Chapter 20: Chapter 20

Chapter Twenty

Ava POV

The moment Jasper and mine eyes met a look passed between us. One that I saw yesterday inside the pool. Both of us tore our gaze away from each other and started looking everywhere but at each other.

“Oh, Ava, you are here, dear.” Maria called out to me. I glanced in her direction as she walked out of the kitchen with two big bowls in hands.

“Come and sit down. The breakfast is still warm.” She nodded at the chair and told me to sit down.

I smiled at her beaming face. I nodded my head once and walked over to the table and sat down. She placed a plate filled with two sandwiches and a piece of cake.

“Whoa! Maria. Is it your birthday or something? Why have you made so much for breakfast?” Jasper asked Maria.

“Something like that.” Maria answered him before looking my way and winking.

“Go ahead and eat.” Maria encouraged both of us. I wanted to invite her to the table but then decided against it, I stuffed my mouth with the food. It tasted good, just as I expected.

“Well, it smells delicious. I hope it tastes as good as it smells.” Jasper muttered and stuffed his mouth with a big piece of cake.

“Umm …” Jasper made an exaggerated sound of moaning and nodded his head at Maria. He gave her a thumbs up, making my heart beat flutter.

“It is delicious, Maria. Maybe, I should give you a raise for such amazing food.” He said to Maria.

Maria smiled brightly at him. I knew what was coming next but before I could open my mouth and stop that, Maria spoke.

“I did not make this breakfast, Ava did. So, if you want to raise somebody’s salary then it must be Ava’s.” She told Jasper.

Jasper stopped in his mid chew and glanced my way. He continued eating and when he finished eating, he cleaned his mouth with a napkin.

I stared down at my food and kept eating to avoid meeting Jasper's eyes.

This could not be good. Why did Maria had to announce that I made this breakfast? Why could not she just take the credit and compliments and be quiet about it.

“Why did she make the food? Cooking and cleaning are your work, Maria. Then why did you let her work in the kitchen?” Jasper asked Maria.

That was not a nice to ask …

Before Maria could answer for herself, I jumped in between their conversation and answered in her stead.

“I could not fall asleep and woke up early. So, I decided to make breakfast at her place. She wanted to do the work but I insisted. It’s not her fault.” I told him. As an explanation. He looked at me.

Taking a sip from his coffee, he shook his head.

“You did not have to do that. I did not ask you to stay in this house because I wanted you to work.” He said. I stopped eating and straightened in my chair.

“I know. But like I told you that I could not fall asleep so I made breakfast. Since I needed something to do anyway, to pass the time.” I replied back.

“Okay, then.” He said and went back to eating his breakfast. Like nothing had happened.

I looked at Maria who stared at me with an apologetic look. I shook my head at her expressions. She did not have to look apologetic at all. She did not do anything wrong.

What was this whole ordeal for anyway? I made breakfast so that Maria could have some free time in the morning. And I succeeded in doing the thing. Then what was the point of all this?

Maria left for the kitchen while both Jasper and I ate breakfast in silence. When we both finished eating Jasper picked his coat and stood up.

“Grab your stuff and meet me in the parking lot after eating.” Jasper told me before pulling out his phone and disappearing out of the house.

After a few minutes, I finished my breakfast as well. I stood up as well, and walked inside the kitchen where I found Maria doing the dishes. I walked up behind her and placed my hand on her shoulder to stop her doing her work.

She spun around to face me. I had expected to see a frown or a sad expression on her face but when she turned around, she was still smiling. For a second, I was taken aback by her behavior.

“Umm … I’m sorry, Maria. You have to listen to your boss's scolding.” I told her. To be very frank, I was not even sure by the look on Maria's face that I should apologize for anything. Yet, I did it anyway because I was not sure what to say anymore.

“Sorry? You don’t have to be sorry dear. You made my day. And about me getting scolded, don’t worry. He was not scolding me. He usually behaves like that sometimes whenever he feels like he is lacking in his hospitality. He does not like to see his guests work. Especially someone who has been here for only three or four days.” She told me.

My eyebrows tucked upward at this information. Then I shrugged.

“Okay. I thought that you were feeling a little low from earlier so I came to check on you.” I told her. I checked my wrist watch and saw that the time was running fast.

“By the way, I’m getting late. I will see you later today.” I told her and Maria nodded her head. I bid my goodbye then got out of the kitchen.

I picked my purse, grabbed my wallet and charged out the room and straight to the parking lot where Jasper was waiting for me.

Right as I got out of the house and entered the parking lot, I saw Jasper and Mark together. They were talking to each other. I hoped that I had not made them wait for more than a few minutes otherwise it would be cherry on top of the breakfast thing.

I walked over to them and both of them stopped talking. Mark opened the door for me and  I climbed inside the car along with my Boss.

And then our car started.