Appointed by a Billionaire to be his Heir's Girlfriend

Chapter 9

-Athena Vanderbilt POV-

He bit his lip worriedly.

Don’t tell me he doesn’t know how to cook!?

He went to our humble kitchen and searched the cabinets.

“You’ll find noodles and tomato sauce and inside the cabinet on the left and some meat in the fridge. Just cook some spaghetti.” I called out to him, afraid that he may cook something inedible.

He gave me an assuring thumbs-up then he tied the apron around his waist and started to work.

Wow. He still looks dashing with that apron on. Well, he’s a popular handsome anyway. Okay. What crap am I thinking? I shook the thoughts away.

I sighed. My thoughts flew back to Chloe again. What the hell am I supposed to do now? Maybe I should try texting her tomorrow? Or should I meet her again in person?

Okay. I’ll just ask her to meet me. That’s it. I’ll explain to her. There’s nothing to worry about. Right.

“Athena, don’t worry so much when you’ve done nothing wrong.”

I looked up to see Nate smiling encouragingly at me from the kitchen counter.

“I’ve done something wrong, okay?” I said to him.

“No you haven’t. She hasn’t listened to you and you’ve actually done something to let her know.”

“No. I’ve got time to tell her but I didn’t.” I defended.

“Okay, if you say so. Let’s just say you’re both at fault for this. You didn’t tell her earlier and she didn’t listen to you explain. So don’t feel so much bothered. It’ll work out.”

I pursed my lips into a tight smile, “Okay.”

I can’t actually believe Nate Van Warner will be the one comforting me at times like this. I never expected any of this.

Even the scene of the famous New York prince cooking in my kitchen seemed so out of place.

-Nate Van Warner POV-

I just did what seemed normal. You need to boil the noodles, right?

Then I worked on the sauce and grinded meat and other things I barely know but I found under the cabinet.

It nearly took me half an hour and I had two servings with cheese on top.

Athena stood up and walked towards the tiny dining area by the kitchen.

She put her hands on her hips and scrutinized closely my cooking. She sniffed a bit and nodded approvingly. The scene looks like she’s my culinary teacher and I’m her student.

“Is this edible?” she asked me suspiciously as she sat on one of the four chairs.

I pressed my lips together and thought for a moment, “We’ll know it when you’ll try it.”

She raised her right eyebrow, “Are you planning to kill me via food poisoning?”

“Of course not, warden.” I said which pretty much the truth is.

She kept standing across me, her hands now folded on her chest, like she’s expecting me to something again.

“What?” I asked her.

She just shrugged her shoulders and sighed.

Okay. Okay. I get it. Rule of a gentleman coming up.

I moved the chair open so that she could sit.

She smiled innocently again and stared at the dish for a minute, probably privately deliberating whether to eat it or not.

-Athena Vanderbilt POV-

I looked at the dish closely. There’s something with the way he cheese on top was put together.

I stared at it, trying to make out what was with the cheese.

Hmmm.

S-M-I-L-E.

That was written on top with grinded cheese. It’s really unnoticeable if you won’t look at it closely but I knew there’s something unusual the way cheese was sprinkled over the surface. I don’t want to smile but I can’t help it.

Smile. He tells me to smile. Is he trying to comfort me? Well, that’s just… plain sweet of him.

And I lowered my head a bit so he won’t me see blushing.

-Nate Van Warner POV-

She smiled.

I felt myself smile, too, in relief. She saw it. She saw the word on top. That’s good. I’m such a failure in comforting people, considering I’ve never done it before.

“Go on, Warden. I didn’t put pesticide on it.” I told her encouragingly after she lowered her head.

Neither of us mentioned the thing about what I did with the cheese on her spaghetti.

“Be sure of that because if I’ll die with this, my ghost will haunt you to death.” She threatened me and I can’t help but laugh.

I love it when she speaks like this. Fierce but cute.

“I’m scared.” I teased her but she only rolled her eyes.

-Athena Vanderbilt POV-

“Oh come on. It’s humanly edible.” He convinced me.

I wasn’t so sure. It kind of smells good but I knew better than to trust its smell. I’ve been fooled twice by a food’s smell.

“Hang on.” I muttered as I held the fork and mixed the spaghetti, slightly regretting because it ruined the ‘SMILE’ word. I picked something big and held it out. Oh. It’s a half-sliced onion. What the.

“Isn’t it I’m supposed to add onions? It’s a spice.” He defended as he sat down on the chair opposite me.

I rolled my eyes, “Nope. Normal spaghetti does have onions at times but not a half-onion at that. Now that's just sloppy. Didn't even bother to slice it.”

Okay. I’m getting less convinced this is edible. Who adds half onions to spaghetti?! And for crying out loud, he didn’t even peel it!

I swallowed air.

“Well, just treat it as not normal. It is a very special spaghetti because for the first time ever, Nathaniel Van Warner cooked for the first time. And for that first time, he cooked for someone.” He said quietly on his seat.

I blinked. This is the first time he cooked for someone. Really?

What? I’m sort of touched by his gesture. Really sweet of him. And I suppressed a smile.

He cooked this weird spaghetti for me. I need to eat it. I must eat it. Whatever it tastes, I need to eat it.

“Aww. That’s nice of you.” I said to him.

“Don’t get all mushy, your highness. Just eat it. You’re hungry, right?” he told me as picked up his fork and ate his home cooked spaghetti.

I nodded as I put it in my mouth.

Okaaay. It is a bit salty. What? Did he put half the salt bottle in it? Goodness gracious.

But it considerably tastes good, despite of the mild saltiness and big onions.

He stared at me expectantly, watching my reaction.

I put the fork down and chewed it.

“What?” he asked me, his fingers interlaced on the table.

“I’m thankful you did not blow up the kitchen.” I told him.

“What? That’s not what I’m saying. How was it? The spaghetti, I mean.” He hurriedly says.

“Hmm. I’ll give it a score of 85%.” I said as I continued eating it. I don’t want to say it’s salty since I want him to feel good. It’s the first time he cooked and I don’t want to hurt his feelings.

“Why? It should be 100.” He muttered as he finished eating his dish.

“Are you kidding? Be thankful it’s not 75.” I grumbled.

We both finished eating in silence. I realized I’m really hungry so I emptied my plate before him.

“I’m full.” I stated as I relaxed on my seat.

“Of course you are, warden. It’s my cooking you ate.” Nate said smugly as he collected the plates and put them on the sink.

I stood up and went to the kitchen and stood beside Nate.

He looked at me. I looked at him.

And we blinked at each other.

“Go on.” I muttered.

I’m secretly amused with what he will do next. Will the wealthy Nate go down as to be my dishwasher for tonight?

“What?” he asked, confused.

Or pretending to be confused.

“When you put dirty dishes on the sink, what do you do next?” I muttered, feeling like a kindergarten teacher teaching a four-year-old.

“You wash it.” He told me, his handsome face in realization.

“Good boy. Now, do it.” I stated in a firm voice.

-Nate Van Warner POV-

If she wasn’t so devastated and heartbroken and depressed at this time, I won’t definitely do it. Me. Nate Van Warner was asked to do dishes. What the hell. I’ve never done this before. How the hell are you supposed to wash the dishes? Put it under the faucet?

Calm down, Nate. She’s a girl She’s your warden. Okay. Just do it and get it over with.

“What’s wrong, dear? Don’t you want to be my dishwasher for tonight?” Athena cooed in her baby-like sickly voice. God, it’s terrifying when it comes from her.

I pursed my lips to a tight smile as I picked one plate up and put it under the gushing faucet.

I was about to put back in the cabinet when she told me to stop.

“Seriously rich boy, didn’t you do any single chore in your life?” she muttered, shaking her head in disbelief as she picked the sponge on the right side and poured some dishwashing soap on it.

“You know, this is common sense.” She added as she gave me the sponge.

I rolled my eyes, “I told you. I’m not common.”

I rubbed the sponge against the plates and forks and all the utensils I used. I was under her careful supervision so I did my job dutifully. It’s just once anyway. What’s the harm? But really, I feel like banging my head to the wall to see if I’m actually washing the dishes.

With a loud sigh, I turned off the faucet and took off the apron I’ve been wearing for an hour.

Athena was already sitting on the couch, watching a talk show from the small television, her feet on the small coffee table.

I sat beside her and she didn’t even mind. We both watched in silence.

I’m not really watching. I was thinking that what happened tonight was something surreal. Something I used to think impossible. I’ve never cooked for my girlfriends before. I’d never go to their houses only to hang-out and watch TV together. If I’ll have to go their rich penthouses at all, all we’ll do is make-out and nothing more. Or probably a lot of times, I’ll be their escorts to some society gala and parties. I’ve never even comforted a girl before. I also never exerted effort just to make a girl smile. I thought that was just it. Gee. What am I thinking?! There’s no way I’ll fall for her! She’ll never fall for me anyway. I’m probably the person she least like.

Suddenly, I felt Athena’s head rested on my shoulder.

I turned to look at her, quite surprised she did that.

But her eyes were closed. She’s already asleep. She’s never been so close like this before. I could hear her peaceful breathing and I could see her peaceful pretty face.

If someone from the outside sees us in this position, Athena’s head on my shoulder and me holding her right hand in a cool Saturday night, that someone would think how normal and sweet we are as a couple. Isn’t that a pretty picture?

-Athena Vanderbilt POV-

I was woken up by the blinding sun rays peeping from my window. I rubbed my eyes and sat up.

Huh? How did I reach my bed? I didn’t remember walking to my bedroom last night. I blinked and though hard what happened last night.

After a minute, I hit my forehead. Now I remember.

I fell asleep on the couch so Nate must’ve brought me here. Did he drag me all along?! Maybe that’s a better idea than bringing me here in the bridal-way style of carrying me. Shoot.

Okay. Shake the negative thoughts away.

I grabbed my phone on my bedside table and texted a message to Chloe after trying to reach her phone but off.

“Chloe, let’s talk, ok? Meet me in central park.10am? pls?”

I clicked ‘send’ and sighed. I’ve still got two hours to prepare.

I stood up and went outside my bedroom.

I half-expected Nate to be still here, wearing my apron and cooking his salty spaghetti with unsliced onions. I smiled to myself.

After taking a bath and doing all the hygiene-related and changing from my pajamas into something decent, I went to get milk from the fridge.

I noticed there’s something on it, stuck in the magnet.

“Warden, I ordered breakfast for you. It’ll come around 8am.-Nate.”

It was a handwritten note from Nate. I removed it and kept it in my pocket.

So he ordered breakfast for me? Wow. I never knew he was thoughtful.

And with that, I jumped in fright when the doorbell rang loudly.

I got it and signed the paper.

I unpacked it and there were some omelets and fruit salads and few pieces of croissants. This could be Lunch than breakfast.

I ate it slowly and put inside the fridge the leftovers.

My phone vibrated and I took it out. Chloe replied!

“Not 10am. 3pm.Central park.”

Oh. So I guess I still have to wait.

I went back to my bedroom and checked my school bag. We’ve got no homework for the weekend and I already did advance reading in all my subjects so I’m all set for Monday. That leaves me with nothing to do.

I turned on the TV set and lounged on the couch.

I thought of mom, working in Connecticut. I haven’t told her about this secret deal I made with Mr. Charles but I’m afraid of telling her. I didn’t sell myself anyway and I still haven’t used the 500,000$ in my account. I’m actually planning on returning it. Gosh! I should tell mom! She’ll know what to do. I know she’ll want to see Dad. It’s been weeks anyway. I haven’t seen him myself but I have the chance now. Only I’m afraid to touch the money. I’m serious when I thought I wanted to help Mr. Charles with his heir. But of course that wasn’t the bigger part.

I held my phone in my hand, having an internal struggle whether to tell mom right now or not. Maybe I’ll be able to settle and tame Nate in a month and Mom would never have to know about this. Gee. That’s lying.

Then my phone rang and I answered it.

“Mom?” I asked.

“Athena? Good thing you’re awake.” It was my mom’s cool voice, comforting me every time I hear it.

“Yeah. Of course.”

“I just called to check on you and to tell you we’ll come home in two weeks! Isn’t that great? It’ll only be a weekend visit but that’s better than nothing.”

“Really? That’s great! Mom, I have to tell you something too when you’ll come home. It’s something important.”

“Don’t tell me you lost your scholarship?!”

“No, mom. It’s not like that.”

“Then it’ll be fine. I’m off now. Take care, honey.”

With that, we both hung up and I felt a rush of relief. She and Iris will come home soon! That made me so much happy!

My phone rang again and I picked it up. IT was Nate’s dad.

“Good morning, Mr. Charles.” I greeted politely.

“Good morning too, Ms. Athena. I’m just wondering if you happen to know anything that could suddenly make Nate ask me in the middle of the night to get a private Culinary teacher for him.”

Funny. What the hell. Don’t tell me that was because of last night?!

“Um. Mr. Charles, I don’t know exactly if this is the reason but he cooked some weird…uh…unique kind of spaghetti for me last night. I gave him a score of 85. He said he wanted a 100.”

Mr. Charles laughed and laughed, “Really? That’s good! Thank you, Athena! Do you want to come over today at the penthouse?”

“Uh…”

“Come please. I insist. Nate will be here.”

“Okay, I guess.”

“We’ll wait for you then Good bye.”

I hung up again and sighed.

This girlfriend thing is getting so demanding.