Chapter 17

As Ashley separated the porridge she had poured all her hard work for into three separate bowls, she hummed a random tune. She put the pot down and sprinkled crushed garlic over it. After setting the table, she stared at her hard work with a content smile.

She suddenly heard a door open and footsteps getting louder, making her turn her head. Seeing her boss in all her morning glory, she greeted Veronica with a smile, struggling not to stare at her.

"Good morning, Ms. Reyes!"

"Morning…" She mumbled, voice deep and groggy. Hearing it, Ashley felt her insides become warm but immediately pinched herself for having such thoughts so early in the day. Veronica lazily dragged herself to the mugs and made herself some instant coffee. She looked at her assistant who is eating from her bowl of soup, nodding her head in approval after. "You have work, yes?"

"Ah, yes, but I still have time," She replied. "I woke up early before you to make you and Sammy some breakfast."

"I see that." As she stirred the hot liquid, she saw three bowls perfectly put in place on the table, all smelling like literal fucking heaven. Her glance then shifted towards the one who made the food, now drinking water. "You did not have to…"

"Yes, but this might help you get better more. It's to make up for not taking care of you despite always being beside you." Ashley said, eyes looking down as she continued to eat. Veronica frowned at her response after drinking from her mug of coffee.

"That is not your job, Ms. Johnson."

"I know, but still…" The air turned quiet after that, besides the small sounds from either of them eating or drinking. Veronica walked to the table and took her seat, eyes stuck on Ashley as she drank her coffee. As she stared at the woman, she noticed something white stuck in her hair.

"Ah, you have something on your hair," Veronica said, Ashley not hearing. "It looks like rice…" She muttered under her breath as she reached out to get it.

Once she got it, she placed the rice on a napkin and leaned back, sitting on her chair. When she sat back, she looked up and saw Ashley's flushing face, her eyes wide and shaky, hand frozen mid-soup.

"Ms. Johnson? You do not seem well."

"Wh-what? Oh um, thank you!" She said, snapping out of a trance. She looked away and bit her lip as she cupped her hot cheeks with her chilly hands. 'That was so embarrassing' She thought.

"Ms. Johnson."

"Y-yes?!"

"Are you sure that's not…" Veronica trailed off, staring at the soup with narrowed eyes as if it came from another world. Ashley furrowed her brows at the weird face she was making.

"Huh?"

"Poisonous?"

"H-HEY," She yelled, standing up. "I WORKED HARD FOR THIS!"

"Mmm…" Veronica hummed back in response, rolling her eyes as she continued to drink her coffee. She stared at the soup, contemplating if she should it eat it or not. 'Well, I did teach her…' A high-pitched voice and light waddling footsteps cut her thoughts off, making her head turn to the sound.

"Huh? Ronnie?" Sammy said, rubbing their eye as they walked down. Ashley stopped eating her soup and looked up. She smiled when she saw the little child and beckoned her over to the table.

"Sammy, I made breakfast!" She said, gesturing to the bowl of soup. Veronica placed her mug on the table and walked to her sibling, kissing them on the forehead. She held their hand and walked them to the table.

"Good morning, Sammy. Did we wake you?"

"Kind of…" They mumbled as they looked at Ashley and Veronica. "Why are you here?"

"What do you mean? I am staying here until Tuesday, remember? That's why all the maids and butlers aren't here today because I'll be cooking for you."

"Oh…" They mumbled as they stared at the food, blinking their eyes vigorously. "Oh! Right, so it's not just a dream?"

"A dream?" Ashley said after eating from her soup. Sammy nodded at her, eating from their soup.

"Yup! I had bad dreams before, but I had a good dream last night."

"Really? What was that dream, Sammy?"

"That bunny hero and Ronnie stayed! We ate carrot cake, and we all played." Sammy cheered after eating a spoonful of porridge. Veronica looked at her before propping her arms on the table.

"Oh… Well, if it helps with your bad dreams, do you want me to sleep with you tonight?" Veronica said, making Sammy gasp. They smiled as they kneeled on their chair, hands jumping up on the table.

"Can we do that?!"

"Of course! Just like before."

"Can we sleep with bunny hero too?!"

"Uh…" Veronica glanced at Ashley, the latter looking back at her before speaking up.

"Do you want that, Sammy?" Ashley asked.

"Yeah! Because if me and Ronnie aren't there, you might be sad and lonely!" Sammy said before eating more of their porridge. Ashley looked at Veronica, giving her a knowing glance. Veronica just nods as she drinks more of her coffee. They hummed as they ate happily, unaware of the exchange of looks between their older sister and assistant.

"Well, if it's alright with your sister, we can do that," Ashley said, looking at Veronica once more than at Sammy. "I might be late, though. I still have to go to work, you know."

"Right," Veronica said, clearing her throat. "You should get going, yes?"

"Huh?" Ashley checks her watch and then looks up. Veronica walks to the side of the door, getting something from the bowl on the table near the entrance, then walking back to the table. "Ah, yeah. See you guys—"

"Take my car," Veronica muttered, not looking at Ashley as she sipped from her coffee, placing a car key on the table.

"Wait, really?" Ashley asked in disbelief, staring at the key. Veronica just nods, making the former smile, taking the car key. She looked back up at her boss with a wide grin. "Thank you, Ms. Reyes! See you guys later."

…

"Ugh, how did Ms. Reyes do all of this?" Ashley groaned as she tucked her head between her arms on top of her desk, sighing after. "Why does it seem to be busier today, out of all days?"

She never realized how hard it was for her boss to go through this much work every day. Files and emails just kept flooding in and she had to deal with it for her boss's sake. With this amount of work, it was surprising and impressive that Veronica didn't get sick earlier. She always pulled it off in such a cool way though, Ashley can't help but admire her. A voice cut her thoughts off, making her jump in her seat.

"Ms. Johnson, here you go," Audrei said as she placed a thick folder on Ashley's desk.

"Ah, thank you, Ms. Emily."

"It's Audrei, Ms. Johnson…"

"Huh?"

"Ms. Emily is in charge of the planning team, I'm in charge of the sales team."

"Ah, right! Sorry, sorry. Thank you, Ms. Audrei."

"Umm…" Audrei trailed off, leaning on the walls around Ashley's desk. "Are you okay, Ms. Johnson?"

"Huh? O-of course! I'm fine. I can handle this um, thank you for the concern, Ms. Emily—I meant, Audrei." Ashley said as she chuckled awkwardly. "Do you need anything else?"

"No, but I've sent you the files that Ms. Reyes needs to sign," Audrei replied as she shook her head, pointing to the computer. "You just have to forward them, I guess."

"Yes, of course," Ashley said, wearing a tight-lipped smile, eyes slightly bloodshot and sore. "Thank you."

"Right…" Audrei muttered, unconvinced. Nevertheless, she walked away, typing something into her phone. She wouldn't be surprised if her boss came all the way to the building despite needing to rest.