I looked up to her from my plate. She is eating the baked porridge with relish. This must be the first time she is eating such a dish. Her eyes did not stray to somewhere else even for a second and it didn't take long for her to inhale all her food. I became conscious of my own plate and started eating.
"Do you want more porridge Miss?" Leila asked.
"I'm already okay Leila. Thank you."
"How about a cup of tea? My husband milked the goats earlier. Fresh goat milk goes well with tea."
"I think I'd like tea with goat milk. I haven't tried that before. Thank you."
I ate my porridge faster.
"Uhm, I would also like some tea Leila," I said to Leila a few moments later.
"Okay," she responded.
My bowl was clean of porridge when she returned to us, carrying two saucers with teacups on it. She set down one in front of Ms. McCrae and one in front of me. She beat me to reach for a bottle of milk. She handed it to Ms. McCrae first.
"Enjoy your tea," she said with a small smile then took our soiled plates.
"Thank you Leila," Ms. McCrae said to her.
I also gave her my thanks.
"You are welcome, both of you."
I smiled to myself. Leila is in good spirits this morning.
"How much milk should be added ssir?"
I turned my head to Ms. McCrae's direction. She is looking straight at me and I just stared back at her for a couple of seconds.
"Uh..." I held out my hand to her, asking for the bottle of milk.
She handed it to me. I opened the bottle then poured some milk into my teacup.
"This much," I said to her.
I handed the bottle back to her and she also poured the milk into her cup.
"Do you like tea?" I asked her, trying to strike a friendly conversation.
I looked in her direction with a sip of my tea.
"Hm, I don't hate it sir but I'm not a tea drinker. Where I come from, tea is not really part of our daily life," she answered me.
"We prefer coffee," she added as an afterthought.
"I go with both. Tea and coffee," I said to her, smiling.
"You are enjoying the best of two worlds sir," she chuckled.
I also let out a chuckle and nodded.
"Indeed. Coffee is best for me in the morning and when I'm working into the night. Tea is best whenever I feel like drinking tea," I responded, now feeling playful.
"Staying here in Kazakhstan, I could see my future with tea. Lots of tea."
"And coffee. Lots of coffee also," I grinned.
She nodded in amused approval before taking another sip of her tea.
"You were saying about my singing Ms. McCrae..." I trailed off after a moment of silence.
She smiled down at her cup.
"My honest opinion sir?" she said looking up to me.
I nodded at her, feeling somewhat excited.
"Seeing and hearing you sing; I can't quite believe that I will be working with you. I have become a fan and I can't quite process that I'll be working alongside you... you know from a fan's perspective. It's mind- blowing."
I did my best to suppress an ear to ear grin. She is a new fan!
Wait.
Why am I overjoyed about one person becoming my fan? I have millions of them already.
I stared at her.
I was bothered about her the whole night and this morning… I'm conscious and awkward with her around me.
I think I'm done for.
I gulped down the remaining of my tea in haste.
"Uhm... I'm done with my tea. I'll be in the studio for the whole day. If you need me, just give me a knock," I told her as I stood up from my seat.
I need to take it slow and I need to contain myself.
"Okay sir."
Distance might help.
I climbed back to my room and brushed my teeth. I stared at myself in the mirror after the final rinse.
"You're crazy, you know," I said to my reflection.
He only stared back at me without a word.
******************
I took my seat in front of the piano. The notepad is left the way it was from last night. With a sigh, I flipped the pages and stopped on the last scribbled page. I ripped it out and the other page before it. I'm not going anywhere with the song.
Alright. I have to start fresh.
I stared at the blank page, my mind nowhere near melodies.
I'm bewildered. Am I the only one feeling the charge of electricity around us? I can't believe I'm attracted to her. Well, yeah. She's attractive but she is my manager for goodness' sake! And I knew her only yesterday.
I laughed at myself.
This is crazy. Who said about not getting attracted to his manager huh?
But it's not just because of her beauty, I'm sure. I have had my share of pretty women before but Ms. McCrae affects me differently. With other women, I'm usually confident and I take the lead. I don't try to impress them and I don't tiptoe around the things I should do or say.
This is new.
Is it because of the air of mystery around her? Is it because I know she is not an ordinary woman? She's an heiress. She got billions to her name. What's more.. a mafia lord is after her.
She is one intriguing woman.
With a jolt, I took up my pen and the notepad. For a few hours, I had written a new song complete with the melody and the verses. It could use some editing but hey.. I think I did well. I ought to thank Ms. McCrae for the inspiration.
A double knock on my door finally disturbed me. I let go of my pen and stood up, thinking that Leila must be delivering my food as usual.
I opened the door, startled to see Ms. McCrae behind it.
"Forgive me for the intrusion sir but Ms. Leila would like to know what you want to eat for lunch," she told me.
I took in her appearance. She is wearing an apron; her hair is tied back into a ponytail and she is wearing rubber gloves. What is up to?
"Were you cleaning?" I asked her with a frown.
"I volunteered, sir. I don't have much to do today and I don't like lazing around."
I stared at her.
Did I hear it right? She was cleaning?
"You were cleaning? Why? I mean... you are cleaning the house?"
"Yes sir. That's what I said."
"But why??"
"Uhm.. I don't have much to do today and I don't like lazing around?"
What a strange woman.
"Your lunch sir?"
"Ah yes. I would like shashlik please."
"Okay. I will tell Leila."
And with that, she left.
I stared at her retreating back, struggling to connect the dots.
Her? Cleaning? Leila allowed her to do it? She is my manager and that's her only job.
I went back inside the studio and turned off everything. I jogged down the stairs and turned to the direction of the kitchen. I believe Leila has the answers.
I almost bumped into Ms. McCrae as she was getting out of the kitchen.
"You also came down, sir. I already told Leila what you want for lunch," she greeted me.
I gave her an awkward smile.
"Uhm, thank you. Where are you off to?"
"To the family room sir. To clean."
"Join me for lunch later," I told her.
She nodded and went her way.
*****************************