Yanis was about to burst into tears. It was only when she heard Zain’s soft reply that she realized she had overreacted.
He immediately let go and took a step back, then stepped forward again to pick up the things and put them in the bag.
There was silence in the reception room.
Suddenly there was a knock on the door, it was Megan with a meaningful smile.
-Are you done with the noodles? You have a video conference in five minutes, Mr. Zain. Here’s the data you need.
Zain frowned and Yanis turned away.
The man grumbled inwardly, unhappy: “Another meeting? I haven’t had time for lunch yet.”
-Okay, I’m coming.
Next, Megan waved to Yanis and left.
Yanis became even more uneasy and got up with the bag, -I’m going, then.
Zain wanted her to stay, but thinking that she had already waited until she fell asleep, he desisted.
The man hesitated a moment and said, -Your leg has not yet recovered and Santino will take you back in fifteen minutes.
Santino came as soon as he received the call from Zain, who left before the videoconference started.
Before he asked Yanis, -Are you coming back?
-What?
-Well, tomorrow.
Yanis blinked and said stiffly, -I think so?
-Well.
It was only after Zain left that Yanis realized his pulse was racing and thought, “Is Zain inviting me?”
An idea he had never had the courage to imagine before was slowly growing.
But not daring to think about it, he could only carefully guard the implied idea.
Almost a quarter of an hour later Santino arrived, standing smiling in the doorway in his shirt and fine jacket.
-Hello, Miss Yanis, Mr. Zain has sent me.
Yanis found Santino especially sympathetic, as she and Alice had often traveled in his car. But at the sight of Santino’s attire, Yanis felt embarrassed.
Although winter was almost over and many people had changed into thin jackets, Yanis was still clinging to her down jacket and a T-shirt.
This would come in handy for him to change into when the weather changed.
But it would be possible for her to be laughed at, as some were already wearing short sleeves.
-Thanks for coming, Santino.
Afterwards, Yanis tossed the noodles into the wastebasket downstairs. She had planned to go home, but then decided to help out at the restaurant.
When she arrived at the restaurant, Brisa saw her get out of the car and squinted at the older man driving.
When Yanis got in, Brisa asked, -Who brought you here?
Yanis’s expression changed slightly, “No one, what?
Brisa grabbed her by the collar, -Be careful with the tone, miss, I’ve seen a man, well….
-Mom! -Yanis knew Brisa too well, she knew what she was going to say and interrupted her, “He’s a major I respect, and nothing more!
-But I didn’t say anything!
Yanis said angrily, “If I hadn’t interrupted you, you would have said something unpleasant.
-And this man has such a superior car?
Yanis didn’t want to continue the conversation, -I have to go upstairs to rest, my legs hurt.
-Stop, explain it to me.
Brisa, although reluctant to stop, did not go after Yanis so that he would not run and aggravate the wound on his leg.
***
Alice’s due date was approaching and her belly was already huge, making it very difficult to lie down and get up.
But she didn’t have such a big belly when she was pregnant with Jack.
Also, her hands, legs and neck, and even her face, were putting on weight very quickly.
After Alice complained to Yanis about this, Yanis made a point of looking up information on the Internet.
-Many women gain a lot of weight after having a second child and it’s harder to get back to your former figure, but don’t worry.
Alice didn’t think Kennedy was a shallow man, but she also didn’t want her beloved to remember how ugly she was.
Alice’s eyes filled with tears at the thought of this, and she asked Kennedy to sleep in the guest room for the night instead of letting him in.
Kennedy was concerned about Alice’s sudden change in mood. At first he thought it was a temper tantrum, but after a few days Alice became more aggressive and didn’t even want to see him.
Kennedy was distraught, he didn’t know why Alice was acting this way, but he didn’t dare to barge into her room and make her angry, so he finally told Raquel.
Rachel was also very confused, -What’s going on, are you having an affair with another woman, Kennedy, if that’s the case, I won’t forgive you.
Kennedy didn’t answer, her face grim.
-Isn’t it? Tell me,” Rachel was going to force him to admit it.
-Come on, I’m just worried he’ll have an accident.
-Who knows? -I don’t know,” Rachel scoffed, though she knew Kennedy was a decent man and had great taste in women.
For years he had only had Alice as a woman.