Chapter 11: Work from home

Ana's pov:

His home looked even more exquisite than the hotel. Shiny floors, high ceilings, expensive diamond chandeliers.

Sophia squeezed my hand and clung to my side as John led us through the house. She was unusually quiet and timid but I couldn't fault her with that because I also felt intimidated by the home... As if walking on such a pristine surface was a sacrilege.

"Mr Greyson is working in his study." John informed us. "Do well to not disturb him unless it's very important. He hates being disturbed."

I kept that in mind as we began to walk.

John gave us a detailed rundown of the various parts of the house and finally, he took me to the state of the art kitchen that looked like it should belong to a world renowned chef instead of little ol' me.

The counters and floors sparkled. There were high-end equipments and none of the silverware or glass set was smudged. Everything looked stainless.

Gosh. Mr Greyson must be a neat freak and a perfectionist because not a single thing was out of place. Even the two maids were neat and elegant in their black and white uniforms. Two of them glanced at me in a standoffish manner as John introduced me to all the workers. I began to feel intimidated again, wondering if I'd get accepted in Mr Greyson's home.

However, after John left, they all gathered around me in a welcoming hug and even entertained Sophia for a while.

"I'm Mariah," one of them said to me, a big smile on her lips. She had black hair pinmed into a tight ponytail and a cute heart shaped face and she seemed to be closest to my age. "It's nice to see a new face. Mr Greyson never employs new workers into his home."

I frowned. "He doesn't?"

She nodded. "Most of the workers I've seen here only got employed because their parents or relatives worked for his parents." She leaned in close to whisper, "Everyone thinks Mr Greyson has trust issues."

This was news to me. Why had Mr Greyson employed me if he kept such a tight leash on who he employed into his home?

I wanted to ask Mariah about this but she was already cooing at Sophia who was laughing with her and enjoying her antics.

"C'mon!" Mariah pulled on to Sophia's hand. "I'll take you to the playroom. Master Lucas had it prepared for you yesterday. Let's allow mummy do her work."

Sophia brightened up at the thought of her new friend. "Lucas?! Is Lucas at home? Can I see him?"

"The young master left for school already, but you will be able to see him when he returns."

Sophia lifted her tiny arms up in the air and let out a small squeal of joy before skipping out of the room with Mariah.

I set to work immediately, cooking up the most extravagant lunch I could think up for Mr Greyson. Just a tiny portion, because it was only going to be him for lunch.

I set the table, carefully placing his serving at the head of the table.

I prepared something simple for myself and Sophia and we ate our lunch quietly in the kitchen.

A few hours passed and Mr Greyson had not showed up for lunch. Sadness settled in the pit of my stomach as I cleared the table, because it was already passed the time for lunch.

He was probably busy with work, so I prepared some tea and desserts and brought them to his study.

I inhaled a sharp breath and said a quick prayer that he doesn't fire me for disturbing him.

I knocked on the sturdy door and after a few seconds, I got zero response.

I shifted my body weight to my left leg, suddenly feeling uncomfortable with his lack of response. I cleared my throat and whispered to the door, refusing to take the hint that he obviously wanted to be left alone.

He was my emoloyer and if skipping lunch and working all day was something he does on a regular, he'd probably drop dead before my first paycheck. And I can't have that.

Swallowing a deep breath, I said softly, "Mr Greyson, I have some snacks for you."

There was silence for another two minutes, and then, I heard his cold, tact voice command; come in.

I did a happy little shimmy of victory but in retrospect, I probably should have been worried that he had called me in just to fire me.

However, when I opened the door, my heart dropped. He was already putting on his coat and shutting his computer.

"I... I brought some–"

He turned around and shot me a withering look that had me shutting up immediately.

I swallowed and pressed my lips together, standing awkwardly before him.

He let out an exasperated breath and massaged his forehead. The next time he looked at me, his eyes were relatively softer.

"Lucas will be back from school early today, so prepare dinner for him before he comes back. He hates having dinner by himself, so he'll have dinner with you," he said, brushing past me.

"Y- Yes sir," I murmured, my entire mood deflating.

He stopped at the sound of my voice and looked at me. His cold blue eyes searched my face like he was looking for something.

I swallowed and held his stare, my cheeks heating up and my eyes stinging.

He really was a goodlooking man.

"I- uh..." I whispered, trying to break the ice. "I'll make sure to have dinner with Lucas and leave right after... Sir."

He tilted his head up, as if to think about what I just said. "No."

I nearly dropped the tray in my hands. "No?"

He was already turning back around and walking out the door. "Cook dinner for me and bring it to the office... Yourself." He added, before walking away.

Why did he have to be so confusing?

And my heart...

My heart was beating wildly in my chest. Why won't my heart stop pounding?

I sat in the kitchen, thinking of what to do.

Since Mr Greyson left, I had already planned what to prepare for the workers in the house; John, the butler and the maids but I couldn't decide what to prepare for Mr Greyson.

And to make matters worse, he had told me to deliver it myself.

My mind went back to what just happened in his study and how my heart had been racing like crazy. Just the thought of him made my cheeks heat up and my heart race and I suddenly remembered all that Tylor had said yesterday. How I shouldn't let Mr Greyson know that I was single and instead, insist that Tylor was my boyfriend.

I had insisted yesterday that a man like Greyson wouldn't want to have anything to do with me and I had been strong in my conviction. But now, that conviction hurt. Would it be so bad if he liked me?

I sat up immediately at that thought and jumped out of my seat as if I just got electrocuted.

"Mummyyy-"

My heart skipped a shocked beat and I whirled around with more force than usual, as if I just got caught doing something bad

I bumped into a timy little body and Sophia stumbled and crashed her head the corner of the countertop.

She let out the most ear splitting scream i have ever heard and began crying at the top of her voice.

My heart dropped to my stomach as I dropped to my feet and held her close to me. She kept crying uncontrollably and shaking in my arms even when I held her close and held an icepack to the tiny swelling on her head.

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry, baby," I whispered, kissing her forehead and wiping her tears.

However, no matter what I did, she wouldn't stop crying. John, Mariah and Janet rushed into the kitchen at the sound of Sophia crying, bu no matter the tricks they did or what they promised, she wouldn't stop crying.

"What's going on?" A cold voice suddenly asked.

Everybody jumped at the sound of the voice and even Sophia hiccupped through her tears.

Lucas was standing at the threshold of the kitchen in his tiny little uniform and briefcase bag. He had a worried expression on his face when he saw that Sophia was crying and he walked over to us.

He looked at her for a few seconds, inspecting her face.

"You hit your head," he murmured.

Sophia nodded through her sobs and tried to wipe her tears unsuccessfully. "It hurts."

Lucas reached into something in his pocket, a piece of candy, and carefully unwrapped the wrapper.

He took her hand and placed the expensive candy in it. "It'll take the pain away," he said in all seriousness.

Sophia's sobs softened to dull hiccups as she took the piece of candy and looked at it. She put it in her mouth and sucked on it for few seconds and then, the biggest smile appeared on her lips.

"You like it?" Lucas asked, shoving his hands in his pockets and tilting his head to the side.

She nodded excitedly.

"I have more," he said, taking her hand and leading her away. "If you promise not to cry anymore, I'll give them to you."

"I– I" she hiccupped. "I pwomise!"

He led her out of the kitchen and I called after them. "Don't take too much sweets!"

I finally served Lucas's dinner, and remembering what Mr Greyson had said, I sat down with him and Sophia at the table, instead of having mine in the kitchen.

"Steak?!" Sophia exclaimed as I gave her a generous serving and settled down beside her to eat.

"You like steak?" Lucas looked at her quizzically.

"I love steak!" She exclaimed.

"We will have steak every night."

The subject wasn't even up for debate. It was as good as law.

Sophia let out a tiny squeal of joy and did a happy little dance. Suddenly, she stopped and noticed John, Mariah and Janet standing to the side after helping to set the table.

I looked at them. "Why don't you join us? Is that okay, Lucas?"

He only let off a shrug as if he really didn't care who was at the table with him, as long as he was not alone.

With that settled, they joined us, seemingly happy with Lucas's verdict.

The atmosphere turned lighter and happier as we all ate together, and in a way, I felt like I was part of a family.

"I like this beautiful house!" Sophia suddenly declared. "I like Lucas too. He gives me a room of Bobby dolls! I saw him locked his own toy cars all into the cabinet. Greyson is also handsome, do you like him? Mommy."

My heart skipped a strangled beat. Silence fell across the table. John looked like he had choked on a broccoli.

"Hun?" I squeaked. "Why you ask that?"

Sophia beamed. "Because if he can be my father, I can live in this big house and have a brother like Lucas."

I cleared my throat. "So you don't like Tylor daddy anymore?"

Her chubby face squeezed into a thinking frown. "Emmm… I like Tylor daddy but I like Lucas the same. Can I have two daddies then? I can have daddies and brother, yeah!"

My eyes twitched.

That's not how families work, Sophia, I wanted to say.

"Your mom has a boyfriend?" Lucas asked. "The man we met yesterday?"

"No…" i answered, before recalling what I had promised Tylor yesterday. "Yes…" I corrected.

Shaking my head, I rose from my seat before these rascals could bother me with more questions. "Okay, Lucas please take care of her for a while, I have to deliver food to your father to his office."

Lucas nodded as I left to wrap up the dinner I had made for Mr Greyson.

Greyson’s POV:

Anastasia Jones... That woman was a mystery. At first, I had employed her to humour Lucas, but then I figured out that employing her was the easiest way to have power over her and also to keep an eye on her in case she tried to blindside me.

She played the innocent act well... Almost too well to the point that I believed that she didn't know who I was or what she had done.

On my table were proposals that needed approval and contracts that needed my signature. However, here I was, thinking of Ana, our dinner last night and how much I had enjoyed it at least until that brute, Tylor, came in.

It had almost felt like a real family.

I sighed and shook my head.

Just then, there was a knock on my door and my secretary came in.

She gave me a paper file probably containing the details I had asked about.

I flipped through the file and glared at her angrily.

"I asked you to give me all the information about Anastasia Jones and her background. I didn't ask you to give me her work resume! Go, I need every info of her since she was born!"