A wave of satisfaction washed over me as I watched the look on Stella's face fall within a split second. It was almost as if I had just crushed her hopes and dreams with a snap of my fingers.
The corners of my lips curled upwards into a slight smirk as I looked between the both of them while Xavier's arm snaked around my waist.
"If you don't mind us, we shall be heading out for lunch too," I announced. "Enjoy your lunch though," I mocked, sarcasm dripping from the words that left my lips.
"Oh yeah? I will," Blake retorted sharply while Stella stood there with a blank look etched onto her face. She looked as though she was still registering the sudden pregnancy announcement I just dropped on her and struggling to accept the truth while Blake remained ignorant. He eyed me with disdain and full of spite swimming in his eyes.
I turned to leave and from the corner of my eye, I noticed Blake leaning in towards Stella puckering his lips, just mere inches away from the side of her head. But before I could see any further, Xavier spun me around, grabbed me by my face and pulled me towards him before pressing his lips against mine.
His sudden touch sent a tingling sensation right down my spine. My heart was sent into overdrive and it felt as though it was going to burst out of my chest at any given moment. My eyes widened as I stared at his face and the way his eyes fluttered shut naturally like this wasn't the first time we have kissed. A sense of deja vu washed over me in an instant and I thought I was going crazy, but for some unknown reason, it felt as though we have done this before.
Everything felt as if it was in slow motion, feeling like it was an eternity when in reality, it was probably no more than a couple of seconds. Before my mind could even properly register the situation, he had pulled away with a smile on his face while Blake and Stella were no longer standing behind us.
I watched as Stella made her way towards the lift while Blake was walking back to the pantry where some of his colleagues started teasing him, laughing at the lunch box in his hands.
I turned back to meet Xavier's eyes.
"What was that for?" I asked with an arched brow, my voice laced with a hint of surprise and disbelief.
"What? Can't a man kiss his wife?" He rebutted with an amused smile etched onto his face as he leaned down closer to me.
"Well… I –" I stammered, struggling to get the words out of my mouth when he leaned back down to give me another kiss on my cheek.
"So, what's for lunch?"
***
Third person POV
Blake pushed the door open and almost immediately, the strong aroma that was lingering in the air invaded his nostrils. It smelt just like some of his favourite dishes. A puzzled look crossed his face but when his eyes landed on Stella who was wearing an apron as she placed the dishes onto the dining table, it all made sense.
"Oh, hey Blake. You are home," Stella greeted cheerily as a smile graced her lips. She naively believed Blake's words when he assured her that Aurelia was lying, that the child wasn't his. "Just in time for dinner. I thought you would like a home-cooked meal, so I made some of your favourite dishes. There's steak and fries and –"
Blake's confusion quickly turned into anger. He stared at her and his features contorted into an angry expression as he was reminded of the unpleasant memories.
"What the hell are you doing in my house?" He questioned, cutting her off mid-sentence as he clenched his jaw.
She stumbled back, shocked by his reaction and loud voice that echoed in the house. She had not expected this from him at all.
"I was just –"
"This isn't your home. You know that right?" He asked, his voice dripping with malice while she was still confused as to why he was so angry. She couldn't seem to find a reason and her head continued to race with thoughts and questions swirling at the back of her mind. "You can't just walk in here and fucking whip up a meal or something!"
She was frustrated by now.
"What the fuck is wrong with you Blake?!" She snapped at him as she walked towards him, closing the gap between them in a few angry strides. "All I did was try to do something nice for you. Why the fuck are you yelling at me like it was my fault? I didn't do anything wrong at all! What the hell is this all about?!" She fought back, her voice shaking from anger as she spoke.
"I didn't ask you to make me dinner," he retorted through gritted teeth and deja vu washed over her. He said the same thing to Aurelia back then. "And I didn't ask you to bring me lunch at work."
A cold chuckle left her parted lips and it clicked in her head. "Is that what this is about? Because I brought you lunch and you are mad at me now?"
"I'm mad at you because you fucking embarrassed me, Stella!" He yelled in her face, an intimidating look plastered across his face. "Because of you, my colleagues started teasing me, saying that 'mummy cooks me lunch' and that 'mummy loves me'. Do you know how embarrassing that is?"
She let out a loud scoff, rolling her eyes at him. "Why do you care so much about what your dumb colleagues think and say? They are probably just jealous because no one makes them any meals!"
"Of course I care! I have to face them every single day at work. It's easy for you to say because you don't see them, you don't hear what I hear."
"I –"
"And besides, we are not a couple, so quit acting like we are one and don't show up at my workplace ever again!" He warned, his voice heavy with a threat.
She raised a brow at him.
"Are you serious?" She asked with disbelief written all over her face. "Then why the hell did you kiss me earlier?"