The driver dropped me right in front of the compound like I was some madam returning from a vacation. I grabbed the shopping bag with his shirt still hanging loosely on me and almost tripped while getting out... classic me.
"Thank you," I muttered, as he helped shut the car door.
He only nodded respectfully and drove off.
The house looked quiet as I walked in and the familiar smell of home hugged me. My stomach growled loudly as if reminding me that I left Nathan's mansion hungry.
That's when I remembered we didn't 't eat breakfast. Something inside me felt weird, the only reason he had left so early was because of me.
Emily came out from the back, wiping her hands on a towel and another maid rushed to take my things inside.
"Welcome, Madam," she smiled. "You left very early. Everything okay?"
"Yeah… kind of." I placed the bag down and inhaled slowly. "Emily, what's Nathan's favorite meal?"
She looked confused for a sec, the question clearly shocked her.
"Nathan's favorite meal?" she repeated like she needed to confirm reality.
"Yes," I said again, folding my arms. "Just tell me. I want to make it."
Her eyebrows lifted. "For sir Nathan?"
My brain said no, but my mouth betrayed me.
"Yes."
Emily studied me like she was checking whether I hit my head somewhere in the morning. Then slowly, her expression softened.
"He likes curry chicken pasta. And garlic bread. But he rarely eats at home," she said with a calm voice.
"He should eat," I muttered, already removing the shirt's sleeves from rolled position. "He left hungry."
Emily stared at me a bit too long and smiled like she saw through my tough act.
"Where's the pasta?" I asked.
She showed me the pantry. Rich people pantry is like mini-market, everything was arranged, labeled, and screaming money. I grabbed pasta, chicken, cream, spices. My hands moved fast like I knew what I was doing, but the truth was...I didn't. But pride will not let me admit it.
Emily leaned on the counter. "Do you want help madam?"
"No," I said quickly, tying the shirt at my waist. "I can handle it."
Three minutes later, I was staring at the chicken like it wronged me.
Emily coughed softly.
"Maybe just help a little," I whispered.
She came over with a smile, guiding me step by step without taking over completely. Soon the kitchen was filled with smell of garlic frying, onions dancing in oil, pasta boiling with small bubbles. The smell was good.
I stirred the sauce and noticed Emily watching me with small admiration.
"You care about him?" she asked casually.
"He's my boyfriend after all right" I said it out loud before realizing myself.
"You're the first girl sir Nathan has ever brought home madam. I'm happy for the both of you" She said smiling
The food was ready and my stomach was already planning to sue me for starvation. I ate a little, like a thief stealing from pot. Maybe more than a little. But Emily didn't judge.
I wiped my hands and went quiet, realising I cooked for a man I just met yesterday.
I wore his shirt... still wearing it and slept in his house. Now I'm waiting like a wife whose husband went to work.
I shook my head fast. "It's just food," I said to myself.
Emily placed a glass of juice down gently.
"When sir Nathan returns, should I tell him you made it?"
I hesitated a moment.
"Tell him I cooked it myself. No credit sharing."
Emily laughed. "Noted."
I sat on the couch, hugging a pillow. My eyes drifted to the dining table again.
Nathan left hungry, my brain kept reminding me. Before I could overthink too long, I stood up.
"I'm taking it to him."
Emily's eyes widened. "To his office?"
"Yes. Before work stress turns him into a something else."
She opened her mouth, then closed it, nodding slowly like she didn't want to upset me.
I rushed upstairs to my room, opened the shopping bags took one of the dresses he bought. The cream one, soft and simple not like the red.
I wore it and it hugged my body gently, made me look like I actually had my life together. My hair wasn't perfect but I brushed it back enough to look… presentable.
I grabbed the food carefully, covered it well, took a deep breath.
"Emily, tell the driver we're going."
In the car, I kept adjusting the dress because i was clearly nervous. What if he gets angry? What if I embarrass myself? What if the receptionist throws me out like a lost puppy?
It was too late now, when we arrived, I felt like I stepped into another planet The building was made of tall glass, people in suits were walking fast like they were being chased. I held the food close to my chest and inhaled.
"You can go," I told the driver, trying to look confident.
He frowned. "Are you sure, ma'am? I can wait..."
"I'll be fine," I cut him off and he nodded and drove away.
Now it was just me, my nervous heart, and Nathan's food.
I walked into the lobby, a woman behind the desk looked like she could stab me with her eyes if I sneezed wrong.
"Good morning," she said politely, her eyes scanning me. "How may I help you?"
My voice almost failed me but I pushed through.
"I want to see Nathan."
Her blink was slow, like her brain didn't process the audacity.
"Nathan…? You mean Mr. Nathan? the CEO?"
"Yes." I nodded like it was normal. My heart was doing backflips.
She adjusted her glasses. "Do you have an appointment?"
I smiled sweetly, leaning a little closer.
"Do I need an appointment to visit my boyfriend?"
Even the man walking behind me stopped like someone pressed his pause button. Two staff passing by turned sharply, everyone seemed surprised.
Boyfriend? I actually said it.
The receptionist blinked like she malfunctioned.
"Y..Your… your boyfriend??"
"Yes," I repeated with confidence "I brought him lunch."
I lifted the food container slightly, like it was proof of our relationship. People were whispering now. I heard words like:
"Who is she?"
"Nathan has a girlfriend?"
"Since when?"
"Is she a model?"
"Maybe she's delusional."
Great!
The receptionist cleared her throat quickly and grabbed the phone. Her eyes never left me.
"I'll confirm, please wait a moment."
She held the telephone close to her ear, and my heart entered gym mode.
"Hello sir… yes… There's a lady here to see you. She says she's your… ah… girlfriend".
I swallowed. Maybe I should run before he publicly denies me and security drags me out.
Then the receptionist seemed, shocked.
She hung up and stood, suddenly respectful. "Elevator to the top floor. Office is the last door on the right."
Everyone watched me walk to the elevator, I pressed the button with shaky fingers. When it opened, I walked in alone. As soon as the door closed, i exhaled.
"Boyfriend? Fiona, what were you thinking?"
My brain slapped me.
But I couldn't turn back now. I was already inside.
Narrator's Pov
The 19th floor opened into silence people in suits walking fast left and right she followed the directions the receptionist pointed earlier until she saw a glass door .Her heart almost left her body, but she pushed the door open gently and heads turned one after the other until the room was full of eyes on her again.
At the far end of the table Nathan sat in a black suit. Fiona swallowed and walked in steady.
"Good afternoon honey" she said immediately.
The whole boardroom seemed quite shocked, Nathan too was surprised. He cleared his throat leaning back one brow raised.
"Fiona" he whispered softly
A man near him whispered to another "Nathan has a girlfriend?"
She smiled at Nathan like she meant it "You left without breakfast so I brought you something I made it myself" she said loud enough for all of them
Nathan's lips curved a little like he wanted to smile but held it back he stood up calmly one hand in his pocket looking at her like she was trouble and he liked it a bit
He leaned closer eyes locked with hers "You came all the way here to feed me?" He lowered his voice.
She shrugged like it was nothing "Well that's what girlfriends do right honey?"
A few board members coughed others pretended to check files when they were clearly nosy.
Nathan looked down at the food flask then at her again like trying to understand what on earth Fiona thought she was doing but his voice came smooth
"Gentlemen excuse me for five minutes" he said already taking her by the wrist gently guiding her out
"What was that?" he asked staring at her like she came from the moon "Girlfriend? Honey?"
Fiona crossed her arms refusing to look embarrassed "You left without eating I thought you'd be hungry I didn't know you were in a meeting and receptionist asked if I had an appointment so I had to improvise"
He stared at her for long like he didn't know whether to be angry or impressed
"You called me honey in front of the boardroom" he said slower almost amused
She lifted her chin "Well would you prefer darling next time?"
He was mute for a while then he chuckled... like he couldn't believe this girl
"Come on" he said opening his office door for her "let me taste this food you risked your pride for"