"For him, I was nothing more than the daughter of his mentor, someone he needed to protect."
"For me, she was more precious than my life itself."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Nariya Patel sought...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
SHU MAO:
~ Nariya Patel~
Once I had completed my preparations, I opted for a knee-length skirt paired with fleece stockings and a cozy jumper sweater, aiming for a look that struck a balance between casual and well-dressed for our lunch outing. Despite finding this particular friend—or, to be more precise, asset of Alexie's, whom I referred to as the Handler—somewhat irksome, it was important to remember that he was a guest in Alexie's home.
In light of my position under his care, I felt compelled to exude a sense of dignified elegance. This was not only a matter of preserving my own reputation but also contributing to the image of the one responsible for me—Alexie. The earlier mishap had left a less-than-ideal impression on the Handler, but it was equally true that his initial impression had not been stellar in my eyes either.
With a deep breath, I firmly grasped the door handle and opened it, stepping outside with a determination to present myself in a manner that spoke of both poise and respect.
Upon entering the kitchen, my attention was immediately drawn to the Handler, who seemed to be playfully attempting to poke Nyx. Much to his amusement, Nyx casually swatted his hand away before resuming her grooming session. 'Impressive, managing to annoy even the typically affable feline,' I mused, shaking my head in mild disbelief.
Turning my focus to Alexie, I observed him diligently arranging dishes on the dinner table. Deciding it wise to keep my distance from the intriguing yet somewhat vexing guest, I opted for a more diplomatic approach. 'I'd rather steer clear of making any sharp remarks; I wouldn't want to unintentionally offend him,' I thought to myself as I headed toward Alexie, aiming to engage in a more pleasant exchange.
Approaching the dining area, I couldn't help but sense an additional presence, their back turned towards me. The silhouette appeared oddly familiar, triggering a sense of déjà vu. Alexie and this mysterious figure were engrossed in a conversation, their voices too low for me to decipher. Not wanting to intrude, I instinctively raised my hand to cough discreetly, but even before that, both of them seemed to sense my arrival.
Suddenly, the unidentified individual turned around, and my eyes widened in astonishment as recognition set in.
"Oh my god," I exclaimed in amazement, a delighted smile forming on my face. "You're that cool girl from before!"
She responded with a light smile, appearing somewhat shy in the face of my compliment. Undeterred, I continued, seizing her hand in mine. "I never got the chance to thank you!"
She gently shook her head, her dark eyes gleaming with happiness. As I held her hand, a comforting realization washed over me. If she was the assistant to 'that guy,' then enduring this lunch might not be as challenging as I had initially anticipated. Her kindness and genuine demeanor contrasted starkly with her boss's somewhat 'psychotic' tendencies. 'Poor girl has to deal with him every day,' I thought sympathetically.
