Chapter 16 The Repayment Lunch
Audrey stood outside Elliot's office door, her hand gripping a bag containing a white lunch box, still slightly out of breath. The trip back to the office after buying this food wasn't easy.
The blazing sun today made sweat bead on her forehead, but Audrey didn't care.
Something was nagging at her and made her want to do this, even though she didn't fully understand the reason.
After a soft knock on the door, the deep voice came from inside. "Come in."
Audrey opened the door carefully, trying to control her breathing so it wouldn't be too obvious.
Elliot sat behind his desk, examining the documents. The man looked up when he realized who had entered. His eyebrow slightly raised, signaling surprise. "
"What is it?" He asked flatly.
Without answering, Audrey stepped inside and immediately placed the paper bag on Elliot's desk. Elliot stared at it for a few moments before finally shifting his gaze to Audrey.
His piercing stare instantly made Audrey's heart race, and she tried to slow her breathing and really had to force a small smile to hide the nervousness that suddenly spiked.
A quiet curse escaped Audrey's mind. 'Why is Mr. Montgomery suddenly having such a huge influence on me?!'
"What's this?" Elliot asked briefly, flatly, and remained calm.
"Lunch, Sir," Audrey replied, trying to sound composed with her pounding heart.
Elliot's eyes narrowed slightly, suggesting both interest and suspicion. "Lunch?"
Audrey nodded slowly, starting to regret her impulsive action. "Yes, Sir. You... haven't left the office all day. I thought... maybe you hadn't had a chance to eat, so... I bought this."
Elliot slowly opened the bag, finding a lunch box containing a very familiar dish. The food was the exact same menu he had sent her last night.
For a moment, Elliot's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly, he was certain Audrey knew the truth and seemed to be calling him out on it.
Seeing this food, Elliot immediately blamed Liam inwardly. 'That idiot Liam! I told him to keep quiet about this!'
"Why did you buy this?" Elliot asked. He looked calm, but his gaze remained sharp, as if trying to read Audrey's mind.
Audrey's breath stopped for a millisecond. "I... I just wanted to repay your kindness—"
"Kindness?" One of Elliot's eyebrows arched as he leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. His expression remained flat, but there was a hard-to-read flicker of emotion in his eyes. "So you know who sent that dinner?"
Audrey frowned at Elliot's unexpected attitude but quickly regained control. "Didn't you... I mean, yes... Liam mentioned it was from you."
Elliot closed his eyes momentarily, trying to suppress his annoyance with Liam. When he opened his eyes again, his gaze was fixed on Audrey.
"And you thought buying the exact same food was the right way to repay it?" he asked, his tone sounding almost mocking.
Audrey was stunned, feeling like she had made a misstep. This wasn't the reaction she had predicted. "I just... wanted to say thank you, Sir. That's all..."
"Thank you for what?" Elliot leaned forward, his eyes never leaving Audrey's. "You must think it was just part of my duty as a boss, right?"
Audrey fell silent. She didn't know how to answer. Elliot's words were true.
Last night and up to this moment, Audrey had continually convinced herself that Elliot's actions toward her were merely his concern as a superior.
Nothing more.
Though several times, Audrey did feel there was something more behind Elliot's behavior...
"If that's the case, why did you bother asking Liam to send it?" Audrey challenged finally, her voice soft but clear enough to be heard. She decided to hold her boss's gaze.
Elliot was momentarily stunned. However, his expression quickly returned to neutral.
"Because I need a healthy secretary," he answered with a deliberate cold tone.
Audrey managed a faint smile, though her heart clenched a little. "Fine. Then consider this my way of ensuring my boss eats lunch properly," she countered before turning, bowing slightly, and preparing to leave.
"Audrey," Elliot called before the woman reached the door.
Audrey turned, waiting.
"Next time, you don't need to go to all this trouble," he said, his voice softer but still firm. "I don't need repayment."
Audrey was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. "Understood, Sir. Excuse me, enjoy your meal."
"Have you had lunch?"
Audrey stopped again. She turned back with a slightly raised eyebrow, looking at the man with a confused expression she tried to cover with a small smile. "Not yet, Sir. But I will eat after this."
Elliot stared at her for a few seconds, as if considering something. "Then don't be late. I don't need a secretary who passes out because of bad habits." His tone sounded sharp.
Audrey swallowed hard, stung by that tone. She tried to remain calm even though her feelings were piqued. "Thank you for your concern, Sir, I will try to cut down on bad habits—"
"Take that food bag and eat it!"
Audrey froze, looking at Elliot with a confused and surprised expression at his sudden command.
"Do you mean... this bag, Sir?" she asked, pointing to the paper bag still on Elliot's desk.
Elliot nodded briefly, his expression remaining flat. "Yes. Take it and eat. Don't wait until later."
Audrey frowned, trying to grasp the true meaning behind Elliot's words. "But, Sir... this is yours," she said softly, a note of doubt in her voice.
Elliot leaned back in his chair, looking at Audrey with an unreadable gaze. "I didn't like your choice. That food is not to my taste. So, rather than letting it go to waste, you should eat it."
Audrey's eyes widened. Those words were a harsh slap to her feelings. Her smile slowly faded, though she tried to maintain it to appear polite.
So... he just picked a random food last night, Audrey murmured inwardly, which somehow left a slight sting.
"Ah, I see..." Audrey mumbled softly, trying to hide the annoyance that was starting to surface. "I apologize if my choice didn't suit your taste, Sir."
Elliot scoffed slightly, seeming eager to close the conversation. "No need to apologize. I'm just stating a fact. Now take that and eat before you forget again."
Audrey bit her lower lip, feeling a lump in her chest. Although her feelings were hurt a little, she knew this wasn't the time to retort.
"Very well, Sir. I will eat now. Thank you for the lunch."
Elliot only nodded without saying anything else, as if their conversation meant nothing.
With trembling hands, Audrey took the paper bag back and clutched it tightly. The paper bag felt warm in her hands, a cruel mockery of the cold reception her gesture had received.
Audrey bowed slightly before stepping out, this time with mixed feelings. She closed the door a little harder than usual—not enough to be considered impolite, but enough to convey her irritation.
Behind the door, the girl let out a long sigh, trying to calm the swirling emotions.
"What on earth is that man thinking?" she muttered softly, feeling annoyed yet unable to ignore the subtle concern she felt beneath Elliot's cold demeanor.
Meanwhile, as the door closed, Elliot leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed over his chest. He let out a long sigh, trying to calm the turmoil in his mind.
Elliot couldn't ignore the fact that Audrey's presence was slowly affecting him.
Every step, every word, and even the woman's mere presence was starting to dominate his thoughts.
Something Elliot had never allowed to happen before.
Last night, Elliot had tried hard to maintain his distance. He knew his action of sending dinner was a risky move. However, upon remembering Audrey's tired face, who still smiled despite looking utterly exhausted, he truly couldn't stop himself.
"Damn it," he muttered softly, one hand lifting to rub his temple. "And why did my words come out like that? Audrey seemed upset..."
Elliot recalled the moment last night when he had almost gone to Audrey's place. His rationality had been temporarily abandoned by a strange impulse he couldn't control. He even had to stop his car mid-way just to bring himself back to reality.
But now, it all felt pointless. With Audrey showing up with the exact same food, as if the woman knew more than Elliot expected, his resolve wavered again.
"Audrey... what are you doing to me?" Elliot whispered softly, his eyes returning to the door that had just closed.