THE CHASE HAS STARTED
AURORA'S POV
I think it's high time I buy a car because it's not easy to carry two bags full of groceries while walking in heels. God knows why I have decided to wear heels today when I know that I will be going to the market to buy necessary things for the bakery. Usually the shop delivers the products I need but yesterday I got a call from the shop owner that they won't be able to deliver things for some days. So, that's why I have to go myself to pick up my orders.
Finally, I reach the bakery and greet some of my regular customers who smiles seeing me. I get inside before giving the heavy bags to Parker who picks them up without breaking any sweat. Pheww boys and their strength.
Claire hands me a bottle of water in which I thank her in response. I quickly take a few sips of water before going inside my office to take some rest. However, soon I hear a knock on the door before Parker's head popped in vision.
"Sorry to disturb you but there are two men who want to meet the owner of the bakery." He says making me slightly worried as to why someone wants to meet me suddenly.
"Have they said about the reason for the meeting?" I ask.
"One of them wants to give a large order to our bakery. But he insists that the owner take the order." He replies while rubbing the back of his head.
"Okay, let them in." I answer and he goes out to call the men.
After one or two minutes there is another knock so I ask them to come inside. But I get curious to see their half faces hidden behind masks. Still, I offer them the sits across from me as it's rude to not greet the customers politely.
"Umm, I don't want to sound rude but can you both take off your masks? It will be easier for me to talk to you both." I let out hoping that they are not some criminals behind the masks. The curly hair man takes off his mask first before giving me a small smile in response. However, my breath catch in my throat when the second man take off his mask as I have never imagined seeing him again.
"What are you doing here?" I ask with annoyance clear in my voice.
"My friend wants to order something from your bakery so I come here with him. Why is there any problem Miss Wilson?" Mr. Moretti replies with a smug look making me want to dip his handsome face in hot chocolate. Wait, did I just call him handsome? Aurora, calm yourself.
"I don't want to talk to you." I reply while folding my hands in front of my chest.
"If you two are done with your bickering then can we discuss the order?" The man who is introduced as Mr. Moretti's friend making my face heat up in realization that for a minute I forget that he is here too.
"Umm, sorry for the way I behaved. You can tell me what you want." I let out in a composed tone.
"Hi, my name is Arthur Silva and I am the CEO of the Silva Industries. Just recently I have signed a very profitable deal with a foreign company. So, to celebrate the occasion I have decided to throw a small party at my house and that's why I want to order some desserts from your bakery as Evelyn can't stop talking about this place." I nod my head in understanding before handing him the menu of the things we make in the bakery.
"You can look at the menu and tell me what you want for the party. By the way, when is the party?" I ask while taking out my notepad from the drawer attached to the desk.
"Next Saturday so you have plenty of time to prepare the order." Mr. Silva replies professionally making me nod my head.
"That's great but it depends on what you want for the party." I reply trying to avoid Mr. Moretti's eyes who is staring at me with such intense gaze that it's becoming uncomfortable for me.
Thankfully Mr. Silva starts discussing what cookies and pastries he wants to order for the party. I jot down everything in the notepad before informing him about the payment in which he pays me half and promises to may the half-price after I deliver the order on time.
"It was good to meet you, Miss Wilson. Hopefully you will be getting more order from me if I like your baking." Mr. Arthur says while getting up from him place and shake my hand.
"I will try to do my best, Mr. Silva." I reply politely.
"We want clarification Miss Wilson, not your trying." Mr. Moretti remarks making me clench my fist in anger. But still, I give him a smile which is definitely fake.
"Of course Sir, I will keep in mind your advice." I retort while Mr. Silva starts coughing.
"Are you okay? Do you need some water?" I ask worriedly but Mr. Moretti dismisses my suggestion saying that they are leaving so I don't need to worry.
Soon after that, they leave but I am getting a feeling that Mr. Moretti's intention is something else to come here. Hopefully, I won't see him again because he makes me feel something that I don't want to. I have heard that he only uses girls for one-night stands and I don't want to keep in touch with such a person who doesn't care about others feelings.
The day goes by pretty quickly and before I know it the closing time of the bakery comes near. Claire has already left one hour ago as she needs to complete her college assignment. So, it's only Parker and me in the shop.
"Boss, I want to take two days break." Parker says after I pull down the shutter of the bakery with his help.
"Today we have gotten a big order and you are asking to take breaks. Why the sudden need for this break?" I ask trying not to show my irritation.
"I am not going to lie so the truth is my mom is nagging me to get married and for that, she is trying to send in dates with girls I don't know. But the girl she has chosen this time is someone I have a crush from a very long time. So, I want to prepare for the date." He lets out while his cheeks flushed making me laugh.
"Okay you can have two days off but I need complete details about this date when you come back." I retort making him sigh in relief.
"Thank you so much for accepting the leave, you are the best." He says while saluting me.
It's now the weekend meaning that I can have a relaxing time for myself. I have decided to go to shopping because I need some new clothes as summer is approaching pretty quickly. But I don't want to go alone so I have asked Evelyn to accompany me. I am happy that she doesn't care from where I get my clothes so it's easy to get along with her.
She is going to pick me up in fifteen minutes so I need to get ready asap. So, without wasting any time I pick out my clothes for the day which consists of a Knot shoulder floral print romper along with a cute pair of white flat sandals. I also choose to wear a handcrafted sterling silver bracelet on my left wrist. I am not going to put any makeup on my face so I just put a little bit of moisture and lipgloss before straightening my hair to complete the look.
Soon I receive a text from Evelyn that she is already here so I get out of the apartment before making my way to the elevator. When I reach outside of the apartment building I see that she is leaning against her car while typing furiously on her phone. So, I clear my throat to get her attention which works out because her face breaks out in a full-blown smile seeing me in front of her.
"You are looking like a diva." She comments after giving me a quick hug making me chuckle.
"Thank you and you are looking very pretty as well." I reply while pinching her cheeks softly.
"We should meet often because I miss your company." She complaints with a pout.
"That can be arranged, sweetie. We can do sleepovers at my place whenever you want." I smile making her squeal.
"Okay then it's final I am staying at your place for these two days. We are going to have so much fun and to do that we need to buy a lot of things. Let's go to the mall or we will be late." By saying this she tugs me to her car making me giggle at the silly girl.
We get inside her car to go to a mall name Westfield San Francisco Centre. I usually like to shop there because it's not very crowded all the time. It takes us thirty minutes to reach there before we make our way inside the mall.
We directly head towards the Zara store where I can get affordable and good-quality clothes. I pick out a few crop top, jeans, shorts, skirts, dresses and of course my all-time favorite rompers.
After paying for the clothes we head out to the Addidas shop as Evelyn needs to buy some shoes for her. She buys three pairs of sneakers before we decide to eat something at the food stalls.
While I order Avocado Egg Rolls with Pineapple Banana Smoothie, she gets Steak N Shake Chili with Pepsi. We talk about various things like her upcoming marriage, my business etc. But when she asks me about my plan to get married is the time I don't know how to answer her.
"I am sorry if I have said anything wrong but I am just being curious." She says when she notices that I am getting uncomfortable.
"It's alright to ask as you don't know anything about my past. But I think it's time I tell you everything." I reply trying to smile at her but failing miserably.
"Why don't we go to your apartment and then you can tell me anything you want?" She suggests in which I nod my head.
After paying for the food we leave the mall to go to my apartment. I know that there will be a time when I have to tell her everything but I didn't think the day to be today. Upon arriving at the apartment I asked her to wait in line living room while I go and put the shopping bags in my closet. I change in a loose t-shirt with cotton shorts before heading out to the living room where I know she is waiting.
"Are you sure you want to tell me everything?" She asks the moment I take a place beside her on the couch.
"Not everything but yes, I want to tell you some things which you should have known from the beginning," I reply feeling a lump forming on my throat.
"Evelyn I was married two years ago but something drastic happened that lead to me getting a divorce from my husband. I am originally from Canada and my parents are still there. However, they have disowned me saying that I am not good enough to be their daughter as they believe that I am the reason why my marriage has failed." I let out while tears glide down my face. Soon, I feel slender arms being wrapped around my shoulder making me sob harder.
"I don't know what should I say that will lighten your heart, but I will definitely say that it is the loss of those people who don't realize the gem they are losing by disowning you.
I can never believe that you have made a mistake because of which your husband divorced you. Surely he must have done something lousy and to hide it he put all the blame on you." She replies with resentment in her tone but I know that she is not angry at me.
"Do you really think that I am not at fault?" I ask turning to look at her.
"I don't just think I believe that you can never do any such thing that hurts others. Now forget about those horrible people and smile." She says while wiping my tears making me smile.
"Thank you for believing me. It feels good to know that there are still some people who don't judge people by seeing their outer part." I answer.
"Okay, I think that enough sad talking for today. Let's go and show me the room I am going to stay." She replies while standing up.
"Oh God, I completely forgot that we are going to have a sleepover." By saying this I take her to the guestroom which she likes very much. She tells me that she is going to take a shower so I leave her alone before going to the kitchen to prepare some snacks for us.
However, I hear a ringing of phone from the living room so I go there and notice that it's Evelyn's phone. I don't know if I should pick up the call or not as its showing a private number. But when it keeps ringing I decide to pick up the call.
"Eve, where are you? I need to talk to you and it's very urgent." I hear a deep voice from the other side of the phone before I can even say hello.
"Umm, sorry but it is not Eve. She is in the washroom." I reply.
"So it's you Miss Wilson?" By hearing this I instantly understand who I am talking with.
"Yes, it's me Mr. Moretti. I will tell your sister to call you back." I reply but before I can hang up the call he starts talking.
"Are the orders ready?" He asks.
"What order are you talking about?" I retort getting irritated.
"The order Arthur has given you. If they are not ready on time then you have to pay triple the amount he has given you in advance." He answers and disconnects the call before I can even say anything.
"Egoistic creep." I mutter under my breath and go to throw the phone but then realize that it's not mine.
I really don't know what is his problem with me. It's like he opens his mouth to insult me as if I'm not human. But I won't keep silent, I will show him why people appreciate my bakery so much.