✿ Aileen's POV

“Miss Lee, we're out of buns,” Silas says.

“I put two new batches in the oven, go check on them. They should be done by now.”

“Miss Lee, the new mixers are here. Should I sign for you?” Vee asks.

“Yes, thank you, Veronica.”

“Miss Lee, we're done installing the new shelves in the eatery. Do you want to take a look?” the carpenter asks.

I exhale deeply, collecting myself.

“Yes, yes. Please lead the way” I nod.

I follow him to the back and through the connecting door that led to the eatery.

“Oh this looks great, boys” I smile. “Thank you.”

The workers nod.

“We'll be going now, Miss Lee.”

“Oh, I made you guys some meringue pie. Just ask Veronica to pack them to go for you” I smile.

The carpenter smiles back at me.

“Thank you Miss Lee” he bows a little.

“Is it okay if we eat it in the bakery, ma'am? I haven't eaten all day” one of his workers asks.

“Oh, of course, go. Make yourselves comfortable.”

He grins at me and they file out of the eatery. I smile to myself and take another look at the new shelves.

“Perfect” I mutter.

“Miss Lee?” Todd calls out to me.

“Yes?” I turn.

“Can I turn the sign?”

I glance at the time on the wall clock.

“It's not yet five” I state.

“I-I know, Miss Lee but... there's nowhere to sit anymore and there's a long queue outside so...”

“Just bag their orders to go” I shrug. “If they still wanna stay and eat, the bakery's not that busy. They can sit and eat.”

He nods and walks away. I step out of the inner room and smile at the customers who wave at me. A group of teenagers seated at the window whip out their phones, ready to take pictures, but Levy is quick to snatch all their phones.

“No pictures, ladies,” he tells them.

I flash him a grateful look and walk back into the bakery.

“Aren't you kind of excited?” I hear Jamie ask as she returns with an armful of coffee bean bags.

“Excited about what?” Lyra asks.

“Miss Lee and Reid Dalton. He's so handsome” she sighs dreamily. “And Miss Lee... she's got the face, and the body and omg her hair... they're going to have the cutest babies!”

I arch a brow.

“You know, I was thinking—”

“Jaime?” I call out, stopping her.

She immediately nods.

“Sorry Miss Lee” she apologizes. “I'm just so happy for you.”

“We all are” Lyra adds beaming.

Another phone call comes through and she steps away to answer it. The door jingles and I turn to see Bonita, Sophie, and Camari walking in.

“Lee!” Camari chirps and jumps up at me.

“Hey sweetie” I greet brightly and turn to Sophie and Bonnie. “I wasn't expecting you two.”

Sophie frowns.

“We're not here for you” she replies curtly. “We wanted some of your blueberry buckle so we came for some.”

“Mm,” I hum and slowly nod. “Okay. I'll get it for you then—”

“No, no” Bonita stops me. “We want nothing from you.”

I flick my eyes back and forth.

I made the blueberry buckle.

“Let Silas get it,” she says.

The two of them had been giving me the cold shoulder since the announcement and it had been days already.

“Okay then,” I reply.

“Silas? We'll be over there. Far away from your boss,” Sophie tells him and turns away.

“C'mon Cam” Bonita says holding out her hand to her daughter who was on my hip.

Camari looks at me, wraps her arms around my neck, and presses her face to my cheek.

“No thanks. I'm comfortable” she smiles at her mother.

Bonita looks at me and gives us a small nod.

“Okay then.”

She walks away to join Sophie at her table. I turn away with Camari and she let me go.

“They didn't really come here for blueberry buckle” she whispers. “Mom's feeling bad for being too hard on you and Sophie said she can't sleep another night being mad at you.”

I chuckle softly.

“Thank you for the information, Cami.”

“You're welcome” she smiles. “Now that'll cost you four hundred calories of sugar cookies.”

I laugh and set her down.

“Go ask Veronica to help you make some,” I say to her.

She grins at me.

“See why I'll forever be your teammate?” she asks and runs off.

I smile after her. Silas steps aside and lets her through the back.

“I have their blueberry buckle, Miss Lee” he informs me.

“I'll take it to them,” I say and pick up the plates.

I head to their table and set it down in front of them.

“Would you like anything else?” I ask.

“No thank you” Sophie replies with a frown.

“Just that we're not paying for this” Bonnie adds.

I nod.

“Right.”

They exchange looks.

“And that...” Bonita drags, “... I'm not mad at you anymore”she sighs. “It was just... yet unfair for me to react that way to your news, Lee. But I care about you. So, so, very much. And I don't want to see you make a mistake. But then I sat down and thought about it... and remembered that when I was marrying Henry everyone else around me, except you, believed it wasn't a mistake. And even if it turned out to be a mistake, it would have been the best mistake of my life because not only did we get Cami, but I got a daughter and a best friend all in one. And so, Lee, I am very, very sorry.”

I purse my lips as I fiddle with my apron.

“Forgive me won't you? I just can't help but worry about you.”

I smile and step closer to her to hug her. She hugs me back.

“I'm sorry too, Bon. For keeping something so delicate from you guys” I whisper. “But I promise it won't happen again. I promise.”

She lets me go.

“It better not” she warns.

I smile and turn to Sophie who is busily looking at her phone. Bonita clears her throat loudly.

“Fifi? Don't you have anything to say to our Lee?”

She looks up at me.

“Well yes,” she replies. “Could I have a soda? Oh and a bottled water, room temperature? Thanks.”

I chuckle as Bonita frowns at her.

“Okay, Sophie,” I say and walk away from their table.

She watches me leave but doesn't say a thing.

“One bottled water and... is there any Mountain Dew left?” I ask Jaime.

“Yes I'll go get it” she replies.

“No, I'll get it” Lyra chips in. “I'm going there anyways.”

“Thank you” Jamie calls out to her.

She turns to me with a grin.

“So, Miss Lee” she begins. “How'd you do it?”

“How'd I do what?”

“How'd you do it? How'd you manage to lock Reid Dalton down?” she grins.

“I'm not having this conversation with you, Jaime,” I tell her.

“But Miss Lee...”

“No, Jamie” I scold. “We're not doing this today.”

“How about...”

“Or tomorrow, or ever” I cut her off.

She sighs.

“I'm not getting any younger, Miss Lee. I need to know how you did it. So I can bag down a man too.”

I chuckle.

“Patience, Jaime. Patience.”

She furrows her brow.

“That's the advice you're giving me, Miss Lee? Patience?”

I shrug with a smile.

“It moves mountains” I respond brightly.

“Mmm, okay” she goes, trailing off and gazing out the door.

Then her eyes widen and she turns back to me.

“Oh my goodness!”

I groan.

“No Jaime. I didn't do whatever it is you're thinking.”

She vigorously shakes her head and points toward the door.

“It's... i-it's... look!”

Just as the door jingles, signaling the arrival of a customer, I pivot to see none other than Reid Dalton, coming through the doors. I stand rooted to my spot in front of the counter.

What in the world was is he doing here?

“Lee,” he greets me, a handsome smile on his face.

I'm not sure how to react. I quickly glance at Bonita and Sophie who sat there, their jaws on the floor.

“Reid” I greet back.

He smiles.

“Don't you look pretty today.”

“Mm,” I hum.

After staring at me for about five seconds, he glances around the shop, now seemingly interested in it. I forget about delivering Sophie's water and soda and follow Reid with my eyes as he walks over to the painted mural on the wall, then to one of the waxed wooden tables, and then finally back to the marble counter.

Jamie who was still standing behind it, near the register, shoots a bewildered look at me and I shrug. She brushes her bangs out of her face and smiles widely.

“Welcome to Sweets by Lee. Would you like anything, Mr. Dalton?”

I narrow my eyes at her.

Mr. Dalton?

“Actually, yes. I'll have a large cappuccino, please,” Reid says before turning slightly so that he could rest his back against the counter.

“Right away” Jaime giggles and scurries off.

I turn to him fully, my hands in my apron.

“A large cappuccino?” I ask. “You... a cappuccino?”

He flicks his eyes back and forth.

“Am I missing something here?”

“Um... yes” I chuckle. “Guys like you don't drink cappuccinos. You drink black coffee... that's perfectly dark and bitter like your hearts.”

He chuckles.

“Well, I like cappuccinos, not black coffee. And black coffee is good for the heart” he smiles.

“Uh-huh,” I say. “What are you doing here, anyway?”

“Well I came to see my fiancée of course,” he answers.

“Why?”

He pushes himself away from the counter and closes the distance between us. When he's about five inches away, he stops. I catch my breath a little, uncomfortable with how close he is. The scent of his expensive cologne wafts in the air between us.

“Well love, you haven't called me,” he simply states.

I look into his eyes, his presence riling up my nerves and making me clear my throat. I take a step back away from him.

“I didn't know I was supposed to call you, love.”

He arches his brow in amusement.

“We didn't finish our discussion last time. And we need to move forward with our little agreement.”

I sigh.

“Can't it wait Reid? I'm working.”

“I'm sure your employees can do without you for the rest of the afternoon.”

“Mm... you don't know that.”

He bobs his head.

“Yes I do Lee,” he says. “So can we please talk?”

I sigh.

“Fine but not here.”

“Why not?”

“Everyone's gawking at us. It's weird to want to do this here in the open” I whisper.

He looks around.

“So? They don't need to know what we're saying” he whispers back.

“True. But I'm not risking anything with those two around” I gesture to Bonita and Sophie.

He follows my head gesture.

“Ying and Yang?” he asks. “They seem harmless” he scoffs.

“Lee” Bonita suddenly chirps from behind Reid.

He turns and moves closer to me.

“Aren't you going to introduce us?” Sophie grins.

I fold my arms.

“I thought you were mad at me, Fifi,” I ask.

“What? No. You're my best friend. How can I be mad at you?!” she scoffs.

I chuckle.

“So, introduce us,” she says between her big smile.

I exhale.

“Girls, this is Reid Dalton” I begin. “And Reid, these are my best friends, Sophie Mason and Bonita Bruce.”

“Hi, Mr. Dalton” Sophie chirps. “Big fan.”

He smiles.

“Sophie” he nods. “And Bonita.”

“Oh please, just call me Bonnie or Bon... or just Mrs. Wilmore if I'm with my husband” she chuckles.

Reid nods and keeps smiling.

“Noted.”

“Mr. Dalton?” Jaime calls out to him from our backs. “I have your large cappuccino, sir.”

“Oh thank you so much... Jaime” he reads her name tag on top of her left breast.

Perv...

“Oh, you like cappuccinos?” Bonita asks.

“Yes, my favorite type of coffee actually” Reid smiles.

“Oh, Lee makes the best Italian cappuccino!” Sophie suddenly gushes.

“Really?” Reid arches his brow at me.

“No” I reply and take a hold of his broad shoulders to attempt to push him away from the girls.

“Wha... w-where are you going, Lee?!” Sophie huffs.

“Away from you before you say something you're not supposed to say” I answer over my shoulder.

She pouts and I smile at her.

“Okay, let's go talk in my office. It's quieter there” I say to him.

He nods, happily sipping his cappuccino. Reid hums with delight.

“Mm, Lee. This has got to be the best cappuccino I've ever had.”

I chuckle.

“That's hard to believe,” I say. “Let's go. It's right through here—”

I pause and smile.

“Hi, sweetheart. Are you done with the sugar cookies?” I ask.

She has her eyes fixed on Reid.

“Sweetheart? Is she yours?” he suddenly whispers, his breath hot and cold against my neck.

I step away from him and widen my eyes.

“Don't do that” I whisper-yell.

“Apologies,” he mouths and continues to sip his coffee.

“Are you the boy marrying Lee?” Camari finally speaks up.

I turn to her as Reid nods.

“Yes I am” he replies. “Are you her daughter?”

Camari crosses her arms and eye rolls Reid.

“Don't ask questions you don't want answers to” she goes.

“Okay that's enough, Cam” I intervene and facepalm her away from Reid. “Sorry,” I mouth back to him.

Reid scoffs and shakes his head.

“Let's go, Cam,” I say firmly and take her hand.

Camari narrows her eyes at Reid and points two fingers from her eyes toward Reid.

“I'm watching you” she warns.

“Bon!” I immediately call out. “She's overstepping again!”

After making sure she's with her mother, I come back to find Reid laughing.

“What's funny?” I ask.

“I like her” he scoffs.

I make a face.

“Ew don't be weird,” I say and move past him. “C'mon, this way.”

I lead him to my office and offer him a seat. Reid looks around.

“Nice interior design” he comments.

“Thank you. Bonnie chose it.”

He nods.

“Why are there so many windows in here? Doesn't the ACs work?”

“They do. But unlike you, I prefer fresh air.”

He chuckles.

“What do you wanna talk about?” I exhale.

“The terms. We didn't do much over brunch.”

“So what are the terms?” I ask.

“Let's discuss them, shall we?” I suggested.

Reid unlocks his phone and takes a few minutes before speaking again.

“I have the basics laid out here,” he starts, setting his phone down on the table and pushing it over to me. “Feel free to read through it and let me know if you'd like to change something.”

I suspiciously eye him, then the phone.

“You wrote up an agreement?”

“This is more or less a business deal,” he reiterates.

I scoff.

“This is not a business deal, Reid. It's an 'I do you a favor, you return the favor by doing me a favor' type of deal.”

“Yes that's a business deal,” he says blankly.

I roll my eyes.

“Look Lee, if we're going to do this, we might as well do it the right way, okay? You need me and I need you. So please go through it.”

I sigh.

“Okay fine” I reluctantly agree and inspect his phone. “I still think it's unnecessary” I mutter.

He smiles at me and leans back to watch me.

“I've outlined what we will have to do together. We'll be seeing each other every day. I want it to be as convincing as possible. I need to drive Anika over the wall” he scoffs.

I glance at him.

“Can't you just ask her to leave her fiancé because you're still in love with her?”

“Can't you just let Ravenside take your property?”

I frown.

“Absolutely not!” I exclaim.

Reid smiles and nods.

“Then there's your answer” he smirks.

I make a face and he laughs before I continue reading the agreement.

“All monetary needs will be handled by me.”

I look up again.

“Whose monetary needs?”

“Yours obviously.”

I scoff.

“Yeah no. That's got to go” I whisper with a smile.

“Lee...”

“I've told you, I can buy my own food and take care of myself. You don't have to buy me stuff. So this has got to go” I tell him scrolling lower on the screen.

“There's nothing wrong in catering for my fiancée's meals, travels, attires—”

My head snaps back up.

“Attires?”

Reid nods.

“I will purchase the required attire for you.”

I laugh and lean back against my chair.

“What's wrong with my clothes?”

“I'll need to check them. If I don't find them suitable, I will buy you something else.”

I bite my lip.

“Suitable...” I sigh. “That word... what does it mean?”

He leans forward.

“Up to standard...” he begins.

“Oh,” I comment sarcastically.

“Fit for purpose...” he continues.

“Mm,” I hum, my patience running thin.

“Appropriate” he smiles.

I slam my fist on the table as I lean forward too.

“There is nothing wrong with my choice of clothes okay, Armani?”

He gives me a look and scoffs.

“Why are you suddenly so defensive?” he asks. “How do you have a problem with me buying you stuff?”

“What? Do I not look rich enough to be your fiancée that you have to dress me up to be fit for purpose?” I ask sarcastically.

“Yes,” Reid answers.

My jaw slightly drops. But before I can speak, he beats me to it.

“I'm not trying to offend you, Lee...”

“Really?” I ask. “Because that's all you've been doing since day one.”

He sighs.

“This isn't only to get that Aussie away from my ex. But we'll be fooling my mother in the process.”

I shrug.

“She already knows I'm a baker. Everyone knows. Did you see the queue outside?”

“And she thinks bakers aren't capable of belonging to a higher class, and I need you to stick it in her face and prove her wrong.”

I eye him.

“Uh-huh.”

“Lee, I'm not saying there is anything wrong with you. I don't even really know you. So why would I judge you, huh?” he asks.

My anger deflates.

“However, I do know my mom and she won't hesitate to stick her nose into our business. But I need you to not let her get to you, okay?”

“And I'll do that by letting you handle my attire?” I question.

He sighs.

“Lee...”

“Can't we just avoid her?”

“Avoid?” he chuckles. “I haven't been able to go home since the party. If I could avoid her, I would. But I have to face her sooner or later. There's no way out when it comes to my mother.”

I roll my eyes.

“Fine. But if I have to, I'll buy my own things,” I tell him.

Reid gives me an amused look.

“I'm sure you don't have that kind of money to throw around, so don't worry about it.”

Again with the disrespect?!

I frown.

“If you're going to keep making comments about how poor and unsuited I am for you, I'm not going to go through with this” I threaten. “It's not like I'm homeless and starving!”

“You're a baker.”

“And you're sure it's your mother who thinks bakers aren't capable of belonging to a higher class?” I narrow my eyes at him.

He sighs.

“Okay, what if your bakery burns down?”

I glare at him.

“Why would you say something like that?!” I exclaim, throwing a pencil at him.

“Ow! Scenario!” he cries out, rubbing his arm.

I narrow my eyes.

“It's not going to, but what if it did?”

“I have my eatery.”

He arches a brow.

“You... have an eatery?”

“Next door” I gesture with my head.

He follows the direction and smiles.

“Wow...” he lets out. “In the same building.”

I fold my arms.

“Okay, so what if the fire from the bakery reaches the eatery? Then what would you do?”

I roll my eyes in annoyance.

“Just answer the question, Lee.”

“I have my candle-making business.”

He chuckles and gives me a surprised look.

“You make candles too?”

“Yes. So I'm not homeless and starving,” I snap at him. “I make enough money to live by. And if I want, I can live as lavishly as you.”

Reid sits back and watches me. His surprised look slowly turns into... admiration?

“What if the candle making...”

“I'll be a singer, Reid” I cut him off.

He tilts his head.

“If the candle-making business doesn't flourish, I'll be a singer.”

“You sing too?” he chuckles. “What are you, Supergirl?”

“Supergirl doesn't sing, Reid” I reply.

He laughs.

“How old are you, Lee?”

I lean back and tuck a strand of hair behind my ear.

“Why? Afraid I'm too old for you, now?”

He just smiles.

“Twenty-five, pushing six” I finally reply.

He nods.

“Well, I'm twenty-nine, turning thirty...”

“On June 15th” I finish for him.

He chuckles with surprise and then smiles.

“Google” I whisper.

Reid keeps smiling and lifts his coffee to his lips. I press my lips to one side of my face, looking away from him, when the action sparks a certain fear in me.

“Do we have to kiss?” I suddenly ask, turning back to him.

Reid looks away from his coffee, a surprised look on his face as if he himself hadn't thought of it. He sets the cup down and looks at me.

“As it's a common thing for couples to do...” he begins, “... yes Lee. We have to kiss.”

Thank you for reading!
Please don't forget to vote.
Ciao
~the_atticwriter