Mr. Badass ✔

06 He gets down on one knee

Gemma's POV.

I mix the fish and broth with the rice and finish the whole bowl in one go. Luke sits across from me and serves me another bowl from the pot.

I eat until I start hiccupping and put down my spoon. Luke then speaks up, "So, what's the situation with your home?"

I wipe my mouth with a napkin. "I'm still waiting in line for the plumber. They're short-staffed, so it'll take some time."

"So you can't stay at home?"

I nod. "I'm planning to book a hotel."

After that, I get up to grab the plates and forks, politely saying, "Boss, I'll do the dishes."

During this time, Luke stays on the couch in the living room, working on his computer, wearing his gold-rimmed glasses again.

I put the dishes away and quietly interrupt him, "Boss, goodbye."

Luke glances at me and then turns his laptop screen towards me. It's showing Booking.com.

He adjusts his glasses and says, "Since you were kind enough to wash the dishes for me, I kindly checked for you. It's the weekend, the nearby hotels are fully booked, and the cheapest one is $300 a night."

I look at the expensive hotels on the screen and frown slightly.

I had talked with the plumber on the phone; their quote was $600. Adding the cost of replacing water-damaged furniture and hotel expenses, I'm practically broke this month.

After thinking for a couple of seconds, I relax my brow. "I can stay at a youth hostel."

"Really? The kind where at least four people share a room?" Luke raises an eyebrow.

I shrug.

"Thanks for your hospitality, boss."

Then I turn to leave.

"You have another option," Luke suddenly says.

"What?"

Luke points to a door in the house. "Stay in my guest room."

I admit I'm tempted for a moment, but I remain silent for a couple of seconds.

"Why?"

Our positions are opposites; he's the boss who holds my fate, and I'm the low-level employee at his mercy.

Our genders are also opposites, two entirely different reproductive systems.

"Do you like watching mukbangs?" Luke suddenly asks.

"Huh?" I don't get it.

"I think if you ever quit, you'd be popular as a mukbang streamer."

I'm almost about to roll my eyes. "Are you implying I eat a lot?"

"If that's how you want to think it."

Luke smiles, stands up, and opens the guest room door. "You can check out the room and decide."

The next moment, my phone rings.

"Is it Miss Gemma Dawson? This is NYU Langone Hospitals."

"Yes, that's me."

Three years ago, I had my cornea transplant surgery there.

"We're calling to ask if you've experienced any redness or vision blurring for over 24 hours recently?"

I think for a few seconds. "No, but my eyes do get tired sometimes, so I use eye drops."

"I see," the female voice continues on the other end. "If you have time, it would be best to come to the hospital for a check-up."