Husband With Benefits-Chapter 43: A Happy Day

Nora was happy today. Though she was always trying to serve with warmth, there was an extra sparkle in her eyes and a noticeable spring in her step as she moved between tables, taking orders and delivering food with radiant happiness that couldn’t be contained.

As she approached the waitress station to pick up another order, Lena couldn’t resist teasing Nora. "Nora, you seem happier than a kid in a candy store today. What’s got you in such a great mood?"

Nora’s eyes sparkled as if she had a secret and Lena, the effervescent gossip, leaned forward and questioned," Come on, spill the beans, Nora. Did you get a new boyfriend or win the lottery?"

Nora giggled at that and also leaned forward, as if about to tell a secret. And as Lena waited with anticipation, Nora said," I aced the Math pop-up test! All straight A’s!"

Lena could not help but roll her eyes at that and chimed in," Are you sure this happiness is the result of Math and not romance? Because I heard that when someone suddenly becomes this happy, there’s usually a secret romance involved."

Nora pretended to ponder but played along," If there is a secret romance, then it is a secret to me too!"

Lena burst out laughing but continued in a whisper," Well, all you need to do is go and sit on that table and your romance will bloom. Your not-so-secret admirer is here again!"

Nora rolled her eyes but did not glance back towards the table where Lena had gestured. There was no need to see. The man who had first interfered when she had been confronting Antonio was now a regular in the coffee shop. Though he had never asked her to sit with him or even talked much to her, he made it a point to sit at the same table and expected only her to serve him.

But since the man was nothing but polite, she could not help it...

"What would you like to have today?"

The man looked at the beautiful girl in front of him and was almost blinded. She was beautiful but today she seemed to be glowing. So much so, that he forgot what he was going to order.

Nora raised an expectant brow when the man continued to stare at her with a blank face. "Would you like to place your usual order?"

The man frowned before her words sunk in and nodded," Yes. The usual would be great."

Nora nodded and turned around to place the order when he finally called out," Miss Nora, you look especially radiant today. May I ask what has brought this extra glow to your smile?"

Since Nora was still happy, she did not put her usual guard up and answered readily," I aced the Math pop-up test."

The man smiled at her answer and immediately," Congratulations. From your tone, it seems that you’ve worked hard for it. From what I remember, your ex threatened you with failure in this subject right?"

Nora nodded happily, reminded of Antonio’s devastated face when he realized that she had scored the same marks as him, competing with him for the first place.

"Yes. And now, I’ll go get your order."

Nora quickly turned around from the customer, unaware that he was still staring at her back, wondering why he had failed to introduce himself to her...again. However, the man consoled himself that at least she had held a conversation with him about something other than food today.

Once back Lena couldn’t help but tease Nora," So do you need a break? You were chatting with your admirer just now? You planning to give him a chance?"

As Lena waggled her eyebrows suggestively, Nora rolled her eyes and pointed out," I only had a friendly conversation which does not equal romance and marriage! And stop calling him ’my admirer’!"

Lena guffawed at that and said," Then you need to tell me his name, sweetheart! I cannot very well call him "Hottie’ can I?"

"I think Hottie is still better than being addressed as ’your admirer’," Nora muttered under her breath as she grabbed the order for another table and swung away. As she did, she suddenly felt an eerie unsettling sensation. It was one she had been feeling often lately. The feeling of someone watching her.

Casually, she tried to look around but found everyone to be either engrossed in their food, phones or conversations. She tried to tell herself that it was nothing but her own paranoia, the feeling was happening too often. And she also could not disregard those innocuous-looking notes.

As she stood there with the order clutched in her hand, the customer rudely called out, shaking her out of her stupor. Pasting a smile on her face, she quickly apologized to the customer and placed their order, before returning to take out the next order. freёnovelkiss.com

Before she could, Lena stopped her, questioning with concern," What happened there?"

Nora shook her head and spoke," I think I just got distracted."

Lena stared at her thoughtfully before shrugging and walking away.

"Here’s your expresso and doughnut." Nora said with a strained smile before quickly turning away," Nora. Are you not celebrating your Math result? I would like to invite you for coffee..."

Nora shook her head and declined once again," I am too busy to take a break."

"I did not mean now or here. I meant on one of your days off." The man quickly interrupted.

Nora bit her lip as she tried to think of a way to refute it while the man took the opportunity," Wait. Before you answer, let me apologize for not even introducing myself before I ask you out."

Extending his hand for a handshake, the man smiled at her," My name is Lucien."

Nora blinked at the man but shook his hand," I am Nora."

His smile widened and Nora noticed that Lucien even had dimples on his cheek as he nodded," I know."

Nora realized her silly mistake when she realized that he already knew her name and quickly changed the topic," I am sorry, but I am too busy on my days off. With all the work... Maybe some other time. I need to go now, Lucien."