The next, when Stephanie arrived at work, people were staring at her like she has done something forbidden. She wanted to ask, but her sanity won't let her. In the afternoon she didn't go to the cafeteria. . She went to manage the money on her til her next month salary. Even though she only had coffee when coming to work but it didn't worry her one bit. She would take in nothing and go to work with an emptystomachwhen she used to stay at her previous place.
Since she didn't go to the cafeteria, she just sat at a table viewing some files when someone greeted her, "Hey beautifully lily." Stephanie rised her head and unsurprisingly it was Phubert. "What are you doing here?" She asked instead of responding to his greeting. "I went to the cafeteria but I didn't see you there so I came here." Stephanie lifted her brow. "Why are you looking for me?" She questioned. "I want to have lunch with you. Yesterday was amazing." Phubert replied. Stephanie frowned deepened. "You didn't have lunch with me. Your food never can remember?" She reminded. "Oh, is that so?" Phubert said acting all disappointed. "Then we can have it today." He suggested. "I am not hungry." Stephanie declined but embarrassingly, her stomach grumbled. "Your stomach is saying otherwise." He chuckled triumphantly. "I don't have money." She stated truthfully this time. "Everything is on me. I will buy all the food they have if you want." "I am thankful but I can't take the offer." Stephanie decline again. "It's not for free. I buy you the food and in return you eat with me and let me drive you home in the evening?" Phubert bargained. "You are you still giving me a free offer." "I'll be delighted to have dinner with such a beautiful lily like you." I will accept your offer on only one condition." And what's condition is that's beautifully lily?" "Please stop calling me Lily. You can call me anything but not lily." "But why? The name suits you very much." "Do you want me to change my mind?" No... no let's go beautiful.
In the evening, when Stephanie was getting ready to leave. Her co worker came from behind and cooed, "I thought you didn't know the CEO. Did you have to make me look so foolish?" Stephanie got so settled. She turned to Jackie and grumbled. "Did you have to freak me out like that?" But the woman just looked at her with a serious gaze. Don't look at me like that. How am I supposed to know him?" Stephen added. Don't lie me. Jackie voiced." Jackie it was just yesterday that I came here. I haven't been talking to anyone except you and.... you and Phubert...wait...are you talking about Phubert? Phubert is the CEO? But he never told me he was the CEO." "So you mean you didn't know that Mr Phubert is the CEO? You didn't tell me the CEO's name remember?" Because you never asked." "I didn't mean for things to go this way. I'm sorry." Stephanie apologised. I'm sorry too. I didn't know that you didn't know and came forward to scold you." Jackie and Stephanie smiled at each other. "Okay, let's go together." Jackie suggested. Stephanie walked with Jackie to the bus station. As soon as they reached the entrance the range from last night pulled over before them. The window rolled down and Phubert could be seen with a smirk on his face. "Remember our deal?" He asked rising an eyebrow. Jackie immediately bowed her head and greeted. "Good evening, sir." "Evening." He replied. "I will see you tomorrow Steph." Jackie said and without waiting for Stephanie to reply, she walked off. she watched Jackie walk down the road till Phubert called her name. " Hey I won't drive the car without you ma'am. Stephanie didn't lift her eyebrow like in the past. She instead looked down and said, "thanks, but I will take the bus." The smile on Phubert face lessened. "You remember our deal right?" "Yeah, I promise to pay you back the cost of the food, I will even double it if you want. I'm sorry, but I can't stick to the deal. Stephanie said and began to walk in the direction where Jackie went. "Hey wait!" Phubert drove the car after her. Stephanie what is wrong?" He asked, but Stephanie didn't stop and continue to walk hurriedly to the bus station. Phubert drove the car pass pass her and got out of the car? He stopped Stephanie by holding her shoulders. "Please sir, let me go. Stephanie pleaded, that was when Phubert understood why she was behaving that way. "Why don't we sit in the car and I will explain everything to you." Phubert suggested. "No I can't do that. You are my boss and I am just an employee." "No, that's not it's, we are more than that. Let's sit i the car first." "I....You...You and I..." "Please." "Phubert pleaded. "Okay." Stephanie agreed and sat in the car with Phubert.
Phubert stared at her without breaking eye contact. Obviously it's made Stephanie uncomfortable so she said, "you wanted to tell me something." Phubert diverted his gaze from her and voiced, "Let's go to a nearby eatery okay?" Stephanie just nodded her head.
They went to a nearby restaurant as Phubert said. "You should order something." Phubert said. "No... I don't have money for food at this place." "I will pay for its." "No I don't want to owe you again." "You don't owe me and you can't take it as payment of accepting to come with me. "Thanks, but I'm fine." "Hmm okay." Phubert sighed and became quiet. "What did you want to tell me?" Stephanie asked. "I...I am sorry for not telling you this earlier. I didn't want you to distance yourself from me." "What do you mean?" I'm Arthur your cousin from your father's sight. The boy who used to make fun of you and your family." After saying that Phubert expected Stephanie to get angry, but Stephanie questioned with a rised eyebrow, "You want me to believe you?" He took her hand on the table and said, "Arthur gave you that." He pointed at the bracelet on her wrist. "I used to sleep with you every night before your birthday so that I could be the very first person to wished you a happy birthday, the best brother at home and a worst at school. Stephanie was in tears of joy. "Oh my gosh, can't believe it's really you Phubert. After all these years We met again. I thought we were never going to meet each other again. You didn't even say goodbye and left. I'm so mad at you right now." Stephanie said though she didn't sound one bit mad. She stood up and hugged him to his surprise. They hugged for only God knows now long and when they broke from the hug and Stephanie sat back, she took the menu and other so many dishes. Can you eat all of them?" Phubert asked when he saw all the food served on the table. "I will just taste them all. When she tastes a food and she doesn't like, she leaves it. She will also end up eating the food that lasted very good to her. She didn't even taste some of the food sicec she felt nauseous just by their smell. Sometimes she will combine two dishes and eat heartedly.
Phubert just stared at her while smiling warmly. It has been so long since he saw her and looking at her eat her heart out, it brought true happiness to him.