CHAPTER 30

"What's all this? Can't you see the elders are talking!?" Mr. Smith asked in an orotund voice.
       Max's reply was a curt nod. His mum shot him an appalling look. "I can. That's why I'm taking Hannah away." he regained his pose and held my hand. "And," he continued, just before Mrs. Patricia could say a word. "Liam's asking for her. You know how irritated he gets when people don't respond to him?"
       Liam? How could I omit the scolding awaiting me upstairs? I cried. "Sure. Let's go to my darling husband." There was no sign of sentiment or readiness in my voice but there was indeed gratitude. "Did you speak to Liam? What did he say about the food?" I asked on our upstairs.
       "How could I speak to him when I was in the kitchen? It's all thanks to Nanny Mai. She witnessed everything that happened downstairs and then drew my attention. Why would you try to pick a fight with Aunt Patricia of all people?"
       I didn't try. "And it wasn't a fight. It was an argument. It wasn't my fault though. She initiated it."
       "She's always starting it," Nanny Mai said, "But it's up to you to shun her like Mrs. Smith."
       When we got to the end of the stairs, they stopped, pointed at my bedroom door, and smiled reassuringly. Max gave me a thumbs-up while Nanny Mai patted my shoulder. They acted like they were sending a little child into an exam Hall to write a strenuous paper. All attempts to try and get a food review failed as she remained defiant.
       I grumbled then tiptoed to the door. I can do this. I've been scolded multiple times by him so this isn't something new. It's just one scolding. How hard could it be? I assured myself. There was no better encourager than oneself.
       "Just go in already. Everyone downstairs is watching." Max whispered. "If you keep acting that way, they would think Liam treats you badly. All the best!"
       "Thanks?" Was my food so bad that she couldn't even give me a review? But I made it like I was told to. I contemplated while opening the door. When I got in, Liam was nowhere to be seen. A tremendous grin spread across my soul as my skin tingled and my eyes twinkled. But if he isn't here and didn't come downstairs, did he go to Diana's room again? I hesitated. "He's unbelievable. Just 10 minutes and he went to another lady's room. The least he could have done is pretend to wait. I am so infuriated right now!"
       "Who are you talking to?"
       "Holy crap!" I jumped backward while my arms moved up in a defensive gesture. "When did you get here?"
       "Shouldn't that be my question?" he wiped his hands with the serviette on the table. "Where have you been? Don't even think about lying to me. When I called the first time I could see your shadow."
       Damn this shadow thing. What do I say now? "Well,"
       "Mum didn't call for you, I called Nanny Mai to find out about your whereabouts but she had no idea."
       Is he for real? Those ain't my lines. I don't use those people are excuses. Or do I? I thought. "I went downstairs to greet your people."
       "My people?" He took the jacket from me, shook his head, and dropped it. "I'll look like a vegetable or someone's puke if I wear this." Opening the wardrobe behind him, he pulled out a blue hoodie and said, "You mean the same people who despise you?"
       "You know that?"
       "That's why I came upstairs."
       "You felt offended?" I turned red and twisted my arms around.
       "Not even a little bit. I don't just like people who gossip. Why gossip so loud?"
       "Right?" I thought I was the only one who had a problem with that but finally, my husband and I shared the same view. "Oh my!' My eyes broadened. It felt as if I was on cloud nine. My soul danced to imaginary music.
       "What. You're acting weird again."
       "Can't you see? We are having a peaceful conversation. Nobody is yelling or trying to force their opinion on the other. Is this because of the food?"
       "Oh right. The food."
       What have I done? I shouldn't have mentioned the food to him. I nibbled on my lower lip. He scrunched up his face as my heart raced. Should I just change the topic? Why did I bring it up in the first place? I studied his expression but still couldn't tell what was going through his mind.
       "Who prepared the food?" He brushed his hair. "You ordered it?"
       That question. Does it mean the food was appetizing or could he be giving me a chance to come clean before yelling?  What if I said I ordered it and he asked for their number? Honestly is the way. He wouldn't kill me after all. I straightened up and replied confidently, "I did. I cooked it. I spent almost thirty minutes trying to make a perfect meal for you. If you're going to criticize the food then go ahead. I'll take your criticism as an act of love and work harder to make a better meal."
       "Act of love. Nanny Mai didn't assist you?"
       Nanny Mai? Was I a bad cook that he found it hard to believe? I scoffed. I'm pretty sure if he had his way he would ask me to make it again in his presence. "She didn't!" I replied exhaustedly. "Nanny Mai and Max helped me with the ingredients and the preparations while I did the cooking myself. You can ask them."
       "It was amazing. Very tasty." he sat on the bed and picked up one of the files he walked in with earlier. "And crunchy. You did a tremendous job, Hannah."
       I did a tremendous job. Oh my! Why is my abdomen feeling this way? I feel like my belly is about to detach from my body. Even if I died at that moment, I knew I wouldn't regret it. He hadn't confessed his feelings yet but that was enough to set my world on fire. "Thanks. That means so much."
       "Yeah. You can leave, I have to rest."
       "Hey, you were about to go out, right?" I arranged the pillows properly, pulling out my night robe I had left on the bed.
       Liam nodded. "What did you put in the food? I feel very tired. To be honest, I wasn't going to the office but to order fish tacos at a friend's restaurant."
       After he lay down, I sat beside him and said, "I didn't put anything in the food. I made it with a lot of love."
       "That's precisely why I feel this way. Your love must be so vigorous that it's making me want to pass out. What a love." he replied sarcastically. 
       Max learned it from you. I tucked my hair behind my ears and bent forward. "Since I did such an incredible job, what would you give me?"
       "Did you do it for a reward?"
       "As if. But it sounds like a good opportunity to request something." I looked over at the clock then returned my gaze at Liam. That was the best fifteen minutes of my life. If I had a way then I would wish our discussion wouldn't end. "Just one thing. I promise it's not something you can't do."
       "I'm the one granting the request. How could you possibly know if it's something I can't do?" he yawned tiredly, revealing the way down to his throat. "Plus, you didn't make the food alone. If Nanny Mai and Max hadn't given you the recipe, you wouldn't have made it."
       Fair. But I did the bigger work. Some people got food recipes and still made an excruciating meal. "I still did the cooking. Neither of them was willing to help me because they feared you would find out. Do you know how much smoke I had to inhale because of you?"
       "What a love." He chuckled.
       Is he making fun of my love? Crazy humor he has. Gulping down the water in the glass cup close to the lampstand, I breathed out and said, "Just hear me out first then you'll decide on what to do."
       Just then he raised his head as if he remembered something and then scrutinized me before asking, "How did you know I love fish tacos? Max must have told you."
       "He didn't. I figured that out myself." Feeling proud of myself I continued, "It wasn't that difficult. I love you so much that I give so much attention to the things you like." That sounded much cooler in my head. Saying it out made me realize how cheesy those lines were.
       "You figured that out yourself?" he echoed in disbelief.
       "Honestly, it wasn't that big a deal."
       "Good girl."
       Someone call the ambulance. I think there might be a casualty soon. I gazed around, smiling foolishly. My body danced to the songs of heaven. Even the smile of a little child after opening a birthday present wasn't strong enough to defeat the expression on my face. Good girl. He just called me 'Good girl.' I shifted closer. If I had no self-control, God knows what exactly would have occurred between us in the next two hours. "So would you give me what I want?"
       "Let's hear it first. I'll decide after that."
       "Give me a job at New Generation Restaurant."
       The corner of his mouth turned up. "You already work in one of my companies, Hannah."
       "But you're hardly ever there." I pouted.
       "Let me see if I understand you. You want a job at New Generation Restaurant not because you have a passion for cooking but because you want to spend time with me?" he replied in a monotonous voice.
       That couldn't be more true. Wow. I wasn't aware I put a lot of love into this food. He's not even mad at all. My love must be stronger than I visualized. I reasoned. "That's not it." My voice grew louder when he got down from the bed. "I gathered while cooking the fish tacos that there was a hidden potential in me. I may have come from a lineage of chefs. I'm not going there for you. Please just give me an opportunity. Diana works there."
       "She works there. She doesn't go there every morning just to stare at my face and remind the world of how much she loves me."
       I bet she does but you don't know. She's a very sneaky woman. The truth about her would be disclosed someday, let's see if that respect still stands. "Just one chance."
       "Hannah."
       "Don't call me, Hannah." I folded my arms in protest. "I don't like it."
       "Sure, Mrs. Liam Smith." he flipped through the papers in his hands. I could hear him mumbling and calling out some names. When he detected I hadn't said a word back, he looked up at me and then asked, "Fine. What do you want me to call you?
       A blank check indeed. I grinned maniacally, rubbing my palms together like the villains in movies. "Baby?"
       "You're not a juvenile."
       How rude. I sighed then thought again, "Sweetheart?"
       "There's nothing sweet about the human heart." He brought out his phone and took a picture of a page in the document. "If anything the human heart can be deluding."
       He's annoying. These are romantic names people call their spouses and he's vetoing. "Honey?"
       "Nay. I detest bees. It would just be a constant reminder of my animosity."
       I poured myself some more water from the jug and then drank it down in an instant. He was willing to counter everything I said. I finally figured out why he didn't refuse my request. "My love."
       He jerked as if someone poured something on him. "That just gave me anxiety. I'm going downstairs. Thanks for ruining my sleep."
He is inconceivable. After he had left the room, I arranged the bed, placed the pillows in the rightful places then took hold of the brush and swept the room thoroughly. I need to think of a way to make him come to terms with my request. I pondered. It went beyond just looking at his face. I needed to work at New Generation to keep an eye on everyone. Something about my argument with Patricia made me think maybe Rosie wasn't guilty. Could someone have paid her to do that to Mr. Smith and his family? I packed the trash and threw it in the trash can. "He didn't even leave a bite for me. I'm starving. I wonder if Nanny Mai left some for me in the kitchen?" I'll go check. I carried the tray and hurried out of the room excitedly, humming to a song I came up with in my head. That was one of the best days of my life. It would be an overstatement to call it the best. I've had other good days like when I came first in a competition in school and when my biological dad visited me during school camp out. Neither of them could be compared to this but they were once the best days of my life. oh