The CEO's Temporary Assistant

Jealous CEO

It felt strange for Elise to wake up to the sound of an alarm clock. Back at the farm, she didn't need one because her pet rooster would wake her up. Now, as she woke up on her first morning in the mansion, everything felt surreal. It was funny how she missed the firm texture of her wooden bed back on the farm. The air-conditioner was nothing compared to the natural ventilation they had in the province.

But she didn't need to dwell on it. She was in the mansion now, and she would be here for six months. She had to adapt. But how? She asked herself. She couldn't relate to anyone here, and Olivia was clearly annoyed by her. She was sure she wouldn't have a good time, just like Aunt Milda had said she would.

She did some morning stretches and decided to visit the kitchen. In the province, it was a habit of hers to go straight to the kitchen to help Aunt Milda prepare a healthy breakfast. And here, in the mansion, she planned to continue doing just that, using her excellent cooking skills.

She entered the bathroom and felt excited as she experimented with the hot and cold compartments of the shower. It only took fifteen minutes for Elise to shower, and after changing into a floral yellow dress, she put on the fluffy slippers under her bed and walked energetically out of her room.

"You're up early, Miss Elise," one servant greeted her along the hallways of the grand mansion.

"Yes, I am," she humbly replied. "I'd like to help in the kitchen."

The servant looked bashful. "You don't need to do that, Miss Elise."

"It's alright. I can manage. Besides, it's a beautiful morning." She excused herself, and the servant smiled at her. She then passed by her aunt's sleeping quarters, which were near Mrs. Fabien's bedroom. She carefully knocked on the door and quietly approached her aunt's bed and found the old lady still tucked in and peacefully sleeping. Elise bent down to kiss her aunt's forehead and then left the room.

"Good morning, Miss Elise!" another servant greeted her as she continued walking towards the kitchen. The mansion was already bustling with activity, and Elise felt a sense of belonging. She was a busy woman herself and always made sure not to waste time. The servants were cheerful, and she greeted them back with a genuine smile.

"Hello, Manang Selya!"

Manang Selya was shocked to see Elise by the kitchen door. "My, my, Miss Elise. You're up already! And your hair looks damp!"

The girl could only chuckle as she saw the surprised expression on the cook's face.

"Yes, Manang. I took a shower before coming down."

"But, Miss, we're not done cooking yet. Can you wait a little longer?"

Elise's laughter filled the air like the sound of wind chimes, putting the cook and her companions at ease.

"Actually, I'm here to help, Manang. I can cook."

Manang Selya looked even more surprised upon hearing Elise's intention. "Surely, Mrs. Fabien won't approve of that, and the last thing we want is to give her stress. So, you better get out of here, miss, and let us do the work. You'll surely find other enjoyable activities around the mansion. Smell the flowers, watch the sunrise, or go swimming in the pool... just don't dirty your hands with cooking. Mrs. Fabien won't like that for her visitors."

Sadness overwhelmed Elise when she was turned down. "Does that mean I won't do anything useful here?"

"All you need to do is relax and look pretty."

"But—"

"Go on now, young lady. Enjoy your six-month stay here in the mansion," Manang Selya dismissed her, gently pushing her away from the kitchen.

"But, Manang Selya!" She whined, firmly planting her feet on the ground. But Manang Selya was stronger.

"We'll see you at breakfast, dear," the woman said as she shut the kitchen door.

Scowling, Elise heaved a sigh as she looked around the enormous mansion. Earlier, it had seemed so lively to her. Now, it suddenly felt boring, and she felt abandoned as she lingered in the huge living room with its foreign decorations, reminiscent of an Italian household.

"What am I going to do here?" she asked herself as her fingers played with the hem of her yellow sleeveless dress. "I can't just sit around here and act like a princess. I have to do something."

Elise excitedly ran down the hall and out to the mansion's garden. By this time, the sun was already shining, illuminating the surroundings. She couldn't stop smiling from ear to ear as she saw the variety of flowers decorating the mansion's lawn.

"Good morning, Miss Elise!"

She looked in the direction of the voice and was awed to see a handsome young man waving at her. He was half-naked, with his shirt tucked in the back pocket of his jeans. Sweat was already glistening on his forehead. He looked sexy with his abs and tight-fitting jeans, and had a hot smirk that could make any girl drool just by looking at him.

"H-hi!" Elise replied in a squeaky voice, feeling embarrassed by her lustful thoughts about this stranger. The young man started walking toward her, but an older man suddenly called out to him.

"Jusmiyo (My God), Xander, put on your shirt first before you talk to the lady!"

Laughter filled the air as the young man shyly retrieved his t-shirt and put it on. "I'm sorry, Mang (Mr.) Kiko. It won't happen again."

The banter amused Elise, reminding her of her Uncle Jose.

"I'm sorry about that, Miss Elise," the man said with a smile as he approached her.

"It's fine. I didn't see much," she nervously replied, as they heard another burst of laughter.

"Are you sure you didn't see my abs?"

Elise blushed automatically as the guy teased her. "W-what? I—"

Xander laughed along with her before extending a hand. "I'm just joking, Miss Cortez. My name's Xander."

"Hello, Xander," she said in a small voice as she shook his warm hand. A sudden silence fell between them as they exchanged awkward introductions. Elise pretended to look around the garden to avoid his eyes, which resembled Olivia's but with a lighter shade.

There were about five workers in the garden, including Xander and a man named Mang Kiko.

"These are beautiful flowers. We have some of these at home," Elise said breathlessly, her fingers touching the soft petals of a white rose.

"So, you also like tending to the garden."

"Yes! We have flowers and vegetables at home. In the province, my aunt and I love gardening."

Xander joined her as she gazed at the colorful plants. "I'm sure they look gorgeous, just like you. Would you like me to introduce these plants to you, Miss Elise?"

Elise nodded, and they started with the nearby flowers. "First, these are Zinnias," Xander pointed to a flower that was familiar to her.

"Yeah, I recognize them because of their shade. They grow best in the summer, right?"

"Yes, Miss Elise. They especially attract butterflies," Xander replied, pointing to a butterfly sanctuary standing just across from them. Elise was even more delighted.

"Oh, wow! A butterfly sanctuary. How amazing."

"The butterflies will be released here later when we're done watering the plants."

"I just can't believe it." Elise moved closer to the sanctuary, captivated by the sight. "Wow!"

"And those flowers over there are called Dianthus. They bloom from May to August."

Elise examined the flowers and immediately noticed their attractive evergreen foliage. She moved a little closer, sniffing the petals. "They even smell nice... like cloves."

Xander showed her more varieties of flowers in the garden, discussing their names and special features. The garden looked lively, and the smell of freshly watered soil mixed with the fragrance of the flowers reminded her of the farm. She couldn't help but feel nostalgic, even though they had only left a week ago. Elise watched the butterflies flutter around the sanctuary, their wings flapping in sync. She had never seen such a delightful scene, even though she had lived in the province all her life.

"You should visit the garden now and then, Miss Elise. The flowers will surely lift your mood."

She smiled brightly as she looked back at the handsome guy in front of her, his dimples peeping from both cheeks. Elise couldn't help but giggle. Ever since she had arrived in the city, she had seen nothing but beautiful things and gorgeous people. And by gorgeous, she meant Olivia and this handsome gardener.

"I love it! I'm going to visit the butterfly sanctuary later. I just need to go back because right now, I think my aunt is already awake. She must be looking for me now," Elise said.

Xander let out a soft laugh. Even his laughter sounded beautiful to her ears.

"Of course, I won't keep you any longer. But wait, before you go, I want you to have this."

Xander handed her a sunflower from a basket nearby.

"Gosh, thanks! I can't thank you enough!"

"Don't worry, your smile is more than enough."

"Well, the butterfly sanctuary is a brilliant idea," Elise exclaimed, her heart filled with delight.

Xander smiled brightly and nodded his head. "Well, it turns out you were right. After all, the one who came up with the idea also has a brilliant mind."

Elise's eyebrows furrowed with confusion. "What do you mean?"

"These are all Olivia Fabien's great ideas."

***

Olivia was infuriated when she spotted Xander and Elise in her garden. She had been getting ready in her two-piece bikini when she suddenly witnessed the two exchanging smiles and laughter at her butterfly sanctuary. A surge of anger immediately filled her chest as she noticed the bright smile on Elise's face, a smile she had never seen when they were together. She couldn't stand the idea of Elise flirting with Xander. But then she managed to cool off a little and headed straight to the pool, spending several minutes submerged in the cool waters. As she lifted her face, she was astonished to see Elise at the edge of the pool, a sunflower tucked in her hand while her legs dipped into the water.

"Good morning!" Elise greeted her cheerfully.

Olivia responded with a scowl. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Why are you always like that? Can't you at least smile?"

Olivia couldn't believe the audacity of this girl. Just moments ago, she had witnessed her flirting with Xander, and now she was attempting to flirt with her? "Stop flirting with me. It won't work the way it did with Xander," Olivia coldly retorted.

Elise's jaw dropped, and her eyes looked away, revealing her hurt. Olivia felt a twinge of defensiveness but shrugged her shoulders nonetheless.

"If that's the case, I must say you're jealous."

The audacity. "What the hell?"

"Maybe you find me attractive, Olivia."

Olivia couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Excuse me?! I'll never be attracted to you!"

"If that's true, then just stop being a b***h!" Elise exclaimed as she lifted her legs to stand up. However, just as she was about to do so, her foot slipped, and she fell into the water along with her.