CHAPTER FOURTEEN

As I stood before my closet, my mind was a mess of uncertainty. The clothes blurred together in a chaotic mix of colors and textures. What should I bring? The questions swirled in my head like a storm of anxiety.

Should I bring this one? No. That one? No. I thought about the shorts I had bought, then considered the longer ones too. I didn't have any new clothes, so I had to make do with what I already had. After trying them on, I decided to pack four outfits—just in case. Three days, four outfits—that should be enough.

I quickly zipped up my bag, making sure not to forget my lipstick. As I carried it out of the room, my mom asked, "Where are you going?"

"I'm staying over at Sophie's house," I replied, trying to sound casual.

"Why do you need to stay with her?" my mom asked, raising an eyebrow.

I hesitated, unsure how to respond. "We have something to discuss," I said finally.

My mom looked at me skeptically. "I know you're lying," she said, her voice firm.

"I'm not," I said, defensively.

"But Sophie just left here," Brian added from the side.

"Yah," I glared at him with narrowed eyes.

"Alva, you could at least try to find a rich man while you're over there," my mom muttered.

My face turned red with embarrassment. I quickly grabbed my bag and headed for the door. "I'll see you soon," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Please, thank you, love you, bye," I whispered to my mom, hoping to calm her worries.

---

As she left her house, Alva made her way to the boss's mansion. She dragged her suitcase through the grand foyer, her eyes scanning the luxurious room for any sign of Cody.

That's when she saw him—Cody, the boss—sitting on the couch, dressed in a casual outfit that somehow made him look even more handsome. His eyes were focused on something in his hand, completely unaware of her presence.

Alva felt her heart skip a beat. Her breath slowed. For a moment, it felt like time had stopped.

Finally snapping out of it, she walked toward him. "Hi, I'm here," she said, trying to sound casual despite the butterflies in her stomach.

Cody looked up. His eyes met hers and a small, knowing smile played on his lips. "Welcome," he said in a low, smooth voice. "I've been expecting you."

Alva's chest fluttered as she tried to respond, but the words caught in her throat. "Ah, ah... where can I drop my stuff?" she stammered.

Cody chuckled. "Don't worry, someone will come get it."

Before she could respond, a staff member appeared and whisked away her suitcase. She was left alone with Cody, suddenly feeling disoriented.

Is he already bored? she wondered. Did I make a mistake coming here?

She slowly sat down, trying to appear calm despite the whirlwind inside. Cody didn't say a word, just stared at her with an unreadable expression.

She felt frozen. Her mind was blank. She didn't know what to say or how to break the silence. Her cheeks were starting to burn with nervousness.

"Are you scared?" Cody finally asked, his voice low and husky.

Alva shook her head quickly. "No, I'm not scared."

He raised an eyebrow. "You weren't shy this morning, but now that you're here, you're suddenly nervous?"

"I'm not scared. That's just how I am," she said, scratching her head awkwardly.

Cody stood up, his movements smooth and deliberate. He walked toward her, eyes locked on hers. Her heart raced as he moved closer, his breath brushing against her face. She felt like she was drowning in him—his scent, his eyes, his lips.

"I'm not scared of you," she said, shaking her head, trying to hold on to her confidence.

He smirked and leaned in, his mouth just inches from hers. She froze—unable to breathe, unable to move.

Then, just as quickly, he pulled back. "I'll be right back," he said, turning around and walking away.

Alva exhaled shakily, her body still tense from the encounter. She stared after him, heart pounding. What is he planning?

Moments later, he returned holding a cup of coffee.

"What are you going to do to make me date you?" he asked, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"I... uh... well, I was thinking..." she stammered.

He chuckled. "So if you want me to date you, I guess you're going to do some things for me, huh?"

Alva nodded nervously, remembering what Sophie had advised. "Yeah... the first thing is... um..." she trailed off, unsure if her childish plan would actually work.

His smile widened. "That's right. And I think it's time you start now."

Panic surged through her. "Oh, yes... I mean, I can try now..." she stuttered.

Cody laughed. "Good. Let's get started then. You can't cook. Last time you cut your finger, cried over onions, and splashed me with oil."

"I can now," she said with determination, nodding. "Okay... but please don't expect too much. I'm still not exactly a chef."

Cody grinned. "I'm not worried about you. I'm worried about my kitchen—or maybe my body. Who knows? You might hit me with a frying pan again... or drop ice on me like last time."

Alva turned red with embarrassment. So he remembers everything...

"You're not worried about me getting hurt?" she asked softly.

"Hmm?"

"Then why did you cut your shirt when I cut my finger? Why did you stay close and help me chop onions, standing behind me like a shadow? And why did you shield me from the hot oil?"

"I just hate seeing people get hurt," he muttered.

So he is kind, she thought. But why does his beautiful face always look like it belongs to someone who wants to be alone in the world?