SAGE WAS shocked to see the trespasser inside his house once again. And Marceline was the one who brought her in. What was she thinking?
“You—”
“Selen is your new housekeeper. Don’t think about firing her. Only I have the power to do that,” Marceline said in a firm tone.
“Are you nuts?” He pointed at her. “She’s my stalker.”
“Ouch… I’m a fan, but I’m not a stalker. I know what I did is wrong. But believe me, I only did that out of concern. How’s your crotch, anyway? I hope it’s okay now.”
Sage felt all his blood go up to his head. How could she casually ask about his crotch?
“This is ridiculous, Marceline! I should be the one who calls the shots because this is my house!” he snapped.
“I guess you already forgot that I’m not just your manager, but also the person in charge of taking care of you since you were young.”
“For heaven’s sake, I’m old enough.”
Marceline snorted. “But you still act like a baby.”
Sage grinned and sauntered towards the table.
“What’s for breakfast?”
SELEN followed him and opened the food canisters.
“I brought you our best sellers for breakfast.”
She pulled a chair for Sage, but he pulled another and sat there. Ah, yes… she should at least expect that he will treat her cold. Well, that would not last long. Soon, the love potion will take effect, and Sage will be head over heels in love with her.
“T-that’s still hot,” Selen told him when he was about to slurp the soup out of the canister.
He turned to her with narrowed eyes. Sage did not have to tell that he was annoyed.
“Treat her good, Sage. I can no longer find someone like her that we can trust,” Marceline said afterwards. She slurped the remaining coffee on her cup and grabbed her bag on the countertop. “I’ll leave you two here. I have a meeting to attend. Sage, you behave, okay?”
Sage’s manager nodded to her before exiting the kitchen.
She stood right next to Sage and watched him eat his breakfast. He was eating with so much gusto, which is good because she mixed the first dose of the love potion on his breakfast. The potion will surely go to his system as planned. With that thought, Selen giggled, and it caught Sage’s attention. She covered her mouth with her hand and cleared her throat.
“What’s so funny?” he asked in a cold tone.
“Nothing.” Selen shook her head and flashed her brightest smile.
He snorted and wiped his lips afterwards.
“Selen, right?” He looked at her as if he wanted to intimidate her.
Well, sorry, but she was not a weakling. She was a tough girl who keeps her knees strong.
“Yes.” She nodded.
He raised his forefinger. “I have rules for you.”
“What is it?”
“First, you can’t stay right next to me all the time. You have to stand at least four feet away from me. Second, you should come to me in an instant whenever I call for you. And lastly, you must not tell a single soul anything about me. I value my privacy.” Sage put his finger down. “Do you understand?”
“Hmm… Is there anything else you would like to add?” Selen cocked her head to the side.”
“That’s all. The other rules were stated in the contract, just read it there. Now, go to the study room and get a piece of paper and a pen. I’m going to make the grocery list.”
Selen did what she was told. And when she got back to the kitchen, Sage was already washing the dishes. She strode towards him but kept the four feet distance.
“Why are you doing that? That’s my—”
“I wash the dishes every morning to wake my sense.” He glanced at her.
“Oh. I see.”
“Write everything I will say.”
And he started dictating everything that she has to buy.
SELEN looked at Sage as he put on his mask and cap. He lowered the visor of his cap so that it would cover half of his face. She knew exactly why he was doing that. He wanted to hide his face from those people who might recognize him.
This is the downside of being a celebrity. He could not live a normal life even if he wants to.
But she did not expect him to be with her.
Sage turned to her. “Can you recognize me?”
“Of course, I can recognize your back from afar,” she said proudly. “I’m an avid fan, you know.”
“Okay, let me change the question. Do you think other people recognize me?”
“No, if you’re far away. But I can still see your face when you’re this close.”
“Then stay beside me and be my cover,” he said as he opened the door to his side.
Selen grinned. What she said was a lie, and he believed in her. She only said that because she was hoping that it could be a way to be close to him. Ah, maybe each dose of love potion works little by little.
She was about to open the door when Sage opened it from the outside.
“What are you still doing there?”
He was so impatient. It was just a few seconds since he got off, yet he talked to her like that as if it took her an hour.
“Sorry.” Selen got off immediately, but she was pulled back to her seat. “Oh, I forgot to remove my seatbelt.” She laughed awkwardly.
Goodness, that was so embarrassing.
Sage leaned closer to her and removed the seatbelt for her. She could only close her eyes as she inhaled the invigorating scent of his cologne.
“Selen.”
The sound of his voice made her flinch. She slowly opened her eyes, and she was greeted by his intent gaze and furrowed brows.
“Let’s go,” he said and turned his back on her.
She followed Sage as he strode towards the mall’s entrance. His strides were huge. She was almost running after him. In the end, Selen gave up catching up with his phase.
Sage got a cart and waited for her at the entrance of the supermarket.
“Can’t you walk faster?” He pushed the cart forward.
“I’m not slow, okay? It’s just that you walk faster than me because…” She lowered her gaze on his long legs. “You have long legs, so you—”
“Why do you have an answer for everything?” He turned to her with a knotted forehead.
“Because you’re asking me.”
Sage raised a finger but decided to put it down afterwards. She suppressed a smile. Knowing this side of him made her feel superior that his fans out there.
“Let’s go to the vegetable section first.”
This time, he walked slower, matching her phase.
Selen let him do the shopping because he seemed to enjoy it. But watching him choose the finest and prettiest from the pile of vegetables was a little tormenting. She could not help but voiced out her opinion.
“When it comes to fruits and vegetables you shouldn’t choose the finest,” she told him.
“And why?”
“Well, the ugly ones grew up in a toxic-free environment—”
“Toxic?”
“Pesticides, for example.”
“Are you telling me to eat vegetables infected with pests?”
“Can’t you broaden your mind?” She sneered.
“Y-you…” He gritted his teeth. “Step back! Four feet away!”
Selen did what she was told.