Chapter 13

DECLAN

“Hey, Declan, I sent an attachment to your email. It's the pitch from Lia, I was hoping you'd get to see it before coming to the office and also the Ministers are here, I wanted to know when you’ll get here.” My partner and very good friend Josh muttered over the phone because there was a work emergency. The minister was meant to show up next week but apparently, there had been some rumors and it’s circulating and hurting the subjects and that needs to be checked immediately.

But why does my mind keep going back to Maria, the way she looked at me after I told her I had an emergency and I had to run to work? She looked like a balloon that got deflated, her shoulders slimmed, her bright eyes dimmed and I know this is an exaggeration but I swear I felt her disappointment, her sadness.

After that night when she told me just was no chef, it was half true, it was obvious, too obvious. I have seen hobbies and I have seen passion, love for something and that is what she has for cooking, I just don’t get why she hasn't realized that yet.

But she had been weird since that night, distant, cautious almost as though she didn't want to see me and for a moment I began to think from the moment we met if I did something wrong, if I said something wrong or mean without realizing it and she got mad or she suddenly realized that I am.. Well not old but too old for her decided to stay away from me.

My mind had been racing for the last three days and this morning I finally got to see her and she cooked.

I suddenly hit the brakes as my mind recalled the setting of the food… no wait… the coffee, that was my mug, that was black coffee… she doesn't drink black coffee.

Fuck!

That was mine… she made it for me. How did I not notice? The timing? The coffee… fuck me.

“Declan, are you there? You haven’t said a word.” Josh’s voice came out of my car again.

“Josh, stall them for two hours, I’ll be at the office in two hours and yes I’ll go through Lia’s pitch.” I rambled, turning the car around immediately, thankfully I wasn't far from the house, I just have to hit the accelerator, break a few traffic laws and get home in time before she packs the food inside and think that I don’t want to eat her good because I want to eat her food!

“What? What am I supposed to do? What should I tell them?” Josh rambled.

“Josh, you are my partner and my friend for a reason, I trust you will come up with something believable, now fuck off ny phone I need to go eat some pancakes.” I hung up before he could ask any questions.

I got back to the house in less than nine minutes after leaving.

“Boss, did you forget something?” One of the bodyguards I hired to watch the house since Maria moved in asked but I waved him off.

Getting to the living room’s door, I halted, took a deep breath, adjusted my clothes, grabbed the doorknob, and walked in.

My eyes went straight to the dining table, the food was gone and she was not in there either.

Fuck! I was too late.

She stepped out of the kitchen and at her first sight of me she screamed, “Jesus, you scared the shit out of me… I thought you had a work emergency, did you forget something?” she asked with hands on her heaving chest, trying to call herself.

“Yes,” I muffled, stepping closer as I watched her watch me.

“Do you need me to help you get it?” She asked.

“Yes.”

“Okay, where is it?”

“I should be asking you?” I added.

“Why? Do I know where it is?” she asked confused, her eyes searching mine as though she wanted to tell if I was serious about her knowing what I was looking for.

“Yes, my breakfast, I forgot to eat it, where is it?” I asked, stepping forward, the only thing between us was the table.

Her lips parted, her eyes flickered, her throat bobbed, she couldn't believe her ears.

“Your.. You're what?” she stuttered.

“The breakfast on the table, Ria. I’m sorry I didn't realise it was mine on time. I was just carried away with a work emergency.” I whispered, it almost sounded like I was begging her to give me another chance to redeem myself and eat the food she made. Because if she wants me to beg I would beg.

“I.. Uhm.. It’s in the kitchen.” She stuttered, her words barely out, breathy, almost like a whisper, almost like he forgot how to be audible… I like this… I love the look on her face, the stunned look, the speechless look, her flushed cheeks, her dim eyes flashing brightly again… I love everything about how beautiful she looks right now, it’s perfect… She is perfect.

“Do you need help?” I asked, already making my way towards her, ready to get into the kitchen if she wanted but she met me halfway, her small soft hands gently landed on my chest, to stop me.

Oh my God… I think I forgot how to breathe. If she doesn't think her hands off I might have to slam my lips on her to revive myself.

How? How is she doing this? Making me feel this way? The way she talks, the way she blushes… jeez, what the fuck is wrong with me? It’s only been what? A week since we met?

“I can handle it.. Just.. Please sit.” she muffled, biting her lips and gesturing for me to go back to sit on the chair.

I smiled and nodded and she moved her hands away and I felt like she took a part of me, it was as though her hands were made for my chest, made to stay there.

It was so warm and now it’s cold.

Lord, help me.

I sat and waited for her while she went into the kitchen and in less than ten minutes she returned with a steaming hot pancake, grilled chicken, and fried eggs. But that wasn't all, I could smell the aroma of the brewing coffee from the kitchen.

She was brewing a new coffee for me.

Damn… this girl!

She placed the coffee and sat at the other end of the table, watching me eat the food she made for ME.

Rose cooks for me all the time, I pay a high class Chef to cook for me all the time but damn, no one has made anything taste this good… this is paradise or maybe because I am eating in front of the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and why does this coffee taste different.. Better? I drink this same coffee every day and suddenly, Ria brews it and it tastes like heaven.

“Ria, this is delicious, I honestly can’t find the words for it,” I whispered in my defeated voice.

She blushed… oh her pink fluffy cheeks. I am going to have a heart attack if she keeps smiling like that. I hit my lips as I watched her, as soon as she caught me staring I focused back on the pancake which was almost finished and I didn’t want it to finish!

“Cooking reminds me of everything I lost and the things I had to sacrifice.” Her voice suddenly filled the space between us. My head tilted up to find hers buried, she wasn’t looking at me.

“It reminds me of my dead mother who almost makes the best meal, it reminds of Chloe who I had to learn how to cook for, it reminds me of the sleepless night I had to run at a 24 hour restaurant so I could get money for college and stay alive with my sister.” She paused again and her voice broke.

“It wasn't a hobby, it was a necessity. I wasn't a chef, I was a cook, a mother, a sister.” Her eyes finally found mine, tears built up in her red eyes and she forced a smile.

But the pain behind that smile!!!

And to think the person she did this all for betrayed her in the most gruesome way.