Chapter 4
Seeing Honsu's stunned reaction, Dohi and Dohon were momentarily paralyzed, but a triumphant smirk played on Leza's lips. So, Mr. Honsu, she thought inwardly, how does it feel to taste the culinary masterpiece of a girl with nine fingers? You thought you were the only 'cool' one here, but I've just begun.
Checking her watch, Leza gasped. "Oh no! It's already 10 PM. I need to get home immediately."
Dohon, ever the gentleman, stepped forward. "Allow me to escort you home?"
Just then, the restroom door creaked open, and Honsu stepped out, a calm, refreshed smile on his face. "Sorry, nature called quite urgently. And Leza... honestly, the food was spectacular."
Leza narrowed her eyes, searching for a hint of sarcasm. "Are you being sincere, or is this just polite flattery?"
"I don't flatter," Honsu replied firmly. "Great work deserves recognition. From now on, you'll be working by my side in the kitchen every day."
Dohi leaned in, whispering into Leza's ear. "This is a miracle. My brother never praises anyone easily. You've officially earned a place in his guarded world."
Leza glanced at Dohi, a peculiar smile crossing her face. "Well then, it seems your 'mighty' brother has some taste after all." Turning back to Honsu, she nodded. "I'll give it my best. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must leave."
Honsu hesitated, his pride battling with a sudden sense of responsibility. "May I... drive you home? It's late, and a girl walking alone isn't safe."
Leza laughed softly. "There's no need. I'll just call my driver."
"As you wish," Honsu shrugged, looking away.
Dohon tried one last time. "Chef Leza, if not my brother, let me take you. The night is unpredictable."
Leza flashed a defiant, spirited smile. "Do you all think I'm some damsel in distress? I am perfectly capable of handling myself. I'll be here at 9 AM sharp to work with Mr. Honsu. Goodnight." With a final, lingering look into Honsu's eyes, she vanished into the night.
Once outside, Leza dialed her driver. "Hello? Bring the car to the restaurant, now."
The driver's voice sounded cold, distant. "Forgive me, Miss Leza. I am now exclusively in the service of Mr. Zayson. I cannot assist you." The line went dead.
"Fuck you, Zayson!" Leza hissed, her blood boiling. "You ran away and left me, and now you come back to steal my driver? What am I supposed to do now?" She looked back at the restaurant, despair clouding her features. Her pride wouldn't let her go back inside to beg for help. "I'm stuck. Truly stuck."
Suddenly, the silence was shattered by a low, guttural growl. Leza froze. A stray dog, mangy and fierce, was baring its teeth at her. "No... please, anything but this. I'm terrified of dogs."
The dog lunged. Leza dropped to the ground, covering her ears and trembling. "God, help me!"
In a flash, a figure blurred past. Honsu stood before her, his arms outstretched like a human shield. "Back off! Get out of here!" he roared at the beast.
Leza looked up, tears stinging her eyes. She scrambled to her feet and clung to Honsu's back, her hands gripping his shirt tightly. "Thank you, Mr. Honsu... I thought it was going to kill me."
"Stop clinging to me!" Honsu gritted his teeth, his own heart hammering against his ribs. The dog hadn't backed off; it looked even angrier. "If you don't let go, we're both getting bitten."
Leza pulled back slightly, her voice shaking. "I'm sorry. My driver betrayed me... he's with my ex-fiancé now."
"Now is not the time for life stories!" Honsu whispered urgently. "Follow me slowly back to the restaurant. Stay behind me."
Inside the glass doors, Dohon was cheering. "Go brother! Show that dog what a master chef can do!"
Honsu wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at his brother. Idiot, he thought. He's cheering while my life is flashing before my eyes. "Dohon, get out here and help before I beat the life out of you!"
Leza whispered from behind, "I believe in you, Mr. Honsu. Show him your courage."
Her words sparked a flicker of bravado in Honsu. "Fine. Let's get out of this." Fortunately, a passing security guard intervened, shooing the dog away.
Back inside the safety of the restaurant, a blushing Leza looked at Honsu. "Can you... can you please drive me home now? I told you what happened with my driver."
Honsu sighed. "Fine. Follow me."
The car ride was quiet until Honsu broke the silence. "Leza... tell me. Your hand. The missing finger... what happened?"
Leza looked at her hand calmly. "It's natural. The world is full of variations—some have more, some have less. I don't regret it. It's just part of who I am."
Honsu nodded, a newfound respect in his eyes. But then his tone turned serious. "What's the deal with your fiancé? Why did he come back and steal your driver?"
"I don't know," Leza said, her voice dripping with bitterness. "I trusted him once. I even gave him a secondary copy of my debit card because I loved him. Today, I got a notification—he's been draining my accounts. He's a thief."
"Did you sign any papers?" Honsu asked.
"No, I'm not that foolish. My parents' property is still mine. I'll take him to court."
"Good," Honsu said, a strange idea crossing his mind. "Since you've had a rough day... want to grab a drink?"
Leza's eyes lit up. "I'd love to! I'm a heavy drinker late at night."
Honsu's eyes narrowed. "Wait... did you ever... you know, with him? Before marriage?"
Leza flushed bright red but smirked. "Never 'everything.' But... we did share a bathtub once. Without clothes."
Honsu nearly choked, coughing uncontrollably. "I didn't need to know that! I'd never do such a thing. Just... don't try to 'die' again like you did today."
They arrived at a bar, and a challenge began. Honsu, a lightweight, succumbed after two glasses. Leza, however, downed five in a row, entering a state of complete, uninhibited intoxication.
"I won!" she shouted, leaning heavily on Honsu as he guided her out. "When we get home, I'm going to get in the bathtub with Honsu... no clothes!"
"You're insane! Be quiet!" Honsu hissed, practically carrying her as she shouted to the crowd about 'losing her seal' to him. He tossed her into the backseat, embarrassed beyond words. "I am never drinking with you again."
Leza, sprawled out on the seat, pouted. "Why? I'm hot and sexy, aren't I? Look at my figure..."
"Shut up and sleep," Honsu muttered, refusing to look back.
Eventually, she drifted off. Honsu looked at her in the rearview mirror, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You really are something else."
When they reached her mansion, he carried her upstairs to her lavish bedroom. As he turned to leave, he heard the sound of muffled laughter and voices coming from the adjacent master bathroom. Steam was wafting from the door.
He crept closer, peeping through the cracked door. In the massive bathtub, a man and a woman were entwined, oblivious to the world, laughing as they bathed together.
Cold sweat broke out on Honsu's forehead. Is that... Zayson? The audacity of this man... to rob Leza and then use her own home to bring another girl?