“It’s 7 AM and everything is still not ready?” Xavier, the butler, admonishingly yelled at the maids lined up in the dining room. His wrinkled brow quirked in displeasure as he vehemently scolded them for being gastropodous with their duties. “Where is Stella? Cooking should have been done by now.”
The maids exchanged knowing glances, their faces drooped to the floor without replying to the yelling old man.
“I asked a question,” Xavier hollered, his voice echoing throughout the whole place, exasperated by their silence. One of the maids exhaled deeply, slowly raising her head, her lips twitching as she found it difficult to respond. In the end, she replied anyway, “Stella and the others were already done with the meals, but Emelia wasted it all.”
“How?” Xavier asked, expecting more of an explanation, but they were interrupted by a morning visitor.
“Xavier, it’s too early to be yelling like this. I wonder why he hasn’t come downstairs by now from your loud scoldings.” Bryan said as he approached them from the entrance.
“Good morning, sir…” Xavier gave a slight bow before dismissing the maids. “I think he is busy… at the moment.”
Bryan glanced at the flight of stairs. “I tried calling him, but he isn’t picking up his calls.”
Xavier also glanced at the stairs, a small smile spreading on his cheek. “Like I said, he is very… busy.” He drawled, emphasizing the kind of busy he was referring to.
“Oh.” Bryan’s eyes widened with a knowing smile as he understood what Xavier was hinting at. “I guess I will have to wait.”
Xavier chuckled, his eyes scrutinizing the whole room as he walked over to Bryan. “They have been like this…” he said, clinging his index fingers together. “Very inseparable ever since they returned.”
Bryan’s smile widened, truly elated by the good news. “It’s quite surprising, finally, after all these years.”
“Everything is ready,” a maid’s voice suddenly interrupted them.
“Get the table set at once,” Xavier ordered, without glancing at the female. With a subtle nod to Bryan, he turned around and made his way to the doorway leading to the master bedroom. He cleared his throat and gently knocked on the door. “Breakfast is served,” he informed, his eyes blinking lightly as he awaited a response. “Perhaps you would like to have it in your room instead.”
There was still no reply. His ears slowly inching him to pry through the door. He attempted to place his head on the door to pry but stopped halfway, berating himself for being nosy.
“Sir,” he called out again, but this time, there was a response from the other end. “We will have it in the dining room.”
“Okay, sir.”
INSIDE THE ROOM
“Wifey… wifey…” Zack called, his palm supporting his head as he inclined toward her, whispering in her ear. “WIFEY!”
Ivy’s eyes fluttered open, inhaling deeply. “Is that how you wake someone from sleep?” she murmured, stretching her arms out far and wide. Her lips pursed into a thin line as her body crept closer to him.
Zack nuzzled her neck, his warm breath brushing her skin. “You failed to fulfill your duties today, so how am I going to punish you?”
A low chuckle escaped her lips, her eyes locking into his. “What are my duties exactly?”
A pleased smile stretched across his face as he found her voice quite seductive. His eyes lingered on her pursed lips as his hand discreetly crawled under the duvet. “Do I have to remind you?”
Ivy understood where he was getting at, so she came closer, her fingers framing his chin. “Now, hubby, close your eyes. Let me fulfill my duties.”
Zack’s smile widened, extremely pleased by her response. He instantly did as he was told, his body stiffening as her lips tantalizingly hovered around his. When her lips were merely inches apart, Ivy suddenly gripped his nose, pulling it with slightly forceful intent.
“Ha…” Zack shrieked, attempting to grab her hand, but she quickly veered away, giggling. “That’s payback for teasing me all this time.”
She rolled off the bed and rushed into the bathroom, locking the door behind her.
Zack ran after her while massaging his nose, still feeling the pain from her merciless pull. “Shit, this woman,” he muttered, jarring the doorknob. “Ivy, open up.”
Ivy continued giggling, ignoring his call.
“Ivy, this isn’t fair…” he said, pummeling into the door. “Really, do you want to freshen up without me? We talked about that, didn’t we?”
The sound of running water followed after her giggles. “You can come in when I’m done; just be patient, hubby.”
Zack helplessly relaxed against the door as he listened to the soothing melody of the shower and her gentle humming, causing a soft goofy smile to plaster on his face, making his heart flutter in delight and fill with a warm, fuzzy feeling that only her presence could bring…
****
A black Lamborghini halted in front of Azure Hill Estate. The driver took a peep at the residence through the dark shade of the glasses veiling his face. His hands tapped on the sterling wheels while he listened intensively to instructions from the caller.
“You should stop underestimating me. Just because he hired tons of muscle doesn’t mean the plan ends here,” he said carefreely. “How do you think my boss will react to this? You know how crafty he is. So don’t step on his toes and let me finish what we’ve started.”
His lips slowly curved up in a smirk as his eyes scanned the car’s interior.
“Send my gratitude to him for this new baby,” he said, chuckling in between.
After a brief silence, the caller’s voice sounded from the other end. “Tell me how you plan on striking from the inside.”
Upon hearing him, a wild grin spread across his face, his eyes narrowing into a malevolent squint. “I have been working with the devil for a long time.” He drawled, his gaze shifting to the residence up ahead. “Zack will be holding a funeral soon; he won’t be able to escape this time around.”