Unlike the previous day, June hadn’t slept well during the night. Her baby, who was usually quiet, had decided to show off its football skills throughout the night.
Regardless of how she turned, she was uncomfortable and ended up getting very little rest.
She forced herself out of bed when all she wanted was to remain there.
But she had promised Henson that she would interview the applicants for the positions of cook and housekeeper. If there was one thing June wasn’t, it was someone who went back on her word.
It took sheer force of will to bathe herself before dragging her feet out of the bathroom.
She put on her usually oversized clothes, but they didn’t look so big on her anymore. In fact, they looked as though she wouldn’t be able to wear them much longer.
June sighed.
She refused to dwell on it as she walked out of her room. Just like the previous day, she expected to find the living room empty, but Rauf was standing in the middle of it with a small bowl of food held out to Bingo.
The sight of him caring for the dog was so cute that June watched them for a while before interrupting them.
She wondered that if he cared this much about a dog, how would he act with their child?
Yet, she shook her head, guessing she would never find out.
Once the dog caught sight of her, it started barking while wagging its tail happily.
Rauf also looked up.
"Good morning."
His tone was calm, and unlike her, he seemed to have slept peacefully. At that moment, June wanted to kick him.
She felt annoyed that he had put her in this condition while enjoying a good night’s sleep.
She shook her head, trying to clear the unreasonable thought.
"Where is Henson?" she asked instead, eager to complete her task and probably collapse back into bed.
Still trying to feed Bingo, Rauf responded, "Out on an assignment, but he’ll be back soon."
Finally, he settled the dog, whose attention was completely focused on the food in front of it, and turned towards her.
"Breakfast."
June raised a brow.
She wasn’t really interested in the packaged food Rauf usually bought, so she shook her head.
"I’ll prepare something myself when I’m ready."
But Rauf looked like a dog that had been kicked in the stomach.
"This isn’t one of those packaged meals. I prepared it myself."
June’s eyes widened.
Rauf, preparing food?
That must be poison.
She shook her head quickly.
"I think I’m fine."
Her stomach growled, and Rauf looked at her with a smile.
"You can just try a little. If you don’t like it, I won’t force you."
June stared at him as if he were a figment of her imagination.
"Hmm. Why are you doing this?"
He shrugged.
"I read somewhere that pregnant women are always hungry."
Her brow rose even higher. So, he had been doing his research on pregnant women.
Not bad.
"I guess your research is right. But I know for a fact that you can’t cook anything. You don’t even know how to boil water."
Rauf placed a hand on his chest as if he were hurt.
"You don’t have to put it that way. I learnt."
She nodded.
"From?"
"YouTube."
June rolled her eyes.
"Of course."
That was the school for everything.
"Fine. I’ll check it out. What did you prepare?"
Excited about her eating his food, he led her towards the dining area.
"Just scrambled eggs and tea."
June smiled inwardly.
He had to watch YouTube to learn how to make scrambled eggs.
Amazing.
She opened the plate on the table, and a black object stared back at her. June had no idea what it was supposed to be. It was completely flat on the plate.
Rauf forced a smile.
"I think it might have burned a little."
And that settled it. June closed the plate again.
"I think I’m fine. Totally not hungry."
Rauf stared at his eggs.
"If you don’t want this, I can whip up something else for you."
Before he could take a step towards the kitchen, June stopped him.
"Thank you, but I can prepare my own breakfast just fine. Everything I need is in the pantry, so it’ll be easy."
Rauf’s eyes moved to her stomach.
"But you’re pregnant."
"That doesn’t make me handicapped."
She dragged herself to the kitchen, with Rauf following behind her.
June paused before starting anything.
"Why are you doing all this? Is there something you want to ask me?"
Involuntarily, Rauf stepped back.
How did she know?
What had given him away?
He hadn’t said any of that aloud, but June answered before he could ask.
"Of course I know you. I took care of you for five years. Do you think I wouldn’t know when you’re up to something and trying to disguise it?"
Rauf sighed.
"Fine. You caught me."
"Spill it," she commanded, cracking a fresh egg into a bowl.
"Okay, so the thing is, your mother is holding the introduction party in three days."
June sighed.
"Finally."
Rauf nodded as if he agreed with her.
"Chris invited me to the party."
"Okay."
She added seasoning to the egg.
"So, I thought it wouldn’t be nice to attend without a partner by my side."
June continued nodding as she placed a frying pan on the stove and turned on the gas.
"So, I was thinking you could be my partner for the party, since you need to attend anyway."
She was about to pour the egg into the pan when she stopped and looked at Rauf.
"I’m not going to the introduction."
"What?"
Rauf was stunned.
In all his rehearsals, he had never considered the possibility that June wouldn’t want to attend. He had assumed that, since she was the real heiress, she would automatically want to be at a party her family was hosting.
Yet, he couldn’t help asking, "Why?"
Finally, June poured the egg into the pan. The kitchen filled with the aroma of frying eggs as she responded.
"Because I’m not ready to witness a party where someone is pretending to be me."