April Returns

April preferred to sit beside the driver of the limo instead of at the back. Although the space there was far bigger, she didn't want to be riding in an enclosed space alone with Vincent. That would be too alarming for her.

It was so hilarious to see April handing Paul, the driver, her box when he opened the door in the backseat. After dumping her box to the bewildered Paul, she yanked open the passenger door beside the driver and sat there without any warning.

Paul had no choice but to gesture apologetically to Vincent, as he placed the box in the backseat with his boss. 

Vincent, on the other hand, gave Paul a slight nod to indicate that it was fine for April to sit wherever she chose to.

However, the extremely funny part was the fact that the two bodyguards were forced to stay behind because April had occupied their seats in front. Both were surely upset but obviously had gotten used to their poker face from years and years of practice. They were not allowed to show emotions of any sort. So, they just stood there by the Media House building, accepting their situation without any complaints.

Presently, Paul made a mental reminder to himself, to have these two picked up by the other bodyguard's car. If it hadn't been April, and any other passenger instead, he would have not let anyone sit beside him. But then, he had known April even when she was little. He couldn't get himself to be upset with her. In fact, having to bring her back to the mansion was something Paul was very much agreeable to such a decision of his boss.

Luckily, their ride back to the Johnson mansion was relatively uneventful. Having a Billionaire, and a CEO boss, had a very dangerous side. But then, not today.

In fact, both his passengers were silent, so he didn't feel obliged to say anything himself. He just minded his own job then.

When they finally entered the basement parking of the mansion, he heard the controlled sigh of April beside him. He was tempted to say something but knew his place. He just concentrated on parking the limo, though, he didn't necessarily need to. He had been doing this for so long, that driving was as natural as breathing

When the limo's engine finally quieted, Paul hurriedly went out of the limo, with the intention of opening the door for April first. Unfortunately, April's side, but the lady beat him up to it. So, he opened the door in the backseat instead. 

"Thank you, Paul."

Vincent softly said as he alighted the limo carefully. He was avoiding looking at April, but he was aware of her stares at him.

April stood there with her arms folded over her chest while tapping one foot against the ground as if impatiently waiting for something.

Realizing what it was about, Paul was not able to keep himself from commenting anymore.

"Miss April, I can carry your box for you."

Paul offered with a polite smile.

"Oh, Paul, thanks, but I think I can do that myself."

April replied to Paul, just as politely, bending inside to retrieve her box from the backseat herself.

Paul stared at Vincent for an order, but his boss merely nodded to indicate that it was fine to let April do whatever she liked, again.

Paul was beginning to get surprised by his boss' tolerance for April's actions. But then again, he kept his mouth shut.

Therefore, when April walked ahead of Vincent, as soon as she had retrieved her box, no one protested nor stopped her. Without looking back, she walked toward the elevator. The two bodyguards in black suits, standing by the elevator, made April slow down a bit. However, she regained her composure quickly, so she pressed the elevator without a word. She pressed again the button for the elevator to close.

"Hey, wait for the boss."

One of the men told after her, but April just gave them dagger looks. Not one attempted to stop her.

When the elevator door closed, she was already grinning to herself triumphantly. 

Vincent might have blackmailed her to return to the mansion, but she would not let him stop her from doing as she pleased.

While the elevator went up, April couldn't help to smile smugly, imagining Vincent waiting in the basement for her to reach the upper floor first, before he'd be able to ride the elevator himself.

Finally, April reached the ground floor. When the door chimed to open, April stepped out of it, then went directly to the kitchen.

April's return to Johnson's house brought about nostalgia for her. She was not truly sure what to feel.

When April entered the kitchen, she immediately saw Amy, the chef. She was supervising the other staff at the moment in preparing the lunch for the day.

When Amy noticed her by the kitchen door, the chef immediately focused on her.

"April, my darling, it's a delightful surprise to see you."

Amy exclaimed, as a dimpled smile formed on her wrinkly cheeks. She walked toward April for a hug.

"Oh, Amy, I missed you so much."

April exclaimed, as she immediately put down her box on the side table by the kitchen door, and welcomed Amy's embrace.

She felt the warmth in Amy's arms wrapped around her. They stayed in a tight hug for a while.

How many times had she embraced this woman when she was little, each time she needed reassurance of a motherly embrace? Amy had been like a mother to her. She had loved the different aromas she smelled from Amy while growing up. 

Consequently, April sensed a tear forming in the corner of her eyes. To suppress it, she breathed deeply. She didn't intend for Amy to see her sad.

"What's for lunch? Let me guess... Chicken Cordon bleu with that delectable special sauce of yours on the side. Mmmm..."

April commented, full of delight to be with Amy here in this kitchen again. This brought back her childish side.

"You guessed correctly, honey. Oh, I remember how much you have been so proud every time you got the correct menu for the meal of the day."

Amy recalled as she clasped April's hands in hers. She had obviously missed April as well.

"Yes, I always got extra servings for guessing correctly."

April added from her own memories, excitedly. A little giggle escaped her throat.

At that moment, April felt thankful she came back to the mansion. Well, still, Vincent's threat to shoot the staff here was disturbing. But April's return was still a nice feeling. They talked and recalled the past memories in Johnson's house, fondly. Looking back at the times when April was happy there, made her stay a while longer to interact with Amy. 

"The last time I saw you was when I gave you those spring rolls. What happened after that? You never came back."

Amy pointed out, with concern in her tone.

April suddenly felt cold and clammy. The words of Amy somehow made her relive her tragic past in her head. She stayed silent, lost for any words.

"April, what's wrong?"

Amy continued, truly worried now about April's silence and inaction.

"Oh, nothing, Amy. I just had to be on my own, that's all."

April forced herself to reply so that Amy would not worry any further.

Amy gave her a glass of water, and she drank it all.

Just when April was starting to return to her calm state, Mag, the governess of all the staff appeared at the kitchen doorway.

"Amy, what is taking the food so long? Vincent..."

Mag was not able to finish whatever her sentence was about, upon seeing April there in the middle of the kitchen, right beside the chef.

"What are you doing here?" Mag asked April and was undeniably upset why April was there. 

"Oh, hi, Mag! It's so nice to see you too."

April replied, full of sarcasm in her tone. She never liked Mag too, so their feelings towards each other were mutual.

Just when Mag was about to snap back some rude words to April, Vincent entered the kitchen as well.

"So, there you are. You found your way into the kitchen after all. Of course, because of Amy."

Vincent commented to April, but obviously not waiting for any response from her at all.

"Vincent, you knew this woman is here?"

Mag asked Vincent, in total shock, how casually Vincent talked to April.

"Of course, I do. No one gets to step into this mansion, without my knowledge."

Vincent replied casually.

"You allowed her here?"

Mag added, without hiding her disgust for Vincent's very welcoming attitude towards April.

"You have a problem with that? She stays because she's family. She stays because I say so. Are we clear?"

Vincent answered with a firm voice, meant to end further questioning.

April didn't even care to hide her smirk towards Mag. 

Vincent, on the other hand, pretended not to see it.

"So, I am starving. What's for lunch, Amy?"

He asked, to change the topic already, signally the end of any other protests, if there should be any.

Amy smiled at April, hinting that it was always April who still guessed what she cooked for the day.

April smiled back, with the thought that it was good to return.