My Destiny

Chapter 7. First breakfast together

It was hard to shed pounds. He was always careful of his weight. Refusing to become overweight.

“You’re fit, Mr. Woods. So, I guess I’ll go back to bed then.Good night Mr. Woods.” She wished him good night before turning his back.

“Wait a second, Phyliane…” Calyx called after her.

Phyliane turned her head around and asked, “Yes?”

Calyx looked at her and said, “Please don’t walk in your pyjamas next time.” She was not wearing a bra underneath. Unfortunately, his eagle eyes picked up on that.

They were husband and wife anyway, but what if someone caught her in her pyjamas? The last thing he wanted was for other men to see through his wife’s body.

Phyliane bolted back into her room and slammed the door shut. She was embarrassed before he could feel awkward for her.

Calyx headed to the master bedroom. He bought this house furnished at the last minute before the marriage. He was impressed that Phyliane had hinted that they don’t sleep in the same room instead of demanding. Thank goodness the marital obligations were not asked of him!

The next day, Phyliane woke up early in the morning as usual and stared in an unfamiliar bedroom. As memories flooded back into her mind, she murmured, “I must be dreaming to think I’m still at my sister’s place. This is my home now. I don’t have to get up now.” She laid back down to return to sleep.

However, even if she tried, she could not sleep even if she tried. She could not adjust her body clock yet. She might as well get up since her tummy was rumbling. She made up her bed and fixed her rooms before going out to make breakfast.

Before, she had taken the role as a nanny in her sister’s place, mainly because she was trying to lighten the load off her sister. She would make breakfast and tidy up the place after she got up. If time permits, she would help her sister with her laundry by hanging the clothes to dry. However, her brother-in-law took it for granted and ordered her around like a true nanny.

After changing and washing up, Phyliane walked out of her bedroom and took a glance at Calyx’s door. He must still be sleeping. Well it was hard to get up this hour considering he came home late last night.

She wandered into the house. Went to the kitchen and saw an empty room. She turned around and made her way out.

She had placed an order for kitchenware yesterday but stuff will not be arriving soon. Had she known, she would have bought them from the store. While moving in, she remembered she had passed by a breakfast place in the neighbourhood.

She decided to get takeout breakfast. She is wondering what Calyx might want for breakfast. So she bought a variety instead of waking him up to ask him.

She got an omelette, bacon, sausages, pancakes and toast.

Not soon after Phyliane had gone out to get breakfast, Calyx woke up. He was an early riser despite staying up late the night before.

Unaccustomed to having a wife, he once again forgot about Phyliane’s existence and walked out bare-chested to get a glass of water. At that point, Phyliane opened the door to enter the house and their gazes met.

The next thing she knew, Calyx wrapped his arms against his chest and bolted back to his room like she did last night. Dumbstruck at first, soon Phyliane burst into laughter after the scene. “That was funny! He puts his arms around his chest!” Phyliane thought.

Normally, Calyx stayed in his villa and would wake up to an empty space. The maids do not enter the second floor. So, as long as he remained upstairs, the maid would not enter his space. This was the case today and Phyliane saw his bare chest.

“I got us breakfast. Come and try them.” Phyliane said when she saw Calyx enter the kitchen. She placed the breakfast variety on the dining table and called the man who felt violated earlier.

Calyx silently stood in silence for a bit before heading to the table. He glanced at the breakfast and asked, “Don’t you know how to cook?” As head of the Woods estate and household, Calyx had never eaten breakfast on the streets.

“I do. I’m a good cook,” Phyliane replied.

“The store-bought breakfast from the street stalls is not hygienic. You should cut down on that. You should make your own food since you can cook. It’s sanitary and safe.”

Phyliane replied with a question, “Have you recently checked your kitchen? Do you see any tools? It’s cleaner than your face. Even if I’m a chef, I can’t pull a feast without tools and ingredients.”

Calyx rendered speechless.

Phyliane added, “Are you going to eat?”

Starving, he took a seat at the table and faintly said, “it would be a waste not to eat since you already bought it.” Saving himself from embarrassment.

“I looked around when I arrived yesterday. I ordered a bit of kitchen utensils online. I’ll get the groceries and cook when the things arrive, so you don’t have to eat street foods.” Phyliane had the habit of cooking at home and only ordered take out when she was at the shop. She was willing to accommodate his fussiness for food.

“Can I decorate the house to my liking? Our home is missing some stuff.”

“Calyx glanced at his wife sitting opposite him, “We’re husband and wife. This is your home. Do what you have to do, just don’t touch my room.”

With his permission, Phyliane made up her mind to go as she planned. With flowers and a swing on the balcony, she could read her favourite book during her past.

“That reminds me, Gran told me yesterday that she wanted to come on Saturday for dinner and to meet the family. I told her I needed to ask you first.”

Calyx responded in almost a whisper," I’ll let you know. I need to check my schedule if I can make time. I’ll get Gran to bring the family over so you guys can meet.”

She had no objections to the arrangement.

After eating, Calyx took out his wallet and looked through it. He pulled a debit card in front of Phyliane. “Here, take this, you need money to buy things. This card is for you. The PIN is…” He took a paper and jot it down and handed it over to Phyliane.

With raised brows, Phyliane looked at him.

Calyx added, “You can use the card for household expenses. I’ll transfer the money every month, but you need to keep track of whatever you buy. I don’t mind the spending, but i need to know what it’s spent on.”

Yesterday, when they got their licence, Phyliane asked him whether they should go halves on the expenses, to which he declined. Since they were a married couple, the were a family. He did not mind giving her money.

He had more money than he could count. He had no time to spend it. At least his wife could help him use some of it.

Phyliane, slid the card back to Calyx, along with the paper. She did not even glance at the PIN. “Mr. Woods, you’re not the only one in the house. I live here too. You bought the house, so I save on rent. I can’t let you pay for the house expenses too.”

“Once the household expenses exceed two thousand bucks, you can chip in whatever amount you see fit.” she added.

It was not that she could not accept his money, but his attitude rubbed her the wrong way. It seems that she was after his money and even told to keep track of the expenses. Her bookkeeping is only for her shop, not for her household expenses.

Calx was not an i***t. From her refusal, he hurt her pride. Softening his tone, he said, “You said it yourself, this is our home. You’re part of it and so am I. How can I let you shoulder all the expenses? Don’t keep a record of your purchases if you don’t want to. It’s fine.”

Calyx remembered getting a car. “Have you ever thought of getting a car? If you need my help with the deposit, I can pay. You will make the monthly payment with your income.”

“The house is not too far from the shop. I can make use of my e-bike. My two-wheel drive is better than a four-wheel, taking into consideration the traffic in Jumeirah.”

He was lost for words. She was right. He avoided the rush hour in getting to work.

“Maybe later. We just got married and we really don’t know each other well. I don’t feel comfortable using other people’s money to buy a car.”