Chapter 73 What’s For Dinner

Amy stared at his message helplessly whilst fighting the urge to blush. Instead of stopping his advances, she seemed to be encouraging him. Now he was asking her to take responsibility. She would love to engage him in conversation but she was still at the supermarket and about to meet Stella. And she needed time to cook up proper reasons to refute his claim. But she had to admit, him calling her baby was the sexiest thing she had ever heard.

***.com: Let's talk about this when I get home.

***.com: Is everything okay? Are you safe?

Amy's heart skipped a beat when she saw this. It felt like he was offering warmth that she was tempted to bury herself in. How is it that something as little as this is making her attracted to him even on text.

***.com: Don't worry. I came out to do a little grocery shopping for dinner.

Zach felt the uneasiness in his heart dissipate when he saw her response. He relaxed in his seat. He was currently on his way home from work. With his heart at ease, he typed back a response.

***.com: What's for dinner?

Amy stopped when she saw his message. She had no idea what Stella would be making. She picked up her pace and rushed to meet her friend. She easily located her at the till through the CCTV.

The older woman only smiled when she saw Amy coming over with two boxes of crackers, peanut butter flavored M and Ms, and different flavored licorice.

"Got what you needed?" Stella asked. Like a child, Amy nodded happily.

"By the way, what are we making for dinner?" She asked while looking at their purchases.

"I was thinking chicken enchilada casserole, broccoli marinara, and we can make a streusel cake with the blueberries we got. What do you think?" Stella responded.

Back in the city

The gates to a mansion automatically opened when a convoy of five cars drove into the compound. They drove around the roundabout that had a baby cupid fountain in the center and proceeded to stop at the entrance of the house. Men in black suits alighted from the car and formed a protective arc around the car in the middle. The driver from that car jogged to the backseat and opened the door.

A pair of long legs in a dark blue suit stepped out. The man pulled on his jacket to straighten it as he made his way into the house. The butler had the door opened and soon received the man's briefcase. His hand was stretched out ready to receive the master's jacket but the master was glued to his phone.

"Welcome, sir", Edmund gave a polite bow.

"What's for dinner?" Zach kept his eyes peeled on his phone as his fingers typed away. Edmund opened his mouth to speak but Zach continued. "Prepare a chicken enchilada casserole, broccoli marinara, and a blueberry streusel cake."

'But dinner is almost ready!'

Edmund stood with his mouth open. Just as he was having this thought, the head maid was currently in the dining room and nodded in satisfaction at the lay out of the sumptuous meal they had prepared. They had a schedule and meal plan they followed and so they knew what to prepare on each day and finish right when their master got home. They always stuck to schedule.

"Inform Sir Edmund that dinner is ready", the head maid spoke. She was an older woman probably in the same age group with Edmund.

"Yes, Miss Agnes", the young maid made a polite bow before she left the room.

She knew their master had just arrived so she made way to the entrance. There Edmund stood in the hallway with his mouth agape as he watched his master take the stairs. The maid rushed to the butler's side and stood a few feet away.

"Sir Edmund, dinner is re...." Her voice faltered when she saw Edmund's hand signals discreetly shooing her away.

She looked up at him then saw the man trying not to look panicked as he looked at his master who had stopped to look at both of them. Zach's brows were raised. He had only given the order not too long ago, how was it ready so soon?

"Dinner is ready?" He asked.

"Ye-"

"No! No!" Edmund cut in when the maid was about to speak. "I'll have the kitchen prepare what you asked. But it might take a whi-"

"One hour!" Zach ordered.

"In one hour!" Edmund readily agreed. The boss turned and left for his room. Edmund turned to find the young maid looking utterly confused. He could only give a helpless look at the young maid.

"Sir Edmund?"

"There have been a few changes to dinner. Master especially made this request. Tell Miss Agnes to make preparations."

"Alright, sir. Are we having any special guests tonight?"

As the two conversed, a black Hummer H3T Base stopped at the house entrance. Before the driver could jog over to the back seat to get the door, a pair of long legs in a colorful suit stepped out onto the tiled floor. The person seemed to be in a hurry to get into the house. As he pushed open the door, something caught his eye. He stopped and looked over.

"Raphy! That color is a good look on you! Some hearts might be broken in this house!" He chuckled.

Raphy, who stood a few feet away, felt embarrassed and run his hands in his ashy gray hair. Ever since his boss asked him to have his hair dyed in that color for the airport mission, he hasn't found it in himself to change it back to its original color of black. And he noticed he had been getting a few glances from the female staff. His cheeks burned red as he responded, "Thank you, sir."

Xavier smiled and winked at the young man before he made his way into the house. He stuffed his hands in his pockets and whistled to a Chris Brown song called 'Heat'.

"Brother of mine, where are you?!" Xavier shouted from the entrance as he walked further into the house.

He had wanted to catch a ride with his brother but he had a few things to take care of in his office. Soon as he was done, he rushed over to get the tea. It was a glorious day. He had finally heard the voice of his sister-in-law. He had so many questions to ask.

"Welcome, young master Xavier", Edmund made a polite bow.

"Thank you sir Edmund. Now, where is my dear big brother?" He had a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"I believe he should be freshening up as of now", Edmund replied. "Are you staying over for dinner, sir?"

"Why not?" Xavier answered as he took the stairs going up. Edmund looked at the young maid, "I guess now you have the answer."