I know I kinda disappeared from the scene for a long time because I had found this new rabbit hole that I had fallen deep under. Don't worry it is harmless but I don't want to say what it is here but you can try guessing it. It has something to do with international music;) so I was concentrating too much on it that I had barely any time to concentrate over here. I haven't forgotten this though and with the holidays approaching, I guess I could come back to the scene again.
Chapter 3
Katniss POV
"Good Morning, Peeta"
"Good Morning, Katniss" he replies not meeting my eyes instead concentrating intently on the cupcake in front of him. His eyebrows are scrunched up, his tongue sticking out as he slightly bites it and his messy, curly hair falls on his face as he flips his hair from his face, his attention not faltering for a second.
And I find it cute.
I tried to hide it for the past a month or something but there is no denying that he is handsome and has a good personality. It took him some time to warm open up but within two days into hiring the others, I noticed that the face I saw him before that was not the real Peeta but that was the Peeta who was hurting.
But once the others came, he slowly started getting around more. Maybe he has been deprived of human contact with a large crowd for a long time but once Finnick and Gale started cracking jokes around him and joined him into their little group of guy friends along with Darius within a couple of days, I found myself one day returning to a smiling Peeta along with Finn. Although Gale takes time to accept anyone, he kinda seemed to like Peeta and get along with him.
It did not take long for me to look at how he really was. He was kind, even cracked jokes along with his employees, friendly and was fun to hand around. The other cooks would leave early to their families or part time jobs but since I was a full-time employee, I would stay back and work after all the members left.
And that marked the beginning of my crush. It started out with friendly conversations and we would try some new recipes adding our own little taste to it. We would stay in the little kitchen and eat the dishes we made. Soon, the conversations started getting deep as we discussed and opened a little about our past lives to each other. Since we had that conversation at Haymitch's, we already feel like we knew each other and it was not hard to open to him. He always gave a small smile as encouragement whenever I mention my family and I try to do the same when he mentions his.
However, I became aware on how close we were getting. I started noticing how my eyes would be fixated on his messy hair that are messily curled on his forehead, how they look like they have been spun from gold, shining when sunlight falls on them, how his ears turn rosy due to cold and giving a blush-like appearance to his cheeks, his long eyelashes, how his muscles flex when he works and the charming smile that stays in his face all the time and the small smile that stays in his face when he works in the bakery. It is just that when he is around in his workplace, he takes on a different demeanour. His body seems more relaxed and looks comfortable and serene.
As soon I had it figured it out what it was, thanks to Prim's sappy romance films, I did not want to invest much time thinking about it with the New Year's party fast approaching. Deciding that my infatuation with my boss would fade away, I decided that I would not waste my precious time dwelling on the fact. Having a crush on your boss. God, I feel to cheesy, even for myself.
I remove my coat and get back to my work. Today we will be meeting Plutarch and supplying our samples because there will be a lot of high profile guests appearing and they would be expecting high class food. The Mellark reputation seems to have faded but if we under-deliver, we could risk closing the entire shop. Peeta thought it was playing with fire but Johanna gave him a pep speech and then as if something had happened, the tides changed. I was more worried about the presentation and Peeta was all 'go big or go home' because the more I thought about the plan, the more stupid it sounded but apparently the more they thought about it, it made sense to them. I am afraid that if this were to not go the way we had planned, the person more affected than me in this would be Peeta.
And this is why today is important. Johanna mentioned that as much as much as Plutarch loves his guests, he is kind of a fool. She assured that he tends to fall for anything if you were to put in some fancy words into it and if he were to like Peeta, he would blindly pay you the money and not even question your decisions or even taste it. He apparently trusts everyone easily and even if the party were is not to go as planned, if he likes Peeta, he would pay him, no questions asked.
However, within the short time period I've known Peeta, he is an extremely hardworking and an perfectionist who gives his 100 percent into anything he does and puts his heart and soul into it and we have got a great staff. He would not let anything go wrong and he is determined to sweep Plutarch off his feet today. Probably the cupcakes are for this occasion.
"Katniss, it would be nice if you could go and help Darius with the cooking part. He has been wanting a helping hand since morning and has been struggling to do everything on his own"
"Yeah, sure" I reply and tie my apron and make my way into the kitchen.
"Don't forget, I have some cheese buns warm in the oven for you along with some hot chocolate on the counter, just the way you like" he says the last part and turns to face me. When I meet his eyes, he gives me his usual charming smile and winks at me leaving my mouth slightly hanging open as I wonder how he even knows about it. Probably Haymitch told him, that old man.
"Actually I kinda saw you eating them one day and how much you enjoyed the cheese buns as compared to the others and the other day, when I asked you what you want most at the moment, you replied by saying 'Hot Chocolate', so I thought maybe you would like them, you know as a combo" He looks a little sheepish with this confession. 'Do you even remember or notice all these things' I want to ask him but that would result in an extremely uncomfortable conversation and I would end up saying something utterly foolish. Neither flirting nor holding a conversation is my forte while he is skilled on both the fields. Hence, I hold my tongue and mutter thanks and leave. We are comfortable the way we are and I don't want to mess it up.
"Katniss, hey are you alright?"
I nod tensely not trusting my voice entirely to speak. Me,Madge and Peeta came to Plutarch Heavensbee's office and waiting outside the conference and looking at the size of the office itself, my heart dropped to the stomach. How on Earth are we gonna feed these many people and that is not even including the guests who would be attending this. My mind went blank after that. I insisted both Peeta and Johanna that I wouldn't come but they dragged me here. Johanna however refused saying that she wants to keep it completely professional and did not 'nepotism' going around. Although we very well knew that she wanted her Sunday drinking binge and wouldn't be sober enough to attend on a Saturday. Finnick, Gale and Madge offered to bring the food while Johanna helped with the food and went home directly.
"Maybe Finnick or Gale should do this." I tell Madge and try to get up but she pulls on my arm. Madge's father was a mayor and she was apparently on the debate team and had a silver tongue like Peeta. They speak very well while I am a blabbering mess when I try to speak. I am more on the action side but after Peeta, I am apparently the one that is on charge around, hence they insist me being there too.
A young woman on high heels and strawberry hair pulled up into a ponytail appears in front of her, the sound of her heels being heard throughout the hallway. She speaks in a clipped and a professional tone lacking emotions in them.
"Mr. Heavensbee would like to meet you now."
"Deep breaths, Katniss. Everything is going to be alright" Madge reassures me as she grabs my hand and literally pulls me into the room with Peeta leading the way.
We are taken into a what seems like a meeting room of some sorts. The walls are all white with no paintings or a flower vase to decorate a room. A desktop sits upon a large table with chairs being neatly arranged on opposite seats of the table. A man, plump, with short blonde hair, that looks like that it has been dyed, looks like he could be in his mid-forties sits there typing away furiously on his desktop. As soon as he spots us entering, he closes whatever he has been doing and looks at us.
"So, I guess you guys are here to discuss about the catering deal from the Mellark Bakeries and Restaurant? Well I guess Johanna didn't tell you this but the deal is off"
Well, so. How was it? I haven't been into writing for a long time and it feels weird. Once I catch my pace, I promise to improve the quality and hopefully try to post regularly from now.
-Cutelily05
