Chapter 75 - A LATE APOLOGY

Cayenne put down her bag and the bouquet of flower to receive the flower pot from him. "What's going on? Why are you giving me so much today?"

"I want to indulge you." Stefan responded with a wink making Cayenne laugh. "Aside from that, I want to give you something very important." He picked a small white box and handed it to her. "I know this will be a great early Christmas gift for you."

She just received the flower from him and now, she had to put it down so that she can take the box. It didn't look like a jewelry box so she was confident that it wouldn't be something expensive. When she opened it, her eyes went wide from the surprise. It was her passport!

Couldn't contain her happiness within her and she ended up throwing herself at him and hugged him. "Thanks a lot. I never really thought of getting a passport before. Thank you so much." Cayenne mumbled with bubbling happiness. She can finally travel to other countries in the future with her passport. Stefan was about to return her hug when she pulled her body away from him. "Sorry for hugging you all of a sudden."

"It's fine. I don't really mind." Stefan responded although he was a little disappointed because he wasn't able to hug her back. His hand itched to feel her warm body pressed on him and under his touch. "Now that you have it, we can finally go somewhere."

"Right." Cayenne ran her fingers on the passport before raising her head to look at him. "But, Christmas is coming and there's New Year after that. Are we going to leave during this time of the year?"

"Uhm. I don't have any family to spend Christmas and I've always spent it overseas."

"Why don't you spend it with us this year? I mean, they think you're my boyfriend so, I guess they'd I understand."

"Are you sure?" Stefan asked with obvious hesitation. It will be his first Christmas with someone after fifteen years. He was worried that he'd ruin their holiday.

Cayenne put the passport inside the box and placed it inside her bag. "It will be fine. They will surely welcome you."

"Alright. I'll accept your invitation but, we'll still go somewhere. I think we can go somewhere by February. I'll ask Manager Kim to let you leave from work for one who month."

"One whole month?"

"Yup. That's the initial plan and I am still going to go with it. A whole month of relaxing time, just chillin' and chattin' would be good for you."

"But-"

"Let's talk about this next time. For now, let's have dinner. The dishes will get cold if we keep talking here." Stefan hold the pot for her and the two of them went upstairs.

He placed the potted tulips at the balcony and watered it a little. Cayenne also placed her bag on the bedside table. The bouquet of flowers was left downstairs since they needed to place it inside a flower vase.

"You take a shower first. I'll go and arrange the flowers in a vase." Stefan informed her as he walked out of the room. She just nodded her head and went inside the bathroom with the towel and change of clothes.

'This is bad.' Cayenne thought while undressing herself. 'I'm getting used to his presence as the days go by and I know this should not be happening. I'm his employee and nothing else. I need to keep it in mind and maybe I should remind him about it again.'

Cayenne was lost in thoughts as she took a shower.

"Ayen? Ayen?! Are you alright?" Stefan banged the door thrice. His worried voice startled and she immediately wrapped herself with the towel.

She opened the door and found him standing with worried and frightened expression. "What happened?"

His expression changed as he looked at her and he had to turn away his head to avoid seeing her. The tips of his earlobe were turning red and his eyes were restless. "I…I was worried for you."

"What about me?"

Stefan turn his back on her, calming his heart and trying his best to erase his memories of her almost-naked body. "You've been inside for half an hour and that's very unusual. So, I came to check on you."

"Sorry. I didn't pay attention to the time. I'll get dressed really quick."

"Hn. That would be better."

Cayenne watched him leave without turning his head once again. She closed the door and changed into a set of pajamas and wrapped her head with a dry towel to let the water get absorbed. As soon as she got out, she checked her phone and found that she had been taking so much time. 

"I'm such a trouble." Cayenne whispered to herself before putting down her phone and ran out of the room to go the kitchen. Stefan had placed the tulip flowers inside a porcelain vase. He put it on the table which adds a different vibe to their usual dinner. "Sea foods? Are you craving for sea foods?"

"A little and I thought of sharing this with you."

"That's very thoughtful of you but, you don't really have to think of me every time you wanted something."

"It's because you're my employee and I'm your boss. That's what you wanted to say, right?" Stefan continued what she had thought inside the bathroom. "You don't have to remind me about that. I have kept it mind."

"Oh! Then, that's good."

"Shall we eat now?"

"Sure."

The two of them finally ate their dinner. He was happily serving her, chatting about their future plans and what they should do during Christmas or what gifts he can buy to give to her family.

Meanwhile, Chris was sitting at the round table with two clients in front of him. The meeting that his boss was supposed to attend, was pushed to him. Now, he was drinking with these big-bellied businessmen to show them respect and to propose a toast to their cooperation. In all kinds of meeting, he hates those that involves drinking alcoholic beverage or those that brings women to entice his boss.

Chris got all the documents signed and after an hour and half, he excused himself; telling them that the President needed the documents sent to him. The bigwigs nodded their head in agreement. Chris didn't go to Stefan's place. Once the clock hits eight in the evening, he should not go and visit him unless he was called to come over.

"Come over here. I'll help you dry your hair." Stefan was holding the hair dryer and a hair brush as he beckoned her to come closer.

They finished their dinner and Cayenne was the one who washed the dirty utensils. Since she didn't get to dry her hair as soon as she can, he was now going to help her for causing the delay.

Cayenne unwrapped the towel from her head and rubbed her hair while taking steps towards her. "I can do this myself."

"I've got nothing else to do so, I might as well help you."

Cayenne didn't refute his words and just sat on the chair in front of the vanity mirror. "I've always thought that you have so much free time compared to other businessmen I knew."

"I have employees who works for me."

"It must be the same thing with Mr. Madrigal."

"Yup. He's got more free time than me. Jillyanna's family is helping him, too."

"He's such a great man and Jillyanna is really amazing."

"You don't know them that much. There are things that you don't know about them." Stefan retorted while combing her hair gently.

"It doesn't matter if I have so many things that I don't know about them. The most important thing is that they were very good to me."

"Speaking of being good." Stefan turned off the hair dryer for a while. "I remember the conversation you had with Travis few days ago and I've been thinking about it. It turned out related to me."

"Which conversation? We've talked so much I forgot some of them already." Cayenne looked at him through the mirror's reflection and she could see regret and helplessness crossing on his face. He was even hesitating. "Did I say something wrong about you during the dinner with your friend?"

"It's not that." He turned on the hair dryer and started drying her hair again. "It's about the incident that happened a year ago."

"A year ago…" Cayenne tried thinking about it. "Oh! You mean the time when I first met them?"

"Yes. I remembered that I scolded you back then." He looked towards her reflection but she didn't show any expression to him. "I was really having a bad day that time and when you were talking with Travis, I thought it was very familiar."

"Are you regretting it now? That the woman you scolded back then would come to help you now?" This was meant to be a joke but, who would have thought that Stefan would take it seriously.

He put down the things he was holding and turned Cayenne around by the shoulders. "I regretted it a lot. I didn't mean to vent on you." He caressed her face with his thumb which caused her heart to skip a beat. "I might be late in saying this but I am really sorry." His face was really close to her and she could even feel the warmth of his breath. 

'This is crazy!'