Chapter 10
1997 Words
By the beginning of the following week, everyone in the Anguer mansion had noticed something unusual.
The household had become a battlefield.
There were no weapons.
No shouting.
No physical fighting.
Instead, there were flowers.
Desserts.
Gifts.
Music.
And an increasingly ridiculous competition between two men who were determined to win the attention of one blind maid.
At the center of it all was Anya Margo.
And, to her secret amusement, she was enjoying every second.
It began on Monday morning.
Anya entered the dining room and immediately stopped.
"What's this?"
Harris stood beside the table.
"Your delivery, Miss Anya."
"Delivery?"
"Yes."
He gestured toward a large box.
Anya touched it carefully.
"What is inside?"
"A gift from Mr. Anguer."
Anya sighed.
"Of course."
She opened the box.
Inside was an expensive silk scarf.
Anya smiled.
"It's beautiful."
Miguel entered the room.
He casually looked at her.
"You like it?"
"Very much."
"Good."
Anya touched the fabric.
"Why did you buy this?"
"It was practical."
"Practical?"
"Yes."
"It's silk."
"Silk can be practical."
Anya laughed.
"You bought this because you're jealous."
Miguel's expression remained completely serious.
"I'm not jealous."
Before Anya could respond, the door opened.
Christopher entered carrying a small paper bag.
"Good morning."
Anya smiled.
"Christopher."
"I brought you something."
Miguel's eyes narrowed.
Christopher handed Anya the bag.
"Homemade cinnamon rolls."
Anya's smile widened.
"You made these?"
"Yes."
Miguel looked at the bag.
"Homemade?"
Christopher smiled.
"Yes."
"You cooked?"
"Yes."
Miguel looked at Anya.
"You like them?"
"I love cinnamon rolls."
Christopher smiled.
"I remembered."
Miguel's expression darkened.
Anya tried not to laugh.
The competition had officially begun.
The next morning, Anya woke up to the sound of a car engine outside.
She went downstairs.
A sleek luxury car was parked in front of the mansion.
Anya stopped.
"What is that?"
Miguel stood beside it.
"Yours."
Silence.
"Mine?"
"Yes."
Anya stared in disbelief.
"Why?"
"Transportation."
"I have transportation."
"You have an old car."
"It works."
"Not well."
Anya shook her head.
"Miguel."
"I already had it delivered."
"How much did this cost?"
"Don't worry about it."
"That's exactly what rich people say when something is ridiculously expensive."
Miguel smiled.
"It's safe."
Anya crossed her arms.
"I don't need a luxury car."
"I know."
"Then why?"
Miguel hesitated.
"Because I wanted you to have something reliable."
Anya became quiet.
That sounded less like jealousy and more like genuine concern.
She smiled.
"Thank you."
Miguel nodded.
"You're welcome."
Then Christopher's voice came from behind them.
"That's a beautiful car."
Miguel turned.
Christopher was holding a bicycle.
Anya stared.
"What's that?"
Christopher smiled.
"For you."
Anya laughed.
"You're kidding."
"No."
He placed the bicycle beside the luxury car.
"I thought I'd teach you how to ride."
Miguel looked at the bicycle.
Then at the luxury car.
Then at Christopher.
"You brought her a bicycle?"
"Yes."
"After I bought her a car?"
Christopher smiled.
"I know."
Miguel stared at him.
"Why?"
"Because she doesn't need a car to have fun."
Anya burst out laughing.
Miguel looked offended.
"What's funny?"
"You two."
"We're not competing," Christopher said.
Miguel immediately replied:
"Of course not."
Anya smiled.
"You're both terrible liars."
That afternoon, Christopher took Anya to the garden.
He held the back of the bicycle while she sat on it.
"Ready?"
"No."
"You'll be fine."
"I'm blind."
"You can hear me."
Anya laughed.
"That's reassuring."
"I won't let you fall."
She gripped the handlebars.
"All right."
Christopher slowly pushed the bicycle forward.
"Keep your balance."
"I am."
"You're leaning left."
"I know."
"Right."
"I know."
"You're going toward the flower bed."
"I know!"
Anya turned the handlebars.
The bicycle immediately swerved.
Christopher grabbed her.
They both laughed.
From the mansion balcony, Miguel watched.
He had originally planned to check his emails.
Instead, he was watching Christopher teach Anya how to ride a bicycle.
Harris appeared behind him.
"Sir."
Miguel didn't turn.
"Yes?"
"You're staring."
"I'm observing."
"Of course."
Miguel frowned.
"Isn't it dangerous?"
"Riding a bicycle?"
"Yes."
"She seems fine."
"She could fall."
"Dr. Picque is holding the bicycle."
"That doesn't guarantee anything."
Harris smiled.
"You could go downstairs."
Miguel immediately shook his head.
"No."
"Why?"
"Because I trust Christopher."
Harris looked at him.
"Do you?"
"No."
The next day, Miguel responded.
He hired a five-star chef.
The mansion's kitchen was transformed.
The chef prepared breakfast, lunch, dinner, and an entire dessert menu.
Anya walked into the kitchen.
"What happened?"
Miguel appeared behind her.
"I hired a chef."
"Why?"
"Because you deserve better food."
Anya looked at the chef.
"Are you serious?"
"Yes."
The chef bowed.
"Miss Margo, what would you like for dinner?"
Anya thought.
"Something simple."
The chef looked horrified.
Miguel sighed.
"She means something elegant."
Anya laughed.
"I mean soup."
The chef blinked.
Miguel looked at her.
"Soup?"
"Yes."
"After hiring a five-star chef?"
"Soup."
The chef nodded.
"Of course."
Anya smiled.
Miguel shook his head.
"You're impossible."
Then the door opened.
Christopher entered.
He was carrying a covered dish.
Anya immediately recognized the smell.
"What is that?"
Christopher smiled.
"Your favorite chicken stew."
"You made it?"
"Yes."
Anya laughed.
Miguel looked at the dish.
Then at Christopher.
"You cooked?"
"Yes."
"Again?"
"Again."
Miguel looked at the five-star chef.
The chef looked uncomfortable.
Christopher opened the dish.
The smell filled the kitchen.
Anya smiled.
"That smells wonderful."
Miguel stared at Christopher.
"You realize I hired a professional chef."
"I know."
"And you brought homemade food."
"Yes."
"Why?"
Christopher shrugged.
"Because she likes it."
Anya laughed.
Miguel sighed.
"Fine."
The chef quietly asked:
"Should I still prepare dinner?"
Miguel looked at Anya.
She smiled.
"Maybe tomorrow."
The chef nodded.
Miguel looked defeated.
The competition became increasingly absurd.
Miguel sent Anya expensive perfumes.
Christopher brought handmade soaps.
Miguel bought her designer shoes.
Christopher knitted her a warm scarf.
Miguel arranged a private concert.
Christopher played guitar for her himself.
Miguel booked an entire luxury spa.
Christopher gave her a simple foot massage after she complained about standing all day.
Anya accepted everything with increasing amusement.
She didn't need the expensive gifts.
She didn't care about the money.
What she enjoyed was the attention.
Especially Miguel's.
Because beneath all his jealousy and arrogance, she could feel something genuine.
He wanted to make her happy.
He simply didn't know how to express it.
One afternoon, Miguel found Anya sitting in the garden.
"What are you doing?"
"Nothing."
"Are you waiting for Christopher?"
"No."
"Good."
Anya smiled.
"Are you waiting for me?"
Miguel paused.
"No."
"You came looking for me."
"I needed something."
"What?"
"I don't know."
She laughed.
"You came all the way to the garden and forgot why?"
"Apparently."
Anya shook her head.
"You're hopeless."
Miguel sat beside her.
For several minutes, they were quiet.
Then Anya said:
"You know you're jealous."
Miguel immediately answered:
"I'm not jealous."
She smiled.
"You are."
"No."
"You bought me a car."
"You needed one."
"You hired a five-star chef."
"You deserve good food."
"You sent me a diamond bracelet."
"Employee appreciation."
"You bought me a second necklace."
"That was..."
He paused.
"Another employee appreciation."
Anya laughed.
"You've used that excuse twice."
Miguel looked away.
"It works."
"No, it doesn't."
He sighed.
"Fine."
Anya smiled.
"What?"
"I know you're jealous."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
"You are."
"I'm not."
Anya laughed.
"Then why do you become angry every time Christopher visits?"
"I don't become angry."
"You glare."
"I don't glare."
"You nearly attacked a vase yesterday."
"It was in my way."
"You told the chef to make dinner because Christopher cooked."
"That was unrelated."
"Really?"
"Yes."
Anya smiled.
"Miguel."
"What?"
"You're jealous."
He sighed.
"I am not."
At that exact moment, Christopher appeared.
"Good afternoon."
Miguel immediately stood.
Anya heard him.
"What happened?"
Miguel reached for her hand.
"We're leaving."
Anya laughed.
"Where?"
"Anywhere."
Christopher raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure?"
Miguel nodded.
"Yes."
Anya smiled.
"Jealous."
"I'm not."
"Jealous."
"Come on."
Anya laughed as Miguel pulled her gently away.
They walked toward the mansion.
Anya's fingers remained intertwined with his.
Neither seemed to notice at first.
Then Anya stopped.
Miguel stopped too.
"You can let go now."
He looked down.
Their hands were still joined.
He immediately released hers.
"Sorry."
Anya smiled.
"You don't have to apologize."
Miguel looked at her.
"Do you like him?"
She became quiet.
"Christopher?"
"Yes."
"He is kind."
"That's not an answer."
"He respects me."
"That's still not an answer."
Anya smiled.
"Why does it matter?"
Miguel looked away.
"It doesn't."
"Then why ask?"
He had no response.
Anya stepped closer.
"You're afraid."
"Of what?"
"That I'll choose him."
Miguel's expression changed.
He finally looked at her.
For a moment, the arrogant CEO disappeared.
There was only a man standing in front of her.
A man who was afraid of losing someone.
"I don't want to lose you," he said quietly.
Anya's heart skipped.
"You won't."
"How do you know?"
"Because I'm still here."
Miguel stared at her.
Then he smiled.
A real smile.
Anya had learned to recognize it by the sound of his breathing.
She reached up.
Her fingers lightly touched his face.
"You're blushing again."
He laughed softly.
"You always notice."
"I notice everything about you."
Miguel became silent.
Her words affected him more than she realized.
That evening, Christopher arrived again.
He brought a small box.
Anya smiled.
"What is it?"
"Something for you."
Miguel appeared behind her.
"What is it?"
Christopher smiled.
"Chocolate."
Miguel sighed.
"Of course."
Anya laughed.
"Would you like some?"
Miguel hesitated.
"No."
Christopher opened the box.
Anya took one.
She smiled.
"It's delicious."
Miguel looked at Christopher.
"You made these?"
"Yes."
Miguel nodded.
"Fine."
He took one.
Anya laughed.
"You said you didn't want one."
"I changed my mind."
Christopher smiled.
Anya shook her head.
"You two are ridiculous."
But secretly, she loved it.
Because beneath the competition was something neither man fully understood.
They were both trying to make her happy.
One with luxury.
The other with simplicity.
One with expensive gifts.
The other with time.
And somewhere between them, Anya had begun to understand her own heart.
Christopher was wonderful.
But when she imagined the future...
She imagined Miguel.
His voice.
His footsteps.
His ridiculous jealousy.
His terrible excuses.
His hand holding hers.
The almost kiss.
The necklace.
The way he had protected her.
And the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't paying attention.
Anya smiled.
Perhaps she already knew whom she would choose.
She simply wasn't ready to say it.
Not yet.
That night, Miguel stood at his bedroom window.
He thought about Anya.
He thought about Christopher.
He thought about the competition.
Then he laughed at himself.
He had become a ridiculous man.
A billionaire CEO competing with another man over homemade desserts and flowers.
But he didn't care.
Because Anya was worth it.
Across the mansion, Anya sat quietly in her room.
She touched the necklace around her neck.
Then she heard something outside.
Footsteps.
Not Miguel's.
Not Christopher's.
Someone else.
She immediately became alert.
The footsteps stopped outside her window.
Anya reached for the hidden communication device.
Her heart began beating faster.
Someone was watching her again.
But this time, the footsteps were closer.
Much closer.
And before she could react, a folded piece of paper slipped beneath her door.
Anya picked it up.
There were only four words.
STOP PROTECTING MIGUEL ANGUER.
Her smile disappeared.
The playful rivalry suddenly seemed very far away.
The threat was back.
And whoever was behind it was getting bolder.
Anya clenched the note.
She had a mission to complete.
A secret to protect.
And now, the man she was falling in love with was directly in the enemy's sights.
The competition between Miguel and Christopher might have been funny.
But the danger surrounding Anya was very real.
And soon, Miguel would discover that his jealousy wasn't the only thing putting him between Anya and Christopher.
There was someone else.
Someone far more dangerous.
Someone who knew exactly who Anya Margo really was.
- Writer
- chap_listContents
- likeADD