It's easy to assume that the strangest thing to happen was that Jade tried to seduce a trained bodyguard, or that he simply fell when he pulled her like a fool, or that she got caught after stealing his card, but that is not the strangest at all, because it only gets more dramatic from here.
There was the fear that he might report her to the man who has no name, and who knows what he might do to her. Then there is the fact that he could blackmail her. Since she tried and failed, he could threaten to report her if she did not comply with his demands, and for a man who had been looking at her, what sort of demand would he have? Then there was the last possibility, the one Jade feared the most, her escape plan. He knows that she is planning to escape, no need to go into details.
The night was long, but morning came, and Jade had already woken before her alarm. She could already picture how stressful it would be to stand alone in the kitchen all day, cooking for thirty guests and then serving them upon arrival. He must think that she is some kind of robot.
She got out of bed to wash up when she noticed a black box next to her bed. It had not been there the night before while she was asleep, so that could only mean someone had come into the room while she slept. It looked like a shoebox, only bigger and there was also a note next to it with the writing, "For Jade." Nothing else.
"Well, I guess it is mine to open," she thought. She crouched down and uncovered the box to see what was inside, and to her surprise, it was a dress. On top of it was another note with the writing, "For tonight's dinner."
Jade lifted the dress. She could have sworn that it would be similar to everything else she had worn so far, but she was amazed to find it was the exact opposite. It was just as beautiful as it was modest. The dress was black, the length went far below her knee, and it flowed freely. It was covered in beautiful white embroidery, with a few colorful stones at the neckline, and a belt for the waist. Besides the dress, there was a pair of shoes in the box as well, and they were very similar to whatever Cinderella had left behind at the ball.
There were other accessories too, bracelets, a necklace, earrings, and hairpins, and finally a makeup box. Jade was speechless. It could not have been him. Maybe he had sent for this, but surely a woman had packed the box, putting together all the right things. No doubt she liked it, but she thought, "It is just for the stupid dinner." She tossed everything onto her bed and proceeded to freshen up. It was not a kind gesture, at least she refused to see it that way.
Once she had freshened up, Jade headed for the kitchen. That was one part of the vast mansion that she could locate very easily for now. Along the way, she saw the bodyguard but avoided eye contact, and so did he, though she did not notice.
Inside the kitchen, Jade placed the menu on the counter and went through it once again. Seven dishes, one chef, and no help. She could only imagine how tired she would be by the end of the day. Without further ado, she went into the supermarket sized store to grab a few things and to find out if there were any missing ingredients, but it turned out that the store had been restocked with all the right items. "All this was done while I was asleep?" she wondered. Even crates of drinks were arranged in a corner, not just any drinks but strong alcoholic wine.
"This is going to be one hell of a debauchery," she uttered. She shrugged and began to carry as much as she could from the shelves., and would come back for the vegetables later. The moment she walked out of the store, Jade froze in shock, and her heart stopped for a split second.
He was right there, standing next to the counter, staring at the menu she had left behind. He lifted his head the second he saw her. Their eyes met, and she looked away immediately.
"Good morning, sir," she stuttered.
"I came to see if you need any help," he said, ignoring her greeting.
She had to look at him, wondering if she had heard him correctly. "I'm sorry?"
"Do you need help?" he asked again. "Seven dishes seem like a lot."
Jade did not move. One question lingered in her mind. "Is he going to help me cook? But I thought he could not cook."
"Jade," he called again.
"I do," she answered briskly. "I can do it alone, though, but it would take a while, and I might be too tired to serve when I am done."
He nodded. "Okay." And said nothing else but walked out of the kitchen.
Jade exhaled as though she had been holding her breath the whole time. He did not seem upset, so maybe the bodyguard had not reported her, but she could not help wondering why he had asked as if he could help. "Useless," she whispered and continued to the counter, where she placed her things in a corner.
Before she could return to the store, the kitchen door flung open again, and he came back, this time with four bodyguards.
"Is this enough?" he asked her, and Jade raised a brow in confusion.
"What?"
"They will help you," he replied, and even the bodyguards themselves were astonished. "Do they have to wear aprons?"
"Um," Jade tried to hold herself together. "Yes, I guess," she answered. Immediately, he turned to the bodyguards and ordered them,
"Wear aprons and hair nets. Do whatever she asks you to do. This is the kitchen, so she is in charge. Got it?" The bodyguards stared at each other in utter perplexity before nodding in unison.
"Good."