The Woman He Married

06. Xavier

Another day, another work interview. Mae went to Alaia's company that afternoon for a job interview. She had a feeling that she would land the job this time, so Mae had high hopes that things will start falling into place for her.

When she got home, Mae immediately rushed into the kitchen when she heard someone cooking. She was worried that someone had came into the house and made themselves comfortable like Ruth did. She had flashbacks of how displeased Zane was back then. She put her bag aside and stared as she found a guy standing there, cooking multiple servings as if there's going to be a party in the house.

He glanced over his shoulder and Mae realized that he looked a lot like Zane, except that his hair were curlier than Zane's and definitely a few tones darker. She immediately knew he was family, and assumed he's the cousin Zane mentioned.

"Oh, you're here," he greeted, "I need help with the cake, please."

Mae grabbed an apron from the rack and wrapped it around her waist, immediately helping him. Mae glanced at him every now and then to second-guess what he was cooking. After a while, she asked, "May I know who are you?"

He turned to look at her blankly while she could only afford a single glance because she's afraid he would get offended by the question. Zane would. If it's in their blood, then this guy would get offended too.

"Right, I thought we met before," he gasped. "The name's Xavier, but you can call me Xavi, Zane's baby cousin."

"Baby cousin? Is it because you're the youngest?" Mae asked, her volume lowering with every word she uttered. She looked at him, "I'm sorry. I'm Kate."

"Kate?" He stared, then he smiled, "Cute name. Kate. Kate... Cute. I used to have a cat named Kate."

"Used to?"

"I'm sorry, do you speak in lowercase and question marks all the time? Because why are we whispering?" Xavi looked around, then right back at her.

"No," she replied in a normal voice and tone.

"There's just the two of us in here, if you're that scared of Zane," Xavi said as he reached for her face and gently brushed a speck of flour on her cheek. He grinned and told her, "Yeah, used to. She passed away. Don't worry, she lived a happy life and died of old age. Grumpy, too, because she's fucking tired of living."

Oh, to be Kate the cat.

"Huh," Mae hummed as she looked at him. Something about him screamed 'comfort', and Mae didn't know someone's capable of possessing such aura until she met Xavi. "Anyway, why are we cooking so much food?"

"Uh... My welcome party?" Xavi replied, "Some friends are coming over tonight. Zane didn't tell you?"

"He probably did," Mae sighed, realizing she hadn't checked her phone all day. "I must've missed the text because I was on a job interv..." Mae trailed off and went silent all of sudden.

Xavi stared at her, "A job interview?"

"Yeah," she chuckled nervously, "Just trying my luck, not that I'm planning to quit or anything. Not in the near future."

"Good job," he smiled, returning to his pots on the stove. "It's only natural that we keep finding chances to grow out of our comfort zone. Whomever told you not to look for another job when you already have one, cut them off. Not worth it."

Mae bit down her lip, regretting her slip of tongue.

"Don't worry, I won't tell Zane or anyone else if that's what you're worried about. I don't think it's a big problem, he could easily find another maid," Xavi added calmly. "Anyway, you've been here for... a month? Since you moved in after the wedding."