the only fun thing I can do here." She quickly defended her collections of romantic novels that give her bookgasm.
He moped at her with such incredulity that made her wonder what he was up to, "How could you call some dumb books fun more than me?"
She shook her head, it was a wonder that he was still able to fit into doors with the massive ego he had on, "Only my books spend time with me, unlike you that is always busy."
"Tomorrow night, I'll have a movie night with you. You get to choose the movies too." He eyed her as she grinned widely, "Don't make me regret this decision."
"In fact to prove how fun I can be. I'm here to make you dinner."
She had a goofy smile on at his words, "So tell me Maya what will you like to eat."
"Spaghetti Bolognese." She hastily replied, not knowing if she should question her sanity for playing along with Xavier and thinking of ingesting whatever he makes.
He winks at her, "Your wish is my command," he said in an exaggerated comic French accent.
She laughed as he winked at her, wearing his apron with such a theatrical flair but ditching the cap, muttering, beneath his breath that covering such perfection should be a crime he got cooking.
While Maya watched him, laughing so hard at his funny looks as he made a show of doing every little thing, trying to show off culinary skills Maya refused to acknowledge.
By the time he was done, Maya had laughed so hard, so much that she couldn't believe it was her grumpy boss who was the reason as she began to wonder if Xavier was bipolar or worst had a twin no one knows about.
***
Her eyes widened as she took a spoon of the meal Xavier presented before her.
She turned to meet him completely gobsmacked, knowing that she won't have believed he was the one who had prepared the meal if not that she was an eye witness to the preparation of the dishes.
He gave her a cocky grin already aware of how delicious his meal was, then smirking he left the kitchen leaving Maya to wonder why God will bless just one man with success, wealth, good looks, and culinary skills.