19. Hot Coffee and Cold Attitude

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Head down. My phone in my hands. I was going through the unread text messages in my inbox. There were some unnecessary texts from the places where I had left my resume. I deleted them. I also had few missed calls from Ryan, Carol and the foster home. I left all of them a quick text that I was kinda busy with my job so I couldn't contact them. After that, I returned my phone to Aaron.

The ringing of the kitchen's intercom caught my attention. I looked around and waited for someone to answer it. Few minutes passed, but no one came and it didn't stop ringing. So I just shrugged my shoulders, went over and picked it up, "Yes?"

"Where were you, Melanie?" Ashar hollered, made me move the receiver slightly away from my ear, "I've been trying the intercom since few minutes. Just what you all are doing? Playing around?"

"But, I'm not-"

"Bring coffee with my migraine medicine in the study."

"Liste-"

He didn't let me finish and hung up the intercom.

What an attitude!

I wailed and started searching for Melanie. I also asked from other household workers about her whereabouts when I couldn't find her by myself. Five long minutes passed and still I couldn't see her anywhere. Maybe, she had gone out. I hadn't seen her since few hours.

Groaning aloud, I ruffled my loose hair frustratingly. What should I do now? Ashar would've been waiting for her. If she won't show up, she would be in trouble. Without wasting any more minutes, I hurried to the kitchen and quickly made espresso. Since I had no idea what type of coffee he liked, so I just thought to make some espresso. It would help him reduce his headache.

I placed some cookies beside espresso that I had baked earlier and intended to walk towards Ashar's study room. I knew Ashar was going to get angry if he saw my face, but I couldn't wait for Melanie's return. I was just helping my friend. And maybe, just maybe, it could be the opportunity for me to make him talk to me or at least listen to me.

With a shaky hand, I knocked on the door twice. After his approval, I stepped inside. The atmosphere of his study was quite calm and silent. Most of the furniture here were of dark brown. There were numerous books as well related to business, electronics and literature. A small, triangle-shaped, glass table was placed in the middle of the room; pile of files and some stationary was spread on it. The low white lights were on.

Ashar was sitting at his office chair, head down, looking at the file folder. His laptop was opened beside the file. His short hairs were tangled. The sleeves of his white cotton shirt were rolled up, exposing his perfect, toned arms. The dim light that was flickering through the laptop's screen was giving a white, soft glow to his face.

I didn't know I would find an older guy attractive. It was a new, strange fact that I had found about myself lately. I mean we were not from the same age-group and I shouldn't be finding him enthralling, but the truth is I was. His hard skin, prominent cheekbones, long fingers and rough hands were some of his physical traits that could not go unnoticed. Despite his harsh words, angry side, I liked his calm posture like I was seeing him right now.

I think I had completely lost interests in the boys of my age after seeing this graceful man and surely I would keep this new-found-fact about myself in my mind when I would date sometime in future. I would date an older, a mature man.

"Put it on the table and leave." Ashar's voice pulled me out of my thoughts. I shook my head and reminded myself the situation I was in.

"I, I don't know about your medicine." I stammered.

He looked up at me. I flinched a little when his narrowed eyes met with mine. Soon disgust flared in them. He rose from his chair and exploded, "How dare you to come here?"

I was not surprised by his sudden outburst. It was something I expected when I was planning to come to his room so I made myself mentally ready for his impudence. Placing the tray from my hands on the table, I said, "I'm sorry. Melanie isn't here and that's what I wanted to tell you on the intercom."

He crossed the table and walked towards me. He crossed his arms on his chest and gasped aloud, "What are you trying to prove by doing these sorts of work?"

"Sorry. I didn't get you?" I gave him a quizzical look.

He pulled in his lower lip as if he was trying to control his fury, "You won't stop being naive, right? I've seen your true colors so why this act?"

"I'm not faking. It's you who is over-thinking." I muttered hesitantly.

"So, you came in front of my guests that day without any reason? Sanaya, I'm not a fool." He raised his voice, uncrossing his arms.

Suppressing my shiver, I stiffened my body, not going to show him that his bitterness was affecting me, "That day I was just helping Melanie. Otherwise I do only cooking that is my job."

I glanced at the steaming cup of espresso, pointing my finger at it, "You should drink your coffee while it's hot. It will reduce your headache."

He stepped towards me, brought his face close to me, gritting, "Your mere presence is enough to intensify my migraine."

My heart shrank in my chest at his words. I tried to mask the hurt from my face, "O-okay, I'm leaving."

Few minutes ago I was admiring his physical traits and now I wanted to throw this admiration out of the window. I turned around and reached for the door.

"I think you're putting that show to earn some cash. After all, you did everything for the same reason." He said in a sardonic manner, "Wait there, you scammer."

My nostrils flared. He was provoking me. I faced him with pursed lips. He put out a wallet from his trousers' pocket and threw cash on my face like before, "Take this and think of it as your tip."

I had enough of it. I squeezed my eyes shut for a moment, boiling with rage. He gave me a smirk before taking the cup of espresso from the table. His contemptuous smirk pulled the final trigger. He was purposely trying to test my patience. Good. Dude, you won this time!

I darted over and snatched the cup which was about to meet with his mouth. He became confused. Anger coursed through my veins so I just splashed the entire liquid on his shirt in one go.

Rude, arrogant beast.

His eyes widened before he let out a series of loud hisses and took a step back. He held the fabric from the front and shook it few times in an attempt to keep it away from his skin underneath. I leered at him. I knew the drink was cooled down a little, but it was still hot enough to make him feel the bitterness of his own words. Serves him right!

"You crazy woman." He snarled, puckering his lips in a way as if he was really in pain and not trying to scream. It was my turn now to smirk at him.

I bent down and collected all the cash that he threw on my face few seconds ago and stood upright again. I grabbed his hand and put all the money on his palm, "Take it as a comeback of your rudeness."

His eyes flew up in astonishment. I was enduring everything very nicely, but really I couldn't take those taunts in which they blamed me to be after their wealth. It was just too much and totally out of my tolerance level. Just what did he think of himself that he kept flinging charity on my face!

"I was just trying to be nice to you, but you really don't deserve my coffee." I let out my suppressed anger. I put out some of the money from my sweatpants' pocket and gave it to him, "This is the money you gave me that night. I don't take charity. I only accept what I think I deserve."

I didn't spend the money which he gave to me scornfully that night. I thought I would return it to him at the right time.

"You'll have-"

"Just because you have an obsession for money that doesn't mean everyone else feels the same way." I didn't let him talk, "Stop being so judgmental because it shows how immature you're."

I didn't know if I would be able to find that kind of audacity in me again to show him that I had a heart too. But, it really angered me that he was ignoring all my efforts to seek his forgiveness, instead insulting me whenever he got a chance.

He was silent once again and just giving me a surprised look with parted lips. He closed his mouth and hid his surprise expression and glowered at me.

I took the tray and began scurrying out of the room. I won't let him eat my cookies. He didn't deserve it.

"Sanaya, stop. Where are you going? I won't leave you for this, you fraud." Ashar shouted behind my back.

I didn't respond and closed his study's door behind. I put the tray back in the kitchen, then trotted back to my room and stayed there for the rest of the day.

💙

Next morning, after preparing breakfast for the family, I was laying on bed thinking about my yesterday's encounter with Ashar. It was my first time showing my anger to him. My reaction definitely surprised him. But he should think before speaking. His words were hurtful and unforgiving. In future, if he would do anything like yesterday, I was not going to swallow it without returning the contempt to him.

"Look at those pictures." Melanie came to me and brought her phone in front of my face. My eyes widened when I looked at her phone screen. It was a picture of the wedding day when I was standing outside the Church with Samara's father. I froze for few seconds as she continued showing all other pictures and most of them were mine.

"Don't they look good together? I really wonder why Samara hid her face." She asked to herself. My mouth went dry as again whole wedding event spiraled through my brain. That day was the most unfortunate day of my life.

Thankfully, my face was not visible in any of the images Melanie showed that means no one could recognize me. Samara's veil idea really worked successfully. I sat up on my bed. Melanie moved her mobile phone from my face to herself.

She slapped her forehead, "Oh! I've also one more thing to show you. Did you check today's newspapers?"

"No, why?" I got puzzled up.

"Look." She passed the newspaper to me, "It's about Ashar and Samara."

I instantly took it from her and looked for their news, "They fought last night after the engagement party of the son of that investor who came to the house few days ago." She summarized the news story.

The news about them was published on the second page with their pictures. It said;

The newly married couple who just got their fairy-tale happy ending was seen to be arguing defiantly over something. Ashar Hobsons and Samara Hobsons left the engagement party of the Wellington's elder son early. People believed that they left the party, but it's not true. They were actually standing outside the Wellington Mansion and quarrelling over something.

Ashar Hobson's shouted at his wife, "Stop being so dramatic and don't bother me. You're getting on my nerve, Samara." His wife was crying the whole time and asking for his forgiveness, but Ashar seemed like he was not ready for that.

Samara Elizabeth who is called to be the 'Princess' by the entire country's media was looking so innocent while shedding tears. On the contrary, Ashar looked angry and frustrated. The princess caught her husband's hand and cried, "Please Ashar, forgive me. You don't know how sorry I am for my mistake."

Ashar jerk his hand away from her and yelled, "Cut the crap and leave me alone." After that, he walked towards his car and his wife followed him. Although the reason behind their quarrel is still unknown, but the issue seems pretty severe.

Since two years, the couple's romance and cuteness have been a focus of tabloids. But, it is quite shocking that the same love birds caught fighting so tempestuously with each other.

Usually, people say that love vanishes after marriage. Are Samara and Ashar also going through the same phase?

What a dramatic way of writing news. I thought. It was giving the impression that Ashar and Samara was on the verge of separation. Too much exaggeration!

"I'm feeling sad for them. They looked so perfect, so good together." Melanie commented.

I threw the newspaper aside frustratingly, "They're just exaggerating."

"No, Sanaya." She sat in front of me, "I think the problem is quite severe this time. It is the first time newspaper has published such kind of news. Otherwise, the news media was always full of admirations for the couple."

I held my temples, feeling stressed out. Why they were arguing at a public place? If they wanted to fight then they should have at least waited to come back home. If the truth would come out, I had to bear the outcome with them. They were being so careless.

"I don't want them to split up." She added.

If things would remain the same, then I had a feeling that Melanie would find out the truth soon. She seemed so interested in Ashar and Samara's relationship. I let out a slow scream in vexation, making Melanie worried.

When this would all end?