Ch.8: Contract [2]

Knox fumbled in the kitchen; the spacious space and expensive appliances were only making him more nervous. What if he breaks one of them? So, he moved carefully, but because of that, it took him long to finish his cooking.

In addition, he couldn't sleep properly last night because of the sudden change in his surroundings.

"You suck at cooking."

Knox's jumped in surprise. He looked over his shoulder and found his boss leaning on the wall with his hands in his pocket, like a clothing brand magazine model. His unsmiling face and laid-back posture were spot on.

How come the man always kept appearing without warning or any sound? Knox asked inwardly. He quickly tidied up and wiped his hands on his pink apron.

Azrael walked inside and sat on the stool by the breakfast nook. He watched Knox clumsily flip the egg. He frowned and asked himself, 'Why is he even flipping a sunny side up?'

As if Knox read his mind, he paused and realized what he had done. Now, the egg looked like a burnt pancake. He frantically got another one, but this time, the yolk broke, and it became an omelet.

Knox wondered – 'What the heck is happening to me? I've been flipping eggs since five; why do I keep making mistakes?!'

Azrael's presence was making him nervous. He couldn't act appropriately. Perhaps his instinct told him to remain on guard whenever the alpha was around. Because of that, his movement was rigid, and his eyes were always reverting to where his boss was.

"What? Back at being a mute again?" Azrael walked and snatched the spatula a bit aggressively. He was starting to get annoyed and hungry, so he took over. "Just sit over there."

Knox stood dumbfounded.

Azrael snarled at him while laying the bacon on the pan and mixing the fried rice, "What?"

His movement was smooth and quick, with his right hand flipping the bacon and the left cooking the rice while looking at Knox like he was getting in the way of his performance. Knox even wondered who the servant and who the master was.

Knox turned his head away immediately, afraid that the boss would see the funny look on his face. He sat on the table and answered, "N-Nothing, sir."

Azrael smirked. He had an idea why the guy was staring at him. Brushing his bed hair away, he arrogantly said, "Don't start falling for me just because I helped you with the cooking now."

Knox gaped at the man, speechless.

Azrael sighed as if he'd seen it all, "I know I'm too dreamy, but there's no way I'd fall for a servant. You don't have to be so on guard. I'm never going to jump you even if you stripped."

That somehow brought relief to Knox. However, Azrael felt satisfied after seeing him relieved. At least, he made it clear. Next time, the guy will be working just fine and can cook eggs perfectly.

"What's up with eggs anyway?!"

Knox was startled when Azrael threw the spatula and heavily pressed the induction cooker's off button. He wondered, 'Is this person bipolar?'

He cleared his throat and answered politely, "Eggs are all you have on your stock, sir, and some bacon. Should I go and buy groceries?"

"Buy later. Eat first."

Azrael set the table, bringing two pairs of tableware and placing the food in the center. He was scooping fried race when he realized something, and he paused, glaring at the man before him whose eyes were twinkling while staring at his cooking.

He scoffed and sarcastically commented, "Must be nice. Having your boss cook for you, huh?"

Knox's face paled. He fiddled with his spoon and embarrassingly replied, "I'll do my best next time, sir."

Azrael only sneered and silently ate his portion. Because of his condition, he was used to attending to himself and doing the basic chores in his house since there was no one who could breathe on his pheromones for a long time.

He cooked food for himself and even cleaned the unit whenever he had time. A chief executive doing his house chores has never been heard of. He chewed his food and watched Knox eat gracefully.

'He eats quietly, but the portion of his food is enormous. It seems he has a large appetite,' Azrael said to himself. He couldn't help but frown after realizing that he was thinking about the guy again. He slightly shook his head; he shouldn't be paying too much attention to his servant. He ate in silence after that.

After tidying up the kitchen, Knox decided to do the shopping. He knocked on the study room door, and when he heard a curt reply, he opened the door and slightly winced as the scent inside the room slipped through the gap.

Knox held his breath. The alpha's scent was more pungent inside that study, given that he probably stayed the most hours in that room. He just stood by the door and said, "I'm buying groceries. I need money."

Azrael glanced at him briefly, then continued typing on his laptop without saying anything. Knox waited at the door with contempt. If his boss is just going to ignore him, it's best just to leave. He furtively stepped back; however, Azrael looked up again.

He closed the laptop, stood, grabbed his keys, and strode to the door, "Let's go."

"You're coming?"

"Yes. Got a problem with that?"

Knox swallowed the curse word he'd almost hurl at his boss, "No, sir."

Shopping was only an excuse. He wanted to step outside for a bit, visit Franz's diner, and inhale the fresh breeze in that park again, especially after discovering that the park was just a walking distance from his boss' apartment building.

He glared at his boss' back as he followed behind him reluctantly. Does his boss think he'll steal his money?

Azrael looked back, and Knox quickly replaced his grimace with a smile. The corner of his lips twitched, so he turned his head away as soon as the elevator door opened. He went in after his boss.

Azrael extended his hand, which held a key fob. Knox looked at him quizzically, "You…want me to drive?"

"Who's the servant here?" Azrael answered, then walked away. He stopped before a black Maserati. Knox looked at the sedan with nervous eyes. He has a license, but he rarely drives a four-wheeled vehicle and an expensive one at that.

Instead of getting excited about the opportunity to drive something like that, anxiety crept into his head. What if he bumped into something, and it sustained a graze? The price of repair alone would bury him for another debt.

Knox gulped, and before his boss could open the passenger seat door, he grabbed his shirt with his fingers and said, "I…don't know how to drive, sir."

Azrael looked back, irritated, and spat, "Who are you fooling here? How the hell are you doing a delivery if you don't know how to drive then?"

Knox replied defensively, "I'm on a scooter, sir."

"But you drive."

"Not something like this, sir."

"What's the difference? Or do you expect me to drive for you, hm, 'sir'?"

Knox answered too quickly, "Yes, please."

Both of them froze. Azrael looked down at Knox, whose face went paler as a sheet of paper. He covered his mouth, and cold sweat trickled down his back.

Him and his big mouth! Knox stupidly yelled inwardly. Before his boss could hurl another snarky remark, he immediately bowed his head, his body ninety degrees, and shouted, "I mean, yes, please, sir! I'll drive you wherever you want!"

He slightly pushed Azrael out of the way, grabbed the door, and opened it like a professional valet, "Yes, please, get in, sir."

Azrael got in. A light chuckle escaped his mouth as soon as the door closed beside him. He watched Knox hurriedly run over to the other side with an amused grin.