Chapter 20 "Women are princesses"
Asha
"I can't have you feeling sick" Auren groans, "Whatever is wrong with you? Can't you at least describe your symptoms?" He places me gently on the seat.
"I- I'm actually fine," My hand instinctively grabs his collar.
He pauses, his brow cocking, "Hm?"
"I'm not sick," My cheeks warm up, and I immediately look away.
"Then what's the matter with you? Why were you acting as though you were on the brink of death?"
"I don't think your brother is trustworthy," I sigh, "I did that so we could get away from him."
He pulls away from me with a grimace, "How would you know that?"
I'm not supposed to tell you— or am I?
"Don't play with me. I'm not in the mood for your games right now."
I bite my lower lip to stop me from saying utterly vile words.
"Get in the car," I gently pull him in, "We should leave. Our welcome has been overstayed."
He heaves, slumping into the seat, "You're right. It's already late, you must be exhausted."
Tch.
The driver kickstarts the engine; before you know it, we're out of there.
The drive back is silent. The only sounds heard, are my breathing, and the car engine.
I feel suffocated.
"You must be hungry," Auren breaks the silence.
I nod, "Yeah. My stomach's been demanding my head."
"Pftt," a low chuckle leaves his mouth.
'She's so stupid.'
My jaw drops as I face him, "Hey!"
"What?" He arches his brow.
Right, he still doesn't know I can read his mind. Bummer.
"Leo, stop by the grocery shop and get some groceries," Auren tells his driver.
"Sure thing boss."
"Uhm.." I fidget with my fingers, "can't we order takeout or something? I mean.. none of your cooks would be available this late, right?"
He looks the other way, "Do you want to eat or not?"
"I do but—"
"Then stop complaining. You're giving me headaches. Your voice is loud, ugh" he rubs his temples.
"You bitchy bastard!" I smack his arm.
"I'm not lying, am I?" He turns to me, making a face at me.
Just then, Leo pulls over, and gets out of the car.
I look at the time on the dashboard; 9.14 PM.
"No wonder I'm so hungry, just take a look at the time, it's so late!" I raise my hands in the air.
"You will go to bed hungry if you keep babbling nonstop," he snaps.
"Dick head."
"Blabber mouth."
"Hmph!" I look the other way, raising my nose in the air.
'Haa. Is she doing all this to make me think she's cute?'
I drop my shoulders, too tired to argue with him. Let him think whatever he wants, I don't care at this point.
Leo returns with the groceries, placing them in the seat close to him. He starts the engine again, and we're off.
"Hand the groceries over," Auren sticks his hand into the car through the half open window.
"Boss?" Leo looks alarmed, "I'll quickly call Ross, you don't have to—"
"Hand. Them. Over."
He gives them to him without any further fighting.
"Let's go," he takes a hold of my wrists, leading me inside.
"I'm not a toddler. You don't have to hold my hand all the time," I sigh.
"You act like one to me," he shrugs his shoulders.
I press my lips in a thin line, at a loss of words.
How rude.
"What would you like for dinner?" He asks.
I rack my head, thinking of the fastest meal to prepare, "Uhm.. pasta?"
"Okay."
"About that," I bite my lower lip, "I'm not that good of a cook," my face burns with embarrassment at those words.
"Okay?" He glances at me.
"I'm just telling you. I don't want the food to turn out to be a disaster."
"And who said you'd be cooking?" The corners of his mouth twitch with amusement as he shakes his head.
"Huh?"
"Women are not supposed to cook when a man is around. They rest, the man cooks. Women are princesses."
"Wow," my heart does this little backflip, then it begins that weird thudding.
Auren lets go of my hand, the moment we get inside.
"Wait here," He ruffles my hair, and walks towards the kitchen.
"Can I watch you cook?" I wrap my hand around his arm without thinking.
"Why?" He furrows his brows.
"Because.. I'll be bored. Besides, let's see how much of a good cook you are," The corner of my mouth goes up in a smirk.
He pulls his arm away, "Says the princess who's not much of a good cook," he heads for the kitchen.
I walk behind him, my heart fluttering with happiness. "Finally, some food. Ugh, I thought I'd starve till my hair fell outta my head."
He immediately gets to work.
"If you're here, you're doing something. Go put some water in a pot. Do you want to eat or not?"
I roll my eyes, pushing myself to grab a pot. I fetch water in it, muttering some curses under my breath.
"I thought women were supposed to rest while the men cook?" I whine.
"I'm the one doing the cooking. You're just adding water in a pot. Why are you grumbling?" He clicks his tongue.
"Mean," I hand him the pot half filled with water.
He turns on the stove, placing the pot on it.
I watch him silently as he rummages through the grocery bag, bringing out the ingredients for our pasta. Without wasting time, he washes them up, and begins slicing them.
"You seem good at this," I mutter before I can stop myself.
"I am good at it," he shrugs.
"That's impressive. I mean, most men I've seen growing up wouldn't hold a knife. Especially Damon, that old fool would always bark at my mother to cook for him every second."
He laughs softly— an unexpectedly beautiful sound that caresses my ears with such a sweet force.
"He was just a dick. Men are not supposed to treat—" he pauses, and straightens himself.
"You're distracting me. I won't finish this if you keep on talking," he gives me a look that's supposed to scare me but thrills me to the core.
"Fine. Whatever," I plop my butt on a stool.
That was close.'
"You know, I think you'd make a good husband," I say softly.
"Good thing I'm not one," he looms over the pot, tapping the counter.
"I believe nobody is entirely bad, we just tend to act like some villain so the rest of the world will get scared of hearing our names."
His right eye twitches as he looks at me, "Wherever did that thought—"
At that moment, the power goes out.
What the—