A soft knock on her room’s door made Shikera lift her head up from the papers strewn across her sofa, where she had sex with Ethan the other day. It had taken her two days before she was able to sit on the couch without getting her face red.
"Who’s there?"
"It’s Esther," ca a soft voice from the other side of the door.
"Co in—"
As if the girl had been waiting for that very word, she pushed the door open imdiately and ran into the room.
"What’s the matter, Esther? Do you need sothing?" Shikera pushed her work aside, turning to face the girl.
"No. I ca because Daddy asked to tell you to co down for dinner. Don’t misunderstand and think I am disturbing you because I have a favor to request from you," she gushed, her words coming out in a rush.
Shikera nodded, wondering why Esther thought she would misunderstand her.
"It’s nothing. Let’s not keep daddy waiting and be on our way," she said softly, prepared to leave the room when Esther’s small hand pulled hers again, stopping her.
"Wait! Don’t think I offered to call you this night because I wanted to beg you to accompany to school on our parents and kids events day. Daddy cannot go because he covers his face but you, even if you make just an hour of your ti, I will really really appreciate! I am not asking though. We can go downstairs now." After she was done with her speech, she rushed out of the room and down the stairs.
Shikera who was still in the room, laughed at the girl’s cunning nature. Esther had been trying to ask her to attend the school events with her but didn’t want to be explicit about it.
She was still smiling as she walked out of her room and got downstairs, ready to proceed into the kitchen when she saw sothing that made her footsteps halt.
Hazel was standing across from Ethan who didn’t have his nosemask on his face. At first, she thought Ethan did not know Hazel was present but just as she opened her mouth to alert him, she saw him look up and point sothing out to Hazel. It seed their childhood friendship had continued during the ti when she travelled.
Trying to mask her surprise, she walked casually into the kitchen and greeted them.
"Hi Ethan! Hi Hazel," she said out loud, and was about to approach Ethan and give him a hug when Hazel yelled.
"Wait there, Miss Anderson! We are actually cooking right now and you might get hurt if you co closer."
Shikera frowned, irritated at the manner in which Hazel addressed herself and Ethan in one pronoun. Sohow, she felt like Hazel wanted to prove how useless she was staying beside Ethan.
However, she didn’t allow her emotions reflect on her face and asked,"You are cooking? Isn’t Ethan the only one who cooks? "
"I am making Esther’s school snacks, Miss Anderson," Hazel replied her, smiling the way a host would do to a visitor who didn’t know how things worked in their ho.
Shikera threw a glance at Ethan and seeing how he was not saying anything but only facing what he was preparing, she got pissed. How could he not notice his childhood friend marking a territory when she was present?!
"Ah... thanks for that, Hazel. I have been so busy these days that I didn’t have ti for Esther but don’t worry, I’ve got more free ti in my schedule now. You can leave as I will be making the snacks for Esther from today on," she declared. Ethan looked up from what he was doing when he heard that strange announcent. Sohow, he felt that there was strange tension in the room but he stayed quiet.
"You can’t do that, Miss Anderson. I have been making Esther’s snack since a very young age so she’s going to be more comfortable with mine—"
Shikera chuckled, turning to Esther who was now seated at the table.
"Esther, I didn’t know you were this angry at ."
Esther looked up at her in confusion. When did she ntion being angry with Miss Anderson?
Shikera continued, "But I already agreed to accompany you to your school event. How about you let make your snacks too?"
Esther’s ears perked up at the very first sentence. Miss Anderson would be following her?! She vigorously nodded at the second sentence as she turned to Hazel.
"Miss Hazel, you can take rest now. Mum—i an, Miss Anderson wants to cook for and I will be very happy to taste her al."
Hazel’s jaw fell in surprise, realizing what Shikera had just done. She wanted to retort but feeling that Ethan’s usually cold gaze was now settled on her, she smiled nervously and agreed.
"If Esther wants that, I will surely agree. After all, her happiness is my priority. I have lived with her long enough to see her as my daughter—"
Shikera cut her off with a smile of her own.
"And I will always be thankful for that. Thanks Hazel, for taking care of my ’daughter’ when I was not around. You can leave for the villa now, it’s already dark outside," she stated smugly, taking her seat beside Esther and rubbing her hands on the girl’s small head.
Although, the show just now was just to tell Hazel to back off, Shikera felt genuine emotions towards Esther as she rubbed her head. She realized how she had not paid much attention to the girl as a daughter, since the day she t her and she vowed inwardly that it would stop that very night.
"What would you like to have, Esther?" She asked.
It was obvious from the girl’s expression that she could not understand why Shikera was suddenly treating her differently.
"Anything you want to have, Miss Anderson."
"And why do you still call Miss Anderson? If I will be following you to the event at your school, don’t you think you should start calling ’Mum’?" she asked.
"Stop it, Kera!" His voice was cold, like one he would use when talking to his subordinate. Shikera rembered that was the tone he used with her too, when they newly got married.
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