###Chapter 11

CHAPTER 11


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Anthonia was in Blossom's room, sitting on the floor while reading a book about the history of Greece.

It has been over an hour that Henry broke the news to Joyce about her being fired. The look on her face was priceless and it amused Anthonia making her grin widely then bursted into laughter.

**Flashback**

Shortly after Harry left, Henry came back down to get water when he saw Joyce in the kitchen.

She looked up from what she was doing, giving him a big wide smile that went up to her ears.

He looked at her blankly before taking the water from the water and ice dispenser.

" Good morning. "

He hummed softly, drinking the water and dropping the glass back. " Morning. What're you doing?"

" Making your breakfast. " She replied.

" Breakfast? Why? Breakfast is only supposed to be made by 6:30am and served 7:00am and besides I've eaten breakfast. ‘‘Why are you the one making my breakfast''?" He asked, putting air quotes in his sentence.

She gulped down, nervously. " I just thought you will be hungry so I decided to do it. "

" But you can't just decide to do something without my permission in this house. "

" Right, I know that now. I just thought that you'll be hungry because you know. . .you just ate little earlier. "

He twitched his lips before darting out his tongue to wet his lips. " Okay, listen. You don't have the rights to decide anything for me, I just hired you because of the kids lunches not mine. Whether or not I ate well enough doesn't concern you. "

She bowed her head down. " I'm sorry, it won't happen again. "

" Yeah. Yeah, it won't because you're fired. "

Her head snapped up, looking at him shockingly. She saw Anthonia beside a wall, smirking at her and mouthing 'I fulfilled your wish'.

" Your services aren't needed anymore. You can park your things and leave. I give you only three hours. I will send your month's salary in advance even if you haven't worked here for up to a month. Have a nice life. " He added and turned to leave.

He stopped on his track when he saw Anthonia smiling. He looked at her questioning but she just smiled the more.

He faced backwards and Joyce was walking out of the kitchen. He walked towards Anthonia, stopping right in front of her just three steps away.

" Why are you smiling?" He asks.

She looked up at him, biting her bottom lip, innocently. " Why am I smiling? Hmm, am I smiling?"

" Yes, you are. So, why are you smiling?" He asked again.

" Nothing. " She replies, shrugging her shoulders.

" Really?" He confirms. " You are just smiling for no just reason? Or, are you sure it doesn't concern the person I just fired?"

She broke into fits of laughter. " You didn't see her face. She looked like you ripped out her heart from her chest, it was so funny. " She replies, amidst her laughter.

" Didn't know you weren't nice?" He teases, smilingly.

" Oh, really? You didn't? But you clearly hatéd me when I arrived here ten days ago. "

His smile fell. " I didn't haté you, I just. . . I was just mad, upset, broken, frustrated that my wife just díed. "

Anthonia hummed softly. " Hmm, I don't think so. You hatéd me. "

" Okay, you are right. Maybe I did. " He admits. They laughed. " Why did you come downstairs?"

" Can't I? Am I not alone to move about? Am I a prísoner? Are you holding me captive?"

" No, I'm not. I was just asking. "

" And I was just kidding. Are you okay?"

Three emotions showed on his face; taken aback, confused, thinking. He looked back, searching for another person in the area they were, maybe she is talking to that person and not him but he didn't see anyone so he knew it was him the question was directed to.

" Good?" He says, unsure of what actually to answer.

" You don't seem good, are you sure you're fine?" She asks again, stepping forward to him and placing the back of her hand on his forehead.

" Yes, I'm good. "

" You sure?" She press on.

" Yeah. Why are you asking?"

" Umh, nothing. Just slightly shocked on how you behaved and still are behaving. It is amusing that you haven't snapped at me today. "

He grinned, brightly revealing his white set of dentals. " Oh, really?"

She nodded. " I thought something was wrong. "

" What did you think was wrong?" He asks.

" I thought you were dyíng because you acted so nicely this morning and earlier. Firstly; you watched the sunrise with me then secondly; you scattered my hair all over my face then arranged it back then we shared that intense eye contact. " She explains.

" And you thought I was dyíng?"

" Yes. Because maybe you want to go to heaven so you want to act nice during your final days. "

He bursted into laughter making Anthonia scrunched up her face. Her reaction made him to laugh more.

" You see why I say you're weird. " She says.

He bit his bottom lip to subdue the laughter, it worked, barely. " Anthonia, I'm not dying. I'm perfectly fine. "

" Okay. "

" What do you need?" He asked.

She scratches her hair, looking around. " I've forgotten. "

She looked at Henry as if she was excepting him to make a snappy remark but he doesn't.

" I was so just happy about the Joyce's thing that I forgot. " She adds, playing with the necklace around her neck.

It is a star necklace. It fits her perfectly, laying down right on her chest.

" Are you thirsty?" He asks, surprising her.

She patted his shoulder, gently. " I think you are getting to know me. I was. . Am so parched that I came down for a drink but I got sucked in in the Joyce's thing. " She says, using the scrunchie to tie up her hair.

" Drinks are in the second refrigerator, the deep one. " He says, pointing to the direction of the kitchen.

She looks over to his direction then back to him and frowns. " I know it is over there, I've stayed here for seven days. " .

He blinked his eyes, realizing it too. She is right, she has just stayed here for seven days. He didn't think he will ever like her that fast. From massive hatréd to the likeness to the little tingles of happiness when she is talking to him, whatever she says seems to make him laugh. Her sense of humor and troubleshooting are top notch.

" You zone out a lot, Denny. Daydreaming about something?" She asks, nudging him a little and then she walks to the kitchen.

' oh, yes. I was just daydreaming about you" he replied, internally. ' hmph, I wouldn't call it daydreaming "

" See, you zoned out again? Are you worried about something?" She practically yells but he could hear concern dripping from her questions.

He walked to the kitchen, hands tucked in his jean pockets. " No, actually, I'm worry-free. There's nothing to be worried about just thinking about something. "

" What if I may ask?"

" You may not. " He answers.

She shakes her head negatively. " I knew it. I just knew it won't last long. This friendly behavior. "

" You asked a question and I answered, how is that. . . Not friendly?" He asks, moving towards her.

She was in the front of the deep freezer, trying to decide which canned drink she should take. Henry appeared by her side and she unknowingly flinched at the closeness.

She has never been this close to a guy since highschool. . . Well, this morning but this one is different. She didn't expect him to jump to her.

" Which one do you want?" He asked not realizing what is going on. Looking up at Anthonia when he didn't get any reply, she was still there.

" You okay?" He asks and she nodded her head sharply earning a chuckle from Henry. " Which one do you want?" He asked again just in case she didn't hear him which is right.

" I don't know. Which should I take? I'm thirsty and my mouth is somewhat bitter, which one do you recommend?"

" Well, I'd recommend Minana, it is a foreign drink. It is incredibly sweet. "

" Can I have it?"

" No. It isn't here presently. The supplier will supply it with some other things tomorrow which is Saturday. "

" Why did you then tell me about it when you know it isn't here?! Don't you know that it isn't right?" She snapped.

" Sorry, just take 7up or Pepsi or Coke, take whatever. " He said

She took one 7up from the freezer, pouring into a glass and putting five cubes of ice in it.

" Why? It is already cold. " He said.

" Awwn, someone wants to have me as his daughter, impossible. And, by the way, you don't get to tell me how I take in whatever I want. " She replies, sneeringly.

" I am just saying. " He says, raising both of his hands in defeat.

" I love cold things, thanks. " She said and walked out of the kitchen. She turned back to him, making him stop on his tracks. " I noticed that the deep freezer doesn't have much drinks, is that how it is or. . .?" She asked not completely it expecting him to do so for her.

He gets the clue and does just that. " Yes, it is practically empty. The supplier will supply those drinks on Saturday, tomorrow just as I said earlier. " He answers.

" Right. Is the deep freezer going to be arranged? It is a mess in there. "

" I don't know. Emmanuella does the work around here. "

" What about the maids?"

" We had only the security man, the gardener and housekeeper but after her death, I hired more. "

" Okay but you haven't answered my question. " She said and sipped her drink.

" About what?" He asks.

" I'm talking about the deep freezer being arranged!" She snapped.

" Oh. " He muttered. " I don't think they can do it. Emmanuella has a special way of arranging it so no, the new drinks are just going to be put in there like that. "

" Hmm. " She hummed. " I could do it if you accept. "

He looked at her for a minute which seemed like an hour before finally saying anything. " You sure? I don't think you. . . " He wanted to decline but his brain and heart and mouth aren't in sync. " Okay, I'd like that, please do arrange it. "

She nodded. " Sure. What time would the supplier be here?"

" 8:00am. " He replies.

A loose strand of hair fell from her face tho it was tied up. Maybe because it was tied tightly.

" Alright. See you later. " She said and left before he could say anything.

" Okay, see you later. " He muttered even as she has entered the elevator and wasn't in sight anymore.

He waited for a minute or two before he entered the elevator.

End of flashback**

She smiled as she continued reading her book. " She got what she wanted. "

☆☆☆☆☆

England**

Richard Maxwell sat on his swivel chair behind insanély elongated expensive desk with a computer on his right while in his left, a laptop. By the leftmost part of the desk holds a cup holding so many pens.

His office is located on the top floor of the twenty-four storey building or should I say skyscraper.

Richard Maxwell is the first and last child of the Maxwell's. The Maxwell's are known worldwide for their work, they were a finance company. Third in rank of the Best Company Award celebrated annually.

A knock was heard on his door. He muttered an invite loud enough for the person to hear.

His secretary walked in with a cardboard cup of coffee. " Good morning sir. Here is your coffee. "

He chose to ignore her lateness and took the coffee from her, sipping it, he immediately spat it out, making his timid secretary shrink in fear.

He sprang up from his swivel chair and went to her, standing right before her and towering her. She shrinks further, bowing her head.

" First, you arrived late! Second, you gave me a bitter coffee! Are you màd?!" He yelled.

She shrieked in fear and negatively shook her head. " I'm so sorry, I think they got it missed up. "

" And I think I should fire you. "

She gasps, looking at him. " I'm sorry, please don't fire me. "

" You're fired. I've been condoning your irresponsibilities ever seen one year ago you arrived here but not again. I'm fed up of you and your lame excuses of being unreasonable and unlearnable human being. You're fired, out of my office. " He said and went back to his seat.

She wiped her tears and left his office.