Fried Rice

"And why the hell didn't you mention her fever when you called me?", Roman was angry.

He was so excited when he heard from Dominic that Leo was going to be a father. He had tried and tried but it wasn't working. Roman had sensed the reason and trusted him, it wasn't because of any sperm problem.

But when he heard the situation between Leo and the miraculous pregnant lady, he was angry. He was angry with the fact that the lady had been keeping up with Leo's terrible behavior until now.

All Leo had to do was insult her and call her names whenever he felt like. He also derived pleasure from blaming her and leaving her to her fate whenever he felt like.

He knew his fiancée was in his house but he never called or took action. His fiancée was a crazy woman but he never called to ask after the safety of his wife. He doesn't even know if Abi was his wife or just a machine that was going to give birth to his child.

To him, she just had that honor to birth his child and that was all.

"Did it skip your mind?", Roman asked gently. He realized that he had been too hard on Leo. No one usually speaks to him in such a manner. He was just too angry with everything and bursted out. He would make sure he apologizes to him when he is calm.

"It might have skipped my mind", Leo said with a low voice.

"I need a bowl and water. It could be cold though. I also need a piece of cloth or a handkerchief", Roman said.

"You have a plaster, right?", He asked.

"Yeah", Leo replied and stared at the small cut on her forehead.

"Please get me those items quickly. She's eating well, right. It's fine if she eats like a horse", Roman laughed but Leo didn't reply.

How would he tell Roman that she hasn't eaten since afternoon? How would he tell him that he made her angry when she was going to eat at the last minute?

How would he even tell him that she collapsed because she was weak?

So, he just nodded to reply to his statement. 

Leo returned with the items soon and passed them to Roman. 

Roman dipped his index finger into the water and commented, "The temperature is perfect for the fever. Squeeze the handkerchief into the water repeatedly and place it on her forehead. When you're done with that, cover the cut with that bandage. I can't do it because she's your wife. I'll be with the guys"

Leo watched Roman leave the room quietly and looked at the items in his hand. He had no choice than to do it. He sat on the bed and looked at the woman that is now part of his family.

After looking at her for a long time, he felt bad and began to remove the strands of hair covering her beautiful face. 

His eyes remained focused on her long thick lashes. Her eyes were shut and he prayed for them to open again.

'When will you wake up?', He asked himself and touched her face with his thumb.

He traced her round face with his fingers and stared at her chapped lips. He ran his thumb against her lower lip. He wanted to hear her annoying voice and complain.

He always end up having fun anytime he sees her annoyed and worked up. 

He touched her hair and muttered, "It's so soft"

He ended up inhaling her warm fragrance. It was very mild and refreshing. She smells like milk and a little bit of gentle powder. Her skin was spotless and her hand was so small and soft.

He had held her hand that night but she flung it away in anger. The look on her face when she's angry was priceless.

Many things got on her nerves and the first was ignoring her. 

The second was insulting her. He never had any intention to insult her but his wife was so gullible and asked stupid questions. Most times, he wanted to answer such questions but why would he? 

When he knows he can derive more fun by annoying her?

He was just noticing the ring on her finger. He had given her a ring when they went to see her mother. A small smile found its way on his face and he looked at the ring on her finger carefully.

'It fits perfectly', He thought.

He doesn't want to admit that whatever Roman had said that night was nothing but the truth. He would want to have his own family very bad. His mother and father are nothing from parents.

Adrian wasn't his biological father. Two months before Pen's wedding to Adrian, she found out that she was pregnant for her ex-boyfriend. 

He was also rich like Adrian and was her first love. He and Adrian were always rivals and competitors. Pen was with her first love from the beginning and was even betrothed to him by her parents.

But, he got into a plane accident and died when he was returning from a business trip. Pen was forced to get married to Adrian instead after hearing about his death.

Pen quickly got married to Adrian because she was pregnant. She lied that he was responsible for the baby. Adrian was furious when he found out that she had lied to him about being the father.

He was more mad that it was the child of his enemy. Adrian had always referred to Leo was a bastard from day one. He never liked him and had only favored his other son.

His relationship with Pen was safe again when she gave birth to a boy for him. Adrian made sure to carry out a test that time because he didn't trust Pen.

Pen noticed Adrian's hatred for Leo and began to withdraw slowly too. Leo had confronted her about being partial but she had told him she wasn't his mother.

Those words hit Leo so much that he was hurt. He didn't believe that one day, his own mother would say such to him. But his mother came back to apologize to him. 

What was an apology when a mistake kept being repeated? It was once. Then, it happened twice. It then happened three times. Then, it became a favorite word in her mouth.

She realized that she had really forsaken him when he left their house and never came back. He never came back to visit either. He never picked her calls and never returned her messages. To him, his mother doesn't exist anymore.

So, he could only count as Abi as his only family. She was the only woman that was keeping up with his madness and other bad characters. She was really trying because he had done more bad than good in her life.

He doesn't hold any romantic feelings for her. He just sees her as a woman; the opposite sex. Now, he wants to treat her like a decent human being. He wants her to know more about him since he knows a little about her.

He also wants to apologize for calling her a slut. That's a terrible name to call the mother of his child because after all, he's the one that stole her virginity. He's the first person to make love to her and he confirmed it while they were making love.

He would make sure he apologized to her the next morning. To think of it, he feels bad. He has never apologized to anybody so he would apologize in private.

He dipped the handkerchief into the bowl of water and placed it on her forehead. He repeated the process and stopped when he confirmed that her temperature reduced a lot. He wore the small plaster on her cut too and watched her sleep before going back to work.

**

"Black or red?", Ophelia held two beautiful dresses and stood in front of her mother.

"Why are you asking me that? Have you fired Sabrina?", Her mother asked and eyed her.

"Why would I do that?", Ophelia scoffed and continued, "She just took a day off. You know I lack a fashion sense and you're the only one I can trust when it comes to true fashion"

"Because I'm your mother?", Her mother smiled.

"No!", Ophelia exclaimed. "It's because you have your own company. You're a freaking fashion designer too, mom!"

Her mom laughed and replied, "Then, none. Since you're going on a date today, you should wear the color your fiancé loves to see"

"You mean blue?", Ophelia widened her eyes.

"Yes dear", Her mom nodded.

"Oh mum! Thank you", Ophelia hugged her mom and ran back to her room to select the most beautiful dresses that came in the color blue.

Why didn't she think of that earlier?!

She took out a sexy dress and wore it immediately. She took a small purse and wore her heels like the classy lady she was. Her makeup was already touched and she looked nothing less than hot.

Her mother smiled widely when she saw her in front of her, "Oh, Ophelia"

Ophelia was happy with her mother's reaction so much that she knew she was a ten over ten.

'I'm going to drive that ugly bitch away from that house. I don't care if she has a miscarriage or not', She thought wickedly and grinned.

**

Abi was very happy to see the men in the house when she woke up. She thought they came to be with her for a day. Roman was the one telling her the situation of last night. She apologized for putting all of them in panic.

"It's fine", Logan waved his hand.

"I'll make up for you guys by cooking my favorite dish", Abi was very happy.

Many people would get to eat her food that morning. She liked cooking for many people for no reason. She found it fun and entertaining. She would hear different feedback on how to improve the next time she wants to cook such.

"And what's this special dish?", Benjamin asked.

Leo was not yet up and he was glad he was still asleep or busy in his room. He might say Abi should go and rest if he sees her working in the kitchen.

"It's just fried rice and my signature chicken", She replied.

"Ah!", Dominic's mouth began to water when he heard 'signature' chicken.

"Are you also a foodie?", Abi had to ask with the way Dominic was interested after hearing that.

"Yeah. Are you?", Dominic asked and Abi nodded.

"Great! Two foodies in the house. I can imagine Leo's baby looking like a panda", Logan said and they all laughed.

"This fried rice is going to be one of a kind. I'm the one cooking but you all can help by cutting some onion, carrot and veggies", Abi said.

Logan and Benjamin stared at her. How the hell were they supposed to do such a thing when they've never been to the kitchen in their lives?

"Let me", Dominic began to roll his sleeves. "After all, I'm the owner of a food company", He was proud of his work.

"Sure", Abi gave him a knife and was impressed when he began to cut the carrot.

Abi washed the rice while Logan and Benjamin just watched. They knew Dominic was having fun. 

"For my hard work, I'd shamelessly receive three chickens as a bonus", Dominic uttered.

"Fine", Abi answered.

"Fine?!", Logan and Benjamin exchanged glances.

'That thief', They thought bitterly.

"I'll give you both two chickens because you're my audience", Abi smiled and drank some orange juice.

"So, you love cooking?", Dominic made small talk.

Logan cleared his throat when he heard Dominic ask Abi that question. Dominic looked at Logan and gave him a glare.

"Yes", Abi replied.

"I would have told you to join my company but Leo would be mad", Dominic rolled his eyes.

"I now work from home. Don't tell him that", Abi said.

Benjamin had a smirk on his face and pointed out, "Come to think of it. I've never heard you call him by name. What do you call him when we're not here?"

Abi wasn't going to answer that question because it's the truth. She has never called him anything except referring to him as 'he' or 'him'

"You've never called him by his name?", They were shocked.

She nodded and began to cook the rice. The hot oil sizzled when she poured the rice in it.

"How are you that surprised?", Darcy was now among them.

"Hey! Bad timing. Go back to wherever you came from", Logan hiss.

"Good morning, Abi", Darcy greeted Abi cheerfully.

"Abi?", The men chorused. What happened to calling her Miss Abi?!

Abi smiled when she heard him call him so informally. That's all she wanted from him.

"Morning, Darcy. It's good to see you", Abi replied and he asked after her health.

"As you can see, she's hale and hearty", Benjamin hissed.

"Why are you all talking so harshly to him?", Abi asks.

"This guy is nothing but a spy. He doesn't tell us anything about Leo anymore. In fact, he's like an assassinator that can't wait to take us out very soon", Dominic hissed.

Darcy wasn't surprised to hear that. Unfortunately, that was the truth. Abi said nothing to that because she has nothing to say.

"The person that gets this question right gets something from me the next time we meet", Abi said with excitement.

"So, the question is, what's the next ingredient for the fried rice?", She asked with a laugh.

It was only the rice that was in the pot of oil. She was stirring gently with a spatula. The action became faster when it was frying. 

"The veggies?", Logan asked and there was an uproar of laughter in the kitchen.

"Why are you laughing, Ben? Do you know it?", Logan asked him.

"Of course", Ben boasted. "If not ginger and garlic, what is it?"

"Wrong", Abi burst his bubble to hear another uproar from the kitchen.

"Is it butter?", Darcy tried.

 

"Nah", Abi sighed.

"Our chef?", Abi looked at Dominic.

"Crayfish", Dominic was proud to say that. Abi looked at him and laughed out loud with he said that.

"It's an onion, guys", She declared.

"Oh yeah", Dominic slapped his forehead. "You know I really got it. Crayfish and Onion are literally the same words"

"No, it's not", Darcy argued.

"Then, is butter?", Dominic taunted him.

"What's happening here?", Leo asked and stood out of the kitchen with some documents in his hand.

"What's this?", Benjamin smiled and looked at Leo. He then looked at Abi and bit his lips.

"Are you both going for a date?", Dominic asked them.

Abi stared at Leo. They were both well dressed and wearing the same color - white.

"No!", Abi was quick to answer. "I have somewhere to be this afternoon so I got dressed"

"Where?", Leo asked dryly.

"My friend just returned so I have to pay a visit", Abi answered.

"Whatever. I'll ask Butler Lee to set up a car for you", He walked away.

"Don't mind that fool, Abi. He's just angry you became sick", Dominic cheered her up.

"Why didn't you all wake me up?", Roman wasn't happy. It was the smell of the food Abi was cooking that just woke him up.

"Why would we disturb a doctor's sleep? You need it. Look at the bags under your eyes", Benjamin pointed out.

"Good morning Abi. How are you doing?", Roman ignored the four and walked to Abi.

"I'm fine. Thank you for taking care of me last night. I'm sorry for making you worry", Abi said.

"It's fine", Roman replied and looked into the pot.

"You're making fried rice?", He asked and Abi nodded.

"Would you like some?", She queried.

"Yeah", He remarked.

The food was ready in less than an hour. They all sat by the dining table to eat. Roman took a spoonful of the rice and chewed on it. He was glad that he spent the night at Leo's house.

That was what he might have missed if he had gone home.

It was only Leo that was absent from the table. He was in the living room. 

"Leo?", Darcy called.

"He's not hungry", Dominic sneered.

"Would you mind packing his food, Abi?", Darcy begged.

"Why are you stressing over a pregnant woman?", Dominic smirked.

Abi was surprised when Leo came to sit at the dining table. Abi was sitting beside him. She just ate like he wasn't there.

But her eyes were monitoring him till he ate a spoonful of her food. He dropped his spoon and took a long time before saying, "It's nice"

Abi's heart was filled with warmth when she heard that from him.

'Did he just compliment my food?', She asked herself with a smile.

It was Darcy and Dominic that kept her morning fun by attacking each other from where they sat. Logan was the one backing up Dominic while Roman was the dispute settler.

Leo was the nonchalant one among them. Abi was the audience. She was chuckling as she watched them. She wished it would be like that all morning. 

Benjamin was the one getting in the middle of the whole stuff.

Dominic was the first to finish his food followed by Benjamin. Darcy was the next and Logan followed. Roman also finished at the same time with Logan.

They all went to the living room to entertain themselves with the television.

Abi got up the same time Leo got up. She bit her lips when he looked at her.

He dropped his plate in the sink and opened the tap.

"I'll do the dishes", She spoke quickly.

"I didn't say I'll do it", He spoke coldly and washed his hands.

Abi rolled her eyes at him when he replied. 

She began to do the dishes and he watched her as he leaned against the wall. Abi was nervous as he watched her.

She turned around and continued washing the dishes.

"Do I make you that nervous?",  Leo asked.

"No", Abi lied and washed the dishes faster.

"The maids can do the dishes when they come. They'll get here soon", Leo said.

"It's fine", Abi replied.

"You should stop running down the stairs", He scolded her with a cold look.

"I have somewhere to be today", She ignored him.

"Where?", Leo asked with interest.

"I told you earlier. I want to visit my friend", Abi answered.

"How long have you been friends with her?", He asked with his eyes on her.

"His name is Julian", She bit her lips.