Drama Served Hot

Drama Served Hot
It had been four days.

Four long, restless days since either of them had shared the same space, breathed the same air, or exchanged a glance. Gracia was buzzing as usual, and the Scott Group was knee-deep in strategic meetings, but both William and Skylar were caught in their own storms—trying to ignore the absence they both felt a little too deeply.

Skylar had buried herself in work after that odd text exchange. She hadn’t seen William at home or office. And the quiet of his absence was louder than she'd expected.

But fate had other plans.

A lazy evening in a high end restaurant of the city.

The hum of soft jazz music mixed with the clink of silverware and quiet murmurs of the soft crowd. William, seated at a corner table dressed in slate grey, was mid-discussion with two executives from an international firm. His usual calm exterior held steady, but his eyes flicked to the entrance every so often, as if expecting something—or someone.

Across the room, Nora walked in, followed by Skylar, both dressed sharp, fashionable and radiant, drawing glances even before they found a table.

Nora was talking, but Skylar had stopped listening. Her eyes had landed on a familiar figure—broad shoulders, sharp jawline, that telltale watch on his wrist.

William.

She blinked once. Twice. Then started walking straight toward him.

“William!”

The sound of her voice cut through the restaurant buzz like a warm breeze. William looked up mid-sentence. Surprise flickered briefly across his face before he stood.

“Skylar?” he said, startled.

She reached him, breath slightly uneven, eyes scanning his face like checking for signs of damage. “Where have you been?”

William froze for a moment. The air around him shifted, his composed facade cracking ever so slightly.

She’d come running. To him. Just like Jack predicted.

For two long days, he'd convinced himself it was a fool’s game. That she'd moved on, that his absence hadn’t even registered. But now—here she was, wide-eyed and worried.

A wave of heat rose in his chest—relief, satisfaction, something dangerously close to hope.

His clients exchanged looks and politely stood to excuse themselves. William raised a hand, subtly signaling them to give him a moment.

“Work,” he said carefully. “Things got a bit intense at Scott Group.”

“That I can understand,” she replied. “But what I don’t get is why you’re not coming home. You didn’t even say anything.”

He looked away for a moment, running a hand through his hair. “It’s… Grandma. She’s been a little under the weather. I’ve been staying at the old house to keep her company.”

The second the lie left his lips, he knew he’d regret it.

Skylar’s face changed. Concern replaced irritation. “Grandma's sick? Why didn’t you tell me earlier, William? We should go see her. Right now.”

He froze. “I… it’s nothing serious. Just weakness, old age.”

“All the more reason to be there,” she said, already pulling out her phone. “She loves seeing me. You know that.”

William mentally beat his head against the table. Great. Out of all the lies… why this one?

“She’s actually sleeping right now,” he said quickly. “And the doctor said she shouldn’t have too many visitors today.”

Skylar narrowed her eyes. “Since when did madam Scott hate visitors? She once had guests over during her kidney stone episode and served them snacks herself.”

He forced a smile. “You know grandma. She’s stubborn.”

“I’m going with you after work,” she declared. “If you think you’re hiding this from me, think again.”

William nodded, cornered. “Sure.”

Across the room, Nora watched the scene unfold, jaw slack. She slowly sank into her seat.

When Skylar finally walked back to her table, William sank into his, exhaling heavily.

His executive leaned forward. “Everything alright, Mr. Scott?”

William dragged a hand down his face. “Not even close.”

The moment Skylar made up her mind to visit grandma, there was no stopping her. William knew she wouldn’t let go easily, and unfortunately, the lie had taken a life of its own.

He drove back to the Scott ancestral bungalow, calling grandma on the way.

She picked up on the first ring.

“You lied to her?” came grandma's sharp voice, before he even said hello.

William winced. “Technically… yes. But it was just to test if she cares—”

“What kind of idiot tests love with lies?”

William rubbed his forehead. “Grandma, please. I panicked. She was asking why I wasn’t coming home and Jack suggested I—”

“Say I’m sick? You could’ve said you were sick, dimwit!”

William gripped the steering wheel with one hand, phone pressed to his ear with the other, his tone urgent.
"She’s coming, Grandma. She’s desperate to see you. I panicked and told her you were sick—doctor advised rest, full drama."

A beat of silence crackled on the other end.
Then came Grandma’s dry voice, “So now I’m your scapegoat with one foot in the grave?”

William sighed, rubbing his forehead. “Too late to change it now. She looked genuinely worried. I didn’t think she’d push it this far.”

Another pause. Then her voice softened just a notch. “You want me to act sick?”

“…I know it’s a lot. Just for today. She’ll be over soon.”

Grandma clicked her tongue. “I should slap that Jack for putting this nonsense in your head.”

William chuckled, albeit nervously. “You’re not wrong.”

“Fine,” she said at last. “My acting will put your Nelson girl’s tear-jerking serials to shame. But William—your parents and Eva? If they find out she’s here, you’ll have a real funeral to attend.”

"Can you stall them? Just a few hours?”

“I’ll do better. I’ll banish them,” she said with a smirk in her voice. “Tell them I’m observing spiritual silence, fasting for inner peace. Your mom will faint from reverence.”

William almost smiled. “You’re dangerous.”

“And you’re a fool,” she retorted. “But I love you anyway. Now drive faster and brief the staff. If that girl walks in and sees me breathing too steadily, your little act will fall apart.”

A few moments later William paced the living room while servants fluttered around, dimming the lights and placing herbal medicines and hot water bags near Grandma's bed.

“You sure about this?” he whispered to her.

Grandma lay back dramatically on the chaise lounge, a shawl over her shoulders, clutching a hot water bottle. “Just wait till she walks in. I’ll make Meryl Streep look amateur.”

Skylar rushed through the grand doorway, barely waiting for the servant to guide her in.

“Grandma!” she called out, her heels echoing across the marble.

Madam Scott straightened slightly, her voice a breathy whisper as she coughed delicately, like a queen recovering from a royal illness. “Skylar, dear… you came.”

Skylar was at her side in seconds, kneeling beside the couch. “Why didn’t anyone tell me you were this unwell?”

Grandma patted her hand weakly. “Your idiot husband said it would stress you. He thinks I’m fragile.”

“I’ll kill him,” Skylar muttered, then stood up to fetch water from the side table. “You look pale. Have you eaten anything?”

William stood awkwardly in the background, watching the two women with an odd blend of guilt and admiration. Grandma shot him a sly wink.

He mouthed, I owe you.

She mouthed back, Big time.

Just then, the front door burst open.

“Grandma?” Eva’s voice rang out, followed by the sharp click of heels.

Evelyn stepped in behind her, perfectly poised and wide-eyed with pretend concern. “We heard you were ill. Came straight from the airport.”

Skylar stiffened, slowly setting down the glass of water. William stepped forward instinctively, standing between her and the new arrivals.

Eva’s eyes narrowed the moment they landed on Skylar. “What is she doing here?”

“She came to see me,” Grandma said flatly. “Which is more than I can say for you, showing up uninvited.”

Eva scowled. “I’m your granddaughter.”

“Then you should know when to give your grandmother peace and quiet. You bring tension every time you walk in this house.”

Evelyn took a step forward. “We were genuinely worried. If this is a bad time—”

“It is,” grandma snapped. “Leave.”

“Excuse me?” Eva's voice rose.

“I told the staff I didn’t want noise. That includes gossip, drama, and your smug little friend.”

Evelyn opened her mouth to argue, but Madam Scott's gaze sliced through her like a blade.

“Unless you want to help clean bedpans and fold fake prescriptions with the nurses, go.”

William crossed his arms. “I’ll have your bags sent to the hotel.”

Eva looked like she might explode but spun on her heel instead. “Let’s go, Evelyn.”

As the driver loaded their luggage into the car, Eva fumed beside the gates, arms crossed.

“She treats that girl like royalty,” she hissed. “She’s just some… nobody.”

Evelyn folded her arms. “A nobody that got to be in your grandmother’s arms while you were shoved out of the house.”

Eva’s jaw clenched. “She always sides with Skylar. Ever since the wedding—”

She stopped herself.

Evelyn tilted her head with mock innocence. “Wedding?”

Eva blinked. “You didn’t know? William married her. That’s his wife.”

There was a pause. Evelyn’s lips curled slowly.

“Oh, I know,” she said sweetly. “I also know something you don’t.”

Eva turned sharply. “What?”

“They’re not a real couple,” Evelyn said softly, venom laced behind her smile. “It’s a contract marriage.”