6:00a.m

I felt the comforter covering me yanked forcefully off me. With a groan, I rolled to the other side of the bed, pulling my knees up to my chest.

"Florence, wake up." Someone spoke gently above my head. I was still sleepy so I didn't recognize the voice.

The next thing, I was pushed off the bed and landed with a thud to the floor. I groggily wiped my eyes and looked up at Philip who had what I'd call a freaking smile on his face.

"How dare you?" I demanded angrily, standing up.

He held a towel in his hand and was dressed in his clothes from yesterday, only the suit jacket was absent.

"It's past six already, little wonder you come to work late." He mocked, still looking at me.

"I don't come to work late everyday, I was exhausted yesterday."

"Just shut up mouth and go take a shower, we're leaving." My boss mumbled and while peering at his phone, walked out of the room probably to give me time to clean up.

What a jerk.

When I was done with taking a bath and wearing the clothes he gave me yesterday, he stepped into the room and let his eyes rove over me briefly.

"Let's go, but first, you need to have breakfast, come on." He motioned me to follow him.

This is a first, him being concerned about my welfare, I mean most of the time he'd either be launching a downgrading remark or two at me.

Everyday is full of surprises. But that doesn't mean I'll stop eating with a long spoon around him.

I shrugged and picked up my phone from the bed and slid it into the pocket of my trouser.

We headed towards the dining room where I was served with a mouthwatering meal consisting of fruits and some other good stuff. After the meal, although Mr Philip didn't partake in it, we headed to Maui in the limousine Fabian had waiting for us.

💭💭💭

11:00a.m
Maui, Hawaii

We arrived at all a penthouse which I figured out was Mr. Philip's. I ogled the penthouse enviously as we stepped out of the limo. Fabian drove away to the carpark and carefully parked it.

"Let's go in." He advanced towards the main door and I followed, still looking around me.

The door slid open automatically and we stepped in.

The interior design of his penthouse was breathtaking, almost everything was glass, apart from the furniture.

I stared at the LCD television that hung on the wall a little distance away from where I was standing. The floor was covered with a plush rug. Everything is simply perfect and I could help but mouth 'wow'.

"Your room's upstairs, I've made everything you need during your stay here available. Enjoy the view, don't break anything or you'll be paying."

I scoffed at his admonishing me like I was a five year old uncontrollable kid, although to be completely honest, I can get clumsy at times. Once I broke my mom's complete set of China wares and I'll never forget how my mom went on and on about how expensive they were.

But right now I fell like swinging a baseball bat at some choice items here just to sre him get mad.

Brushing aside all evil thoughts, I carefully picked my way upstairs while Mr. Philip disappeared through a door.

There was a little fountain at a corner, the water spewing from a perfectly moulded dolphin's mouth.

Through the transparent glass walls, I could see the endless expanse of green grass around the penthouse.

Only the rooms didn't have see-through glass walls, fortunately. I stepped into one of the rooms I assumed was mine. It was wider than the hotel room, the bed was wider. A large LED flat screen TV was hung on the wall.Also, there was a wardrobe at a corner, I flung it open and gasped at the clothes hung in it. Ball gowns, lots of corporate gowns and few casual clothes.

Obviously, Mr. Philip had taken time to prepare for this trip. But I couldn't believe all the clothes in the wardrobe were mine.

"Like it?" His voice came from behind me, I spun round to meet his intense gaze on me.

"I...I...I like it." I stuttered and he smiled. I couldn't help but notice how handsome he was even without wearing a suit. He was dressed casually in sweatpants and a matching T-shirt, I shifted my gaze to the bulge of his muscles.

I nervously turned to face the clothes behind me and began feeling them.

I still felt his presence behind me, but after a few minutes, I no longer felt it.

Heaving, I moved towards the bed and jumped on it, it was bouncy just like the one at the hotel.

Ah, could things get any better?

My phone beeped and I grabbed it from my pocket.

📥📥📥
How's my favorite sister?

📤📤📤
Whatever Tam😑😑

📥📥📥
Don't give me that face

📤📤📤
✋

📥📥📥
I know you miss me

📤📤📤
In your dreams.

Actually, I'm beginning to miss my mom and Tamara. Back at home we would have been arguing over little things and mom would yell at us to 'keep it down'. Or when we (mom included) would sit like sisters talking about almost anything.

I flung my phone away and turned to face the window from which I could see the coconut trees, their leaves swaying in the air. Some birds flew from one side of the other and a smile automatically warmed up my face at the natural scene. I folded my arms under my head and stared at the ceiling where little fancy stars were pasted.

"I'll like you to meet someone, come downstairs." Mr Philip poked his head through the door.

I followed him downstairs where a middle-aged woman stood watching me make my descent down the stairs.

"Mia, this is Florence, my P.A."

Mia extended her hand for a handshake and I took it.

"Mia's the housekeeper, I'll let the two of you get acquainted with each other." Mr Philip smiled at Mia and walked out the main door.

Currently we were standing in a large passage that lead to the kitchen and some other rooms.

"Florence right? " She spoke and I nodded. Bearing a smile, she motioned me to follow her into the kitchen.

"How has Philip been treating you? I know he has a nasty character."

He sure does.

I blinked at her, I had not expected this question at all. Judging from her question, I guessed she was somehow related to Philip. But then why is she the housekeeper?

"I know you have a lot of questions running through your mind, don't worry, I'll give you answers." Maya opened a cabinet above her head and retrieved a small bag containing grains of rice.

I observed the placement of everything in the kitchen. Everything was in white, the cabinets above and below were all in white. The island cutting across the kitchen was white too and a white fruit bowl sat on it.

I slid to the island and picked an apple from the bowl.

"So tell me." She poured some water in a pot and set it on the fire emitted from the gas cooker.

"He really gets me angry most of the times I'm around him." As I bit into my apple, Mia turned around and searched my face eagerly with her dark brown irises. She gave me a knowing smile like there was something she knew that I didn't.

Mia had an air of motherliness around her, the few minutes I've been with hér warmed my heart. She was really kind and welcoming, just like my mother.

"Do you want something to eat?" She demanded and flicked a strand of her dark, long and almost grey hair, away.

I nodded and she attempted bringing out something from another cabinet.

"I'm a vegetarian." I blurted out and watched her reaction. Mia merely shrugged and moved to the refrigerator from which she removed a large watermelon which she sliced swiftly and placed some slices on a plate.

"Here you go." She handed me the plate. I sat on a stool at the island and sank my teeth into the pink, juicy watermelon.

It's not like the only thing I eat are fruits just in case you're wondering. I just avoid meat at all cost. Oops, that's what the whole vegetarian stuff is all about right?

"But it's not like I can't eat other things. There's a wide variety of foods I eat." I explain to Mia.

She laughed. "Sure, Florence, I know that."

"Tell me about yourself, Mia."

A look of surprise crosses her face but she glances away towards the microwave. "I'm a friend of Philip's mom. We have been best friends since highschool and I've been taking care of Philip since he was a kid." I nodded at her explanation and spewed out two watermelon seeds.

"That's good to know."

My attention was in between Mia and the watermelon and I struggled to pay attention to her words.

"There's nothing other than that, I just decided to be his housekeeper, but he's like a son to me even though he could act like an idiot sometimes." Mia poured the rice she finished washing into the pot of boiling water.

It's nice to know a little about my boss however, something prompted me to a ask about his mom.

"Tell me about his mom." She smiled and stood before me, placing her hand on the island.

"Her name's Adeline." Mia began, and I listened attentively as she fed me with kind details about Philip's mother.

*
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Another chapter completed. Please point out any errors to me, I'll really appreciate that.

Once again, thanks for your votes and comments, they mean a lot to me.

Okay, I got of comments about Florence's eating habits. Being a vegeterian doesn't mean she eats just fruits, I'll make sure I include that in the story line. Thank you for observing this tiny loophole.

Have a wonderful week, cupcakes. Tris loves you all!

❤