The Characters Interview

Elaine threw her phone to the couch after the call with her husband ended. She had a frown settled on her face as she stormed deeper into the house, her thoughts beginning to go overboard. What and why was the reason for the panic call? She was still trying to put her hands around Xavier’s reason for such call. He sounded so worried and absolute when he asked her not to leave the house.

Not like she planned to leave again for the day but it still was suspicious. She sighed. Was her husband perhaps out there again creating trouble for whoever was his target this time around? Being the wife of a hot-blooded and bloodthirsty mafia boss, it has been a usual routine for her husband to put her on her toes. He always knew how to make her worried as fuck.

Groaning, Elaine shook the thought of Xavier off her mind and she strode into the kitchen, her eyes scanning everywhere for what to make for dinner. Right! There she could make a ten-minute dinner for them. She hadn’t had anything to eat after breakfast and she was hungry as fuck.

She took out the rice cooker and poured a decent amount of rice into it before plugging it into the socket and leaving it to boil for a while. After it was well cooked, she took a bowl and pulled out all the spices and sauces on the island table.

“What was the first thing again? What do I put first?” She wondered, trying to ransack her brain for the first ingredient to add to the glass bowl. Finally, the image of the video she’d watched on the internet replayed in her head. “Soy sauce.”

She picked up the sauce and poured in a good amount before adding the rest of the ingredients. Rice vinegar, ketchup, sugar, minced garlic, and finally, water and cornstarch. She stirred them and pushed them aside. Once she was done, she took out a large pan, turned, and placed it on the stove. And then, she broke some eggs into them before pouring the mixed ingredients and then the rice.

“Smells just fresh.” Elaine shrugged, stirring the food together. She kept on stirring until the water dried up just in time for her to hear the front door opening. She slowly stepped out of the kitchen only to see Xavier storming to her.

“What is wrong?” Instead of the angry and grumpy expression that she expected him to carry, he had a wide smile on his face and he pulled her into his embrace when he got to her, his nose taking a sniff of her hair.

“God, I missed you.” He pulled away and looked her over from her head downward, a smile stretching on his lips. “What is with that smell? Did you cook?”

“I made dinner. It’s something quite new. Saw it online and decided to try it.”

“Not bad.”

He intended to brush past her and make his way into the kitchen but she had other plans. She stepped in front of him and stopped him right on his track. “I don’t get it. You called me, yelling and angry and then you asked me to make sure I didn’t step out of the house. Now you’re back and you can’t even explain? What’s with the smile like you didn’t almost give me a heart attack a while ago.” Her voice was harsh and sharp, laced with anger and a bit of disbelief.

“Babe.” Xavier combed his fingers through his hair. “Don’t do this, okay?”

“Don’t do what? I need an explanation.”

“Just let it die,” he snapped at her. “That was just a prank, okay? I was just trying to joke.”

“Prank?” She chuckled. He was so transparent to her and his words were obviously a lie.
“I didn’t realize that I married a clown.”

“What did you say?”

She raised her head to gaze at him, her eyes filled with defiance and that much authority that she knew only she had over him. “You heard me. You lie all the time and at the end, you say it is to protect me.”

“This time, just listen to me and let it be. I…” it was just then that his eyes fell on Anna’s dress, a frown immediately stretching on his forehead. She was wearing a different dress than she did in the video of George. A different hairstyle and different heels. He knew that it was also the dress that she wore when she got out of the house in the morning. “Did you by any time change your dress today?”

Elaine locked herself over. How would that contribute to the argument that they were having? “The fuck you mean?”

“Answer me.”

“I didn’t, Xavier. I didn’t. What the hell?”

Xavier clamped his eyes shut and placed his hands on his hip. The next time that he opened them, he gazed at her with soft eyes. And then he gently placed his hands on her shoulders and pulled her into his embrace. “We don’t have to fight over little things like this, okay? I’m sorry for making you worry.

*******

*Character Interview*

[A/N] We’ll be having a little character interview today to know the characters of this book better as we’ll be coming to an end soon. Please stay and read this light relief.

AUTHOR: *shifted uncomfortably in the chair and held the microphone tighter.* I’m thrilled to invite our main characters to this show, Elaine Romano and her other half, Xavier Romano. Thanks for honoring the invite.

ELAINE: (clutched her microphone and stared at the small crowd) Author, don’t you think it’s weird to invite us to such place for an interview? A cafe?
This is way below us. Right, hubby?

XAVIER: (Leaned against his chair.) I agree with whatever you say, babe.

AUTHOR: Well, y’all have to be chill about it. Don’t complain much, the fans are watching.

The couple immediately cast bright, charming smiles on everyone.

AUTHOR: Now, let's dive in. *Turned to Elaine*
What do you think about the fight you had with your husband last night?

ELAINE: I don’t know what you get peeking into my love life. If you’re waiting for us to fight again, it’s not going to work. I was just a bit pissed as always but I soon came around after he hugged and kissed me. *Blushes* It’s just like that for us.

AUTHOR: You seem to be so much in love. Mr Romano, you tell us, why do you keep hiding things from your wife?

Xavier weaved his hair backward with his fingers and crossed his legs together.

XAVIER: My wife seems too nosy. I’m trying to protect her from the dangers that will arise when she starts looking for ways to solve problems that shouldn’t involve her.

AUTHOR: I… kind of agree with this.

ELAINE: I see. Author and lead character are now ganging up against me. You tell me what husband hides things from his wife. (She glared at Xavier) If you hide anything else from me ever again, I’m serving you a divorce paper on a golden platter.

XAVIER: Fuck, babe. I’m sorry. *He averted his anger at the author.* She’s at fault for trying to ruin our relationship.

AUTHOR: I created you both.

XAVIER: Whatever. Finish this interview quickly. We have somewhere to be at a

AUTHOR: Somewhere or in your bedroom. I can’t believe that I have disloyal characters. Anyway, tell ‘em, Elaine, what is your greatest fear?

Elaine tapped on the table with her fingers as she tried to think of her greatest fear. Then it finally occurred to her.

ELAINE: You should know. You created me.

AUTHOR: Others want to know from you.

ELAINE: Fine. My greatest fear is… *gazed at her husband* losing the family that I built. My new family is everything to me, right now. I don’t ever want to lose them after everything that we’ve been through together. They’re my family for real.

AUTHOR: That is real if you. And you, Mr Romano, what is your greatest fear?

XAVIER: Losing my wife. I know it’s never going to happen because I’ll protect her with everything in me, trust me.

AUTHOR: We trust you. How about your greatest regret?

ELAINE: My greatest regret is letting my sister become who she is today. Ria. I never wanted her to become as she is today and so my greatest regret is not watching over her and not fighting her so hard when she began to act spoiled. Forgive me, everyone.

XAVIER: Ain’t your fault, baby. She decided to get spoiled on her own. You did all you could. *pulls her chair closer to his.* As for me, I have no regrets. Whatever I did in the past, I’ll do them again if given the chance.

AUTHOR: Who do you trust the most apart from your lovers?

ELAINE: Hmmm…. Perhaps, Beth. She’s been my friend and like a sister for years. I should trust her.

XAVIER: Rigel. He’s trustable.

AUTHOR: For information, I think he’ll make a good couple with Beth. What do you both think?

RIGEL: What the hell?

BETH: Ewww.

*****

A/N Lovely readers, please tell me what you think about this small relief. I’ll appreciate your words. Thank you for always reading. You’re the best.