Chapter 72 - CHRIS WAS SIDING WITH CAYENNE
Stefan ate his lunch in his suite while Cayenne ate her lunch with her colleagues inside the employees' lounge. When she opened the bag, she found the note that he wrote in a piece of stationary paper.
"Wow! That's very sweet of your boyfriend." Luna commented when she caught sight of the handwritten note. They were not familiar of Stefan's handwriting so they didn't know that it came from him except, Manager Kim.
She opened the bento and found different kind of dishes. There two small boxes for each slice of the cake that he bought for her as well. She couldn't stop herself from grinning. She pulled out her phone, formed a heart with her fingers and took a picture with the food. 'I love these. Thanks.'
Stefan received her message and he grinned from ear to ear. It was the first time that she sent him a message with a picture. Although there was no picture of her actual face, he could imagine the smile that she had while taking the picture. He just replied with a bear-holding-a-heart emoji to her.
After lunch, Cayenne sent him another message to wish him well. He replied to her with a 'thank you' and 'do your best' gifs.
On his way to the office, Stefan remembered that he didn't inform her about her passport. He forgot to bring it home as well since they had dinner at her place yesterday. "I'll just give it to her after dinner."
"Sir, you have a meeting with Mr. Macarios at five in the afternoon. You have approved of it before. Should I cancel it?"
"Will it take so much time?"
"Probably an hour or two."
"Don't cancel it. I'll just tell Ayen about it."
"Okay, sir."
Cayenne worked happily in the afternoon while thinking what she can to repay him with the lunch that he bought for her. "Wait. How did he know that my brothers didn't cook my food for lunch?" She was folding the newly-washed blanket when she remembered this puzzling information. She didn't tell him about it.
"Is something bothering you?" Celine asked her. The two of them were folding blankets and bed sheets.
"Nothing. I was just thinking of something. Don't worry about me."
"Alright. If you have any problem, you can tell me. Maybe I have a piece of advice or two."
"Thank you, Celine. I'll be sure to let you know and get some advice from you."
They continued their work but Cayenne was still bothered with her own question. 'Does that mean, my brothers are siding with him? Did he plan this after I refused the lunch he offered this morning?' Her thoughts were very accurate.
Kyle kept sneezing in the middle of the class and Luiz accidentally bit his own lips. 'Karma is a bitch.' The two of them thought at the same time, knowing that they did something behind their sister's back.
At three in the afternoon, Stefan sent another message to Cayenne's brothers. He wanted to know what are Cayenne's favorite flowers, her favorite snacks and other things. In fact, the three of them had a chat group.
'She likes to eat green mangoes with shrimp paste. It's her favorite snack in the afternoon. In the evening, she doesn't eat much and she doesn't like taking midnight snacks as well.' Kyle responded to Stefan's message.
'How about teas? Does she like drinking teas?'
'I'm not sure. I haven't seen her drink any kind of tea but she likes match so, she might like some teas that can relax her.' Luiz told Stefan.
'What about flowers?'
'Yen likes tulips.' Kyle answered.
'But she will like whatever kind of flowers you will give as long as it's in a pot. She likes taking care of plants.'
'She will appreciate if you will her a potted flower instead of a bouquet.'
'Did she ever try going to a hot spring? Or an amusement park? Or have a massage?' Stefan asked them.
'Did you think she'll have time to do those stuffs?'
Stefan shook his head when he read this question. He knew that she won't have time for these things but he still asked them. 'Do you think she will accept a jewelry if I give her one?'
'If it's not expensive, she might accept it.' Kyle told him.
'Our sister doesn't like to accept expensive things because she's always afraid that the person who gave it to her will ask her to return it or pay for it.'
'That's too much. I don't think someone would do that.' Stefan retorted.
'That happened to her.' Luiz stated. 'A supposed 'friend' gave her a bracelet on her 15th birthday and Yen was very happy when she received it. The next day, her friend told her to return it. But since Yen was already wearing it, she told her to pay for it and it was a little expensive. $50 dollars was too much for Yen at that time. When she couldn't pay for it, her friend told her to help her answer all her activities for school.'
'Yen will be angry if she knows that you know about this so, please don't tell her that we have informed you about this.' Kyle added since Cayenne hated that event in her life so much. She never wanted to remember it and she was doing her best to forget it. However, every time Stefan gives her something, her mind would always kick her alarm and she would start to get anxious. She could only trust him that he would not do what her classmate did back then.
"That must be why she's always adamant to receive my gifts." Stefan mumbled to himself.
'I still have to attend a group meeting. If you have any question, just post it here. I'll answer it when I have time.' Kyle told them and logged off from his social media account.
'I still have a class. I can't chat a little longer or my phone will be confiscated.'
Stefan chuckled when he read their messages. It was obvious that study was very important to them.? 'Do your best in school.' He responded and logged off as well. "Now, what should I do for her tonight."
He was seriously thinking of ways to indulge her. In that way, Cayenne won't leave him that easily in the future. Chris was currently noting the information during the meeting because the boss wasn't listening at all. After the meeting, Stefan went back to his office with Chris following behind him.
"Sir, these are the information that I have noted during the meeting." He handed him a tablet which he always brings with him. "I also asked for the copies of their actual presentations."
"Thanks." Stefan took it from him and read through it. "By the way, can you look for a flower shop that sells tulips?"
"Yes, sir. I'll let you know as soon as possible." He went out of Stefan's office and went to his own desk to find the best flower shop near the company building. He listed the shops that sells beautiful tulip flowers and went inside Stefan's office to hand it to him. He even included the contact numbers for him and the online information.
Stefan ordered the flowers online since he will be the one who will give it to her. 'I'll give her a potted flower next time.' He thought to himself while writing a note on the card which will be printed directly by the florist.
"You can have a break for now. I'll read the information later. I just have other things to do." Stefan told Chris since he was planning to look for other things that Cayenne likes. Chris was still standing in front of his office table and he looked restless. "Is there something else that you want to say?"
"Sir…" he cleared his throat to get rid of his nervousness. "I'm just wondering if you have any feelings for Ms. Ardolf."
"Why do you ask?"? Stefan retorted with added temper. He hated it when he thought someone's planning to take Cayenne from him. "Are you going to cheat with your girlfriend because of Cayenne?"
"Huh?" Chris was startled for a moment because of his question. "No, sir. That's not what I mean and I don't have any plan to cheat."
"So, what is it?"
"I have been working with you for two years now and I have seen many girls with you and you are not hiding that information about you as well. I am not judging you with your actions but I just thought it would be a little unfair if you treat Ms. Ardolf like those girls you've met before."
"I have never thought of her that way."
"Then, do you like her?"
"Me?" Stefan laughed faintly upon hearing the question from Chris. "Of course, not."
"So, why are you doing all these for her? Why are you being so good to her? It seemed to me that you are affectionate towards her."
Stefan looked at his secretary with a deep frown on his face. "I'm not in love with her." He firmly answered. "I am doing this because I don't want her to leave me when she's not needing my help anymore. She needed money, which is why she accepted my offer. I am only doing this so that she will cling to me."
"But, what if you find someone you really like but she couldn't help you sleep? Are you going to choose her because you love her? Or are you going to choose Ms. Ardolf because she can help you sleep – the thing you wanted the most?"