My eye lids felt heavy, I resisted rubbing on it fearing my eyes may swell or perhaps burst from the manner of how I've been scratching it.

"You are free to fall asleep, Ana" Sovann had the steering in full control  it was a two hour drive far into the outskirts of town.

He had his bodyguards go before him and another following us closely, I tried looking as professional as I could this early but I didn't quite pull that off.

Just saying, my silk bonnet wrapped my locs with feet stuck in my comfy slippers and not my usual low heels Mr Aguirre whined about the other day.

I think complaining was something of his nature, perhaps it helped increase the length of his hair.

Which by the way had added some length once again, I pressed my face with the inside of my palms, you better stay awake Ana.

Mr Aguirre was really good at being an inconvenience that could ruin all the plans you've set out, cause tell me why it's a Saturday and I'm not curled up under my comforter, a book dangling of my hand, hours far away from waking up.

Instead I'm sat in my boss' Mercedes, for an impromptu visit to his golf house, which is not too far from his family house.

Jae's light snores consume my hearing, so does all of Phil Collins beat, he has playing non-stop.

It's catchy but my ears are bleeding from boredom, I regret forgetting my book bag on my way here. The good part of it was I had my kindle with me, unfortunately the battery ran flat.

This just isn't my day.

"You must know I don't like repeating myself, Ana" my boss drawled, hand rubbing his jaw as he spared me a glance then keeps his eyes back on the road.

I was well acquainted with that fact Mister Say it all, two weeks now and I'm rethinking my life choices, sometimes I wished I didn't put Uruo's needs before mine and maybe by now I would be on my bed, slumbering into the abyss of book land.

Yet, I'm stuck with him facing the consequences of my decisions "Mr Aguirre, I'm not sleepy just a little tired" I mask the yawn to prevent him from catching it, couldn't he just give me a day off or something.

"Do I look like a two year old to you" his neatly raised brow corners me in some sort of way, okay man chill, I just want a pictorial view of my location, is that a crime now!

I bite down my words on my tongue, making my voice seem more sincere, I turn to his side of the car and find he is already gazing at me, "You don't have to bother yourself about my well being, like I said I am fully awake, Mr Aguirre" the car goes to a halt, I lift my head and see we're the only ones who stopped.

My neck rotates quickly enough to catch if maybe Jae had awakened from her slumber, I really didn't want to be alone with her older brother again.

Well my prayers weren't answered, she's still giving off light snores with her arms under her head placed on the plush pillows.

This played out more like a road trip to me, the empty road, the sun few minutes from rising and casting this side of the earth with its bright glow that could make any surface shimmer.

My internal day dreaming is cut short by his soft timbre, "why do you choose to be recalcitrant" He isn't yelling but it sounds like it, a long sigh escapes from his parted lips which his tongue trailed on, "you're working for me now, so you're under my care, you getting enough sleep is basically my priority"

My brow goes up bewildered by his revelation, where was that meanie of a boss I'm used to, was he swapped with someone else or did the sleep have this much control over me.

I've got to be dreaming, this isn't real.

"I won't say this a second time " he faces me morphing this dreamworld into a more realistic play my mind is trying to comprehend, "get some sleep Ana, I don't want Jae thinking I didn't let you get enough sleep" that definitely popped the bubble of my imagination.

I squint my eyes at him, he repositions the gear and starts the car, picking up his pace with his other cars which weren't that far away, the drive continues smoothly, no abrupt stops, or voices demanding I get some rest.

My phone rings from my purse, accepting the call, Navi's breathing clouds my ears first, "how's my pretty sissy doing" he gets a chuckle out from me, we spend over thirty minutes going back and forth conversing about the smallest details.

One he shares has me holding in a laughter so loud, I could feel my cheeks almost rip apart, "now call me if you need anything, Ana" I nod forgetting he can't see me.

We exchange I love you's then goodbyes,  his voice comes through last minute, "and don't think about your boss too much" he must have said that a little too loud, as I hurry to end the call and hide from utter embarrassment.

Mr Aguirre is definitely going to read this all wrong, if I were in his shoes I would too, I avoid his eyes well avoid looking the other way for the rest of the drive, my mind on overdrive with raging thoughts of what clouded his thinking.

The car moved slower, giving in to the weight pressing on my eye lids maybe it was time to give in to the arms of sleep.

°°°

My fingers curled around the warm blanket draped over me, this is the most inconvenient means of transport I've ever been on, nevertheless keeping my eyes shut helped me.

The short exchange happening somewhere around me, beckoned me to probe my eyes open but I'm still soaking in all the warmth I'm getting, can't they see I'm trying to get some sleep

I hear the door fling open, the warmer air brushing my neck has me shutting my eyes tighter, maybe they'll go away and let me stay in Navi's car some more.

Wait... Navi's car.

Eyes pop wide open, I try to distinguish my surroundings the strange car I'm in doesn't ring a bell yet, then the top corner of my seat is being indented on, hands brushing aside my locs first, before it assumes the free spot near my legs.

I could hear the crack in my neck from how fast I turned, frantic at first, then my eyes landed on him, glasses propped on his slim nose, it all came rushing in.

I got up early this morning right after getting a call from my boss' assistant, Antonio — he wasn't a meanie like the Mister right here — that I was to accompany my boss to his golf house or country club to Frank I just got confused and went with whatever my brain explained — I was involuntarily dragged to a rich man's hideout —, the nice scent of the car is overpowered by his cologne, Mr Aguirre drew so close I could pick out the growing stach on his upper lip.

The chunky scarf wrapped around his neck, went out of my reach as he returned to his full height, "you're awake, good, I won't bother getting you inside" he thrusts forth an open palm.

I noticed a man and two pretty women dressed in simple dresses with silky black hair tied in a bun, a smile on their lips while they stood a few steps away from us, folding the blanket in one piece I stole some time to glance at the backseat and find it empty.

Jae must be inside.

Accepting his open hand, I realised my bonnet was nowhere to be found, my locs spilled on the shoulders of my fitted blouse, sensing my worry, he creeps closer and assures me it isn't missing, "it fell off when you were asleep, they'll bring it in for you" he hands the key to the man as the ladies bow their heads then hurry to pick out the things.

I squeezed his hand before I knew it, it wasn't in me —to let them handle my things for me, "I can get them by myself" he tugs me closer just when I'm about to rush back to the vehicle, "it's what I pay them for"

This Mann..

"Mr Aguirre" he drags me along like this discussion of ours is over, I'm about to raise an argument, when the words disappear from my head in awe at the sight before me.

We go behind one of the raised pillars before I get the chance to make out the historical art pieces on the walls, leading to the spiral stairs, the more time I spend with this family I'm greeted with more surprises.

"Let's wrap your hair in a swift bun, yeah" he takes out a hairband from one of his pockets, like I would let him just touch my hair, "No you won't" my tone's stern but he doesn't budge.

Understanding the brewing storm in my head, he grips my hand calmly, "don't misinterpret me Ana, you're meeting my cousin in a bit, " he moves behind me, picking the long strands of hair and tying them in a neat bun in a second.

"Do you perhaps have one of those hair pins you always have on?" I shake my head no, patting the perfect bun on my head, "thank, you" I straighten my collar and huff in content knowing I don't drool while I sleep.

He hands me a lip balm, "noticed you didn't have any on" I accept it, staring the cherry themed lip balm, "thank you, Mr Aguirre" he nods, taking out his elbow, —i might just get used to this— climbing the stairs, he decreases his speed to match mine.

The piano behind the stairs catches my eye, I've never played any instrument before, had the interest when I was younger but lacked the skill, the art of playing was something I couldn't master.

Whoever has that is quite lucky.

We are halfway up when he pauses, the fabric of his shirt rubs against my skin, "and Ana, you're my guest so make yourself at home" Giving a controlled nutation, we resume our walk which dashes me more time to take in all of this.

Reaching the top of the stairway, I spot a man, drinking from his glass briskly before his eyes lands on us, we get closer as he takes a solid step nearer, stopping infront of me first, " you must me Ana, you are most welcome" he brings my free hand to meet the skin of his lips, unlike Mr Aguirre's, his blonde hair rubs the back of my palm.

"Just pathetic" I hear my boss say, arms folded against his chest, I ignore his comment, smiling at the handsome man before me, "it is I, you must be Mr Aguirre's cousin "

He spreads his arms out, the loose fitting polo shirt tucked into his white pants makes him stand out more, "it is the Elijah in the flesh" he takes off his glasses and graces me with a fine pair of pitch black eyes.

He has a lively aura around him and it's kind of rubbing in, "can I?" He comes forward reaching for my hand and leads me to one of the seats, "what would you like?" He slaps his hands together and two more maids appear, "nothing really" I refuse his gesture, still grasping how I landed myself here in the first place.

"Come on, you've spent the last two hours with that guy" he points his index at his cousin who has his attention to a phone call, "you can't tell me you don't want anything, it's my treat " he adds a wink, getting up from the armrest of my chair.

"Celeste, prepare tea first and a light dish, an appetiser preferably—" I tap him lightly, "just water first" he repeated what I said to Celeste, the she excused herself.

"Come on Ana, let me show you to your room" Mr Aguirre is off his phone, dropping his hands to his sides and gestures for me to follow.

"Sovann don't be a bore, she's with me now" Elijah chided rising up to face his not so pleased cousin, who has his eyes trained on me.

On second thought I'll go with the  Aguirre I'm more acquainted with, "it's okay Eli, we can catch up later" I meet up with Mr Aguirre's strides, turning at intervals to wave at Elijah who now has the tip of his shades, in between his teeth.

Falling in step with my boss, he clarifies right before I get too comfortable with him, "cancel whatever you think you'll be having with Elijah, it's not happening on my watch" that's the man I know, ladies and gents, Mister meanie is back.