Chapter 8 First Meal Old Friend

• We are perched around our dining table having desserts after a luscious meal that comprised of vegetable rice, chapatis, scorched chicken, and curry stew. I had quite an arduous time preparing all that under three hours, but I am glad I made it with the great aid of my co-chef, Andy. He roasted the chicken, the only part where he required my assistance being only the ingredients to use in the marinade. The rest of the roasting part he did without my help.
• I am also delightfully ecstatic that what occurred in the morning did not get in the way of our interactions. Until now, we are acting naturally civil.
• The banquet was mouthwatering, evidently because everybody can't stop complementing it until now, and my friend, Rita, well, she can't stop telling them how good my cooking has been from when I was little, and I am starting to feel uncomfortable. She has even confessed to stealing my lunchbox at school once, which I can't believe she did.
• "Well, that's enough guys! You are making me uncomfortable with all these praises. Stop it already." I say to them.
• "I will stop, only if you promise to come and cook for me in my house. I want you to teach me how to make the perfect -soft - layered - chapatis like you. Oh! And also how to measure ingredients. I am tired of my daughter asking me if I added chilli to the food whereas I don't even have chilli I'm my house." That's Rita, my best friend. It was quite an awe when the doorbell rang and I went to get it and usher in Andy's guests, only to be greeted by the smiling face of Rita, my friend from high school, and her husband, who happens to be Andy's p.a, and their daughter, Allysa. I couldn't even believe my eyes. They are the reason why I am here, why I got this job. I met her husband, Ambrose Bosuben, the day I was reporting to work because he was the one who picked me up from the stage. But Rita, the last time we met was four years ago when she did her final exam. We then kept communicating on phone, except for the past two weeks because I misplaced her number, and I was so shy to ask Andy for it. Now she has a daughter the same age as Angel. Just how fast do years fly?
• "Well, love, I also grumble sometimes, right?" Her husband teased.
• "Come on, love! Don't make me feel more horrible than I already do." She looks hurt.
• "And why would a man complain about chilli?" Andy spoke, making fun of his assistant. "Rita, spare Allysa. But this one," he points his finger at Ambrose, "you can add even a whole tin of chilli in his plate food."
• My jaw drops at Andy's serious joke. A whole tin? That will be pure witchcraft. I think of chuckling, but I only find myself joining Rita in an outburst of laughter, cracking our rips. A whole tin of chilly, in a single plate of food? Really, Andy?
• "Then I will have a very bad stomach upset, and I will not be able to come to work to help run your busy schedule. Can you handle your million jobs without your p.a?" Ambrose defends himself.
• "I will personally come for you in your house and drag you to work."
• "I didn't know my boss is this heartless! Poor me!"
• "Now you know. Speaking of work, I want us to go through something real quick. Excuse us ladies, we are going to the study." Andy says.
• "You two can't stay a day without work? Come on! We came here to relax, and now you abandon us like this?" That's the melodramatic Rita. I have no say whatsoever.
• "See love? I told you. That's Adrian Ashton for you. He can't keep off from work even for two hours not to talk of even a day." Ambrose spoke, and Andy throws him a deadly glare.
• "Rita, you are feeding this old baby of yours a whole lot of love and it's making his lazy ass on other important matters. Cut down his diet will you?" He picks on Ambrose again.
• Is this Andy that is talking like this? So he is this open to some people, huh?
• "I will consider that. But Andy, your brain is not a machine. You are not a robot for crying out loud. You need to take a break." Rita says.
• "Copy that," Andy replies, just for the sake because he doesn't seem like he is considering that.
• "Love, don't pay attention to what this guy says. He is a screwed jerk who lost the meaning of love a long time ago. I sympathise with the girl who will fall for him. I can bet on my life that he has even forgotten how to make love." Ambrose's comment made me want to laugh. How can he even say that to his boss, seriously? And Andy...?
• "Have you ever heard even a first-timer being taught how to make love? Some things are the natural, you jerk!" Well, Andy says and stands up.
• Ambrose has nonentity to say but to bend and kiss his wife. Well, they can not stop pecking each other's lips until Andy had to sarcastically make them stop.
• "Hey! Hey! You will continue that in your house. Or maybe I give you a room. You can have two or three rounds as long as you keep your moans at bay."
• "Thank you, but we prefer our house. Something's uncontrollable, you know? Plus, what's the fun in it if there are no moans, man? How do you know you are hitting it right, huh!" Ambrose and his choice of words, huh!
• "Yeah, yeah! Whatever! Spare us then, will you?" Andy reverberates.
• Who would have speculated that even Andy has a dirty mouth? And Rita, she was the second mother Jesus the last time I saw her, but I definitely can't say the same thing now. She so much differs from the innocent bestie I knew years ago. Talk of change, and my bestie is a great deal.
• Her husband pecks her again, then he assembles with Andy as they match to his study, actually, his office inside this manor. It's like work is the mechanism that makes the blood of this guy run, else, why wouldn't he take even just a single day to enjoy all these luxuries without work?
• "Aren't you two being extra romantic?" I turn my besties after Andy and her husband disappear to the office, as she helps me clear the table.
• "You and Adrian need some lessons. Lots of them, actually." She speaks, as we head to the kitchen.
• "Why him and I?" I fire at her.
• "Because you two are so much alike. You are so boringly behind time. So unromantic. You two are deadbeats when it comes to love matters. This is the twenty-first century for hell's sake. We kiss whenever, wherever, and however we feel like it and as much as we freaking want to. That's the fun of it."
• "Copy that. But tell me, Rita. What made you change this much? You've become so naughty." I say.
• "You will know when you fall in love, my dear Tania. So forget about me for now. Tell me, how are you doing here? Is Adrian treating you well?"
• Oh, Andy! Andy! Andy! That name, or is it, that man? What can I say about him? I can't tell her that I have kissed my boss twice. I can imagine her reaction, especially if I tell her that I am the one who begged for him to kiss me this morning and that too, after dreaming about him last night.
• She snaps a finger in front of my face when I get far too engrossed in thoughts.
• "What's up? Is the situation that catastrophic make you make that look?"
• "No, Rita. Sorry, I was pondering about something else. Andy is treating me fine. I have no gripes at all.!
• "Uuuuuu! It's Andy, huh? In just two weeks, he has become Andy?"
• Yeah! I forgot how fast her brain goes haywire.
• "Hey! Hey! Before you start getting ideas in your head, he is the one who asked me to call him that instead of sir or boss.! Jeez! Your mind is so corrupted, Rita."
• "Mmmh, not convinced but, okay. But seriously bestie, is everything okay between you two? About that issue of Angel and her bullies and you talking to the teacher?"
• "He told you guys about it?"
• She nods her head.
• "He was frantic. It was one of the reasons why we planned this visit, so I can talk to you. But he called us last night to say that you two had talked things through. I shouldn't be asking you about it because he said you had an understanding, but I still want to know if you are okay."
• "I had screwed up big times bestie, but I learned my lesson. I deserved it. But we are all good now. So don't worry."
• "Sorry." She hugs me slightly. "It's my fault because I didn't tell you how sensitive he is about his daughter. But I am telling you now, my friend, if you want to be at peace with Adrian, do not mess with Angel. Anything about his daughter, however tiny or extraneous it is to you, let him know asap."
• "Thank you," I say, and we start washing the dishes.
• "You know Tania," Rita spoke after a little silence.
• "Mmh?"
• "I have made a lot of friends since I came to this city. I will introduce you to them soon. I had several girls who could have taken up this job without a second thought. But I know Andy. I was there when he almost lost his mind when his wife left him with Angel. The kid was barely one year back then. He had to put a lot of things on hold to look after his daughter. I, at some point, doubted that he would ever recover from that huge blow. But eventually, he pulled through, only because of Angel. He lives for no one but Angel. He has no friends but me and my husband. He distanced himself from everyone, even though he did not have a big circle of friends even before. So with all the things I have seen him go through, I know he doesn't need any more baggage right now. He needs peace of mind, and that is to know his daughter is in the best hands. That's why I called you because I knew with your big heart, you can bare with him."
• "Thank you, Rita. I honestly can't thank you enough. Your offer came at the most right time for me and my family. I'll do anything to keep this job. And don't you worry, I can handle Andy. I understand where he is coming from. And Angel, I want nothing but the best for that kid."
• "I knew you were the decent person fit for this job. And trust me, Tania, Adrian might be a broken wreck and a stubborn jerk, but deep inside, he is the sweetest, kindest, and the most sensible guy I have ever seen. He has a heart of pure gold. So bear with him as you learn to get along with him. I am sure he'll come around."
• Whoa!
• The way she depicts him, huh?