Chapter 46 - SLOWLY BUILDING A BRIDGE
That night, Cayenne was surprised when she arrived home. The house was brightly lit and Stefan was in the kitchen, busy preparing for their dinner. He didn't look like someone who was angry or upset either. In fact, he was wearing a smile on his lips which was a little uncomfortable for her.
She placed her bag on the chair and walked to him. "Can you come closer for a bit?" Stefan did as he was told and leaned closer.
Unexpectedly, Cayenne stood on her toes and pressed her forehead on his forehead. She was so close that his heart skipped a beat and he was holding his breath. Her eyelashes were long and curved upwards. Her eyes were bright and her face was really smooth.
"Ayen, what are you doing?"
"I forgot where the thermometer is so, I'm trying to feel if you are having a fever."
"Oh. Is this how you do it with your brothers?"
"Nope. We have a thermometer at home and I always keep it in our medical kit." She pulled away from him and frowned. "I don't think you have a fever."
"I don't think I have a fever either." Stefan reiterated what she said. "What makes you think I'm having a fever?"
"Because you're doing all these? Anyway, stop cooking. I'll do it. It's my job, remember?"
"No. Your job is to help me sleep. Cooking was just a bonus for me since you often come home earlier than me. Today, I didn't go to work so, I'm cooking for us."
"Oh." Cayenne took few steps back and looked at him. "I see. I will be eating the dishes you'll cook this time."
"Yeah. You've tasted my way of cooking before. I may not have a great skill but it was still edible, right?"
Cayenne nodded her head. "What will I do now? IS there something I can help you with?"
"I'm almost done here. Just go upstairs and take a shower."
"Okay." She picked up her bag and walked out of the kitchen. She stopped several times and looked back to see him; he was even humming while cooking. "He's weird."
During the day, all Stefan did was think about her, think about his past deeds and the things he had said. He was thinking how to make up things to her. He had been apologizing but he was doing bad things again and again. He looked into Arthur's information and he found that he was the closest male friend she ever had. Reading the information, he realized one thing, his characteristics will never attract her.
Therefore, he changed his tactics. He promised to take care of her but he was actually neglecting her. Now, instead of saying whatever he wanted to say, he will just show it directly to her. And the first step was to cook for their dinner and to be gentle as much as possible.
He doesn't understand why it was important to make her happy but he knew that he needed to make her happy. It's a must.
Upstairs, Cayenne didn't take so much time. After twenty minutes, she came out again and Stefan was also done preparing their dinner. "Let's eat."
"O-okay." She was about to pull a chair for her but Stefan beat her to it. He pulled the chair for her and waited for her to make herself comfortable.
"What do you want to drink?"
"Water is fine."
"Sure."
She watched him move around the kitchen, doing this and doing that, until he finally settled down across her. "What's wrong with you? You're acting strange this time. Did something happen?"
Stefan looked at her and grinner. "I realized that I've been causing so much trouble to you in the past few days. I want to make up for that."
"Employers don't do this." Cayenne talked back. "I mean, I really appreciate you doing this but, you don't have to do this again. I can always cook for us."
"I'm different to other employers." Stefan responded with a smile. He helped her get some rice and let her chose the dishes she'd like to eat. In the end, she tasted all the dishes and she loved it. "It tastes good, right?"
"Hn. Your way of cooking is different from mine but it is really delicious."
"I'm glad you like it." Stefan ate as well and the cold atmosphere between them was slowly thawed away. "By the way, I have something for your brother."
"Huh? My brother?"
"Hn." He stood up and went to get something from the living room. When he got back, he was holding a big paper bag with a brown box inside it. "I am not sure if your brother has one but, I am sure that he will be able to use this."
She reached for the bag that he gave and what was inside stunned her. "Are you sure about this? This is too much. You don't even have to give him something like this; much more an expensive gift."
"Your brother deserves a reward. And I don't give useless reward. It should be something useful. I thought about it and decided to get this MacBook for him."
"But this is very expensive."
"It is useful. Don't think about the money, just think about hoe happy your brother will be."
"He won't be happy. He will be worried."
"Why?"
"He would think that I'm spending so much for him and if I tell him it's from you, he will think that I borrowed money from you."
"Don't worry about it. I placed something for him once he opens this gadget. Just tell him it's from me. Don't think too much."
"Thank you." Cayenne said with a bright smile. "I'll make sure to serve you well during my time with you."
"Hn. I will be in your care."
Cayenne and Stefan was slowly building a bridge between them to connect with each other. It might not form in a blink of an eye but it would eventually become sturdy until no one will be able to break it no matter what the others will say.