"What do you expect. For her to proclaim her undying love of you?" His subconscious mocked him and this made him frown the more forcing himself back to work.
"You two don't get along?"
"Nothing serious. It's just boss and employee thing" she quickly said.
"Let me give you a gist" she whispered like no one would hear. "The first time I saw you two together, I thought you were his fiancée. I said you two couple looks cute. It was my husband that told me that you are not his wife but the new vice president of D-foundation" she said with a serious look.
Melissa smiled at the picture displayed on the screen. She could remember vividly how Mayfield was on their neck saying they must take picture together. She and Drew didn't know that the picture will come out so beautiful because the smile they had on was nothing but fake.
"We took this picture at the company's thanksgiving" she said smiling at her fake smile.
"You two look newly wed. I'm been sincere here".
Melissa widen her look. "Amanda please pity my poor head. I don't want his woman to come deal with me next morning. I don't even think of him that way. I'm hiding my poor head" she said smiling at frowning Amanda.
"Are you scared?" She said with a thick voice.
"Not scared. Terrified" she feign fear.
"What!" She laughed.
"If you know the battalions of women that are on the queue for him, you will not say what you just said because you will be scared for me".
"Look at how serious she is as if she is saying the truth" she mocked.
"You think I'm lying? Be his girl for a week, I'm so sure if you come out alive, it will be with one leg, one hand or one eye. Then you will understand my fear" she overemphasized.
"Stop Melly, you are cracking me up" she laughed heartily.
"You take my words for joke? Go experiment".
"Viewers..." She laughed. "Oh this is really funny" she laughed again. "We can go on and on with Miss Melissa O'Dell but our time is winking at us. So Melly so give a word of advice to people in the house who are likely going through what you went through".
"Be good, stay strong. Put your hope on God and He will sort you out" she said with a smile.
"Yes don't give up. Help is coming" Amanda added. "Thanks Melissa we learn a lot from you and also catch lot of fun" she smiled professionally at her.
"You're welcome".
"We are bringing this show to a close and once again this is Miss Melissa O'Dell form D-foundation. Can you please say bye to our lovely viewers".
"It's nice talking to you all and Amanda it's really a joy to join your show. Byeee" she waved happily.
"Oh Melly is going but I don't want her to. I know likewise you too. I'm gonna cry" she said feigning sobs and dabbing her eyes with handkerchief.
"Amanda don't cry" Melissa patted her. "So that your husband won't think I'm trying to take you away from him".
Amanda burst into laughter. "I love this lady" she said still laughing. "Thank you so much for your audience. We really do appreciate. We will sure have you back" she said to Melissa who bowed. "Thanks to all my viewers for watching this episode and if you want to review, you can visit any of our social media platform displayed on your screen. You all do know I love you so see you next week, same day, same hour and same station. I remain your humble, Amanda Kenyon" she said then looked at Melissa. "Let's say a together bye"
Melissa nodded.
"CELEBRITY STAGE is saying byeeee!!!!!"
* * * * * * * * * *
Melissa's phone vibrated. She intentionally put it on vibration so as not to hear it ring because she was intending to go to work late. The phone kept vibrating that she had to pick it. She didn't even check the caller before she said hello with a sleepy voice.
"Melissa are you there?"
The voice she heard drove her sleep away. She looked quickly at the wall clock, it was still early morning 5:12am to be precise.
"Can you hear me my dear?"
"Yes sir I can" she bowed as if she could see him.
It was very rare for Mayfield to call her, talk more of calling at this hour of the day. His voice wasn't raising any alarm but she was not still balanced.
"I'm sorry to disturb you" he apologized.
"No problem sir" she said and cleared her sleepy voice.
She kept wondering why the man called her this early morning.
"I need you to do something for me. Hope you don't mind?"
"No I don't sir" she replied not thinking twice if what he wanted to say was something she couldn't do.
"Won't it be too tasking if I ask you to cook me a meal this morning?"
Melissa got a shock. She looked for who to share the shock with but she saw none because she was alone in her room. Then she got no choice but to share it with the space in her room.
"A meal?" She repeated slowly, trying to confirm if she heard right.
"Yes a meal" he replied.
She was really disturbed because how can Mayfield ask her to cook with all the turns of professional chef that works for him, he decided to ask her to cook. Something definitely wasn't right.
Mayfield on the other hand was patiently waiting for her to recover. He didn't blame her for getting flabbergasted because he could understand that a normal person will surely react that way.
"No problem sir".
She knows that she doesn't have a choice than to accept no matter the reason behind his request. She also knew that it would be impolitic of her to ask him the reason he wanted a meal from her.
Even Mayfield wasn't ready to tell though he knew she was dying to know.
"What do you want me to prepare sir?"
"Since my request is out of the blue with a short notice, I wouldn't want you stressed" he pauses.
"Sir it doesn't matter just tell me what to cook" she said rapidly.
"Just cook me anything you have available" he said .
"Alright sir" she smiled even though the man wasn't seeing her. "Am I to bring it to your place when I'm done?"
"No don't bother. Just give me call when you are done, I'll send Brown to come pick it".
"OK sir".
"Thanks and I'm so sorry for the stress".
Not a stress sir" she bowed unconsciously again.
"Alright then bye" the line went off.
Melissa was overwhelmed at Mayfield's request. She wondered what prompt such errand. She gave many excuses for reason why his chefs were not available. But they were all filmsy excuses. She even thought it to the extent of Drew's involvement but she quickly shook the thought away knowing Drew will never agree to such thing.
She tried not to be negative. She quickly headed to get her sisters. To Somaria's first knowing she is easier to wake. She just hijacked poor Somaria from her bed without telling her anything, heading to Tyndall's room.
"Big sis, why wake me up this hour" she asked in a sleepy voice , gave a big yawn and tried to return to sleep.
Melissa pulled her up. "I heard something few minutes ago and I'm in so much shock.
"Heard something? Where?" Somaria whose eyes was a bit clearer asked in bewilder.
She seems confused because no one lives in the building except them.
Tyndall was still dozing while while Somaria sat on her bed looking at her sister with sleepy eyes.
"Mr Kmetko called me to cook him a meal" she said.
"Mr Kmetko?" Somaria asked like she never heard the name before.
"Yes Drew's dad".
At that, Tyndall who was trying to get back to sleep balanced into a sitting position while Somaria widen her eyes.