Chapter 17 Arielle
Arielle's POV
All I remember was eating peanuts and telling Zane how my day went and didn't know when I fell asleep, I woke up the next morning, tucked in bed and the curtains were drawn. The hazy silhouette gave away the person's identity.
“You know Zane, for a CEO who's always busy, you sure have time to take up the role of my personal butler.” I joked and his rich timber laughter filled the room, and my stomach as well.
“You can't sleep all day milady, tis time to rise and shine.” He said, with a fake British accent and we both laughed at it.
“Breakfast is in ten minutes, wash up and come downstairs.” He informed me.
“Okay.”
And just like that, he walked out of the room, his actions puzzled me most of the times, sometimes he was sweet and caring, and then he becomes strict and condescending while the next minute, he changes to the most supportive person I know.
I headed downstairs for breakfast ten minutes later and saw Zane wearing an apron, Leo was seated and staring at him too.
“What's going on?” I quietly asked Leo as I took my seat beside his.”
“I don't know and I can't look away.” Leo whispered back to me.
“Do you think Zane has been kidnapped by some alien and this new one knows how to cook?” I whispered back, dramatically as he began to set the dishes on the table, not letting the maids help him.
Leo shrugged. “Maybe he hit his head or something?”
“That's impossible, he was fine ten minutes ago.”
Zane snorted. “I can hear you two, you're doing a terrible job at whispering, I'm right here.”
He took off the apron after he finished dishing the food, Leo and I looked at each other, waiting for the first person to eat.
“You guys can eat you know, it's delicious.” Zane urged us.
Leo and I looked at each other again as if we were in a telenovela sitcom and it was obviously hilarious.
“Are you dying boss? Is someone dying? Is it me? Is that why you made breakfast?” Leo asked, with a poker face.
Zane shook his head, obviously offended. “I can cook!”
“Can you? I've never seen you cook before.” Leo retorted then turned to face me and spoke in a high-pitched British accent. “Have you seen him cook before?”
I shook my head. “No Lord Leo, I have never stumbled upon the incidence of his majesty assuming thr duties of a kitchen maid and serving us platters of the delicacy he prepared.” I replied, in the same accent.
“Just because I can cook doesn't mean I have to do it all the time for you both to see it!” Zane cried out, feeling trapped between us.
“No need to get upset your majesty, but are you trying to kill us?” I asked, maintaining the accent and trying to hold back my laughter.
“You think I'll use poison?” He retorted.
I tut and stroked my chin. “Tis true Lord Leo, let us have a taste of it, surely it'd have some flavor or taste.”
“Yes, lady Arielle.” Leo replied and we both burst into laughter at the same time and Zane couldn't help but join in.
I took a taste of the food and it melted on my tongue like cheese, it was undoubtedly the best lasagna I'd ever tasted, I shoved another spoonful in my mouth and stuffed my face with more. Leo also took a bit and ate like a hungry beast, we didn't stop until there was nothing left on our plate.
You have to see the gloating look on Zane's face when we ask for seconds.
“I could've easily poisoned you.” He laughed as we were devouring the food.
“I don't mind dying if this delicious meal is poisoned, do you mind, Lord Leo?”
Leo had his mouth stuffed with food so his voice was muffled. “No, lady Arielle.”
We couldn't help but laugh because it was dramatic and wholesome at the same time and Zane just looked at us like we were a pair of naughty teenagers. I felt at peace because I laughed heartily, there was this feeling of love and respect that I got from it, it was like that one piece that makes you feel complete.
“I have an important announcement to make, I'll be traveling to Malaysia tomorrow for a business trip, I'll be gone for three days.” Zane announced.
I suddenly felt sad, as if I were missing him already. “You're going to leave me alone?” I blurted without thinking.
Zane was shocked but pleased with my outburst. “In about three months or so, you too can come along on my business trips, you should be a VIP by then, until then, you're stuck here, modeling.”
“Who do I talk to about how strenuous work is?” I pouted, as if it were my right.
Zane chuckled and said with a straight face; “You have Lord Leo here with you.”
He laughed since it was a nice one and I faked being upset, he couldn't stop laughing and Leo joined in, I got angry and stood up, throwing a spoon at Leo. “You betrayer!”
I stomped away, laughing quietly.
“Where dost thou goeth Lady Arielle!” Leo called after me.
“Oh shut up!” I yelled back, with a Scottish accent. His laughter and Zane's trailing after.
‘Bloody men.’ I muttered under my breath, a smile gracing my face.
………………………………
“Hi, I just want to say I love the color of your eyes, this might sound offensive but I mean it as politely as I could, are they real or it's contact lenses.”
I looked up to see a lady say to me, she had an innocent warm smile that screamed ‘I am honest’ plastered on her face and I could tell she wasn't the type that would approach you under the pretense of wanting to be friends but is a venomous hypocrite.
“Its natural, thank you.” I replied.
“Wow, it's beautiful.” She cooed.
I was about to respond when a group of clowns in heels walked up to us.
“You're on my chair, stand up.” She said, pointing at me.
“Who? Me?” I asked, feigning ignorance.
“Are you deaf? Is there anyone else here? Stand up.”
“I didn't see you sitting here before.” I calmly replied.
She snorted and threw me a dirty look. “Just because the CEO favored you and gave you a silly award you think you're the boss of everyone here? Unlike you, I don't sleep around to get my contracts and deals so get the fvck out of my chair you dirty whorebag.” She spat, bitterly.
The likes of her? I know them, the ones who believe they're better than everyone else and every good thing should be theirs first, Lisa is one of them, I grew up with her. Though adopted, she was a white lotus, pretending to be polite, nice and sweet in public but privately? She's a pain in the ass.
“Are you deaf? You've had breakfast in Paris and now you think you're god?”
I was about to retort but the new girl spoke first.
“What the hell is wrong with you Elena? Do you have to be bitter at everyone who is more successful than you? She slept her way to the top so what? Up your game and try sleeping with the top guns and not bottom feeders, go find some other seat and stop bothering her.”
“How dare you speak to me in such-”
“Come get your blessings Elena, y'all know I was a boxer before I get into modeling, Imma beat your ass up you'd cry home to your mama and ain't nothing your manager gon do about it, best is that you ride his dick all night and he tells me to apologize to you and I ain't no simp, your contract here is bout to be expired and you're finding ways to renew it, you think picking a fight will save your ass or the least some compensation severance fee? Dimwit.”
Elena's face went pale, drained of all signs of life. “Bloody hooligan, this isn't over.” She said, shakily and hurriedly left.
“You good?”
“Yeah, thanks for standing up for me.”
“It's nothing, pay no attention to Elena, she's a bitch on her own, I'm Bella, I'm southern and a retired boxer, sorry you had to see that.”
I chuckled and shook her hand, liking her already. “I'm Rielle and I think we're going to get along just fine.”