Fall

He's here today too. Well, it's obvious that this is his house but I thought he had already gone to work. But, I guess I'm lucky that he is here since I forgot the passcode pin. And today, the house doesn't seem awfully messy like yesterday. I glanced at the man who plop himself on the sofa, yawning. He's all good, wearing a sage green turtle neck, and a black blazer. Matched up with his black trousers. He styled his hair up and has glasses on.

"Hey, yesterday, I was unable to ask anything, right. Sorry, I'm kinda busy yesterday." He said as he take a paper from the coffee table. "Maddison Iyves, twenty...six?" his intonation sounds like his quite shocked by that. Then, his eyes when up and down, scanning me like a scanner machine.

"You're twenty-six?" He smiled. He tossed the paper next to him and pointed at the table. "Sit."

"It's fine, sir. You can just..."

"Come here."

"No, I will just..."

"Come here." He said, with a very soft voice and his finger still pointing to a coffee table.

Why does he keep cutting me off? He can just talk right there though. "Come here and sit." He said one more time and now I can hear clearly that wasn't an invitation, or request. It sounds like a command that I have to follow.

Like a sergeant to private.

I approached him slowly and sit at the table where his finger pointed.

"Hm...your face looks better today, it's still a little swollen but it's better." I looked down since it was uncomfortable. Just do the briefing already.

"You're too thin, aren't you eating enough? Did you eat breakfast?"

I remained silent. Patiently waiting for a briefing. Silence met both of us for a few seconds but was pretty much awkward.

"You're frowning," he said, rummaging something. "Here, your task today. I'm late for my meeting. You can do this much right?"

I stared at the paper with a few scribbles on it. Cleaning the house, and the rooms, cooking for lunch, doing laundry, watching TV, eating, cooking dinner, sleeping...This is absurd. Why would I watch TV and sleep? Why the hell are these two on the list?

"Actually, there wasn't much to do today, since you've done well yesterday. So I wasn't sure if there was still anything to do. Oh, by the way..." he leaned closer, closed enough that our foreheads touched each other. I can feel his hair tickling my skin. Dude, this is not funny. Where is my personal space?

My eyes remained on the paper, and he started to point his finger at it and said, "When I said bedroom, it's include mine. You can clean my room today. Oh, and this one, if you're tired, you can take a nap too. You can sleep in my room if you want to since it's the comfiest place to sleep."

I nod lightly, bumping our forehead together. I frowned even more, so I leaned backwards, finding my own personal space. Ruthless. He is ruthless.

He leaned back again and the room filled with no sounds except our breaths.

"Any question, little princess?"

Little princess? What the fuck?

I looked up, and our eyes met again. He still staring at me and a few seconds later he averted my gaze.

"Are you going to eat lunch here?" I asked. Since I am required to cook his lunch today.

"Uhh yeah, why not. I have to go now. See you later." He quickly got up and leave the house with a small run.

I brushed my forehead as it was getting warmer. And I stared at the paper again. What an absurd task. But he does have cute handwriting. And the cut is worth it.

Then I tied up my hair and started working. As I thought, today wasn't that hard since it wasn't much to do. Maybe because he lived here alone? So, it's cleaner? Or maybe I did a great fucking job at cleaning yesterday. I choose number two.

Since there wasn't much, I'm about to finish cleaning every corner in this house except his room. I pushed his bedroom door and went toward the window first.

I gathered the curtain and tied them, open the sliding door, and moved to his bed, to tidy it up. It's bigger than the other room which makes it a little harder to make it. I took off the bedsheet to replace it with the new one.

I groaned as I tried to lift the huge mattress to tuck in the new bedsheet. Maybe I just need to shove it in.

Right after I finished the bed, I started to clean the table and bathroom. Then, I collected all the linen and put it in the laundry basket, pushing it outside using my feet. I dragged the vacuum and started cleaning the floor.

Done!

I stretched my back as I was finally done cleaning the house. Now, I only need to cook and do laundry.

"Princess.." I flinched and bump into the edge of the bed and fell to the floor. My heart was about to explode. Slowly, I turned my head.

"Did I scare you?" He asked as he lay on the bed lazily. I'm dumbfounded. Well yeah, you moron. If I have a heart attack, I run toward the kitchen since I haven't cooked anything yet. I'm dead. What if he deducts my payment?

I open the fridge and ponder. What should I cook? Something quick and light.

"Hmm...what should we eat today?"

I was stunned. Why is this man loved to give me a heart attack by approaching me like this? I glanced on both sides of the fridge, I'm trapped. I can feel something heavy on my head. What is it? A chin?

"Should we just order pizza? You must be tired, right?"

I gulped. Is he mad? Cause I didn't prepare his food as he asked. Yeah, he does sounds like he is mad.

"Should eat outside, princess." He whispered, sending a chill to my bone.

He is mad, huh?

"I can cook, can you wait?" I looked up, meeting his gaze, I almost kissed his chin. He hummed as if he was thinking.

"Sure...if you want to." He backed off slowly giving me space. I could hear him clear his throat before he speak again, "I'll go shower first then."

My heartbeat was harder as he has finally gone. This is not good for my heart. My hand rubbed my chest since it hurt. I should calm down first.

But...

I gripped the fridge's door tighter. God's sake, it's uncomfortable. My head is spinning.

-----

I served the meal on the table. I was only able to make spaghetti bolognese, using the leftover bolognese from last night. I hope he doesn't mind. I went back to the kitchen to wash the dishes. I guess he has to go back to work later?

As I finished everything, I finally remembered that I haven't done laundry yet.

I turned myself to get a laundry basket, with a question in my head. He took quite a long time in the shower, huh?

I bring myself in front of his room and knock on the door since he took some time, I pick up the basket with me as I waited. What is his name again?

"Sir? Your lunch is done." I said while knocking again. I do hear muttered from inside, what is it? I squinted my eyes. Maybe I need to see a doctor regarding my hearing. I was about to give a knock one more time when the door was yanked open.

"Huh?" I looked up at the man who was covered with...sweat? Cause he still wearing his clothes.

"What did you say?" he asked, hardly breathing.

I frowned. "Lunch is ready."

I said and walked away from him to the laundry room. I thought he was showered but now he was still full of clothes and sweaty. I mean, that makes sense, why would you wear a turtle neck during summer?

But for sure, he sure loves to give me a fright by sneaking around out of nowhere.

I glanced at my watch, currently, it was thirty minutes after one. Now that I think, he does tell me to cook dinner too...I am almost more or less done with the house chores. Dinner...cooking can be hard too when you're cooking for someone else. And does that mean I have to work overtime?

I picked up the clothes and put them inside the washing machine, pondering about the hardest task. Like, what should I cook for dinner? Hell, that's hard.

"...Maddison." As I said, he always gave me a fright. "Let's eat," he whispered next to me. Since when did he be here? God, it's uncomfortable.

"I still have work, sir," I said slowly. And why would I eat with my boss?

I can feel his gaze on my face. And his heat behind my back.

"You don't know my name, do you?" he asked a random question.

"No..." I said honestly.

"And you didn't even bother to ask? Susan didn't tell you?"

I bite my bottom lips. I'm pretty sure Miss Susan did tell me over the phone, but obviously, my brain didn't digest the information. And I didn't think he would care since I used the most polite way to talk and call him.

"Wow, for real? You didn't even know my name?" I flinched when his hands moved to the washing machine to trap me. And I can't help to remember something I don't want to. I hold my breath.

"I have to go to work now, but I'll see you soon...don't forget my dinner, okay?" he said, softly. But that sounds like a threat to me. I nodded.

"Good girl." He said, his hand patting my head gently as he stood up and left.

I am finally able to breathe but it's painful. My brain feels like it's going to explode. And my ears keep picking all types of sounds, it's ringing too loud. I gasped. Why does he remind me of that shit?

Let's calm down. Calm down. It's nothing.

My eyes are started to become heavy. And now I see black.