Chapter 118 - Take My Cake (2/2)
Inside the elevator, she repeatedly told herself that this would be the last time she would help him.
She was in the lobby when she smelled the freshly baked buns which tickled her nose. So she followed the scent and ended up in the hotel's patisserie at the left side of the lobby.
Upon scanning the place, her eyes landed on the last box of Japanese cheesecake on the shelf, and so her foot followed the trail that led to it.
TICK!
Two white sleeves reached out for the same golden box, retracting their hands at the same time too.
They exchanged small smiles before they reached for the same item again.
She was exhausted over fighting for something that didn't want to stay with her, so if someone wanted that cheesecake, then they could have it.
Anyway, the shelf was full of other pastries, so she should not focus on something that caught her eye at first sight.
To her surprise, when she turned her back to scan for something else, the man behind her handed the box of cheesecake to her.
”Oh. Are you sure?” she asked as she pressed the box on her c.h.e.s.t.
Pushing his eyeglasses up on his nose, the man replied, ”I was helping you reach out for it earlier. I'm here for coffee.”
”Oh.” She straightened her back and lifted the box. ”Thanks.”
The two exchanged smiles before Emily walked to the counter and waved for the cashier to punch in her box of cheesecake.
While waiting, she drowned herself with the hushed voices of people talking inside the patisserie.
”Good morning, Chief!”
”Hi. Hi.” She heard the man behind her reply. As if her ears had a mind of its own, it subconsciously listened to the conversation behind her.
”I heard you're finally taking that month-long vacation, Chief.”
”Hmm.”
”Nice. Are you what? Travelling? Staying at home?”
”Cuba. Medical Mission.”
”Hi, madam.”
Emily turned her head to where the men were talking and asked, ”Yes?”
”Madam.” The cashier cleared her throat, informing Emily that she's the one calling out to her.
”Oh. Yes. Yes. Here, take my cake,” Emily rambled. She just let the words roll off her tongue. She bit her bottom lip and trained her eyes on the floor when heat of shame pooled and burned her ears red.
When the crinkled sound of the paper bag crossing the countertop snapped her from her trance, it didn't take a beat for Emily to snatch it from the cashier, bolting out of the hotel.
”What. The. Heck,” she cursed as she caught her breath upon alighting a cab. ”I didn't pay. I didn't pay for the cake.”