Chocolate Cake

Aselia's POV

I just wanted some solace to escape this living hell called 'my life'. It hurt so much to not be able to do something to which you had dedicated your whole life. Phantom still escaped and here I was stuck with this man, whom I couldn't hate no matter how much I tried. My heart just wanted him to hold me close, my fickle heart. Why couldn't it be more like my brain?

He shifted his hand from my face to my waist and with one nimble move he shifted me on his lap, hugging me close to his chest. I should have protested but I had no energy today. He wrapped his arms around my shoulders and buried me in his chest. The desert called my heart soaked in his warmth and tenderness like a sponge. The more he gave the more it consumed, remaining forever thirsty for this desert was so vast and no one had ever provided the comfort he did.

His gentle kiss on my hair soothed the heartaches I held. In this enemy's den, he was supposed to be my number one enemy and yet here I was finding solace in his arms. Milliseconds? Seconds? Minutes? Hours? Or did an eternity pass? I didn't know and I didn't seem to care.

"Hey!" he lifted my chin with his index finger so I could peer into his eyes. "Let's eat, I haven't eaten anything as well since the last time I saw you." He stroked her cheek with the back of his hand.

"Yet, you dared to lecture me about not eating." I scowled at him which resulted in his lips curving up in a slight smile.

"I apologise, forgive me, please." His pleas were genuine and it was hard to not give in when he smiled at me like that.

"Hmm, not that easily. You will have to work for it." I smiled mischievously at him. "Alright, what should I do to seek your forgiveness?"

"Let me see since you made me cook as a punishment. I will do the same. Bake me a chocolate cake, a yummy delicious one. And I will think of forgiving you." No way he could pull that off.

"Is that so?"

"Yes,"

"Come on, then let's go." He carried me effortlessly as he got up. "Where?" I asked him in surprise.

"To bake a cake, where else." He smiled at me enjoying the look of shock in my eyes.

"Right now?"

"Of course," he was already near the door. "Put me down, I can walk." I protested.

"I don't want to." His evil smile was back. "Don't be ridiculous, let me down." He sighed but went with my wishes. He took my hand in his as we stepped out of the door and made our way to the kitchen.

Everyone turned their heads as Xiran walked in and began to watch us. Madam Marci who was busy preparing lunch quickly wiped her hands with the hand towel and stepped forward.

"Señor, did you need anything?" She bowed slightly.

"On the contrary, I am here to put my cooking skills to test. I will need all ingredients to bake a chocolate cake." Xiran informed her which resulted in her looking at him in disbelief with her mouth hanging open.

"Umm, Señor I can bake that for you. No need to trouble yourself, I am sure you have other important matters to attend to."

"No, I will be baking the cake. Kindly tell me which counter I can use?" Xiran was adamant so she lead us to a counter with an oven at its disposal. Madam Marci provided Xiran with all the ingredients and required utensils. To my surprise, he didn't ask her for the recipe.

I placed my palms on the counter and hauling my weight on them I climbed and sat on the counter to watch. He covered his head with a hair net cap and wore an apron. Then he washed his hands at the sink and began the preparation to bake me a cake. I picked up the bowl of fresh strawberries Madam Marci had provided him for the cake and began to munch them down. My stomach was growling as I hadn't eaten anything since yesterday.

Xiran whisked the ingredients like a professional, he didn't spill any of the content. While I ate all of the strawberries. He simply asked Madam Marci to bring more as he meticulously measured and added every ingredient without needing a recipe. His slender fingers seemed adept at what he was doing. At least he seemed better at cooking than me. I had spent my childhood in an orphanage and the rest of my life at the headquarters, training. So I never got a chance to learn cooking, not that I had any interest in it, to begin with.

Xiran added the prepared batter to the mould and placed it in the oven. Then he started preparing the chocolate icing. I watched him intently, he looked like a movie star who was suddenly thrown into a cooking show. He kept the counter tidy by constantly wiping it and all his utensils were neatly arranged. He caught me observing him, taking a tiny amount of frosting with his index finger he smeared it on my cheek.

"Hey," I cried out making him laugh.

Meanwhile, Madam Marci had prepared a hearty lunch for us. While Xiran gave the final touches to the cake and decorated it with chunks of chocolate and strawberries. The cake looked mouthwatering and super delicious. Xiran asked Madam Marci to put it in the fridge for a while and deliver the lunch to his room. He took off the hair net and apron and placed them on the counter.

"Come, let's go eat." He offered me his hand, I took it and jumped down from the counter. We took the lift and went up to his white room.

"How was the party last night?" He turned toward me at the sudden question. "It was ok," His eyes defied the lie he told. Judging by his reaction last night, he wasn't pleased to meet The Phantom. Did The Phantom have something on him? How did he know him exactly? Was he aware of my team getting massacred by the Phantom? There were so many questions I needed answers to.

"We are here." His voice jostled me out of my reverie. I stepped out after him and headed to his room. He unlocked it and we entered the pristine room. Everything inside was sparkly clean and white. The gigantic window opened into a balcony with white chairs and a white marble table. Xiran opened the latch to the window and pushed aside the sliding door. He sauntered over and sat down on one of the chairs and I followed his pursuit.

The view was breathtaking from up here. It was almost evening. The sun was setting casting its shadows on the buildings. I could see the beach from a distance, the blue ocean sparkled against the backdrop of pink, orange and red. I so wished to paint the mesmerising view.

There was a knock on the door and Xiran commanded: "Come in."