"How can you depend on someone, you just met",he said."I can do anything to you!ruin you, trusting a complete stranger will do nothing good "
Hearing Jade's words, Ausse fell into a heavy silence, struck by a thought so deep it made her shiver. Her breath grew ragged as she zoned out, her mind locked in a conflict of "What just happened?"
She had never been taught how to protect herself; she had never faced a situation like this. Neglected and bullied by her own parents her entire life, she had no compass for right or wrong. Her anger, suppressed for years, was now a volatile, uncontrollable force. She was like a stray dog—starved, dirty, and beaten down by others on the street—who is suddenly taken in by a kind stranger. Cleaned and fed for the first time, the dog is too confused to know whether to bark in fear or stay silent in gratitude. Ausse was no different.
Seeing her tremble, Jade grew tense. He hurried to get her water and patted her gently. Ausse looked up, her voice quivering. "I... I'm sorry," she sobbed, leaning her head against his chest. "I never meant to... I don't know anything." She tightened her fists, clutching his shirt tightly.
Jade was at a loss. He wanted to hug her, but his hands hesitated as if waiting for permission he didn't know how to ask for. He had never consoled anyone before. "Ausse—" he began, his expression full of regret.
"Do I... really look like a fool?" she interrupted.
"No, Ausse, you don't. I'm just—" Before he could finish, she collapsed against his shoulder, fast asleep from exhaustion, like a child after a long scolding. Jade hit his own head in frustration. "I shouldn't have let my annoyance out on her," he muttered. He carefully laid her down on the bed, looking at her one last time. "She's just like him," he thought. "Their moods change faster than a chameleon." Then, he left.
When Ausse finally woke, her hair was a mess and a wave of guilt immediately washed over her. Ashamed of her earlier outburst, she gripped her hair in frustration. "Shit! I screwed everything up."
Suddenly, the doorbell rang. She opened it to find a man in glasses and a black coat. Startled, she said, "If you're looking for Mr. Jade, he isn't home."
"It's not him I'm here for," the man said with a bow. "It's you."
Ausse panicked internally.* Is this about my fiancé's murder? Will they think I'm an accomplice since I'm living with the man who killed him? This feels like a plot from a novel, but I'm the one who's screwed!*
She was so lost in thought she didn't hear him calling her name.
"Mrs. Ausse?"
"Mrs?!" she choked out.
"My apologies—Miss Ausse?"
"Yes," she replied, regaining her composure. "State your business."
"Are you being harassed or feeling uncomfortable here?" he asked directly.
Suspicious, she narrowed her eyes. "What does that have to do with you?"
"I'm sorry to be blunt—I'm not great at conversation," he admitted. "I was sent by someone to check if you are safe."
"Who sent you?"
"My dear brother!"
"Brother? What are you saying?" she said, confused.
"Forgive me! My employer is like a brother to me. Mr. Jade sent me to check on you since you fainted earlier."
Relieved, Ausse softened. "Oh, you're Jade's friend! You should have said so. Please, come in for a drink."
"No, thank you. You shouldn't invite just anyone in I advise. AlsoI have work to attend to. Mr. Jade is busy, so he asked me to deliver these medicines, groceries, and some food."
"Thanks, but I don't think I'll need all this."
"Please take it," he insisted. "Boss will have my head if I bring this back."
She took the bags and asked, "Wait, what is your name?"
"Xavier Hope," he replied, before heading out.
Ausse spent the rest of the day in a fog of overthinking, wondering how she could ever face Jade again. Since she had slept during the day, she spent the night doing chores to keep her mind busy.
Late that night, the door slammed open. It was Jade. Ausse nervously continued her work as he walked past her and crashed onto the couch. "There's a vacant room upstairs," he said. "It's a bit dirty, but you can clean it and stay there."
"Fine," she replied. Then, gathering her courage, she asked, "Would you help me find a job? I don't want to depend on you."
Jade looked at her in surprise before nodding. "I'll see," he said, though internally he groaned, Another pain in the neck, but I'll have to ask him first.
"Thanks for earlier," Ausse added.
"For what?"
"For sending Mr. Xavier to check on me."
Jade froze. "Who? Xavier? I didn't send anyone."
"But he said you did! He was wearing all black, had glasses, a bob cut, and a mole under his lip. He was about your height and called you his 'dear brother.'"
Jade sprang up, nearly choking in shock. "What else did he say?"
"Nothing special, just asked if I was okay. I asked him a few questions, that's all."
Jade sighed in relief, though his tension remained.
Ausse spent half the night cleaning her new room until it sparkled. Over the next week, she didn't see Jade at all, but her efforts weren't in vain. She received a letter offering her a part-time job as a chef at a fine restaurant. She was stunned—she had no formal degree—and assumed Jade must have pulled some strings.
On her first day, she was thrown straight into training. While busy in the kitchen, she accidentally bumped into someone. "Sorry!" she said without looking up.
"Hello," a heavy, calm voice replied.
She looked up to see a man with a kind face, a faint smile, and a certain gleam in his eyes. He had long blonde hair and fox-like eyes.
"I am Zayne Holeshyer, a chef here," he said, breaking the silence.
"I'm Ausse Angelina," she replied. "The new chef."