"Shit." Zara murmured, exchanging glances with Ayden.
"Oh." Ayden scratched the back of her neck, guiltily.
It was awkwardly and uncomfortably quiet for a moment.
Zara loudly cleared her throat. "It's fine. You need more time to think and that's okay."
Diamond plopped down on the island chair. "It's definitely not okay and I know you are saying this now so I wouldn't feel bad. It's obvious you are both disappointed in me."
"Disappointed?" Ayden waved his hand on the air. "Nonsense."
"What are you saying, Diamond?" Zara passed down two mugs of steaming coffee to Diamond and Ayden and then set the last one down for herself. "We are not disappointed in you, trust us. You are our best friend and it's okay to take your time in writing. Besides, you are determined to give your fans the best story ever and that's what matters."
"Stop trying to make me feel better, you two." Diamond groaned, taking a sip of coffee. "I feel like a failure and I hate it. I've been on this work for like forever."
"Actually, you've been on it for only seven months." Ayden said.
Zara threw a hard glare at his way, condemning him for saying something like that.
Ayden bite his lower lip, realizing his mistake.
"You are right."
"Don't listen to Ayden. I know of a writer who have been on a particular work for close to two years."
"Wait, that writer is me." Diamond whispered.
"Oh." Zara picked up her mug of coffee and took a sip from it.
Ayden shook his head at Zara.
"You are both right. I'm a total failure."
"No way. We never meant it that way." Ayden said. "You are a successful writer and I'm sure your fans love you just the way you are."
"I am losing fans. And honestly, I don't blame them." She sighed. "Miss Donna requested for a business meeting but I know for a fact she didn't call me over to praise or worship me...she definitely wants to scold me."
"She dare not." Zara bellowed. "Does she think it's easy to think of words to construct, huh? If it's so easy being a writer then she should have been one instead of an editor."
"She's not at fault here, you know. She needs money but I'm not doing a good job which is affecting business for both her and myself."
"Here," Ayden handed Diamond a plate of toast and egg. "Eat before leaving."
She shook her head. "I'm not hungry."
"You haven't eaten." He pointed out.
"Obviously." She stood up. "I will eat when I return, okay?"
"Diamond, you have to eat now." He insisted.
Diamond gulped the last drop of her coffee and glanced down at the time on her wrist watch.
"I will, daddy but when I return." She smiled. "See you two later!" She waved them off before rushing out of the house.
"Miss Donna or whatever her name is, won't scold her, right?" Zara asked, staring at the closed door.
"Is that what you are even bothered about?" Ayden clicked his tongue. "Tsk. I hope they don't fire her."
Zara gasped. "That would be worse."
"You see, it's better they scold her than to fire her."
"You are absolutely right. Where's my food?"
"Here." He handed her the plate of toast and egg that was meant for Diamond.
"Thank you but can you add more eggs?"
"You are so greedy."
"Jerk."
*****
ITALY
The Bruni's Residence**
"Dovreste prendervi una pausa per il resto della giornata." (You all should take a break for the rest of the day) Mikhail ordered as he stepped inside the kitchen.
"Non abbiamo preparato la cena, signore." (We haven't prepared dinner, sir) The head of the maids said.
"Non preoccupatevi, preparerò personalmente la cena per tutti." (Don't worry about it, I will personally prepare dinner for everyone) He said with a gentle smile on his face.
"Preparerai la cena per tutti? Compresi noi cameriere?" (You will prepare dinner for everyone? Including the maids?) She asked a little bit surprise.
She wasn't surprise with the fact that he wants to cook. He always does it for his wife because for some reasons as soon as his wife became pregnant, she prefers eating his food than the maid's. His food were one of her regular cravings.
But what surprised the woman more is the fact that he don't want to only prepare dinner for his dearest wife but likewise for everyone in the household. Isn't that surprising?
Yes, Mikhail is a nice and a good man but they've never eaten a meal made by him before except his wife.
He frowned. "Sì. E smettila di parlare così. Non siete solo cameriere, ma una parte della famiglia. Mia famiglia." (Yes. And stop talking like that. You all aren't just maids but a part of the family. My family.)
"Ma..." (But...) She began but he cuts her off immediately.
"Nessun ma. Ora Vai. Ho bisogno del mio spazio per preparere la cena." (No buts, now go. I need my space to prepare dinner.)
She sighed in defeat. "Van bene signore. Bene, se hai bisogno do qualcosa. Non esitate a chiamarmi." (Okay sir. Well, if you need anything. Don't hesitate to call me.)
He smiled. "Non lo farò."
She bowed her head in respect and left the kitchen alongside the other maids.
Mikhail let out a deep breath as he roll up his sleeve and began chopping the ingredients that need to be chopped into smaller pieces.
He is completely stressed after a long day working his ass out to correct the wrongs of his trusted friend who betrayed him.
All he needed right now was to rest but instead, when he stepped inside the room he saw his wife crying and when he asked why? She said she's craving a pasta made by him.
He couldn't say no even though that's all he wanted to say to her.
He love his wife so much. Tired or not, he's ready to do anything for her.
The Bruni's Bedroom***
"Yummy!" She grinned from ear to ear as she shove some pasta into her mouth. "You are such a great cook."
"I know I am." He bluffed. "Here, drink this." He poured her some glass of water.
"Grazie." (Thank you) She collected the glass of chilled water and took a small gulp. "So," She dropped the glass on the table. "How was work?"
He shrugged, taking off his shirt and trouser. "Just stressful."
She frowned. "I made it worse by asking you to make dinner, right?"
Mikhail smiled. "Of course not, Amore. In fact I'm more than happy to cook for you."
"But you are stressed out from work and what you need is complete rest and enough sleep but instead I..."
He shut her up by placing a soft kiss on her lips.
"I said it's fine. I'm not complaining, or am I?"
"I still feel bad about it." She pouted.
"Well...you can make me feel better, you know." He suggested, smirking.
She smiled. "I will do just that. Go and have your bath, I will be waiting out here."
"Okay ma'am." He kissed her again before going into the adjoined bathroom.
Diamond call in the maids to help her take out the dirty plates while she arranged the bed rejecting the maids offer to do so.
Fifteen minutes later, Mikhail walked out of the bathroom, wearing just a black boxers and a plain white t-shirt.
Diamond was patiently waiting for him to join her on the bed.
He did after drying off his black soft hair.
"Come here." She commanded and he obediently went towards her and placed his head on her lap. She started massaging his head, gently. "How do you feel now?"
"Relaxed." He moaned lightly as he shut his eyes closed, enjoying the magic she was doing on his head. She always does something like this whenever he's stressed out.
"Mi dispiace." (I'm sorry)
He laughed softly, "You don't have to be sorry for anything, Amore. If you are craving for my food then it means my little princess wants to eat daddy's food and I will gladly prepare it for her whenever she needs it." He said.
"You sly man. You keep making me fall harder for you." She chuckled.
"It is only fair that way because I find myself falling harder for you with each passing second."
"Awww." She dropped a light kiss at the top of his head, earning a soft moan from him. "Have you thought about it yet?"
"What?"
"A name for our child? Few weeks from now and we will bring her into the world."
He smiled as soon as she said those words.
"I can't wait."
"Me too. I'm sure she's going to be a daddy's girl being the fact that she loves daddy's food more."
"Of course she will be daddy's little princess." Mikhail slowly opened his eyes, staring up at the ceilings while Diamond kept massaging his head. "What do you think about Mika?"
"Mika? Nah, that sounds too boyish."
"Uhm, what about Tessa?"
"Tessa doesn't sound like an Italian name." She complained again.
"You want an Italian name for her?"
"Of course."
"What do you think about Louisa?" She suggested.
"No. I don't like it. I would like it if she bears an English name."
"Well she can but the acceptable one will be italian."
"Okay. I will choose the English name. Tessa.