NICKLAUS THE MASTER
Chapter 16
Written by: Racheal Dennis
Anastasia’s pov ?
?ding! ding! ding!?
My alarm rings, I reach out and turns it off…just then my phone starts ringing.
Not wasting time or wanting to get up, I sleepily end the call. And tries to drift off to sleep again, but whoever that’s calling doesn’t want me to sleep.
The phone starts ringing again, I grumpily sits up and reach for my phone… I answer it without checking the caller’s ID.
“What?!” I snap at the caller.
I hear a chuckle.
“Well, good morning to you too!”
“J-jack?” I whisper.
Then it clicked on my head whose name I just called… Jack!!
I quickly shake off the remaining sleep from my eyes, and dress my hair as if he can actually see me.
“Tasia, I’m sorry for leaving last night…”
“It’s fine, it’s fine!” I didn’t let him finish his words.
I lean back and rests my back against my headboard, I start picking my nails even though are clean.
Hearing my crush’s voice early in the morning, is a dream come true… you know, I always look forward to hearing his voice every morning.
But Klaus….
His raspy voice is more alluring, it seems to make me lost everytime he spoke.
I could listen to it all day, his voice sounds so musical and I swear it can lure a baby to sleep.
Wait.. why am I comparing their voices? Why did he suddenly comes into my mind?
What am I thinking?!
“…. TASIA!” Jack’s voice pulls me out of my daze.
Because I was busy thinking about Klaus’ voice, I kinda forgot I was still talking to Jack on the phone.
I clear my throat.
“Why did you space out on me? What were you thinking about just now?” Jack asked.
I shake my head but remembers he doesn’t sees me.
“Nothing, sorry.. what were you saying?” I asked.
“Er.. I was asking if you could..em.. come with me to the beach today?”
“Beach? What about our coffee shop? Aren’t we opening it today?”
“I already talked to Tilda about it.. she’ll open the shop today… ”
I wait for him to continue because I know he’s not done talking yet.
“… so are you coming with me?”
Beach… I love going to beaches but…
“Please don’t say no, I have something very important to tell you!”
Something very important?
A smile slowly crept on my face, different sceneries flashes through my mind in a minute.
Could it be he wanna tell me he loves me?
Is he feeling the same way I feel and he’s ready to tell me?
“.. Tasia, please stop spacing on me!”
“Sorry, sorry!”
He hums and clears his throat.
“So.. are you coming with me?”
“Yes!” I said quickly.. almost too quickly.
Maybe I showed too much joy, because I hear Jack chuckles lightly.
“Ok, I’ll pick you up later!”
“Later? What time are….”
And he hangs up, I wanted ask what time exactly he’s gonna come pick me up.. because I’ll be heading over to Klaus’.
He wasn’t looking good when I left his place last night, I don’t know how spent his night.
Why am I thinking about him?
I groan, I’m not going over to check on him.. I’m just going there because of Denzel’s bills.
“Tasia, are you dead or alive?!” Matilda asked from outside my door.
I roll my eyes, she sure has a funny way of waking people up.
“Alive!” I reply her.
“Good! Then I believe you still wanna learn how to cook!”
Cook? Cook! My eyes meets the wall clock, it’s already 6:40am.
“Sht!” I exclaims and jumps off my bed.
I had set my alarm to wake up by 5am, but I remember I keep turning it off.
“Do you still wanna learn or not?” She asked impatiently.
I snap my door open and steps out.
“I wanna learn!”
********
Few hours later…
With the food packed in a lunchbox, I boldly steps into Klaus’ porch.
Feeling confident, I reach out and press the doorbell.. my hand covered in scalds.
My mind flashes back to earlier this morning when I was trying to prepare this meal.
flashback
“TASIA, you have to take it easy, you’re scalding yourself!” Matilda scolds me.
I ignored her and continue with what I was doing. Poured in a little oil on the pan and turns to Matilda.
This is the 12th time I’m pouring a fresh oil on the pan…I believe Matilda must have gotten fed up by now.
“What should I put next?” I asked her.
She glares at the scalds on my hands and folds her arms on her chest.
“Nothing!”
“Nothing?”
She sighs.
“Nothing, let the fire heat it first before you add your onions!” She said.
“Oh!” I nod.
I lean on the counter, waiting for the oil to get hot.
“I don’t get it, why are you stressing yourself.. just to make a perfect meal for him?”
“I’m not stressing myself for him, I just wanna learn how to cook”
She scoffs.
“The Tasia I know, wouldn’t wanna just learn how to cook!” She said.
end_of_flashback
She’s right, I didn’t imagine or even think I’ll ever be in the kitchen someday… Learning how to cook.
I don’t know why I really stressed myself.. I went all out to make sure I make him a nice meal.
Maybe it’s because I know last time was an embarrassment, I just wanna redeem my reputation!
Yes! That’s it!
I took a deep breath and raise my hand to ring the doorbell again.. when Graham opens it.
He smiles politely at me.
“Miss Lopez, you’re here!”
“Good morning, Graham.. is your boss in?” I asked.
“Yes, please, do come in!” He said and make way for me to step in.
I saw Klaus standing with an unfamiliar man standing next to him.
“You?!” The man suddenly exclaims.
I’m surprised, I looked behind me to see if someone is standing there.. but there’s no one.
“Me?!” I asked.
He nods quickly.
“Yes, you don’t recall my face?” he asked me.
I take another look at him, his face does look familiar but I don’t seem to recall where I saw him.
“I’m the lawyer that met you at that cafe the other day!” He said.
A lawyer?! When did I meet a lawyer?! I shake my head, it doesn’t ring any bell.
He notice I still don’t recognize him, he clears his throat and speak.
“No matter what you’re going through, you shouldn’t think of committing $uicide…”
Hmm.. this words sound familiar, someone have said this same words to me before.
“… do you remember? I told you these words at the cafe and I also gave you my card!” He said.
That’s when it clicked, so he was that man? I didn’t even know he’s a lawyer.. well, that’s because I haven’t read his card up till now.
“Yeah, I remember!” A smile appear on my face.
“Right.. I can see you didn’t commit $uicide after all” he joke.
I laughed.
“I wasn’t thinking of commiting $uicide, I was just frustrated!”
He gives me the “I don’t believe you” look and I shake my head.
“A lot of people say that before they commit $uicide!” He said.
I laughed again, just then, I heard Klaus clearing his throat loudly and I turned to him.
He’s got a deep frown on his forehead.. as if he’s feeling angry about something, his glaring eyes stares at me.
Making me squirm in my spot, maybe I came at the wrong time.. I guess this guy is Klaus’ important guest and I just barged in uninvited.
Maybe that’s why he’s getting angry, I sighed.
“Klaus, I didn’t know you have a visitor.. I wouldn’t have barged in like this!” I said.
He walks closer to me and encircle his arms around my waist, pulling flushed against him.
“What are you doing?!” I whisper-yell at him.
I tries to move away from him but his grip tightens and he leans down to my ear and whisper.
“If you still want me to pay your brother’s bill, then play along!” I stilled.
Denzel’s medical bills, that’s why I came here in the first place, I can’t do anything to screw it up.
I rest my head on Klaus’ chest and plaster a fake smile on my face.. a very wide, fake smile.
“Marcus, meet MY girlfriend, Anastasia Lopez!” He said… emphasizing on the word ‘My’.
I roll my eyes, he’s acting like a possessive and jealous boyfriend right now.
But it sounds so natural, as if I’m really his girlfriend.
His friend looks at Klaus closely and almost break into a smile but quickly holds himself.
His friend reaches his hand forward.
“Hi, Marcus Aurelius!”
“Anastasia Lopez!” I replied.
I reached my hand out to shake him, but Klaus snatches it back and shakes Marcus’s hand instead.
He holds Marcus’s hand tightly, that I thought I heard a crack.. what is wrong with him?
He finally lets go of Marcus’s hand, Marcus massages his fingers while he glaring at Klaus.
Then he turns to me with a smile.
“So, Anna, what brings you here this morning?” he asked.
“Oh! I brought Klaus his breakfast!” I said raising the lunchbox I’m holding.
I look up at Klaus, I notice he’s glaring at the lunchbox as if it’s carrying poison.
“Come on, I’ll set the table!” I said.
He shakes his head.
“Anastasia, I’m late for work, how about I eat this after work?” He suggests.
I pout my lips and whimpers, I stare at him with my big puppy eyes.. quivering my lips slightly.
“You don’t wanna taste my food after all the effort I put in!”
He stares at me, I know he’s thinking wether to ear or not right now.
“Fine, I get it. Last time, my food wasn’t great at all.. but I have improved my skills!”
He doesn’t say a word, he’s just staring at me.
Marcus clears his throat and steps closer to us, he throws an arm around Klaus’ shoulder.
“Nicky, don’t let your girlfriend’s effort go to waste!”
I roll my eyes at Marcus’s statement, I’m not his girlfriend..I’m just his contract girlfriend!
Klaus elbows his stomach and glares at him.
“Shut up! What do you know!”
I don’t blame Klaus for being hesitant, the last meal I cooked for him gave him a very bad impression.
“Anastasia….”
“Just have a bite, if it’s bad don’t eat it.. just a bite?”
He sighs and nods, I smile and take his hand.. I pull him towards the dinning table.
He sits down while I quickly set the table, Marcus also sits down.
“Marc, I didn’t know you’d be here, so I didn’t….”
“It’s fine, Anna, let Nicky enjoy his breakfast” he replies.
I nod, I hand Klaus a spoon and sit on the chair next to his, dropping my bag on the next chair.
He takes a spoonful of rice and stares at it hesitantly, while I stare at him anxiously.
“Eat!” I urge him.
He sighs and takes it to his mouth, he chews slowly with his eyes tightly shut.
Then his eyes suddenly snaps open and he takes another spoon.. then another.. then another..
I smile…but my smile falters when I remembered, that’s how he also ate that concoction last night as if it’s sweet.
“Klaus.. how does it taste?” I asked.
“Sweet.. very sweet.. delicious!” He said still eating.
“Really?” I ask.
He nods.
“Anna, wait, let me confirm it for you!” Marcus said.
He takes another spoon and serve a spoonful of rice, he eats it and turns to me with an amazed expression.
He gives me a thumbs up.
“Anna, this is great! Very delicious!” He said.
“Thank you” I said with a blush.
Marcus wanted to continue eating but Klaus slaps his hand away…. and glares at him.
“What?!” Marcus asked.
“This is Mine!” Klaus growls at him.
I laugh, Klaus is just too possessive at everything.
“Don’t worry, Marc, I’ll cook for you some other time!”
“No, you’re not!” Klaus affirms.
I eyes him before turning back to Marcus with a smile..I mouths him I’ll cook for him and he nods.
Marcus looks at me and frown.
“Anna you’re beautifully dressed, did you specifically dress up for Klaus?” He asked.
I scoff, dress up for Klaus? Never!
“I’m meeting up with a friend at the beach later!” I said.
“Beach? But you aren’t dressed as if you’re going to the beach” he said.
“I can’t walk around in my bikini, I have it on my bag!”
He nods.. Klaus look like he’s not paying attention to us, he’s deeply focused on his food.
“So…who are you going with? Your girlfriends?” Marcus asked.
I shake my head.
“I’m going with my boyfriend, Jack!”
Klaus bangs his spoon on the table just as I said those words..and I finches back on my chair.
“Er.. Anna, is he your boyfriend..em.. ro.mantically?” Marcus ask… glancing at Klaus.
I blush at his question.
“N-no…but I kinda wish he is!” I whisper the last part.
Klaus gets up angrily, with his fist tightly balled.
“You’re not going!” He said to me.
“Why? Jack and I already have plans!”
He turns away from me and faces Marcus.
“Leave, Marcus, I wanna speak with my girlfriend!”
Marcus didn’t argue, he simply gets up and rushes out.
“Why can’t I go to the beach?” I asked.
“I’m sick and you’re gonna stay here and nurse me back to health!”
He’s sick? I frown.
“But you look fine to me!”
“I look fine but I’m sick…your concoction made me sick, so I’m still recovering!”
Yeah, my concoction made him sick last night, but he’s fine now.
He just wants to ruin my chance with Jack, but that’s not gonna happen..I won’t let it happen.
I snatch my bag off the chair and turn to leave..he catches my hand.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to Jack!”
He smirks.
“Are you forgetting something? You’re my girlfriend!”
I scoff and snatches my hand away from him.
“I’m your contract girlfriend.. contract girlfriends don’t care about their contract boyfriend’s health!”
“One, we had an agreement that you’ll do what girlfriends do to their boyfriends with me….”
My big eyes starts shrinking.
“..two, you’re my worker and it’s your duty to see that I’m healthy..else I won’t be able to pay your brother’s medical bills!”
Ok..that got me. Denzel matters most…but Jack is finally gonna tell me about his feelings.
I bite my lower lip, what should I do now?
Just then my phone starts ringing, I reach for it and see Jack’s name flashing on the screen.
I smile brightly and quickly receives the call.
“Hello, Jack!”
“Hey, Tasia, I’m waiting outside your apartment, are you…….”
My phone was suddenly snatched from me, I raised my head and sees Klaus glaring at the screen.
He hangs up and throws it carelessly on the table.
“You’re not allowed to speak his name before me… don’t speak about other men before me!” He said.
“You…..”
“I’m having stomachache, tell Jerry to make some soup and bring it up to my room!”
With that he marches towards the stairs grumpily.
He was doing just fine before Marcus and I started talking about me going to the beach….
Why is he acting like an over-possessive, overbearing and jealous boyfriend now?
I’m totally bewildered by his sudden change of mood… what a bipolar dkhead he is!
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