"Oh my gosh!" Katelyn gasped as the cold juice seeped through her suit, chilling her skin beneath.
"I'm so sorry, ma'am! It was an accident," James said, a hint of exaggeration in his tone.
"You've ruined my suit! What am I going to do now?" Katelyn muttered, her voice shaky with disappointment. This was her first day wearing the suit, and she felt her frustration building as she fought back tears.
"I didn't mean to, ma'am. Please forgive me!" James pleaded. His repeated apologies slowly eased her nerves.
"It's okay. I'll figure something out," she said, taking a calming breath as she sat back down. Just then, the office door swung open, and Stuart entered with a casual smile, until he noticed the stain on her suit.
"What happened?" Stuart asked, his brows knitting together as he took in her disheartened expression.
"Um… it's nothing," Katelyn replied softly. "Juice just spilled on my suit, but it's fine."
Stuart's gaze shifted to James. "How did this happen?"
Before Katelyn could explain, James quickly jumped in. "I'm sorry, sir. I was careless."
"You ruined her suit!" Stuart snapped, but Katelyn gently touched his arm to calm him.
"It's fine, really. I'll just rinse it off," she reassured him before glancing at James. "You may go," she said, and James quickly exited, relieved.
Once they were alone, Stuart asked, "Are you sure you're okay?"
"Of course. I'll just wash it off," Katelyn replied, though her expression still showed traces of embarrassment.
Stuart observed her for a moment before saying, "Alright, you go get cleaned up. I'll arrange something for us to eat," he offered with a warm smile.
Katelyn's eyes widened in surprise. "Wait—what?" A small smile curled on her lips.
"Why do you think I own a hotel?" Stuart teased. Katelyn knew of Stuart's reputation as a chef, but she was taken aback. She'd always secretly wanted to try his cooking and was now torn between excitement and shyness. "No, that's alright! I can whip something up," she offered, but Stuart shook his head with a playful wink.
"Go on, freshen up. I'll be back." He gestured toward the restroom, then left with a grin. Katelyn stood there for a moment, her heart lightened by his kindness, before heading to wash off the stain.
Minutes later, Stuart returned to her office, trailed by James, Monica, and Rena, each carrying trays loaded with delicious dishes. Stuart had designed Katelyn's spacious office with a cozy dining area so she could have her meals comfortably, and the small table was now laden with food. There was chicken and waffles, buttermilk pancakes, a breakfast burrito, key lime pie, and her favorite—bacon, egg, and cheese sandwiches. Accompanying the meal were bottles of Asconi Agor red wine and Chateau Chizay Labrusca.
"Oh my gosh!" Katelyn gasped as her eyes widened. "There's so much!"
"Of course," Stuart said, smiling as he pulled a chair out for her. Blushing, Katelyn took a seat, her cheeks pink with a mix of embarrassment and gratitude.
"How did you manage to prepare all of this so quickly?" she asked, slicing into her bacon, egg, and cheese sandwich.
"It's my thing," he replied proudly, his eyes lighting up.
"Oh, wow! It's perfect—just how I love it!" Katelyn said, savoring the flavors. Stuart found himself drawn to the way she spoke, especially when she licked her lips in delight. He quickly refocused, realizing he'd been staring.
"Glad you like it," he said, shifting his gaze to her face.
"It's one of my favorites. I can't go a week without it!" she admitted, pointing to the sandwich with a grin.
"I feel the same," Stuart said, sharing in her enjoyment. Katelyn was about to respond when suddenly, Andy and Vic burst in, with Walter following behind them, looking flustered.
"Yo, man!" Andy called out, stopping in his tracks when he saw Katelyn and Stuart sharing breakfast together.
"I'm sorry, sir. I couldn't stop them," Walter apologized quickly, head bowed. "I told them you were in here, but they forced their way in."
"You may leave," Stuart said calmly. As Walter exited, Stuart shot a cold glare at Andy, knowing it must have been his idea to barge in. Andy grinned, unfazed, and shook his head.
"I knew you were avoiding us for a reason, man! Why don't you want to hang out?" Andy asked loudly, taking a seat beside Katelyn.
"Are you two celebrating something?" Victor asked, eyeing the spread on the table.
"Of course not," Katelyn replied, almost instinctively. "Stuart made all of this for breakfast."
Victor and Andy both turned their gaze toward Stuart, who watched them with a reserved expression.
"See? I told you he was acting strange," Andy teased, tapping Vic's chest with a smirk.
"What are you both doing here?" Stuart asked, uninterested in their jokes.
"Relax, man. We're not here to bite," Andy said, serving himself a burrito.
"There's definitely something going on," Vic said, studying Katelyn. Stuart noticed the look and understood.
"Well, I guess breakfast is over," he said, giving Katelyn a quick smile. She caught his meaning and quietly excused herself from the room.
"She didn't have to leave," Andy said, watching as she exited.
"Alright, what's going on?" Stuart asked, placing his hands on the table.
"Nothing major," Andy chimed in, grinning. "Vic here wants to propose to Maurice!" he announced, excitement in his voice as he stuffed his mouth with chicken and waffles.
"Really?" Stuart asked, his brows lifting in surprise.
"Yeah, it's true," Vic confirmed, nodding.
"So, what's the plan?" Stuart asked, curious.
Andy leaned in. "Well, her birthday's next weekend, right? So why don't you throw her a massive surprise party? You could use the moment to propose!" he suggested, pouring himself a glass of Asconi Agor red wine.
"That sounds a bit… too public," Vic said, scratching his head.
"Come on, she'll love it!" Andy argued. "It's her birthday, and she's about to become your fiancée. Besides, it's about time the world knows who's in your life. Right, Stuart?"
"I agree," Stuart said, nodding. "It's a big step, so why not make it memorable? And don't worry, we've got your back."
Vic blushed slightly, taking a deep breath. "Alright, you're right. But we can't pull this off alone—we need some help from the ladies."
"I'll talk to Katelyn," Stuart offered. "Maybe she can bring Carissa in to help too."
"Perfect," Vic replied, relieved. The three friends discussed other details for a while, before heading out for the day. As they wrapped up, Stuart offered to give Katelyn a ride home.
"Katelyn," he called, catching her attention as she turned towards him. "Mind if I drop you off?"
She smiled warmly. "Sure."
They walked to his Chevrolet Corvette, and Stuart held the door open as she climbed in. As he drove down the street, he glanced at her, thinking.
"So… since we're friends now, how about dinner at my place tomorrow night? You're welcome to bring Carissa too, if you'd like."
Katelyn looked at him curiously. "Are you celebrating something?"
He could feel her gaze on him, but he kept his focus on the road. "No, nothing like that. I just thought it'd be nice to have everyone together. Besides, it won't be just the three of us. Victor and Andy will be there too."
"Oh, that sounds nice. I'll talk to Carissa about it," Katelyn said with a smile.
"Great." A faint smile appeared on his lips as he sensed her excitement.
****
Later that evening, Katelyn was at home, feeling pleased at how well she and Stuart were getting along despite their history. She took a deep breath, dialing Carissa's number.
"Hey! Are you free tomorrow night?" she asked, barely able to hide her excitement.