Raya's POV
If he wants to eat something good, i'll make him something good, something that he'll remember for his entire life.
After adding all the spices, adding them on the chicken thighs, mixing them and frying them I finally plate them.
And now it's turn for the sauces.
Hehe.
I add all the hot sauces I can find in his kitchen and for a final touch I add red chilli flakes.
Finished.
I walk towards the lving room and place the plate in front of him. "Here."
"Fried chicken?" He asks.
"Yes."
"So is this your favourite dish or something?"
"Uh…yeah it is, I love it." I lie, a big smile on my face.
"Hmh? Then you should also eat it with me." He looks up at me.
Does he know?
"No, I am full." I give an excuse.
"Oh come on, I know you haven't eaten a single thing since you've left the office." He insists. "Come." He pats on the sofa.
"No—"
"No questions Ms. Gray."
Shit.
I can't handle spice. If I eat this i'll soon be having a cup of tea with god himself.
"Come on, honey. We have to eat this for dinner not breakfast." He taunts.
"Oh, actually I need to go and teach my cat how to swim." I spout without thinking.
"Ms. Gray… you don't have a cat. Come sit."
I reluctantly take a step close to the sofa and sit.
I wait for him to start eating but he keeps looking at me.
"…why aren't you eating?" I ask.
"Ladies first." He slides the plate towards me.
Why is he being a gentleman at the wrong time?
He waits patiently for me to take a bite first.
He definitely knows that I did something.
"Do you think I poisoned it?" I ask, innocently.
"No." He says without waiting a second to think.
"Don't you trust me, Mr. Hart?" I almost gave him puppy eyes.
His lips curl into a smirk.
"You can easily deceive anyone with that look, Ms. Gray."
After a moment of staring he finally grabs a fork and takes a bite.
He starts munching and suddenly stops.
Ha.
This is what you get for always getting on my nerves.
"This is good, way better than that pasta." He smiles. "You know Ms. Gray," He starts. "I looove spicy food."
"Oh, amazing." I put on a fake smile.
Raya, you're such a loser.
Aghh.
"Here, try it." He says, passing me a new fork.
I quickly grab the fork and take a bite without a second thought.
I make sure I don't have any expressions on my face.
I smile and give him a satisfied look.
"Have more." He says.
"I am already full, Mr. Hart."
"Really? just one bite and you're full?"
I don't answer as I try to swallow it.
"You're not swallowing?" He tilts head. "Need my help?"
I quickly swallow it.
"I'll be back." He smiles teasingly and walks towards his bedroom.
As soon as he leaves I run to the kitchen grabbing a water bottle from the fridge.
I keep drinking it but the relief is just for a moment.
I grab the ice cream from the freezer, take a spoon and start eating like i've been hungry for a week.
This is kind of calming—
As I feel someone staring at me I look to that side.
He's leaning against the doorframe, his arms crossed over his chest as he stares at me with an evil smirk on his face.
I slowly hide the ice cream behind me on the counter.
I sniff and wipe the tear off my face. All because of that chicken.
"What?" I look at him, a neutral expression on my face.
He walks closer.
He's gonna make fun of me now.
He stands in front of me, staring at me.
Is he gonna say something?
"Your phone keeps ringing, Ms. Gray."
"Oh." I look for my phone.
"It's on the coffee table." He points.
"Uh yeah, I forgot." I almost sprint there and grab my phone and walk towards the guest room.
I was so nervous that I couldn't even hear the sound of it ringing.
I look at the screen, Mom?
I pick up immediately.
"Yes M—"
"Happy Birthday!!" Alex yells through the phone.
"Why are you not sleeping?" I chuckle slightly.
"I wanted to wish you first but you were busy all day."
As I was about to speak Mom snatched the phone from his hand.
"Raya? you didn't pick up your phone all day. You know how excited I was for your birthday."
"Sorry Mom, I was busy with work."
"You promised we would spend your birthday together this time. At least you picked the phone."
"Sorry sorry—"
"Why are you not home?"
"…Uh." I stop not knowing what excuse to give.
Wait, how does she know?
"Tell me Raya, why are you not home?"
"Mom? did you come here?"
"Did? We are here, sweetie."
"What?"
"Why are you shocked? now wherever you are, hurry because I cannot wait to see you."
"Did you wait all day outside—"
"No honey, we walked around and went to the mall to get you a gift and spend the day there since you were not picking up your phone oh I also went to your office they told me you were with 'Sir'."
Shit, how do I explain?
"Mom i'll tell you later, by the way are you waiting outside my apartment?" I say wanting to confirm.
"Yes and i'm tired so hurry up."
"Uh- uhm Mom, i'll be there. Love you." I quickly hang up.
What do I do?
I sprint towards the door to look outside from the peephole.
Oh god. There literally outside, in front of the door.
If I go out from this apartment, my mom will ask me 100 questions and plus if she sees me with him— no, that's worse.
"Have you gone crazy?"
I gasp and turn around as he speaks from behind.
"Why are you looking out as if you've seen a ghost?" He asks. "Is it your boyfriend?" He raises his eyebrows.
"No, my family." I gulp. "Mr. Hart, can you help me?"
"You're asking me to help you?"
"Is there another way I can get out from here?"
"No, this is the only way."
"What do I do?" I look around getting anxious.
"I have a plan." He smirks lifting his eyebrows.
He suddenly opens the door.
My family is standing in front of my apartment door as soon as they hear the door open they look at him.
"Hey? Looking for someone?" He says loudly. "I can help."
"Oh, you're her neighbour, we're looking for Ra—" Mom stops as she looks at me inside his apartment. "Raya?"
"Mom." I smile nervously coming outside.
This fucker. I hate him.
I glare at him and he smirks at me.
"Raya? I thought you were—" She starts to talk and suddenly stops, a smile appearing on her face.
She looks at Ace and then back at me.
"Oh my, what a choice, he's a really handsome man." She says walking closer to him.
"I know, right?" He smug smiles.
"I knew that my daughter had a great choice and you're so tall." She looks at him up and down. Both of her hands on her cheeks as she circles around him as if she's in a museum looking at an art piece.
Does she thing we—
Oh god, no.
"Mom—"
"Raya, great, amazing, superb… you two look so good together." She smiled her hand on my shoulder. "You should've told me before that you already are dating a handsome young man."
"Mom we're no—"
"Wait isn't he James Hart's son, Ace Hart?" My dad says. "You work with him? you never told us, Raya."
"Actually she resigned and will be working in my company now." Ace says.
"Huh? like where Mr. James Hart is?" Dad says almost excitedly.
"Was. Now I am the chairman."
"Oh? really that's great. It's nice meeting you Mr. Hart." Dad puts his hand forward.
"You can call me Ace." He shakes dad's hand.
My mom suddenly grabs my arm and leads me towards a corner.
I look at her confusingly.
"I didn't know you kept secrets from me. Raya what a man you found, his looks are amazing but he's also financially stable well way more than stable and not just that he's also respectful…?" She sighs. "Raya, I wish I found a guy like him when I was your age."
"Mom…" I say almost a whine.
"I'm joking."
"Mom, we're not-"
"Did you guys use protection?"
"Mom?!—"
"Can I see your house? Do you have ice cream? Can you play games? Can you fight? Are you—"
"Woah woah, so many questions…let's start with an introduction first, what's your name?" Ace says crouching.
"Alexander, i'm Raya's little brother, she calls me Alex you can also call me that."
"Hmm, Alex that's a cool name, how old are you?"
"12, i'm almost an adult, you know I can take a shower by myself now?"
"Oh? really… what a coincidence, me too."
"And I can also speak Spanish just like my sister."
"Uh-an?" Ace raises his eyebrows.
"Listen. Hola, tu?" Alex looks at him with a smug expression.
Ace snorts and quickly changes his expression to 'impressed'.
"Look at them, he already got along with Alexa." Mom says.
She calls him 'Alexa' for some reason.
"Mom first of all call him 'Alex' second he is not my boyfriend." I say pointing at Ace.
She gasps. "Did you get married? he's your husband?" She looks at me all proud. "Good job."
"Mom, no—"
"I get it, did you fight with him? or 'he's not my boyfriend Mom, he's my love and life' that's what you want to say?" She says mimicking me, really badly.
"Darling, come." Dad calls mom. "Raya you too."
We walk there. I take out my key.
"Baby? Here." Ace says pointing to his apartment.
I want to take him to the top of the mount everst and respectfully push him off it.
This idiot.
What is he planning now?
"Oh? he calls you 'baby'? so cute." Mom whispers in my ear.
Sigh