Playlist : Pillow Talk

Iva's POV :

I opened the shop, kept the keys in the drawer of the counter. I took my bag and went straight to the restroom.

Yesterday evening Adreano bumped into the restroom without asking permission or knocking the door. How mannerless one can be? I never get what he is up to. Sometimes he seems so sweet and sometimes evil as hell.

Last time he entered the kitchen without seeking any permission and yesterday he crossed the heights. I felt so embarrassed, uncomfortable. I was getting a strong urge to take the dough out of the fridge and fill his mouth with it.

The cherry on the cake was when I fell on him because of that dirty lizard. I landed on him and we ended up kissing. It was a plain kiss though. No involvement of jaw muscles nor the tongue, only my lips on his.

For a moment, I was lost. My eyes was closed but I realized it's not good and I stood up. I don't want to think of him. Why I am ruining the morning, he already ruined my night yesterday.

I took out the shop's uniform and wore them. This time I made sure that the door was locked.

I looked at the mirror. My face, my dress, everything was changed. At some point of my life I was careless, free, happy, clueless of my future and now everything vanished.

I am not sad. Atleast I am able to support my family. I feel so good when I handle the salary to Mom. The smile on her face makes my day. I buy Alex's favourite ice-cream on the day I get the salary. I think their happiness is what making me work so hard. The kind of girl I was before, it was impossible for me to do a job. I was my Dad's princess. It's just the matter of time. We all are slaves of time.

I started off with my daily work.

"Good Morning lady." Mr. Smith arrived behind me.

"Good Morning Mr. Smith." I greeted back.

"Making cookie for the Stryker's?"

"Yes, how do you know? Is he waiting outside?" My heart pounded thinking of Adreano.

"Who he?" He asked in confusion.

"Adreano Stryker, who else? He comes to collect the cookies most of the time."

"No dear they don't have time today to visit the shop. They are busy."

Good, I don't want to see him I said to myself.

"I'll make it, the delivery boy is not well. You can send Cody, he'll be on the moon if he get to deliver at the mansion."

"Yes he will be but I am going to deliver the cookies. I got the call from Pearl to reach with order till eleven."

"You are not well Mr. Smith. Send Cody."

"I am fine child. I want to go there, I haven't seen my best friend since months." He smiled looking at the floor.

"Best friend in the mansion? Cool. Who is he?" I smirked.

"Pearl Stryker." His smile was more wide than before.

"I have heard the name. Pearl Stryker...hmmm...Oh! You mean Adreano's Grandma, Pearl Stryker?"

"Yes." He laughed at my reaction.

"His Grandma is your best friend? How this happened?"

I was shocked because they were one of the famous family in the NYC. No doubt Mr. Smith is well settled and lives in a posh area but still there's no point of connection I see between them. Yes, they may know each other by this shop as it's very famous and many richie rich visit the shop daily but best friend? There maybe something special about it.

"Well, dear it's a long story."

"I love stories and that to real ones." I chuckled.

"Okay, let's start. My father used to work in the Stryker's mansion. He used to help my Grandfather with in the gardening as my Grandfather was a gardener."

He sat on the nearby chair, grabbed a cookie which I just made, fresh and crispy. "Delicious! They will surely going to love it Iva."

"Thank you Mr. Smith." I smiled shyly. "So how such a big and famous biscuit shop of New York came into existence?"

Mr. Smith's story :

My father used to go to school and after that help my Grandfather with the gardening. They lived in the servants quarter along with other staff of the mansion.

My father wanted to become a chef, so he used to go into the mansion's kitchen and learn to cook from the chef's of the mansion. They used to teach him happily as they treated my Dad as their own.

One day he secretly made chocolate cookies in the kitchen as it was my Grandfather's birthday. He made it when the other chef's were gone for lunch break. While he was escaping from the kitchen he bumped with Adreano's Grandfather.

.......

"Hello Mr. Smith. Good Morning clowny." Cody interrupted.

"Clowny? Cody, Iva is the senior worker of t he shop, respect her."

Hmm, sorry Ivee." He winked.

He again teased me but Mr. Smith didn't understood. To Mr. Smith it was 'Ivee' but Cody actually said, 'Eww-ee' Whatever. I ignored.

"Go change and handle the counter." Mr. Smith ordered. Cody left.

"So what happened next?" I was curious.

Story continuation :

Adreano's Grandfather was a tough man. Whole mansion feared him. He was a generous man but when he got his temper high no one in the mansion was spared from his anger.

My Dad was startled when he saw his face. He immediately threw his hands behind in order to hide the cookies from him.

"What are you upto boy?"

"Sorry sir. I didn't saw you coming." Dad's gaze was down trying not to see him in the eyes.

"What are you hiding?"

"Uh, cookies sir." His voice shooked.

"Cookies? Who gave you cookies?"

"I made it sir." He put his hand forth which was shaking in fear. Mr. Stryker took a piece of the cookie and tasted.

"Are you sure you made it?" He asked suspiciously scanning the kitchen to see if there's any chef but he ended up with empty kitchen.

"Yes I made it for my father. Today is his birthday." He was tapping his feet in nervously.

"I see. Very well then, come back to me along with your father to my study room."

..........

"Holy crap! Will he fire him off from the job?" I said while keeping the tray of cookies in the oven. I was imagining the whole scenario so my reaction was quick.

"Hahaha! Even I reacted like you when my dad told me the story." Mr. Smith laughed while biting another cookie.

Continuation of the story :

My Dad was sweating profusely. He thought of running and never come back but then he collected courage and told the matter to my Grandfather. He was a very calm person. He didn't scolded my Dad as he knew his son tried to make his birthday special.

They went to the study room.

"May I come in sir?" Grandfather knocked the door.

"Yes come in." He responded.

My Dad was standing behind my Grandfather hiding himself fr the boss.

"Please have a seat." He gestured them to sit on the chair.

"Mr. Smith, since when are you working in this mansion?"

"I don't know sir, I think since I was child I started working here with my father." My Grandfather answered.

"Seems you have been working since many years and I have learned you haven't got your actual salary for years."

"Sir I have been receiving my salary every month."

"I know. I said you got only half of your salary." He said sternly

...........

Iva's POV :

The phone rang - "Hello? Yes I am coming. Yes they are ready. Okay. Bye."

"Iva, you done with the baking?"

"Yes, everything is ready. Just need packing." I packed the cookies and handled to Mr. Smith. "Ready for delivery."

I looked at the watch. It was ten past thirty. Mr. Smith was ready to leave.

"The story is not completed yet. Come soon I am waiting." I said waving him

"Sure dear. I will be back soon." He waved back and went away.

"What story Eww-ee?" Cody asked placing his elbows on the counter and cupping the cheeks with his palms.

"Ancient Egyptian story. About the establishment of the pyramids and mummies. Want to hear?" I grinned.

"Oh please, go away. I don't want to die this early." He scoffed.

I went back to the kitchen and cleaned the mess. The morning was different. I was feeling happy automatically. I extended my arms on the side of my body taking a big stretch. I took a deep breath and welcomed a refreshing morning with a wide smile.

I opened my eyes and saw Cody standing before me, watching me in disgust, "No doubt you are weird." He said and returned back to the counter.

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Good night!