Alora:the Loyal Assistant (2)

Although she went to bed at 8, her mind was awake for the whole time. She walked in the bathroom and then back at her bedroom. She wasn't stressed about her work, she was stressed about her life.

Sam's words echoed in her mind. She was spitting facts. She was already 27. The last time she dated a guy was like 10 years ago. It was her first boyfriend.

"the hell am I doing again?" she whispered, asking herself. She was holding her blanket over head and was sitting on her bed.

She grunted and slapped her face before she forced herself to go to the kitchen. No, she was not going to eat and no, she was not going to confront and beg Sam for help. She was going to just sit there, drink water until her mind would drown.

The lights were turned on. It was past midnight yet the lights were on. She immediately reminded herself that someone may or not break into the mansion, without triggering the alarm system.

With that, she quietly walked down the stairs while getting her boot knife from her right boot. She looked around, looking for any differences or marks, but there was nothing different and new.

When she was just behind the door of the kitchen, she heard a soft thud before she raised her knife and almost stabbed the person in the kitchen.

"Yo—w-why? Do you want to kill me?!" Niko whispered-shouted. He was glad that he turned his back at the right time to grab another bread.

When he turned his back, he saw Alora holding a boot knife, ready to attack him.

"sorry, I thought there was an intruder. Why are you here?" she asked him when she sat down opposite him.

"I came to know check on your information that you got but then they told me that you were already sleeping. So, I didn't bother waking you up. Your changing your schedule?"

She didn't knew why he asked that and why he didn't bother to wake her up. That's right, he's lying. She didn't tell everyone that she was sleeping. No one have any access to her room, except Niko and though she didn't lock the door, no one would dare to intrude.

"You're lying Niko," she softly said, looking straughtly at his eyes.

"when they said that you're in your room, I went in but then, I saw you sleeping and I didn't want to disturb your peaceful sleep. I know that you stay up later than usual. And I know you're not changing your chedules, I'm changing it,"

Her heart leaped when he suddenly spilled the truth. Though he was already speaking facts, he filled it with lies. Everyone knew that truths and lies aren't compatible with each other. Yet, her she was, staring at him, admiring his face while her heart was cheering on him.

"N-niko, why did you have to invade my privacy?"

"I have access and I'm your boss,"

She groaned and decided to go upstairs and just sleep. But no, he was not letting her go and sleep peacefully. Her peaceful time was already up when she decided to go down to the kitchen.

"where are you going? Sit." he ordered and as much as she wanted to disobey him for once, she couldn't.

"I'm not a dog. Don't treat me—"

"I'm sorry. Please, don't leave me here. You're my assistant, of course you wouldn't leave me," he tried to cover up and it was obvious. His voice was not normal. It was rather, shaky.

"what do you want?"

He didn't answer her. Instead, he took out a wine bottle from one of the cabinets and then took out a bucket of ice cubes.

"grab two glasses from the rack over there," she did what she was told to do and after that, a glass filled with red wine was served.

"listen here mister, I wanted to sleep and this one is a sign of suicide. I can't be drunk or sleep heavily while the others may be killed by intruders,"

He then realized his mistake. She was wearing herself out. Everything going on her life was almost about business and safety. She was too focused on her job that she forgot how to loose control once in a while.

" Alora, don't work too hard, " he sia d before gulping down the wine.

"Niko, please don't tell me what to do,"

"Alora listen, do you know what you are doing?"

"I'm doing very well, Niko,"

"its okay to not focus too much on your work Alora. You have a life. I didn't give you the chance to live again just just to make you a workaholic person or a robot,"

"I knew that—" he approached her instantly when she was about to fall from the stool. Both were chugging the liquor every time they finish their sentences.

"I owe you a lot—"

"but you don't owe me anything—"

"yes I do, Niko. You saved me. You provided me a home where I feel safe and protected. You taught me to be strong and taught me how to protect myself. You taught me about business. You provided me a new life, Niko—a-and I'm so grateful for that. I'm grateful that I met you, "

Just when things were going on an emotional roller-coaster, he joked, " I'm a hero, remember? "

Much to his excitement, she didn't laugh. She was crying.

" you said you owe me something? Get ready for tomorrow, at 8 in the morning but first, let's get you to bed,"