Chapter 108 - 108: The Gift

'What happened just now?' Elle asked in her mind.

Erick was now grinning at her, satisfied with what he had just done.

"Hey, why did you do that?" Elle asked him with an accusing tone as she recovered from the shock.

She didn't know if she was angry because of that sudden act or she was angry because he left her hanging since the kiss happened for just a few seconds and she wanted more.

"To stop you from teasing me. See... It was effective!" Erick said as a matter of fact.

'Effective your as*! Erick, you are really shameless sometimes!' Elle thought to herself as she stared at him with disbelief.

Erick laughed at her as he saw Elle's face with her conflicting emotions. Now Elle was the one who is blushing. Elle glared at him. 

"Why are you just kissing someone??!!" Elle complained to him.

"Hey, you are not just someone! You are my girlfriend right now remember. Besides, we already did it so many times. You also said before that you like it." Erick said as he teased her.

He let out a soft chuckle as he remembered their kiss when Elle was drunk. She was now looking at him like daggers.

'That time was different. I was drunk! Well...actually he's right but still... Argh!! Erick you are driving me crazy!'

Her mind was in chaos. Part of her was saying she likes it but there was also part of her saying it is not right.

"We are just pretending! Did you forget?!" Elle punched him on the shoulder. Erick just let out another chuckle.

"Yes, I forgot! It is your fault. I tend to forget something when I am really happy. I am just very happy right now because of your gift."

Elle: "..."

She was speechless because of this man's shamelessness. Now he was telling her it was her fault.

'Erick Lee, Just you wait! I'll get even with you.'

Elle just stayed quiet and let him get away this time. Erick continued to focus on his driving with a victorious smile on his face until they got home.

He was dying to kiss her again and he missed her so much. He was successful in his mission for tonight.

When they arrived home, Erick went to his room right away to open the gift given by Elle. 

He saw a black automatic watch inside the box. It has a 40 mm black ceramic case with an engraved titanium case back paired with black leather straps.

Erick was smiling from ear to ear. He picked up the small card inside. There was also a message.

[  All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.- J.R.R. Tolkien  ]

"Elle has also a sweet side. And she had nice handwriting too." Erick chuckled as he was staring at the notes given by Elle. He knew Elle was not vocal so instead of writing him a message she just wrote a quote of J.R.R. Tolkien about time.

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At Falcon's Cafe...

Another day had passed and Elle was now back to work after her day off.

Things at the cafe were not that busy compared before especially now that Phantom was there. Elle was preparing the shake ordered by one of their customers when Charles approached her.

"Elle, are you really going to help Bryan with his problem? Why did you suddenly volunteer to help him?"

"No reason. I just got bored." Elle simply said. But the truth was, Elle was still bothered when she remembered the moment April confessed to Erick. She didn't know why but she had the urge to push Bryan to April so that she won't bother Erick again. Of course, she would not tell this reason to Charles.

"Why are you so reckless by giving him that suggestion? He might suspect you of something. How will you help him? Remember, you are pretending you have amnesia and if you act like not a normal girl you might give away your identity and he will notice something." 

"Hmm, you have a point. As expected to my partner." Elle patted his shoulder. Charles smiled foolishly after hearing that.

"And as my partner, then I think you will be able to help me with that if ever Bryan agrees with the plan. Let's just pretend that you will be the one who will do the groundwork." Elle smiled at him before she left to deliver the shake she prepared for the customer.

Charles was now frowning. "I was fooled by her once again."

An hour later there was a special delivery arrived at Falcon's Cafe. A delivery boy went inside the cafe holding a bouquet of red roses.

"Is Miss Elle here?" the delivery man asked. Elle, Charles, and Phantom just stared at him. 

"I am Elle. Why are you looking at me?" Elle spoke up. The man smiled upon seeing her. He walked towards her. The customers inside were also looking at the delivery man, curious about what was happening.

"Hello Miss Elle, this bouquet of red roses is for you." The man said as he gave her the bouquet. The customer cheered when Elle accepted the flower however Phantom and Charles including Elle looked with each other with an astonishing expression, completely clueless who was responsible for giving Elle a bouquet of red roses. 

"Who the hell sends that bouquet to Elle. Is this from her fake boyfriend?" Charles blurted out with annoyance. Phantom just laughed at Charles's reaction.

He looked like a strict father who just seen her daughter received a flower from her suitor. Charles also looked like someone who was ready to snatch the flower in Elle's hand and throw it to the trash bin inside the Cafe.

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Meanwhile... An unexpected visitor also arrived at XXX Crime Investigation Headquarter. 

It was Selena Arison looking for Chief Detective Inspector Erick Lee. Her presence made the entire headquarter alive because of her elegant beauty. They seldom see beautiful women visiting their headquarter so the task force especially the men were really inspired right now.

"Hello, Lady Selena why are you here?" It was Bryan who welcomed her.

"I came here to give you these invitations. This coming Friday we will celebrate the 29th Birthday of my Brother James. Hoping that the joint task force will come to celebrate with us." Selena gave Bryan the invitation cards.

"Thank you, Miss Selena. We will find time to attend Mr. Arison's Birthday." Bryan said to her as he assured her that they will come.

"Thank you, Sergeant Velasquez. Can you pass these invitations to others?" Selena requested him politely. 

"Sure. No worries." Bryan said.

"Sergeant, Is Erick here, I mean Chief Lee?" 

"Yup, he is at his office right now. Do you need anything from him?"

"I want to give this invitation to him personally. Is he busy? Can I see him ?" 

"Yes, he is a little bit busy right now but I think Chief won't mind that. You can go to his office to see him. Come let me escort you going there." Bryan replied. Selena thanked him before they proceeded to Erick's office.

Bryan knocked on the door before he opened it. They both heard Erick's voice on the inside.

"Come in!"  Selena entered the room and Bryan left after that.

Erick was looking at the doc.u.ments about the Police Reports regarding Jefferson Gong's murder case when Selena spoke up to get his attention.

"Hello, Erick. It's been a long time. It is nice to see you again."

Erick looked up as soon as he heard the familiar voice of Selena. He was a little bit surprised to see her.

"Hello, Miss Selena. I apologize for my rudeness, I didn't know it was you who just knock a while ago. Please sit down."

Selena giggled upon hearing his apology "It's alright, I know you are busy. But I won't forgive you if you keep calling me Miss Selena. I had told you many times that you can just call me Selena."

Erick just nodded and gave her an apologetic smile.

"By the way, are you here to get some update regarding your father's case progress?" Erick asked her directly.

"No, I know you are having a hard time. But I trust in you. I don't want to pressure the task force. I am here for a different agenda." Selena said as she assured him.

"What is it?"

Selena gave him the invitation card "I am inviting you and the other members of the task force to attend the Birthday Party of my Brother this Friday. I hope you are available."

Erick gladly accepted the invitation "Thank you for inviting us. We will try our best to come."

"I will expect you there Erick. Please don't disappoint me." Selena said happily. Erick just smiled at her.

Selena's heart skipped a beat every time Erick smiled at her. This was the first time she felt attracted to someone. She had so many suitors however she couldn't feel anything from them. Erick was different. He was like a prince charming. He was her ideal man. She wanted to possess him.

Erick was a little bit busy but he couldn't send away his visitor right now. Erick didn't know what to say to her so he was just patiently waiting for her to speak up. It seemed like Selena had something to tell him.

After a few seconds, Selena picked up something inside her bag. Then she glanced at Erick. She was a little bit hesitant at first but she took all her courage.

"Erick I want to give you this as a token of my gratitude for your hard work in my father's case. Please accept it." Selena said as she extends her hand which was holding a square box.

Erick was looking at her and to the small box in her hand. He didn't expect her to give him something. He didn't know how to react. He did not want to accept it however he did not know how to reject her. It seemed like he was put in a difficult situation right now.

He was still in that dilemma when suddenly Elle's face popped up into his mind. He remembered Elle's upset expression last night as she mentioned how he let Selena treat him a meal while he did not allow her to do that. At that moment, he was able to make up his mind.

"I am sorry Selena, I can't accept that. Besides, you don't need to thank me because I am just doing my job. I have to work hard for your father to receive the justice that he deserves."

Erick finally found his right words to refuse her gift. Selena felt disappointed but she was able to hide it by smiling at him.