Falling for My Younger Boss

Favors

Robert's house was located in Coldwater Canyon. Amanda thought it would be somewhere close to the city but apparently, it wasn't. She had to take a cab to get there. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the ride because the cab driver who was used to the area told her bits and pieces of which celebrity owns which house. She also enjoyed seeing the lush greens and the rest of the view.

The first thing Amanda noticed when she got off the cab was the massive black iron gate of the property flanked by two pillars covered in slabs of dark slate. The perimeter walls painted in black weren't too high but were covered mostly in vines. She rang the doorbell and immediately, someone spoke on the intercom. "Good afternoon, how may I help you?" asked the voice of a middle-aged woman.

"Hello! My name is Amanda Coyle. I'm the new personal assistant of Robert Elliston. He gave me his address that's why I'm here." Amanda spoke nervously to the intercom.

"Ah yes, Robert told me you'll be coming in today. Come on in Miss Amanda." Amanda heard a click and the iron gate opened. He must have a high-tech security system, Amanda told herself. She walked down a long winding path which led to a circular driveway covered in stamped cement. The boxy house that was painted in slate grey was covered by a dense canopy of lush greens making it invisible from the outside.   

To the right, Amanda saw what looked like a garage for four, maybe five cars. Robert's black Audi R8 is parked in the large motor court outside of it. To the left of the house is an outdoor deck overlooking the canyon with a lap pool beside it. Outdoor seating is scattered in the area. There is an outdoor fire pit to the side covered in stone too.

The massive wooden door painted in charcoal opens up to a small foyer. To the left is a seating room with wood-paneled walls, slate-covered floors, and large picture windows that let the light in. There is a modern fireplace to one side and mismatched seating is scattered in the area. Beyond it is a formal living room with a huge black leather sofa, and a grand piano. Amanda knows that Robert is musical but she has never heard him play. 

To the right of the foyer is the dining room with a glass-top table that sits eight. There is a large picture window overlooking the lush greens outside. Farther to the right is the impressive kitchen with a vaulted ceiling, expansive black marble counters, black laminated cabinets, stained hardwood pantry cabinets, and two expensive ranges. Light floods the space through large picture windows. Amanda was in heaven. She could see herself working in that kitchen. 

Beyond the foyer are the stairs with hardwood steps and iron rails. Amanda didn't explore that space and instead opted to wait for Robert in the living area. He came down a little while after, dressed casually in distressed dark jeans, white shirt, and was barefoot. 

"Have you been waiting long? I didn't think you'd come in at this hour. You should have slept a little longer." he said.

"I am fine. I have rested enough, Robert." Amanda said and smiled. A middle-aged woman appeared by the staircase smiling sweetly at Amanda.

"Ah, there she is. Amanda, have you met Mrs. Davis, my housekeeper? Actually, she is more family than staff to me. She has been with the family for about a decade already and decided to stay with me when I got my own place. She keeps this place in tip-top shape along with some others who come in daily." Robert said proudly.

"Robert, how many times do I have to tell you to call me Grace?" She walked towards Robert and tousled his hair. She turned towards Amanda and said, "Hello Miss Amanda. It's nice to finally get to meet you. Robert has been talking nonstop about you since he tasted your pecan pie. I'm happy you decided to accept his offer to work with him." Mrs. Davis smiled warmly at Amanda.

"Amanda is fine, Mrs. Davis. And I'm happy to meet you as well. When we have time, I'll show you how to make that pecan pie. It's very easy." Amanda felt comfortable with Mrs. Davis right away. "On second thought, would you mind if I help out in the kitchen? I love to cook and bake." Amanda asked hopefully.

"Not at all, dear. In fact, Robert asked me to keep the pantry fully stocked because you'd be using it often to practice your recipes. You're planning to put up your own baked goods shop someday? That sounds like a wonderful plan." Mrs. Davis smiled warmly at Amanda and took her hand. "Come, I want to show you the kitchen. Please tell me if there is anything else that you need and I'll get them for you." 

Amanda followed Mrs. Davis dutifully but looked back at Robert as if asking to be rescued. Robert just chuckled and followed the two women. Mrs. Davis was showing Amanda where things were when Robert interrupted them, "Grace, I think Amanda should see the rest of the house first."

"Oh dear me, you're right, Robert. Come, Amanda, I'll show you where you will be staying first." Mrs. Davis took Amanda's hand in hers and lead her up the stairs. They went up to the second level where two doors were situated opposite each other. Mrs. Davis opened the door on the left and ushered Amanda in. "This will be your room. I hope you'll like how I arranged things." 

Amanda looked around. She had the impression that the stone, marble, and wood scheme of the house would be present in all spaces but her room was different. Apart from the hardwood flooring and the large picture windows, her room was warmer with walls painted in soft taupe and white. A king-size four-poster bed flanked by two bedside tables was in the wall across from the balcony access. There was a reading nook to the far left corner where a cream-colored high back chair with a soft cushion is. The whole left wall was covered with shelves of books.

"I know you like to read. I remember seeing so many shelves filled to the brim with books. I tried to get all the books I saw there but couldn't remember much so I added based on recommendations from blogs I read. I hope you like what I got for you so far." Robert said shyly.

Amanda walked towards the shelves and skimmed through the titles there. "I can't believe you remembered some titles. Thank you, Robert." Amanda's heart was fluttering. Robert did that for her? Why? She had to stop herself from overthinking.

"Oh, he was all excited about the renovation of this room." Mrs. Davis said.

Amanda looked quizzically at her. "Renovation?" 

"A couple of weeks after Robert came back from Arizona, he asked my help to renovate this room. As you may have already noticed, Robert has modern taste but he wanted this room to have a soft, feminine feel. He was so sure you'd accept his offer to work here with him." Mrs. Davis smiled warmly at Amanda.

Amanda looked at Robert and arched an eyebrow. "So what would happen to this room if I didn't accept your job offer?"

Robert just shrugged and smiled sheepishly at Amanda.

Mrs. Davis pointed at the door by the far right corner and said, "Through that door is your own walk-in closet and bathroom. What do you think, dear?" She smiled warmly at Amanda waiting for her answer.

"It's beautiful Mrs. Davis. I think it's too much but thank you." Amanda walked towards Mrs. Davis and hugged her.

"Please call me Grace, dear. And don't thank me, thank Robert. Robert's room is opposite yours, by the way." 

Amanda was surprised to hear this. It will make avoiding him harder. To Robert, she said, "I am really happy that you did all of these for me but shouldn't I be staying with the other staff? I can share a room with Mrs. Davis." 

Robert didn't know what to say. Fortunately, Mrs. Davis spoke up, "Amanda, you will be working closely with Robert. He's a heavy sleeper. Most of the work you'll be doing is to make sure he sticks to his schedule and that involves waking him up when he needs to. It'll make things easier for you if you stay near his room. Besides dear, my room is quite small."

Amanda had been hesitant to accept the job in the first place knowing she'd be spending a lot of time with Robert. Did she still have to be near him when she is resting? Mrs. Davis interrupted her reverie. "Is there anything you'd like for lunch?"

"I'm fine with anything you make, Grace. On second thought, I'll go and help you out in the kitchen." 

__________

Grace had a barrage of questions for Amanda. She asked about her life in Harrowpoint, her family, her previous work, and whatever sprang to her mind. Robert can sense that Grace likes Amanda. She has always been a good judge of character and once she feels comfortable with someone, she'll start talking nonstop. Robert sees that now and it made him smile. 

Robert, who had only met Amanda once in Arizona, had already felt comfortable with her that he was able to tell her bits and pieces about himself already. He isn't usually like that. It takes a while for him to warm up to someone. 

He has always been like that because his parents had always been overprotective of him and his sister, Mia. But that night that Robert met Amanda, he somehow felt that he knows her from before or somewhere and was instantly drawn to her enough to offer help. It wasn't because he pitied her but because somehow, he felt that he is connected to her. It was such a bizarre feeling. 

In the days and weeks after meeting Amanda, after doing a scene, he would check for messages or calls on his phone but always found none. That didn't deter him though to make plans for when she would actually call to ask for help. He thought of what he could offer and realized he needed a personal assistant. Sure he has an agent but that was just for work. His life wasn't chaotic but he could use a little help with some things.

Since Mrs. Davis already knows about Amanda, he thought of asking for her help in redecorating her would-be room. His taste has always been modern, utilitarian, and chic and he felt that her room should be warm and cozy with a feminine touch. With Mrs. Davis's help, they were able to redecorate the whole room in just a couple of weeks. 

"Aren't you going to finish your food? You know, there are a lot of hungry people all over the world, you should be thankful you have enough to eat. Please don't let your food, and the effort of who prepared it, go to waste." Amanda said interrupting Robert's thoughts. 

"If I finish my food, will the ones who are hungry feel full?" Robert said haughtily.

"No, they won't but me saying that will raise your awareness of the global hunger situation and make you feel accountable for your actions. Plus, it will make Grace and me happy to know that you value our efforts to feed your skinny little ass." Amanda said irritatedly and gave Robert a pointed look. 

The two bickered for a good thirty minutes or so when Mrs. Davis laughed and said, "You two look like an old couple arguing over the smallest of things." She looked at Robert and added, "I have never seen you like that with anyone else. Well, apart from your sister Mia, but that's different because you two have always fought like cats and dogs."

"Robert is being difficult, Grace," Amanda said.

Robert just stuck out his tongue to Amanda which made Grace laugh harder.

"All right you two, break it up. Amanda dear, would you like to rest in your room? Robert made sure he is free from work for the next couple of days until you can move in. He didn't want you commuting from your apartment to here in ungodly hours." Grace stood up and started clearing the plates.

"I'll help you with that, Grace." The two women continued chatting while washing the dishes and made plans to bake for later.

"You two better not be gossiping about me when I leave. I'll go up to my room and rest." Robert stood up and left the kitchen.

In his room, Robert couldn't stop thinking about what Mrs. Davis said. It's true, he doesn't act the way he does towards Amanda with his other friends. Sure, they joke around but he has never acted like a child with anyone else and he's not sure if it's a good or bad thing. What does it mean? He fell asleep thinking about it.

__________

Robert woke up disoriented. His sheets were disheveled and his pillows were drenched in sweat. He wasn't sure where he was or how he got there. He looked around the darkroom and heard hurried knocks from outside. It was Grace.

"Robert, are you okay? May I come in?"

Robert didn't want to worry Grace so he got up and opened the door. "I'm fine, Grace. It was just probably just a nightmare. Is Amanda still here?"

"No, she left a while ago. She didn't have anything else to do so I told her to just come back tomorrow. Are you sure you're okay? You should take a shower. I'll prepare your dinner. Do you have a request?" Grace asked.

"I'm fine with anything you make. You know I love your cooking." Robert gave her a forced smile and went to his bathroom. Under the shower, he kept trying to remember what the dream was all about but couldn't remember everything. All he remembers is that he was in a dark room and heard laughter from men around him. He has had that same dream for a couple of years now but it's been a while since he last had a nightmare. Why did it come back? What happened?