Augustus took a soup bowl and started drinking it, just when Lisa asked in a teasing tone, “Don’t you want me to feed you?”
Augustus was very hungry, he said bluntly, “What if you feed me with your dirty hands? Huh? I don’t want to get sick.” He then continued drinking soup.
Lisa chuckled and said, “Well, I didn’t even wash my hands while cooking it..”
“Pheww” Augustus spit out the soup. “You’re not serious?” He asked seriously.
She couldn’t help but burst into laughter covering her mouth and then Augustus joined her too. Both laughed heartedly and finished all the dishes.
After finishing the dinner, Lisa went to kitchen to clean the dishes and Augustus went to his study for work.
After cleaning, Lisa took out the chocolate cake she had prepared with dinner. She then headed to the living room with cake in her hands. But to her surprise, there was no one in the living room.
She looked around and then saw a room at corner. It’s door was slightly open. She stepped forward and knocked on the door.
Thump… Thump… Thump
Nobody answered. She knocked again.
Thump… Thump… Thump
No response.
She then pushed the door open slowly and saw Augustus sitting on the chair with head phones on talking with someone. He was wearing his coat and his shirt buttons were neatly buttoned and he was even wearing tie on it.
Looks like he has come back to his business cold personality. Lisa looked around and understood it is his study room. When he’s not at office, he still works at home. So much affectionate about his work, Lisa stared at him admiringly.
Augustus felt someone’s gaze and looked at the door without removing his headphones and saw Lisa standing with a cake in her hand.
Chocolate cake.. His favorite.. yumm
He smiled at her. She waved cake in front of him and pointed to the living room with her finger. Augustus nodded and turned to his laptop continuing the work. Lisa left with the cake.
In the living room, Lisa placed the cake, plates and spoons on the coffee table and waited for Augustus. Lisa than only looked at his home carefully.
His home is totally white, white sofas, white walls, white marbles, white curtains. Looks like a paradise with simple and modern design furniture.
Lisa was lost in her thoughts when Augustus called her. She looked up and saw, he was already sitting on the sofa looking at her with interest in his eyes.
“Do you like it?” He asked.
“Hmm” she replied lazily.
“What? Is there something wrong?” He asked concernly.
“Hmm.. well.. you like white a lot.” She said while hesitating.
“Yes, I like to see things clear. White makes me calm and bright.” He said calmly while giving her a plate of cake slice.
She took it and said, “Well, I didn’t know about it. I should probably talk to Betty to change the office design.”
“No need. I am totally fine with it.” Augustus said while eating cake with his hands.
“Are.. you sure? It isn’t all white. I have added colors in design.” Lisa reminded him.
“Whatever you choose, I’ll agree.” He said with mouth full of chocolate cake. “Hmmm it’s good.”
Lisa looked at him with satisfaction. He liked her cake and her designs, whatever she chooses he will agree. Is he serious? Why would he do that? He has Giovanna than why did he say this to her? Am I overthinking it? She thought to herself.
“Is there something on my face?” Augustus asked when he saw her staring at him.
“Ahem… here.” Lisa took a tissue from the table and gave him.
He wiped his face and hands. “You cook well.” Augustus complimented her.
Lisa blushed and smiled. “I used to cook for my husband and son. They are very foodie.”
Lisa paused and then suddenly, she thought of Maria. She called him Daddy today. Is he her father? Than where is his wife?
She couldn’t help but suddenly asked him out of curiosity, “I didn’t know you are married and you have a kid, too.”
Augustus looked at her calmly and said, “I am not married.”
“So, then..?” She asked nervously.
“Well, Maria was adopted by me. She got hit by my car eight months ago. I rushed her to the hospital and she got saved. After she got her consciousness, she kept asking for her father. She told a nurse that her mother brought her here to meet her father. We tried hard but couldn’t find her. Nobody even came to take her. One day, I went hospital to tell her about the orphanage home. But before I could say anything, she hugged me and started crying calling me “Daddy.” He paused and took a deep breath. His eyes were full of emotions.
“That time I felt something alive inside me that I haven’t felt ever. And instead of telling her the truth. I caressed her head and told her that I’m her father and then I legally adopted her.”
“But there is no news of adoption on the internet.” Lisa said.
“Yes, only few people knows about her existence. That is the reason also, why I am the Trustee of her school so that they can keep her information safe.” He explained.
Lisa nodded. “Well, Maria is very good child. She is lucky to have you as a father.” She praised him.
“Can’t tell who is more lucky me or her?” He said gladly finishing all the cake.
“By the way, who are those uncles? Your son mentioned today?” He asked deliberately.
“Umm… those..” Lisa hesitated at first and then she thought as he has explained about his daughter in detailed to her. She should also kept some trust on him and tell him the truth.
“Tony’s uncle is Cristian. The Finance Manager of the Hotel.” She explained.
“Oh.. I remember him.” Augustus said after thinking for a second. “And other one?”
“Hmm.. that’s my husband’s younger brother Ted Smith.” She said indifferently and then closed her eyes in pain remembering Ted’s evil intentions for her.
“Smith?” Are you talking about the Smith’s showroom owner?” Augustus asked surprisingly.
“Yes. Tom Smith and Ted Smith.” She emphasized.
“You are Tom Smith wife..!” He exclaimed. “How did you end up like this?” He asked in a confusing manner.
Lisa shrugged her shoulders and said in a low voice. “It’s a long story.”
“I am all ears.” Augustus said leaning on the sofa.
Lisa took a deep breath before telling him about the past. “I was sixteen, when I got married to Tom. My father left me and my siblings responsibility on Tom after marriage. Tom never complained and took our responsibility gracefully. Seeing his humbleness, I also started treating his brother like my own. He used to pamper him like a baby.”
She paused thinking about her husband, her eyes turned sad, her face turned pale and tears started coming at the corner of her eyes. She took a deep breath and continued.
“After Tom died, I went into depression and locked myself. That time, Ted asked me to marry him. I refused immediately but he kept insisting. He then took over everything that belonged to Tom and also filed a case of my son’s custody. If I don’t get a stable job. I won’t be able to get my son back and surrender to him for marriage.”
She wiped the corner of her eyes with the back of her hand and looked at Augustus. He was sitting calmly on sofa after listening her carefully.
“So, that’s the reason, your son is in the boarding school now?” He asked after a while.
“Yes” Lisa nodded.
“Who send you roses on the promotion? Is it Ted Smith?” Augustus suddenly asked her out of the blue.
Lisa was shocked and blinked her eyes in surprise. Did he see that roses? She thought.
Augustus looked at her uneasiness and understood immediately that his guess was indeed right. If that bouquet was really sent by her father why would she gave it to Anna.
“I’ll take your silence as yes.” Augustus said in a serious tone, “And by the way, that night when you were drugged. There was a faint smell of roses on your body.” He said it in a casual tone.
Lisa’s eyes widened on his words. Oh My God..! Does it mean he knew it was Ted? No.! Nobody should know about this. Ted is a cruel person what if he did something to Simon in the revenge of revealing this matter to Augustus.
Lisa struggled inside her heart. She finally made a decision and then opened her mouth. “Mr. Augustus, this is a family matter. It can be solved easily by us. No outsider is allowed to interfere in such a matter.” Lisa chose her words carefully and sounded as gentle as she can be, afraid of angering him.
Augustus’s expression was calm, he thought for a moment and then said, “Okay”
Lisa smiled and breathed a sigh of relief.