Chapter 89 - CAKE SHOP
"You're not ready yet?"
Lucas, who had just appeared in the dining room, suddenly observed the appearance of Ellena who was still wearing a nightgown.
Stunned. Ellena, who had just finished preparing breakfast, was certainly confused by Lucas' question. Where will they go? Ellena hasn't even taken a bath since she woke up.
"What for? Where are we going?" Ellena tried to ascertain what made her wonder.
"Shouldn't you go to the cake shop this morning?" Lucas asked as he pulled up a dining chair and sat there.
"Oh, are you going to delay opening that cake shop?" Lucas tilted his head slightly to the side, where Ellena was standing.
"Is the cake shop going to be open today?" Ellena sat down in one of the empty chairs closest to Lucas. She cast a questioning glance at her husband.
"No. But don't you have to prepare some ingredients and equipment to make the cake, right?" Lucas replied casually. "Shouldn't it be better prepared before the inauguration begins?" He added later, considering that the inauguration would take place in two days, according to their plan.
Instead of responding, Ellena just tried to observe every word and look on Lucas' face which was much different from before. The memories that happened last night flashed back into her mind.
"Go to sleep, don't stay up late!"
One simple sentence that is still ringing in Ellena's ears. Plus Lucas's wide smile that still hasn't faded from her memory, when the man handed her a cup of hot chocolate.
Ah, does Lucas really care that much about Ellena? The attitude last night and this time, clearly showed Lucas' concern for his wife. Even his assertiveness and arrogance seemed to disappear, only because of one attitude that impressed the woman.
Before Ellena could find an answer to Lucas' change in attitude last night, suddenly this morning the man acted the same way. Ah, the world seems to have turned peaceful. Like there is no more fighting in the house. The fight with Lucas that every day always makes Ellena inflamed.
"Why are you even looking at me like that?"
Lucas' question made Ellena flinch and snap out of her daydream.
"Hurry up and take a shower! Before going to the office, I'll take you there first." Lucas asked.
"Okay."
Ellena seemed so enthusiastic and rushed to get out of there. However, she immediately abandoned her intention when she realized something.
"I will prepare breakfast for you first, after that I will take a shower." She said, which suddenly made Lucas smile while shaking his head.
"What do you want to eat?" asked Elena.
"Just bread." Lucas answered simply and flatly.
Without waiting for a second command, Ellena immediately rushed to the room, after she finished preparing breakfast for her husband. Meanwhile, Lucas just smiled broadly at Ellena's enthusiastic attitude.
***
This morning the streets were quite busy with the bustle of passing vehicles. Noisy with the sound of honking horns. A little deafening. However, it still didn't beat Ellena's wide smile.
The clear sky seemed to represent Ellena's happiness this morning. After a long time, she finally returned to have activities, other than just taking care of the house. Like a bird out of its cage. That's Ellena now enjoying a little bit of her freedom.
She didn't understand what made Lucas think twice about giving her a new activity. Whatever it was, she was clearly very happy. At least she could run the cake shop while she was Lucas' wife, though it wouldn't last long.
"I've already asked a few people who will help you there." Lucas' words instantly made Ellena turn to the side.
Ellena was silent for a moment, looking at Lucas. "Thank you, Lucas. I promise I will manage the cake shop well." She said with teary eyes. She really didn't think that Lucas would put such heavy trust in her.
"I believe." Lucas said, lifting the corners of his lips into a smile.
"I don't know what else to say. You've helped me and my family a lot, now you just—"
"Think of it as my thanks, because you're willing to suffer because of me." Lucas replied, which suddenly made Ellena frown.
"What do you mean?" Ellena whispered in surprise.
"I don't need to explain anything, you already know the answer." Lucas replied with a focused gaze ahead.
Ellena looked down for a moment, as she understood what Lucas meant. "All of this happened because of the agreement we made, so it's a risk for both of us." She said softly.
Ellena thought, it would be very unfair if she only blamed Lucas for what she had experienced while being the man's wife. Lost her job and her boyfriend, also got into a fight with Selena. Even worse, maybe she has lost her self-respect as a woman, because she is willing to stay with him just for the sake of money.
Sorry. Of course she regretted having blamed Lucas. However, because of all that incident, at least she came to know that the journey of one's life is not always straight and smooth. There will always be bends and gravel that hinder and slow down to reach the destination.
Yes, she just needs to be patient for a while. Maybe after the business with Lucas is over, she'll be able to live a quiet life again, without any debts. Indeed, she should have thanked Lucas.
Even though Lucas was annoying at times and often made her cry, he was the only person who managed to get her out of the big problem she was facing with her family.
Lucas' car stopped in front of the cake shop. From inside the car, Ellena could already see 5 young women lined up in front of her shop. She smiled at the sight, then turned to Lucas.
"You're exaggerating, Lucas." She said with an uneasy expression. She wasn't even officially the manager of the cake shop yet, but Lucas had treated her like a company leader by preparing several employees who were ready to welcome her.
"Nothing too much." Lucas answered as he unbuckled the seatbelt that was attached to Ellena's body.
Again, Lucas' treatment made Ellena amazed. "I can do it myself." She whispered, staring intently at Lucas' face not far from her reach.
Lucas smiled as he managed to unbuckle the seatbelt. "All right. Come down!" He ordered.
Looks like Lucas learned a lot about the female figure. Maybe it was one of the ways he did to melt Ellena's heart. Like sand, the tighter you hold it, the faster it will disappear. He certainly didn't want Ellena to walk away because he felt constrained by his overly restrictive attitude.
He hoped that this way his wife would know how he felt. He wanted to prove that Selena meant nothing in his life and that Ellena was all he wanted.
Lucas helped Ellena unload the cake ingredients they had previously bought at the supermarket. Like a real husband and wife. That's what it looks like to them right now. Help each other and complement each other.
After welcoming them, 5 women who lined up in front of the cake shop immediately grabbed the groceries and brought them into the shop.
"Lucas, looks like I'll be here a long time. I'll try some new recipes," said Ellena.
"I'll pick you up later." Lucas replied, not seeming to mind one bit
"Thank you, Lucas." Ellena looked sadly at the face of the man who towered in front of her.
"Yes. Take good care of yourself, don't work too hard!" Lucas said with a genuine smile. "Let me know if there's anything wrong. I'll go first." He added as he gently stroked Ellena's head.
"Yeah, you too." Ellena nodded slowly while fighting against the beating heart that was getting more and more turbulent inside.
Ellena was a normal woman who of course would be flattered by the attention and gentle treatment of a man. Of course she was having a hard time dealing with her feelings right now.
"Bye!" Ellena waved her hand as Lucas was just about to get into the car. Lucas replied with the same thing.
***
Lunchtime, Lucas just spent time in his private study. He seemed to be sitting leaning on a swivel chair while staring at the white ceiling of the room. Every now and then he smiled happily, when the image of his wife's face crossed his mind. Yes, indeed since this morning that smile continues to grow.
He turned the chair to the left and right slowly, without changing the position of the head that was still looking up.
Today seemed to be the happiest day for Lucas. Because he had never looked so cheerful before, even when Selena was beside him.
Being able to get to know and have a relationship with Selena is no less happy. However, getting to know Ellena was much happier than getting love in return from the woman he hated so much right now.
"Elle, maybe I haven't been able to melt your heart yet, but you'll see. I'll do that as soon as possible." Lucas whispered in the middle of his thoughts, he even ignored the vibrating phone that had been asking for attention.
Before Lucas finished his euphoria, suddenly the door to the room opened and a tall man in a gray suit walked in without permission. This caught Lucas' attention. He looked away for a moment, as if annoyed. Yes, of course he was very upset because he was disturbed by the presence of this familiar man.
"What are you doing to not received the phone from me?" attacked Adley who was now standing right in front of Lucas' desk.
Lucas chuckled lazily, before he responded to his best friend. "I don't want to be bothered. If there's something important, you take care of it first!"
"Akh, since when do you like to laze around, huh?" Adley protested with a frustrated sigh, then landed himself on the chair beside him.
"Nothing." Lucas answered flatly.
Adley leaned back in the chair and studied Lucas' face for a moment. Ah, he knew very well how his best friend was. Of course he could read Lucas' expression which looked different from the previous days.
"Then meet your guest in the lobby," said Adley, lifting himself up from his seat. He deliberately didn't want to say anything about Lucas, considering that someone was waiting for his best friend.
"Who?"
Keep calm and write something....