Leo, Stella's father, came back the next day with a cast on his leg. We happily greeted him and when he looked at Lukas, he nodded at him. When dad looked at Lukas, he nodded at him. I guess Dad had come to terms with Lukas, especially since he wasn't hostile like the first time they met at the hospital.
Lukas and I were busy throughout the day, working on various tasks around the ranch. Most of the work was almost done, and I needed just one more day to summarize all the reports from the past few days. It was hard to believe that we had been here for five days already. Everyone in town seemed to know him by now, and it was easy to see why. As a businessman, he had a way with words that made people feel comfortable and open up to him. I hadn't expected him to adjust to this life so quickly, and I realized I had worried for nothing.
After we got home, we gathered around the dinner table, sharing stories and laughter. The atmosphere was warm and inviting. After dinner, Dad invited Lukas to have a drink with him.
Mom quickly scolded Dad, her voice playful yet firm. "Make sure not to let the boy get drunk too much!"
Dad laughed, his eyes twinkling with mischief. "Don't worry, we'll just be having a light drink and chat for a little."
Mom still glared at Dad, her protective instincts kicking in as she lightly smacked him on the arm. "And you! The doctor ordered you to rest, so make it quick, okay?"
"Okay, honey," Dad said, leaning in to kiss Mom, a gesture that made my heart flutter.
I smiled at their interactions, feeling a sense of warmth enveloping me. I turned to Lukas, who was watching the exchange with an amused expression. "Whatever Dad says, make sure to tell it to me so that I'll scold him, okay?" I said, half-joking.
Lukas chuckled lightly. "Don't worry. I'll handle it."
I watched as Dad and Lukas headed to the balcony for a drink. Mom and I settled into the living room, sighing as we turned on the TV. I wanted to wait for them to finish, but Mom gently urged me to rest.
"You've worked hard today, Stella. You need to take care of yourself," she said, her voice warm and caring.
Reluctantly, I nodded. "Okay, I'll go get ready for bed."
As I made my way to my room, I felt a sense of contentment. I knew that Dad and Lukas were bonding, and that made me smile.
The next day, I woke up at 4 A.M, determined to finish my reports and pass them to Dad before heading back to the city. I quietly made my way to Lukas' room, checking my surroundings first to ensure everything was still. He must have been pretty drunk, considering he was still asleep.
I tiptoed inside and couldn't resist the urge to plant a soft kiss on his cheek. He stirred slightly but didn't wake up, and I smiled at the sight of him.
The pale morning light filtered through the study room curtains as I arranged and wrote the final papers into neat stacks. By 8 AM, the plantation and ranch reports were complete - productivity records, equipment logs, and next month's planting schedules all properly organized with color-coded tabs. For Dad's convenience, I left a bullet-pointed note summarizing key points in the margins before setting the folder squarely on his desk.
My muscles protested as I stretched, the satisfying pop along my spine rewarding a job well done. The kitchen smelled of freshly ground coffee when I entered, though the chef's startled expression at seeing me reach for an apron was almost comical. "Miss Stella really shouldn't—"
"I insist," I smiled, already tying the apron strings. My fingers moved with practiced ease - dicing scallions for the hangover soup, the rhythmic thunk of the knife against the board oddly comforting. The rich aroma of ox bone broth soon mingled with the scent of sizzling butter as I worked two burners simultaneously, flipping golden Belgian waffles while keeping an eye on the omelet's perfect fold.
"Eunice," I called to one of the maids, "would you set the terrace table? The morning is too lovely to eat indoors." The older woman nodded, her footsteps fading as I ladled the steaming soup into Dad's favorite stoneware bowl and the other from another bowl for Lukas.
Lukas' door creaked slightly when I eased it open. Morning sunlight painted stripes across the blanket-covered lump in the center of the bed. I hesitated just a breath before perching on the mattress's edge, watching the steady rise and fall of his shoulders. Dark lashes fluttered against his cheeks as I brushed a stray curl from his forehead. The scent of him - that faint cedar and spice cologne mingled with sleep-warm skin - made my fingers tingle where they hovered near his face.
I should have known better than to think I could surprise him. Before I could withdraw, sleep-roughened fingers circled my wrist. "Good morning," Lukas rumbled, eyes still closed but lips curving. The gravel in his morning voice sent an unexpected shiver down my spine.
"I made hangover soup," I said, tugging at his blanket. The morning sunlight caught the dust motes swirling around us as Lukas groaned dramatically, throwing an arm over his eyes.
"You're an angel," his muffled voice came from beneath the pillow. "But must we move so quickly?"
I laughed, finally managing to drag him upright. The sheets fell away to reveal his sleep-tousled hair sticking up in every direction, morning stubble shadowing his jaw. "Up, sleepyhead. Dad's already eyeing your portion and you know he eats like a starving wolf."
Mom and Dad were already seated at the terrace, the morning sun casting a warm glow over the table. I picked up the tablet from the center table, opened the news site, and handed it to Dad. I knew how much he enjoyed reading the news with his breakfast.
"Thanks, sweetie," Dad said, his eyes lighting up as he scrolled through the headlines.
I leaned down to kiss his temple, then turned to Mom, planting a gentle kiss on her cheek as well. "Good morning to both of you," I said, settling into my seat as we began to eat.
"We'll be leaving today," I said as I finished eating. "I still have work to do tomorrow."
"Make sure to visit us okay?" Mom said.
I nodded, a smile tugging at my lips. "Of course, I will. I promise."
After breakfast, we set off on our journey back home. The sky was overcast, and soon enough, heavy rain began to pour down, drenching the landscape in a curtain of gray. Daniel struggled to see the road, and with visibility dwindling, we had no choice but to pull over at a nearby motel.
As we entered the small lobby, the receptionist looked up and smiled at us. "Welcome to Herenow Motel."
"Three rooms, please," I said at the reception desk.
The receptionist typed something from the computer and moments later, she looked up, her expression apologetic. "Considering it's peak season and with this rain, we only have two rooms left," she informed us.
I turned to Lukas and Daniel. "Then the both of you can share the same room while I take the other one—"
Before I could finish, Daniel snatched the room key from my hand and bolted down the hallway. "Hey!" I exclaimed, but he was already running, panic evident in his eyes.
"I'm sorry, miss, but I really need to use the bathroom right now!" he shouted over his shoulder, glancing back at me as if the rain itself were chasing him.
I looked at Lukas, bewildered. "But he seemed fine a moment ago, right?"
"Who knows what happened to him?" Lukas shrugged, a smirk playing on his lips as he grabbed the remaining room key. "Come on, let's go."
~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~ ~~~
The moment Miss Stella reached for that room key, I saw the look—Boss Lukas' icy glare boring into me like a dagger. His eyebrow twitched, just once, but the message was crystal clear: 'Don't you dare let her take that key.'
My survival instincts kicked in.
Before Miss Stella's fingers could close around the key, I lunged. "Sorry-ma'am-emergency!" I blurted, snatching it from her grip like a thief in the night. I didn't even stop to see her bewildered expression—just bolted down the hallway like a man being chased by wolves.
From behind me, I could feel Boss Lukas' satisfied smirk. Meanwhile, Miss Stella's confused voice echoed after me: "But—why??"
Heart pounding, I skidded into my room and locked the door behind me, pressing my forehead against the wood. "I hate my life," I wheezed, sliding to the floor.
Moral of the story? Never get between a lovesick CEO and his oblivious Omega. The pay's good, but the emotional whiplash? Not worth it.