The next day, 

After giving the finishing touch to her freshly made Cannoli, "and it's done," She smiled at the dish, she then closed the lid and wrapped it up nicely. 

"I'm off, guys," She then waved at her employees, "We've got your back, enjoy your date," they smiled at her teasingly. 

"It's not a date," She shook her head. 

"It is a lunch date," they wiggled their brows at her. 

"Okay, whatever, I'm off," She brushed them off and stepped out. 

Reaching the office, her phone vibrated, "Yes?" She answered picking the call. 

"You've reached there?" Teresa asked her. 

"yeah," Ai replied, "But..." She hesitated, "was it a good idea coming without informing?" She asked. 

"Oh come on, a surprise is a surprise," Teresa squealed in excitement. 

"But, will they even let me in?" Ai frowned. 

"That's been taken care of, Aaron's secretary knows you're coming, so he'll receive you, don't worry about that and just enjoy your lunch date hmm?" Teresa encouraged her. "You already have your weapon right?" She asked her. 

"weapon?" Ai cocked her head to the side, "yes, the weapon that'll help you win this war and conquer his heart," Teresa stated in a dramatic manner, "as the old saying goes, way to man's heart is through his stomach," She giggled. 

"Ah, yes, yes," Ai nodded laughing at her words. 

"Okay, then, good luck," Teresa gave her the words of encouragement and then hung up. 

Ai took a deep breath as she stepped inside the building, she then made her way to the reception, after a few minutes, Dante, Aaron's secretary was there to pick her, "This way, Madam," He gestured. 

When the lift hit on the top floor, just when the door opened they were greeted by a commotion, "Is there a problem?" She raised her brows at the guy, "Due to some unexpected circumstances, we kinda have a situation," He replied as he guided her to his boss's cabin. 

"I may have a wrong timing then, I'll make a visit some other day," She smiled at him gently. 

"It's okay, the boss will see you soon, you may wait for him here," He then looked over his shoulder, when just a lady came to them, "If you need anything, you may ask for her," He smiled at her, "Now I'll take my leave," he bowed to her and made his way to the conference hall. 

After being left alone, Ai sat on the leather couch waiting for Aaron, placing the lunch box on the table in front of her, she took a tour of his cabin, as she passed by a wooden shelf, her feet stopped when she noticed couple of photos, she smiled softly at the photo frame which had him and his grandfather. Her eyes shifted to next one where she spotted him with his best friends in their high school uniforms, she smiled looking at their carefree laugh. Her eyes then landed on multiple awards lined up in a row. 

Just then, someone entered the room, looking over her shoulders she found the girl she had met outside walking towards her with a  cup of coffee on the tray. "Sorry, it might take a while before boss could come, everything was fine until morning and then we just had an emergency," She explained, "you can enjoy the coffee meanwhile," The girl smiled at her. 

"That's fine, I'm the one who came here without informing," She shrugged. Of course, I should have called before coming. 

*** 

After two hours, Aaron came out of the meeting hall, "Damn that old man!" He cursed his grandfather as he entered his cabin. "I've already attended his blind date and consented for the marriage too, what else does he want?" He strode to his large leather chair and sat down heaving an exasperated sigh. 

His eyes then stopped at the lunch box on his table, "hmm?" He raised his brows as he pulled it closer, "Someone was here?" He asked his secretary. 

"Miss Spenser was here," he replied. 

"Why didn't I know of it?' He narrowed his eyes at him. 

"I informed you but you were busy with the meeting," His secretary replied. 

He then frowned at the realization, "Totally went out of my mind," he shook his head, "But I didn't know she was coming," he raised his head. 

"Mr. Carlton had asked me to keep it a secret from you, apparently it was a surprise," His secretary answered. 

"Ryouma had?" He was surprised, "Okay, you may go now," He dismissed him. 

He then took a look at the paper note stuck on the box, 'Sorry for intruding, a small gift for you, hope you'll like it', he read it. He then narrowed his eyes at the lunch box, "A gift huh?" He tilted his head to the side, he then slowly opened the lid but as soon as his eyes fell on the dish inside his eyes sparkled, "Cannoli!" He exclaimed with a wide smile. 

He instantly grabbed it with his hands not bothering with the knife and fork at the side, when he took a bite he was in cloud nine, he closed his eyes as he relished the sweet and soft filling that slowly melted in his mouth.

After a minute the box was empty and he was licking off the last bit of it from his fingers, he then paused, "wait, did they trade all of my secrets?" He narrowed his eyes. 

***

Ai had just reached her shop and geared up for trying the new recipe, just then her phone vibrated as she had received a text, "oh," her sparkled at the name of the sender, she instantly opened the message, "The gift was delicious, thank you," She squealed as she read it, it was the first text she had received  from him, the actual words and not the paperwork emoji. 

Slowly, they began their conversation, they didn't meet often but now the texts had words and long sentences, she was beyond happy with the progress they had made and 

a month later, 

As soon as his meeting was over he fished his phone out and smiled at the text, he instantly replied with a smiley emoji, she had made a new dish, 'Hope to taste it soon,' He wrote back. 'Just finished with the meeting,' He sent another text. 

Just when he entered his cabin, he noticed a lunch box on his table, 'Already?' He texted her. 'Enjoy the food :)' She replied.