Chapter 82 I’m sorry, Aurora
The next day, Aurora returned to her apartment after she had dropped the boys at school.
She had only a few days at the restaurant now before leaving. She had to start planning her wedding with Arthur too.
She got to the restaurant a few minutes after resumption time. Heading right to Jack’s office, she met him behind his desk.
“Hi, boss!” She said teasingly, and he let out a smile.
“Let me call you back, okay?” He said, and Aurora furrowed her brows and looked at the table to see that he was on a call.
Her eyes widened and she placed her hand on her mouth, feeling stupid.
“Alright. See you tonight. Byeee.” A feminine voice answered from the other end of the phone, and the call got disconnected afterwards.
“I’m so sorry, I didn’t realize you were on the phone.” Aurora uttered, and Jack shook his head with a chuckle.
“I figured. Don’t worry, okay? It’s all good. How are you today?” He asked, pointing to the chair in front of the desk, and she sat.
“I’m good. I’m here to remind you that I’ll be leaving this weekend. I have just less than three weeks to plan my wedding with Arthur, I need to be available.” Aurora uttered,
Jack nodded in understanding with a genuine smile on his face. “It's truly happening! It’s real! I’m so happy for you, Aurora.” He uttered, and she smiled softly.
“Thank you, Jack. I believe you’re making efforts to get married too. You know, the girl on the phone…” She took a pause and winked at him.
“Oh… that is the customer I told you about the other day. I got her number and we’ve started talking.”
“Let’s go! That’s amazing. I’m so happy for you.” She answered.
“Thank you, Aurora. It’s still very new though. I can’t wait for it to lead somewhere very serious like you and Arthur.”
“If you give it your all, it definitely would.”
“That reminds me, Mister Alec was here to see you yesterday, and I told him you were not around and won’t be coming to work.”
After hearing Jack, she heaved a sigh and shook her head. “He needs to stop trying to see me.” She muttered, causing Jack to crease his brows.
“Why? What’s wrong?” He asked worriedly.
“Arthur is beginning to worry about it. Though he claims that he believes nothing is happening between us, he seemed bothered that we are friends. My wedding is in three weeks and I can’t let anyone ruin it.” She answered.
“That’s right. But doesn’t he trust you? Since you told him there’s nothing, it shouldn’t be an issue anymore.”
“Yes. It’s not an issue anymore but I think I should stay away from him. He hasn’t asked me out or anything of such, and he knows I’m engaged. But still, I just want Arthur to be happy with me.”
Jack nodded in agreement and let out a sigh. “Well, you do you, our wife to be.” He uttered, and she laughed.
Just then, Aurora’s phone vibrated in her hand and she looked at the screen to see a message from Alec.
“Talk of the devil.” She muttered as she clicked on his message.
“Good morning, beautiful. How are you today? I’m in your restaurant right now, waiting to see your gorgeous face. Are you around?”
After she read his message, she raised her head to look at Jack. “He’s outside as we speak. I’ll go and talk to him.” She uttered as she stood up from the chair.
“Hey, Aurora. Be nice.”
“Of course, I would. Thank you.” She answered before finally making her way out of the office.
Walking out of his office to the waiting area, she saw Alec sitting at her right side. His face lit up as soon as he saw her approach him.
“Good morning, beautiful.” He uttered with a smile.
“Hi, Mister Alec. Good morning.” She answered with a smile as she sat on the chair in front of him.
“I was here yesterday to get breakfast and I was told you didn’t come to work. Is everything alright?” He asked with a worried countenance.
“Oh, yes. Everything is alright. I just had to be somewhere.”
“Right. I missed your cooking though. I could tell you weren’t the one that prepared yesterday’s breakfast.” He answered teasingly.
Aurora smiled faintly and nodded. She began to think of ways to put down her worries to him.
“Errrm… Mister Alec, I need to tell you something.” She uttered, and he nodded eagerly, staring at her face.
“I think there should be a limit to how we see and talk to each other. You know, I’ll be getting married very soon and I wouldn’t want…”
“Oh! You’re right. I’m so sorry. I almost forgot you’re engaged. Congratulations once again.” He uttered with a wide smile, and she smiled.
“Thank you.”
“I understand you, Aurora. But I want you to know that my intentions are pure. I wouldn’t do anything that will hurt or ruin your marriage. I’m just a friend and I know I’ll never be more than that. I’m sorry if I gave you another impression of me.”
“No! No. Not at all. That’s not it. I just don’t want people around me or even my fiancé to think otherwise.” She answered, and Alec smiled faintly and nodded.
“You must truly love your fiancé to care so much about him.”
“Well, if I didn’t love him, I wouldn’t be getting married to him.” She answered with a chuckle.
“I hope he loves you the same way you love him.” Alec responded, making her furrow her brows.
“Of course. We are getting married.”
“I wish you all the best, okay? I wish you happiness in your marriage. I just hope you won't shut me out of your life because you’re getting married. It feels nice being your friend. I wouldn’t bother you anymore, just don’t shut me out completely, okay?”
Aurora nodded in agreement with a wide grin on her face.
“Your meal will be ready in a few minutes, sir.” One of the waitresses said to him, and he nodded.
“Thank you.”
He turned to look at Aurora and said; “I hope you won't stop working here when you get married.” His eyes widened in realization.
“I don’t know yet, but it’s very possible I’d have to return home.” She answered, and Alec let out a deep breath.
“I thought as much. But who am I to say you shouldn’t leave. I really hope it will be worth it.” He responded, making Aurora even more confused.
‘Why is he talking like this? He keeps tasking and saying these funny lines to me, why? Why would he even hope it’s worth it? Of course it is worth it!’
Thinking about this made anger rise inside Aurora. She sprang to her feet causing Alec to raise his head to look at her.
“You don’t have to say things like that! If you are not genuinely happy for me, it’s okay. Just don’t try to fake it because you suck at doing it.”
After speaking, she stormed to the counter, and Alec hastily stood up. “Aurora, I’m sorry! I didn’t mean it that way! Aurora!” He called, and just as he was about to move to the counter too, Rachel stopped him.
“She doesn’t want to talk to you. You should eat your meal and leave.” Rachel uttered with clenched jaws, staring intensely at him.