The days following the massage incident, Helia notices a significant decrease in the number of requests Toji makes of her.

Instead of constantly demanding favors, he seems to have quieted down, no longer bugging her to the same extent as before.

But she remains wary, knowing that he's likely just biding his time and planning his next move.

After all, he's not one to give up easily. But for the time being, she's grateful for the respite from his constant demands and scheming.

Today is an important day, the entire compound is in a state of chaos as all the maids scramble to prepare everything for the arrival of an important guest.

Helia hears whisperings among the maids about the identity of the special guest. To her surprise, she hears them mention the name Gojo Satoru.

She realizes that he's indeed a highly respected and influential figure in the sorcerer world. His presence in the Zenin compound is likely to cause quite a commotion.

The head maid, an older and stern woman, calls all the maids together into the main hall. Everyone gathers in a hushed silence, anticipating what she has to say.

She stands at the front of the gathering, her stern expression scanning the crowd of maids.

"Listen up, all of you." She says, her voice firm and commanding.

"The special guest we're expecting today is none other than Gojo Satoru. He is a very important figure in the sorcerer world, and the elders have high expectations for his visit. That means we must make sure everything is perfect today."

Murmurs of surprise and excitement ripple through the gathered maids as they hear the name Gojo Satoru.

His reputation clearly precedes him, and the maids are clearly awestruck by the prospect of his visit.

The head maid's voice cuts through the murmurs, and she shoots a stern look at the maids.

"I know you're excited about his arrival. But please stay focused on your duties. The success of this visit is on all of us, and we must make sure everything is perfect. That means no distractions, alright?"

Helia overhears a maid beside her whispering intently to another maid, her voice filled with excitement.

"Oh my god, can you believe it?! Gojo Satoru is coming here today!" The maid says. "I've heard he's insanely handsome. Like seriously good looking!"

As Helia sees voluminous red hair, she recognizes the maid as Cassy, her initial excitement is tempered slightly.

She remembers what Anna had told her about Cassy, warning her to stay away from that girl. Despite her reservations, she can't help but listen in as Cassy continues to chatter about Gojo Satoru's attractiveness.

The head maid's voice cuts through the whispers and chatter once again, calling for everyone's attention.

"Silence please!"

She relays an important piece of information about Gojo Satoru's visit, stating that he will be staying for a short time only to attend one meeting.

"There's one more thing you should know." The head maid says, her gaze sweeping across the assembled maids. "During the meeting, one maid will be selected to bring tea for the participants. It wasn't decided who it will be yet."

Helia can feel the excitement in the room right now. Anna, who is standing next to her, glances at her with excitement in her eyes. Anna whispers to Helia under her breath.

"Oh my god, can you imagine being the one who brings tea during the meeting?! It would be so cool to be in the same room as Gojo Satoru!"

Helia nods excited. Her and Anna had grown closer and closer since their shared revenge on Toji.

Cassy, who is standing nearby, speaks in a confident tone. Her words are tinged with a hint of self-assuredness.

"I want the tea duty. I'll make sure to charm Gojo Satoru with my looks and charisma. I'm sure he'll be captivated by me!"

Helia exchanges a knowing glance with Anna, both struggling to suppress a laugh at Cassy's self-assured statement. Her confidence in her ability to charm Gojo Satoru seems comical at this point.

The head maid's voice interrupts their stifled laughter, signaling the end of the gathering.

"Alright girls. You can return to your duties. Make sure everything runs smoothly today. The elders' expectations are high."

[...]

As Helia and the other maids go about completing their assigned tasks, a sense of anticipation hangs in the air.

The maids are still speculating and wondering who will be chosen to bring tea during the meeting with Gojo Satoru.

Cassy, with her usual self-assured demeanor, seems incredibly confident that she will be the one selected to bring tea to Gojo Satoru.

It's evident from her smug expression and the way she carries herself that she believes the role is practically hers for the taking.

As Helia finishes to clean a table, she hears the head maid calling out her name, her voice clear and authoritative.

"Helia, come here please." She gestures for Helia to approach her.

Helia walks towards the head maid, puzzled and a bit nervous about why she has summoned her.

The head maid stands tall and stern, her expression giving no hint of her intentions. As Helia reaches her, the head maid looks at her with a serious gaze.

"You were asked to serve tea during the meeting, on the order of Naobito Zenin."

This news catches Helia by surprise, and a mixture of excitement and nervousness washes over her.

The head maid's gaze is unwavering as she looks at Helia, and she speaks in a firm and expectant tone.

"Remember, I expect you to be exemplary. This is an important opportunity for you, and you must represent the household well. Be polite, composed, and carry yourself with grace when you bring the tea. Do not embarrass us."

Helia hurries to answer.

The head maid nods approvingly at her response, satisfied with her attitude and determination.

"Excellent." She says, her tone slightly less stern. "I trust you'll do your best. Now go get prepared for your duties. You'll be bringing tea to the meeting room when the time comes."

[...]

Helia waits anxiously, knowing that the meeting has started. The head maid had provided her with detailed instructions on how to bring the tea to the participants in the meeting, and now the pressure is mounting.

She takes a few deep breaths, trying to calm her nerves and remind herself that she can handle this, it's not the first time she serves tea.

The head maid had promised to inform her when it will be the time for Helia to bring the tea.

Minutes pass as she anxiously waits for the signal to begin. Every second feels like an eternity, filled with tension and anticipation. Finally, the head maid approaches her and speaks.

"It's time." She says, her voice gentle but firm. "Remember what we discussed. Be respectful, composed, and graceful. You can do this."

Helia nods ready to fulfill her task. As she takes hold of the tea tray, she makes a conscious effort to control her shaking hands. She takes a deep breath, steadying herself and mentally preparing for the task ahead.

The head maid watches Helia, silently wishing her well before nodding once, signaling for her to go.

[...]

With her heart pounding in her chest, Helia arrives in front of the meeting room. She can hear the muffled voices of conversation coming from behind the closed door.

She takes one final deep breath, steel herself with determination, and gently knocks on the door, signaling her presence on the other side.

For a moment, there is silence on the other side of the door. She can hear the voices inside momentarily quieting before someone responds.

"Come in." Says a deep, commanding voice.

She steps into the room, the tea tray gripped in her trembling hands. She bows, the epitome of politeness, and speak respectfully as she addresses the men assembled there.

"I'm bringing tea, sirs." She says, her voice steady despite the nervous flutter in her chest.

Naobito, the Zenin clan chief, looks up from his seat at the head of the table. A hint of satisfaction flickers across his weathered features.

"Ah, perfect." He says, a slight smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you, my dear."

As she straightens up and her gaze falls upon the other occupants of the room, she notices Naobito, the three other elders, and the man seated at the far end of the table whom she presumes to be Gojo Satoru.

When her gaze meets the Gojo's, she finds herself unable to deny the truth of the rumors she has heard.

His features are sharp, angular, and utterly captivating. He has deep blue eyes, that are so colorful that it's almost scary.

There's a sense of self-assurance and strength in his attitude, only adding to his allure. As she looks at him, she can't help but think that the tales and murmurs about his good looks haven't exaggerated one bit.

Helia quickly looks away not wanting him to think that she's staring at him and her eyes fall on the last person present in this room:

Toji

Toji, the black sheep of the Zenin clan, sits nonchalantly near the back, his gaze already fixated on Helia.

As her eyes meet his, a mix of emotions washes over her. Fear, nervousness, anger and hope all blend together in that brief moment.

She silently prays that he won't cause her any trouble today, especially not in front of these important figures.

She can only hope that his usual impudence won't get the better of him now.

Summoning up every ounce of composure she can muster, she turns her attention back to the task at hand.

With measured, steady movements, she approaches the table, maneuvering around the elders and their seated positions.

She focuses on Gojo, the first person she plans to serve the tea to. Her hands carefully pour the steaming liquid into his teacup, each measure precise and elegant.

As she finishes pouring the tea, she glances up briefly, stealing a quick look at Gojo. He lifts the teacup to his lips and takes a small, measured sip. His gaze is fixed on Helia, his eyes scanning her quickly as he assesses her silently.

He speaks in a calm and charming voice.
"Thanks love." He adds a wink to his words.

Helia's eyes almost widen at Gojo's words. His flirty comment and the wink catch her off guard, sending a brief shiver down her spine.

She tries her best to maintain her composure, keeping her face neutral, even though her heart is racing a mile a minute. "Stay calm" she tells herself internally, silently wishing that he would stop with the banter.

With Gojo's words still hanging in the air, she quickly moves on to the other people in the room, continuing her task of serving them tea.

The elders accept the tea politely, their attention focused on the conversation at hand.

She can hear fragments of their discussion, but she doesn't dare to eavesdrop as she continues to pour and serve the tea to each individual present.

As she approaches Toji, the sly smirk on his face only adds to her increasing irritation. She shoots him a dark look, silently wishing she could pour the hot tea on him instead of inside the cup.

Suppressing the urge, she carefully pours the tea, her movements measured and controlled.

With the tea poured and each cup now filled, she takes a step back, having successfully completed her task.

The conversation at the table continues, the elders engaged in their discourse, while Toji takes a sip of his tea, his gaze fixed on Helia, a smug smile still playing on his lips.

She ignores him, moves to a corner of the room, as instructed by the head maid, and stands quietly, waiting patiently for the participants to finish their meeting.

Unable to resist, Helia steals glances at Gojo, admiring the handsome features of his face. Time and time again, she catches his gaze, his eyes fixated on her, studying her with a keen interest.

Each time their gazes lock, she feels a tinge of both shyness and fascination, his intense eyes holding her own captive for a brief moment.

And despite her best efforts to avoid looking at Toji, her gaze still occasionally flickers towards him, but these looks are not admiring like her glances at Gojo.

They're filled with a mixture of annoyance, anger, and wariness whenever her eyes meet Toji's.

And every time, Helia finds him staring back at her with a smug, mocking smile, clearly enjoying her discomfort.

Every glance feels like a silent battle between the two of them, the tension growing with each passing moment.

She can't wait for this meeting to end.

•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•

Hello! How are you doing?

Gojo has arrived in the story! Do you have any remark on this chapter?

See you in the next chapter!

Sarah ☆