Chapter 5

The aroma of delicious food soothes Bryce's nose and make his stomach growls.

Usually, he wouldn't have anything in the morning aside from having his expresso coffee because he's afraid to lose his muscles in place. He didn't want to be called 'fat' instead of having a 'fit' body.

That is also the reason why he usually go to gym at night after having a heavy meal in the afternoon.

It looks like his diet will be altered because of this woman!

Nia showed up as of on cue and tap his left shoulder to get his attention. He faked typing something before turning around.

"Aren't you hungry? I'm waiting on the dinning table for five minutes now. I thought if you would smell the food, you will get up and went to the table by yourself.", Her lips in a pout like a child.

"I told you to call me, right? When I work, I won't notice the time until I finished it."

He got up and walk with her towards the arranged table. He secretly prayed that the food should be tasteless so he doesn't need to eat much.

There are egg omelette, fried bacon, ham, some toasted bread and sliced fruits on the side.

He sigh deeply and secretly thanked her. He will not get fat with those foods easily but he still need to go to gym later. He mentally note to himself.

"Don't you have rice grains? I didn't see any in your food cabinets. I'm craving of having a heavy meal but I guess, this will do."

She sliced the omelette with the knife on her plate and chew her food slowly. She eat like it's her first time tasting a delicious food in her life!

Bryce shook his head and start to make his plate full by putting two toasted bread, half of the omelette and a couple of bacon and ham. Surprisingly, she didn't bother to get his strawberry jam or peanut butter on his refrigerator for the toasted bread fillings.

He eat until he felt his stomach full and just watch her finished all the remaining food on the serving plates.

He got up and get a bottle of water in the fridge and drink straight from it. He sigh again seeing the women massaging her full tummy.

He got a glass and pour some cold orange juice from the carton and handed it to her.

"I had a lot of sweet and salty food from this breakfast so I just need a water. But thanks, anyway." She smiled and got the glass, slightly brushing his fingers.

He swallowed again. He felt that the woman was slowly making her move to seduce her but he shrugged the thought out of his mind quickly. She was not in the condition to do that since he saw her earlier. Why would he think of that?

He put the plates on top of each other before putting them on the sink but Nia hold his hand on his attempt to wash the dishes.

"You'll get a hand tremor if you wash the plates. It's not good for your hand since your always working and typing on your laptop. I'll do the dishes."

Without any hesitation, he handed her the red gloves. He put his arms on his chest and watched her finished putting the plates back to the dish rack.

"You made me realize how careless I was. I wouldn't know about that tremor until now. Thank you.", Then he turned around and get back to his work.

After eating breakfast, Nia got back to her tempting bed, making her feel sleepy again. She didn't have a habit of falling asleep after eating but she guess that is the right thing to do and she did.

Maybe because she was tired doing the cooking alone or she still need plenty of sleep because of jet lag.

****

Bryce cannot focus on checking important documents and doing some revisions. It's been four hours since their delicious breakfast and its already two in the afternoon but the woman is still in her room.

He mindlessly stand up and get his door keys and run towards her bedroom only to see her in a deep slumber.

He quietly walk towards the other end of the bed and sit on the edge of it. She's sleeping peacefully and she looked like an angel sleeping.

He noticed her face is as innocent as a baby. Her chinky eyes looks cute even when closed and her brows are not in sync. Even without lipstick, her lips are pinkish and urging her to kiss her.

He smiled. For the first time after a couple of years, she made him chuckled and make him feel mixed emotions.

He huff and had an urge to lie down and take a nap for a couple of minutes. He's so sure to himself that he can wake up before she wake up. He set an alarm with the side table clock at five since he need to go to their office and personally submit the paperwork he just finished.

He mentally planned to take her out at night, tour her a little bit and eat in a fancy restaurant.

You're strangers to each other, right? Why would you take her out on a night date?

"Because you look like as fragile as I am.", he said loudly before lying down beside her and let his eye lids rest for a while.

****

Nia carelessly jump out of her bed after hearing a sound of siren. She look around and her bedroom door is open and there is no signs of smoke or fire.

She even inspect the house if she left the stove open but it's closed. She also went to the balcony and carefully get down to the path she saw earlier to check if there were nearby fire in the building but none.

She decided to admire the beauty of the surrounding from that small space fifty floors above the ground. She felt at peace in that place. Nobody will ask her why she's there and nobody will look think that she will go there. It's a perfect place to be her sanctuary.

Are you out of your mind? A hidden sanctuary at the edge of a high building? With that tiny space that she can only sit having her legs hanging down and with a careless move, she will fall down face flat on the ground?

"I don't care. I just feel like this will be a perfect place to escape the world." She smiled bitterly as she remember her father's smilling face etched on the clouds in the sky.