CHAPTER 32: SURPRISING HUBBY WITH LUNCH II
Just as she was about to turn, James held her hand and pulled her into his embrace. "One kiss before you go, then I'll disappear like a wisp of smoke." With that, he leaned in and gave her a deep long kiss that left her gasping for breath before he released her.
Diana felt her legs turn to jelly, well thanks to the door frame she quickly leaned on after the kiss. When she was calm and her breathing back to normal, she grinned.
James smiled and said again "i'm waiting Diana".
Realization then dawned on her as she turned and walked inside shutting the door behind her.
James smiled at her retreated figure and went to the open car door Angelo held out for him.
Angelo bowed slightly and greeted as his boss entered the car. Well he looked relatively calm today Angelo commented and thanked his lady boss in his mind even though she didn't know what she had done for them.
* * * * * * * * * * *
Diana hummed happily as she navigated the morning, her smile a secret only she possessed. Still buzzing with the morning's encounter, she sailed through her workday. Papers flew, emails were answered with lightning speed, and her smile never wavered. Work filled her day, but her thoughts drifted to James, a warmth blooming in her chest.
By afternoon, she was itching to express her joy. She escaped the confines of her office still radiating a morning's worth of sunshine, swept into the kitchen. With Nik and the maids' help, She transformed the kitchen into a whirlwind of culinary creation, and whipped up a feast fit for a king.
The centerpiece was a steaming lunchbox for James, overflowing with his favorite treats and a generous portion for his brother and secretary.
Antonio, the ever-reliable driver, became her envoy, delivering the bounty to the imposing Stone Group skyscraper.
Angelo, James' assistant, nearly choked on his coffee when Antonio arrived to his office with the lunch boxes and delivered the message from Diana. "Madam remembers lunch for you too, Angelo!" Antonio exclaimed, before leaving his office.
Angelo gulped. The arrival of Diana's lunch brought a rare glint of surprise and gratitude to his eyes. He had struck gold with Diana, a boss who was not only brilliant but also kind.
Angelo navigated the labyrinthine corridors first to James' office. He knocked tentatively, interrupting a flurry of scribbling. Finding him engrossed in paperwork, a clearing of the throat announced his arrival."Sir, your wife sent you something," he announced, placing a sleek black lunchbox on the desk.
"She came here?" James' voice betrayed a flicker of curiosity, quickly masked by indifference.
"No, sir, she sent Antonio."
James' eyes flickered with surprise, then just as quickly masked it. "Drop it and leave," he said curtly, a faint flicker of pleasure betraying his facade.
James' surprise, though fleeting, didn't escape Angelo's keen eyes. With a curt nod, Angelo bowed and retreated. James sighed, a hint of a smile playing on his lips before he stashed the lunchbox away.
Angelo heaved a sigh of relief as soon as he came out from James office and headed to Jared's office, his own lunch forgotten in the rush. He didn't need to knock on Jared's door and entered immediately. No formalities, just a swift entrance and a lunch pack held hostage.
"What the hell Angelo?" Jared looked up and his words died in his throat when he saw the lunch pack Angelo carried. "Diana sent this?" he gasped.
Angelo, ever the poker face, simply nodded.
"Well, give it here!" Jared demanded, impatience replacing surprise.
Angelo, unfazed, held his ground. "What were you about to say, Jared? The 'what the hell' bit?" he teased, mimicking Jared's earlier outburst.
Jared's face flushed. "Alright, alright, you win," he conceded, standing up. "We are the best of friends, remember?" Jared said in an attempt to make Angelo give up the box.
Angelo snorted. "Clearly not, if bribing me with the friend word is your strategy."
Jared, undeterred and realizing he was outmatched, offered a deal. "I'll do your work for 24 hours!" he declared, a wistful smile on his face. "Your choice."
Angelo, his amusement evident, considered the offer. Albeit tempted, bargained further. "Make it forty-eight, and you have yourself a deal. Just don't go looking for your brother with this. He doesn't know about it." Angelo added a final warning.
Jared, ecstatic, and eager to escape his self-inflicted punishment, snatched the lunch and hurried out towards his brother's office, leaving Angelo shaking his head. "Didn't I just warn him?"
As Angelo left, he couldn't help but grin. Diana's warmth had spread, creating a ripple of laughter and goodwill through the stone facade of the skyscraper. Perhaps, he thought, that was her greatest secret – the ability to weave connections and joy even in the most unexpected places.