Nigel's POV
I was so busy in my cafe when mommy Reese messaged us in GC that he wants to have dinner with us. It's final then. It was mommy Reese who said it so it needs to happen.
"How about we ask Riley too? They are not boyfriends yet, but for sure they would be. Let's congratulate him for making it to the third floor." Mommy Reese said.
"Then I'll bring cake, mom." I replied.
This is what I am good at. I love baking the most.
"Yes, honey. Make it blueberry cheesecake please." As usual, this is mommy Reese's favorite.
I messaged Aki about this dinner. You have no idea how hard I convinced Aki of this.
"Bring Alex and wait for me. I'll pick you up after my class." Aki replied.
I told him that his presence is not needed since they want us to have a shopping bonding without husbands. When mommy Reese said it, I feel like Aki is my husband too.
Aki is a dream come true for me and I will fight for this love. I will do anything for this relationship to last.
"Alex we are going to the mall to meet them." I told the bored guard.
It's a good thing that Elliana is a fast learner. I can trust my cafe under her supervision.
Everyone is complete. My brother arrived at the place too.
Alex walked towards me and told me that Aki is calling me.
"Why are you so busy?" He asked. I went to the corner to talk to him.
"I am with your family. What is wrong, my baby?"
"It annoys me when you are not replying. You know that so well."
He sounded so furious.
"And you know I am just with your family."
"And I don't care, Gel. I don't care who you are with. Just answer when I call."
I can feel his annoyance.
"Don't talk like that. I am still older than you."
"Here you go with the age again. You'll never stop mentioning age, won't you?" He asked me.
"Just talk nicely. Calm down."
Aki has no chill.
"How can I calm down? You always bring up the age in all of our conversations. It isn't normal, baby. I'll pick you up later. Wait till I finish the class." Aki told me.
"There's no need. I can go home with your mom. It's okay." I dropped the call.
He sent me a message. "Itching to end the call."
I can't believe him. I clearly said I am with his family. Patience, Gel. You've been patient with him ever since.
If I didn't love Aki this much, I had already broken his neck multiple times since we were kids.
I replied to him. "I'll eat with them. My brother is here." I am using my Nikki card. He will shut up when I use this.
"Okay. I love you. Don't go anywhere that Alex can't see you. Good?"
"Good, baby. See you in your room later." I said.
He sent a cute photo of him.
Aki. Damn it.
"Riley, do you want this?" I asked him. He looked so awkward eating with us.
"Yes." He answered. Why is he so shy? So cute.
I smiled at him. "You can always talk to me, okay?"
"Don't smile at me like that," Riley said seriously.
"Why?"
"I am weak for handsome guys." He whispered at me.
"Then I better stop smiling. We don't want a famous Riley Cameron to be falling for me." We both laughed.
He can still joke like this because Rye is not his official boyfriend yet. He is a dead meat once Rye hears this. Rye never jokes around.
We went shopping. Mommy Reese bought matching watches for him, Riley, and me. He didn't even check the price. The perks of marrying the richest guy in the country.
I helped Riley put his watch on.
"Shit! You are really handsome. Should we take a picture together? I'll add you on my most handsome album." Riley exclaimed.
Silly.
"Do you want me to send you home?" I asked him.
"Rye is waiting for me, though."
"Too bad I want to send a beautiful guy to his home." I chuckled.
"Fuck me! You sounded like a playboy. Are you really Aki's wifey? I think it's the other way around." He laughed.
"I was meant to be Aki's wife." I laughed too.
When we got home, Aki is already waiting for me in his bed.
"Did you enjoy it?" He asked.
"I would enjoy it more if you are with me," I answered.
His lips formed a curve.
You like it, huh?
"I bought this for you." This is shoes.
"I want to see you using this."
"Should I change with only shoes on?" He winked.
"Stop flirting. I ate a lot. You know what it means, right?"
He can't do me tonight.
"Ughhh. It's fine."
He exclaimed.
"Stop being dirty, baby. Finish all your home works too. I need to cook tonight."
"You ate already, right?" He whined.
"How about dada? Daddy Kian? Your dad? Even Rye didn't eat yet."
"You just want to cook for Rye."
Should I wring this guy's neck?
"Stop being gross, baby. You didn't eat too. I'll prepare mainly for Aki. You can just share with others too."
"Be back right away."
Why are their sink full of dishes?
I checked the list on the fridge. It's Rye's turn to wash.
He is still not here though. I don't like cooking in a messy place so I have no choice but to wash them. Ughhh!
You'll pay for this, Rye.
I was still cooking when Aki's grandfather sat at the dining table.
I am now pressured. Shit! Shit!
Is he hungry already?
"Don't mind me, Nigel. Do you need help instead?" Daddy Kian asked.
He stood up and washed the dishes I used.
"Dad, I can manage it."
"It's fine. When I first stepped here, I am always excited about mopping and washing the dishes. Do you know why? Because it means they are treating you like a family. You know sharing the chores and fighting when it seems unfair for the other." Daddy Kian told me.
"I love doing this too because you all are a family to me."
He patted my head. "Always a good kid."
I have always heard this line from them since I was a kid. Maybe because they see how patient I was with little Aki's tantrums. I am the good kid, Aki was the bad one. But still, my heart beats for only him.
We are still complete in the dining area even if most of us have taken our dinner already. I just made smoothies for them.
Mommy Reese and Mama Miles are exchanging glances and kept laughing. They looked at me and motioned me to check my phone. My phone is in Aki's pocket. I try to pull it but Aki asked me to focus on eating.
"Reese, say it." Mommy Ira said. Maybe he is sick of exchanging suspicious glances.
Mama Miles laughed so hard.
"Huh? Nothing." Mommy Reese returned.
"Baby, why?" It was daddy Aidan who asked too.
"Huh? Why me? It's mama. He said we need to go to the garden because he wants to ask something from Nigel." Mommy Reese spilled.
"They want to plant in the middle of the night because they need to know the status of Alex and Cyrus. Right?"
Aki asked.
"What? Are they dating? Aki's and Rye's bodyguards are dating?" I laughed too.
"Finish your food." Mommy Ira said.
Okay! No gossips tonight for mama and mommy.
"We will plant after dinner." Mommy Ira added.
I almost laugh out loud. Does he want the latest scoop too?
I was late going to my cafe. Everything is set already when I arrived.
"Boss, can you try my cookie?" Elliana asked. "I figured out that you will be late so I tried making cookies and brownies. I followed every step that you taught me."
She handed me a large chewy cookie.
This tastes almost the same.
"You did a good job." I praised her.
I can finally leave the whole day. If Elliana continues this I can let her manage so I can start doing other business too.
I saved a lot. During my school days, I receive an allowance monthly from the Kirigun. It's in the will. I was too shy to use it so I saved it. My dad, I mean my brother-in-law never fails to give me more than enough money too. I never spend on luxurious things, not because I can't afford them, but that is how I really am.
"Elliana, prepare Alex's breakfast, please." I asked her.
It was already afternoon. One of my staff woke me up from my nap inside my office because of a complaint.
"I've been a regular here. This is the first time I tried the brownies and look, a fucking strand of long hair. This is disgusting!" The familiar old woman kept shouting inside.
"I am sorry, we promise to be better. Can you wait for me so I can send you boxes to compensate? I'll make it real quick."
They finally accepted my offer. I made two dozen of cookies for them. I know it's not enough. We are on the wrong side.
"Blue, make sure to check on Elliana."
She was crying ever since we received a complaint earlier.
Alex wants to pay for the old woman's silence but I don't do that. It's a part of this business. We receive complaints and feedback, and we try to be better. I want an honest cafe.
I went to the back of my cafe. Blue said Elliana was there crying.
She is about to light a cigarette when I saw her. I have no idea that she is a smoker.
"It's okay, Elliana. It happens. But we need to learn from it." I felt bad that she was so excited to tell me earlier that she made the cookies and brownies by herself.
"I am so ashamed boss. I should have been more careful. If you will fire me, I would understand." Elliana cried. I remembered, she shared before that she was having difficulty paying her rent since she was alone in the country.
I was surprised when she hugged me.
"Uhm, Elliana. Wait."
"I am sorry, boss. I'll promise to be more serious on my job."
She hugged tighter.
I tried to pat her back.
She just wants to be comforted.
"I won't fire you, this is a lesson to all of us."
"Since when did hugging at the back of the cafe been part of the job description? Care to tell? Did I miss something?"
It was Aki. He was so angry. I can tell by how he looks right now.
"Baby, let me explain."
"I'll wait for you in the car. Close the cafe now. And you..." He pointed to Elliana. "There is something in you that annoys me all the time. I don't want to see you again."
Aki left.
"Boss, I am sorry." She cried harder.
"Listen to me, you did nothing wrong. I'll meet you tomorrow. Please go home for now and rest."