Chapter 88 - 88: Picnic

Erick and Elle returned home with the ingredients. Charles wanted to follow Elle however Charles and Bryan were being watched and entertained by Erick's mother together with Raymond. She didn't want them to distrurb Erick and Elle in the kitchen.

They washed all the ingredients. Erick was now in a good mood after what happened to them. Elle really knew how to pacify him.

"Are you going to cook Beefsteak?" Erick asked her.

"No." She simply replied.

Erick frown "Then why did you buy this ingredients?"

Elle grinned at him like a Cheshire cat before she answered "Because I want you to cook it for me. I miss your cookings." Elle pouted after saying it.

Erick laughed out loud. He couldn't help himself but pinched her face because she was acting so cute in front of him.

"Aw!" Elle hit his hand and scowled at him.

"Don't give me that look.You are the one who deceived me!"

Erick just let out another soft chuckle.

Elle pouted again. "But it's true, I miss your Beef Steak. It was my favorite. Please can you cook it for me? If you don't want I ask the two boys to just grill the meat. Hmm You want that?" Elle threatened him.

"Alright! Don't bother, I will cook it for you." He answered right away.

This time, it was Elle who laughed out loud.

Charles could hear the laughing sound from the kitchen. His brows furrowed. He wanted to barge in the kitchen and find out what Erick and Elle are doing.

Bryan also turned in the direction of the sound. He was also curious why they are laughing.

Sarah noticed the curious looks of the two men so she spoke up.

"Ahem, Charles and Bryan can you buy us something to drinks and some desserts too. We will be having a picnic outside this lunch time. And I know boys love to drink. Can you do that my dears?"

Sarah requested them so the boys didn't have the heart to reject her request. So they both left to buy for their drinks and desserts.

A playful smile appeared on Sarah's face. Her husband just looked at her helplessly and shook his head. He knew what his wife was doing. He just laughed from the thought.

Sarah looked at her husband who was now laughing at her. She just feigned ignorance and shrugged as she convinced herself that she did nothing wrong from asking those two men to go out for a while.

Meanwhile in the kitchen...

Elle started to slice the ingredients.

Erick was observing him on the side. His lips curved into a smile. He was amazed how Elle slice and chop those vegetables and the meat.

"Ahmm. Elle you really have talent in cooking. You are good in handling a knife." Erick commented.

Elle laughed inside 'Yeah, I am good with a knife, different kind of knife, I am also good with guns and martial arts but cooking is not my forte.'

"Hmm, do you believe me now that my cooking skills is as good as yours?" Elle asked him.

"Hmm not yet. I should taste it first!" Erick smiled at her widely.

"All right. This italian pasta is for you. I will also make a Caesar salad for us. Hmm You will be the one to taste those first." She winked at him. Erick was happy to hear that.

Elle chuckle to see his happy face. "Don't rejoice first Mr. Detective. Are you not afraid that you will get upset stomach from eating the food that I cooked?"

"Hmm It doesn't matter to me, as long as I will be the one to taste it first." he said to her while grinning.

Elle looked at him with disbelief. "Hmm don't regret it later."

"I will never regret trusting you and entrusting my life to you." Erick said meaningfully.

Elle stopped what she was doing after hearing it. She turned to look at Erick. He has a gentle smile on his face. He was certain and sincere when he said those words.

"What?" Erick asked her as he noticed that Elle was staring at him intently with indescribable expression.

"Nothing." Elle's soft lips stretched into a smile but didn't quite reach her dark eyes. They were lit with mixed emotions such sadness, guilt and uncertainty. Elle looked away so Erick didn't see her complicated emotions.

"Erick don't trust me! All of these are fake. Nothing about me is genuine. You will just be disappointed in the end. I am just using you.'

Elle didn't know why but she felt suffocated just thinking about it. Is she starting to feel guilt towards Erick? It seemed like her heart was being squeezed right now.

'Don't worry Erick. I know I was indebted to you. I promise that I will surely pay that debt and return the favor to you someday, even if I need to exchange my life for it. I won't hesitate.'

'I mean it when I said that I am willing to sacrifice my life to express how grateful I am to you. You have my word. But before that I'll just finish what I have to do.'

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On the other hand, Bryan and Charles already returned with the dessert, beers, and other beverages.

Erick's parents already prepared the picnic blankets and the utensils at the court yard. They choose a spot under the maple tree. Charles and Bryan joined them.

Minutes later, Erick and Elle also brought the food that they cooked together. Everyone was excited to taste Elle's cooking.

Of course, Erick tasted those first and he was very satisfied. Elle asked him many times if he was telling the truth. Elle was worried whether Sarah and Raymond would like her cooking.

But since Erick assured her, she was now confident about it.

"Hmm, darling Elle. You are really good in cooking. This pasta tastes really delicious. I am so proud of you Darling." Sarah praised her.

Elle just smiled at her. She was a little bit embarrass.

"You can put up a restaurant." Raymond suggested.

Elle smiled at him while thinking 'Dad, I am fine with managing one Cafe. I don't need to put up another restaurant business.'

"Wow...I can't believe it. You can really cook well Elle." This time it was Bryan who praised her.

Charles butted in. "Hmm I think it was because her mentor is also a good cook!" Charles blurted out.

The five people was now looking at Charles. Elle shot him a dangerous glare. She was now holding a bread knife and a fork. It seemed like she was ready to throw those things towards Charles just to shut him up.

Charles sensed the danger. He shivered from fear. His body suddenly covered by cold sweats.

"Hehe, I was referring to Erick. I think Erick was her mentor and also a good cook." Charles said trying to save his life from getting killed on the spot.

"Hmm Buddy, how did you know? You are right! Erick is a good cook." Bryan said.

"Ah, Elle told me. She told me that Erick loves to cook and she really likes it." Charles was relieved when Elle dropped the knife.

Erick's unhappiness towards Charles lessened after hearing what he said thinking that Elle was praising him in front of her Boss.

After their lunch, Sarah and Raymond decided to leave the young ones to bond with each other. Bryan, Charles, Elle and Erick were left.

Erick and Elle still acted as a couple in front of the two men, feeding them dog food. Elle's head was on Erick's lap while reading some book while the three men were drinking beers. Erick and Elle were also holding each hands.

Bryan was giving them a suspicious look. 'Are they just really acting or is it for real now?'

On the other hand, Charles was giving them a sharp glare. He was in rage inside. He wanted to pull Elle away from Erick.

'Elle stop acting like a couple. Only his friend is here! No need to act so intimate in front of us! I will inform Master Phantom about this and I will ask him to give this detective a lesson from taking advantage of you.'

But it seemed like Erick and Elle were trapped with their own world, not minding the two single men in front of them.

"Buddy, let's go drink over there. We will just be hurt if we stay here longer." Bryan said to Charles.

Charles didn't have a choice but to join Bryan and leave the fake couple alone. It seemed like they were intentionally displaying their intimacy in front of them.

Erick was now playing with her hair.

"Erick?" Elle called him.

"Hmm." Erick replied.

"Stop doing that, I might fall asleep." she put down the book that she was reading and she looked up to Erick.

"Then sleep." Erick softly said to her.

Their hands were still intertwined with each other. She squeezed it before she closed her eyes. There was a spark in Erick's eyes when Elle did that. He stared at her face with so much gentleness.