Page 22 of My Billionaire Neighbor's Secret

Should I send a gift and a card as an apology? Should I call him?

I wanted to scream. But I didn’t, or he might come running back here.

Suddenly I heard a clatter from downstairs. My eyes opened wide as an exciting and scary thought entered my mind.Could he still be here? Did he sleep in my house?

I brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and changed into a pair of lounge clothes that I usually wore at home. I couldn’t even believe that I slept in my swimsuit and robe!

With my heart pounding wildly, I went downstairs, trying not to be too energetic. I was practicing my opening speech in my head.

The smell of pancakes wafted from the kitchen. Well, he had the nerve to touch my stuff! I didn’t know if I was going to get mad, laugh, or feel giddy.

I was still deciding what to say to him when I entered my kitchen and saw a woman, not a man, with her back to me, cooking pancakes and making coffee.

I would know that curly blonde hair anywhere!

“Rasha!” I said in surprise, startling her as well. “What are you doing here?”

With her eyes wide, she turned around to face me. A puzzled expression came on her face. “Hi, Miss Andrews,” she said, a grin finally spreading on her face. “I’m here at your service.” She bowed jokingly.

“But are you not on leave today?” I asked, still bewildered.

She motioned to the breakfast awaiting me. “Go eat first and maybe you’ll remember why I’m here,” she told me, still grinning.

As I sat on the bar stool in front of the kitchen counter across from her, I was racking my brain for what I could have forgotten that made her come here.

“Go ahead,” Rasha urged. “Take a bite. People say I make the best pancakes!”

I shook my head in disbelief, then forced a smile. “Thanks,” I said before taking a bite. She was right, though. It tasted amazing.

“I made it from scratch,” she explained.

“Wow, it’s so damn good,” I said. “You’re talented in the kitchen. I’m definitely not.”

Rasha laughed. “Don’t worry. You’ve got plenty of other talents and skills that I only wish I had. That’s why you’re CEO, and I’m the assistant.”

“Oh, Rasha,” I said, sincerely smiling now. “You’re the best assistant any CEO could ever ask for! I’m just glad you’re not accepting offers from other companies at the moment.”

“I’m happy where I am,” she stated.

Suddenly it hit me then. I recalled waking up in the middle of the night, feeling confused and groggy but somehow knowing what to do. I grabbed my cellphone and sent a message to someone. I just couldn’t remember if it really was Rasha and what exactly I had said in that message.

“Oh, shit,” I said with realization. “Do you mean I messaged you in the middle of the night and asked you to come in the morning?!”

She grinned, nodding, her curls bobbing up and down. “You asked me to come early because you said you’re drunk and would need someone to clean the poolside and kitchen and prepare your breakfast.”

My hand flew to my mouth in shock. “Oh, my gosh, I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed, touching her hand. “I’m so, so embarrassed! You shouldn’t have come!”

“No, it’s really fine,” she insisted. “I was surprised, though, but that’s okay.”

“No, it’s not fine,” I said, feeling so ashamed of myself. “That’s not part of your job. And besides, you’re not even supposed to go to work today. Did you have an important appointment to go to that you had to cancel because I suddenly asked this of you? Oh, my gosh. Please tell me you didn’t have one!”

“No appointments, fortunately,” Rasha said, making me heave a sigh of relief. “I was just planning on hanging out with a cousin who’s visiting. But that’s for later, so no worries.”

I pressed a hand to my chest as my breathing turned normal again. “Oh, I’m so glad to hear that.”

Rasha laughed. “Really, it’s no big deal. Remember, I’m not just your assistant. I’m also your friend.”

“Thank you so much,” I said, squeezing her hand across the counter. “You can go now if you want.”

---