Chapter 14: Chapter 14

Malinda POV

A week later I was no longer shy around my bosses son whose name was Russeli, we became friends, I know it doesn't make sense being friends with the son of the man you work for, I know I was risking my job and everything, but why not live in a lie for a while.

He had always practised his music with me and lend a helping hand on some of the house chores, I tried to stop him but he insisted, he had said he loved me, but for how long will it last, everything will be over when his father return, I have also started falling in love with him and it also scares me.

He was friendly to me and told me almost everything about his music, he didn't shout at me either, he was caring and loving, this was an affection I have only experienced in a long time, this must be the reason I yearn for more.

I came out of my room today and I was doing my normal duty, to my surprise I saw Russeli in the kitchen, I was chopping some vegetables, he walked over to me. "What are you preparing?" He asked.

I turned around and he gave me one of those cute smiles that was so warm. After he told me he loved me that day, he had never once stopped smiling at me, and my heart raced every time he did. "Rice and beef soup," I told him and he leaned on the cabinet.

"Should I assist you?" He asked me, bringing out some other ingredients.

I rushed over to him and took the things from his hand, a touch of his hands on mine sent a shudder to my spine, this has always been the effect I have any time he touches me, I feel an electric shock. "No please, it is my duty, so I have to do it." I put down the ingredients and faced him again.

"Don't you get tired of doing these things?" He asked me, looking into my eyes, I turned around immediately to continue my work, his presence here alone was distracting me.

"I have to do what I have to do," I told him, even if the job was stressful, this was what I do to earn my keep.

He came closer to me and I was stiff for a while. I still feel this way whenever he was this close, he brought his head down to look at my face and our face was so close making my cheek hot. "Should we go out today?" He asked me.

"I should know my boundaries, Russeli." I walked away with the vegetables I had cut, just to escape being so close to him, I put the vegetable into the cooking pot.

"I am the one asking and I want to go with you, so decide where we should go, and don't say no." He told me, I looked down at the boiling soup, this was a tempting offer, I know it is not my leave yet, but he was asking.

I smiled and turned to him. "Okay, there is just one place I want to go," I told him and he was walking close to me.

"Where is that?" His smiling face is so dazzling that it was almost blinding, and I wonder why I can't get used to it.

"The orphanage home," I told him and he stopped smiling immediately, like the place I called wasn't what he had expected, he stopped coming forward to me too, he just put his hand to his pocket and stared at me, I knew that he would not want to. "I want to see them once again," I said softly.

He was quiet for a while and I was already giving up. "Alright then, let's go see them." His words lightened up my face, I smile like a fool right now.

"Thank you, thank you so much." This was a good opportunity to see Annabel again, she had told me she would be right there waiting for me, I was so happy that I couldn't stop smiling.

"I love it when you smile, you are the prettiest." His words hit me and I stopped smiling, I turned to hide my face and the joy that was pleading to jump out.

"Your food would be ready very soon," I told him, in other to change the topic, and it walked, he smile and the next thing I heard was his departing footstep, I exhaled softly and look at the exit door, then I removed his words about me being pretty and I blushed, holding my cheek with my two palms.

...

Russeli drove me to the orphanage home, we had stopped by a supermarket to pick something for the children, I didn't want to go there empty-handed.

When we drove into the parking lot, there were a lot of children playing around and Annabel, as quiet as she was, sat down on a swing with a book in her hands, maybe one of the books I gave her which she calls her favourite.

She was the first to see me and Russeli when we stepped out of the car and she ran over to me with a big smile on her lips. I squatted down and gave her a Teddy bear hug. "Aunty Malinda." She said with her small happy voice.

"Annabel." I pulled her at arm's length, she had added a little since I last saw her and her look so beautiful and still growing. "How are you?"

"I am fine, thank you, I am so glad you kept your promise." She told me and embraced me again, I was sure she missed me so much.

"I don't break promises," I said softly and I could see Russeli staring at us, I had almost forgotten he was here. "Annabel, meet my boss' son Russeli." I pointed to Russeli and Annabel made a little bow.

"Good afternoon sir Russeli." She greeted me humbly.

"Annabel, how are you?" He asked her as he squatted to look her in the face.

"I am fine, thank you." She paused when she looked at him closely and I wondered what was wrong. "Are you Russeli Ryan?" Annabel asked and I and Russeli looked at her. I was surprised that she knew his full name.

"Yes, I am." He responded with a smile and Annabel gasped, too shocked to speak for a while, and I was still confused as to what was happening here.

"You are very popular, and I can't wait to hear your next album." She said finally with joy and Russeli looked and me who was shocked like I had heard something I couldn't believe.

"Popular?" I asked Annabel, I knew my boss son do write music but I didn't know he was a popular musician, if he was then he shouldn't be out here with me, he shouldn't be where people would see him