I have the ‘salted’ dish

I came out of my room only to see Xander, walking to the left direction, probably to change into causal clothes. I folded my arms, as I watched his frame disappear into dusk. This was my chance, I walked my way down to the maid chefs, that were making the dish for the afternoon.

They all looked up from my presence and once, their gaze landed on me I could see fear and unease on their faces. It seemed that news spread very fast. Uh?

I grinned at them and waving my hands, they didn't return it with the same vigor and merely passing me tight grins. I knew that they must have heard about how Xander sacked the former maid and, I knew that I had to find a way to reassure them. If not, they weren't going to work with me.

"Ladies," I began, my tone determined and hopeful, "I understand that what happened before wasn't what we expected. But we can't let one setback deter us. We're going to learn from our mistakes and make sure the next plan goes off without a hitch."

Murmurs of disagreement rippled through the group, and I saw glimmers of fear and confusion in their eyes. I needed to keep their spirits up, to convince them that there was still hope for success.

"I promise you," I continued, my voice steady, "we're going to get through this together. And I'll take full responsibility for any consequences."

Their nervous expressions gradually softened, replaced by a renewed expression. They had agreed to participate, albeit reluctantly, in my unconventional endeavor. It was time to move forward.

With their support, I revealed the next part of our plan—to put too much salt in Xander's food. The room was filled with a mix of trepidation and excessive gasping as I outlined the assignment to the maid who had experience in the kitchen. She hesitated, her fingers fidgeting with her apron.

"But what if he gets really angry and sack me too?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

I hummed at her, gritting also in the same process. "That's possible"

I told her truthfully and her eyes widened. "But I have great compensation for you"

Yes. That's right. There was no way she could make that much even as a maid.

I met her gaze with a reassuring smile. "I'll ensure that you're protected. And I'll make sure you're rewarded handsomely if things go awry."

Her uncertainty seemed to fade slightly, and she nodded, a hint of readiness in her eyes. "We were all in this together, united by a shared goal. Alright?"

I uttered, tapping her behind her backs. I was just about walking out the kitchen when xender presence came into view. He was standing with hands fixed casually inside his pockets and looking at me.

"This where you are"

He said shortly and I glance at him, noticing that he had change out his suit of earlier and was wearing a shirt that stuck tightly to his well-built body.

I was disconnected for a while, before jumping out of my daze. "Uh.. yeah"

"Learning the kitchen stuff"

"You know, luxury cooking"

I lied and he nodded, buying my lies with no doubt. "Alright"

"But don't stay in there. There is hot smoke everywhere"

He gestured, opening his arms for me to come over, I sighed. "You realize that before you captured me I do this everyday"

His eyes fell on me thoughtfully and I was placing my hands around my waist. "Oh my, Xander"

"Never forget this. I'm not from a plushy background like yours and our worlds are a million miles apart"

He chuckled, finding an humor in the bitter truth I just said. "When did you become so poetic?"

Uh, since the the time you fart-head abducted me!

I wanted to say but again. Patience was the key. Let's see if you would still be smiling when you eat your lunch today.

I smirked wickedly, mentally planning how I would react when he ate his 'luxurious' food.

"Amelia"

"Come over here"

He ordered, jerking me out of my thoughts and rose my gaze back to him, giving the chefs one last knowing nod, before walking out of the kitchen.

We spent the better part of the time as we waited for the food to be ready, lost in our different business in the sitting room. Xender was calling as usual, and I was, tapping my fingertips on the desk beside me in boredom.

Soon, the meal was ready. I jumped up very happily and catching his attention from the other end. I whispered to him, not caring that he was still busy with his phone call. "Food is ready"

He caught my gaze and squinted his eyes at my brightened expression before nodding his head and rapping up the conversation online. He strolled over causally, tugging to the top of the chair and pulling it out before settling himself on it with his eyes fixed on me.

There was a bemused and curious expression on his face as he searched my appearance. "Why are you so happy?"

I scuffed. "Just because you suck the joy out of my life does not make me a sadist, you know? It's a brand new day. Why can't I be happy?"

His brows rose. "Well then. Let's eat"

I grinned, picking on the knife and furck. (To be honest, I basically use a simple spoon but I wanted this moment to be loaded and remarkable) "shall we?"

He uttered and I smirked. "After you"

He was picking his cutleries and eying my eagerness to even speak and exchange words with him. "You're weird today"

He remarked before digging into the meal. I smiled, holding my furck and knife and making no attempt to eat, all I wanted to see was his awful reaction.

After two spoons. There was a reaction only that, it wasn't awful. He nodded his head. "This dish is great"

He retorted and my brows flew up in confusion, eying the way his forehead settled into the richness of the food. I frowned.

"Why aren't you eating, Amelia"

He uttered and I slowly, rose my gaze to the plate of food below me. I instantly knew that the plates had been accidentally swapped. I gritted internally, looking at the food as though it was poison.

Xender frowned unaware of the silent discussion that was going through me and the maid chef a few distance away from me. She was practically apologizing over and over again.

"What's wrong, Amelia?"

I formed my hands into a fist, suddenly rising to my feet and dropping the knife and fork roughly on the table. "Mind your business!"

I gritted, before walking angrily down to my room and not looking back even once.