Chapter 288 - 288: You Owe Me Two Meals

When Erick and Elle got out of his office, their entangled hands caught the attention of his team. They could see the bright expression plaster on Erick's face. 

That gentle smile returned to his lips again and erased the creases between his brows. It's been a long time since the last time he smiled like that. His eyes held a glint of joy as he stared at Elle. 

"Chief Lee finally learns to smile again!" June blurted out.

In contrast to Erick, Elle was trying her best to suppress her smile as she followed him while watching their hands. She missed holding his hand like this. She felt the joy and satisfaction in her heart.

Erick ignored their presence as he continued to pull Elle with him, going out of their headquarters.

"Where are they going?" Rose asked curiously.

April just shrugged at her. Of course, no one knows except Erick.

"This is what I am worried about. Erick is seeing Elle in the persona of Aliyah. Can't he differentiate the two persons?" Bryan said as he sighed deeply.

All of them were just staring at the retreating back of Erick and Elle until they vanished in their line of sights.

A few minutes after Erick and Elle left, Sandy went back to Team Alpha Cinco's office looking for Elle.

"Guys, did you see Ali?" Sandy asked Erick's team.

"She just went out together with our Chief. You didn't see them outside, did you?" June answered her.

"What?! She left without letting us know! Urgh! Aliyah Ross! That girl! She's giving me a headache!" Sandy exclaimed as she complained to them.

"Why do I feel like this Sandy girl is treating Aliyah as a kid and she is acting like Aliyah's guardian? She even called Chief Lee a pervert. Tsk Tsk Tsk." Rose whispered to April. There was a hint of annoyance and displeasure in her voice.

April just let out a soft giggle and whispered back at her. "You don't like her, do you? It seems that she made a bad impression from you."

Rose nodded and said, "Yes, I don't! Because she accused our Chief Lee as a pervert."

"Calm down. She just misunderstood Chief Lee. Besides, she just appears to be overprotective of her friend, Aliyah." April was trying to appease Rose.

"Alright! I will forgive her this time. I will give her another chance." Rose said. She sighed helplessly as she watched Sandy who was now trying to call Aliyah.

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Meanwhile, Erick and Elle just arrived in a restaurant. It was just a ten-minute drive from XXX Crime Investigation Headquarters. Erick guided her inside and opened the glass door for her.

He even pulled a chair for her and let her sit down first before he sat down on the opposite chair. The waiter greeted them politely and gave them the menu list. He even poured and filled their glass with welcome drinks.

The restaurant had a cozy ambiance inside. The interior design was suited for a couple having romantic meals together. The tables were also separated from each other by the booth to give their customers privacy.

Elle didn't know what Erick was thinking by bringing her to that kind of restaurant. If she's not the real Elle then she would really feel weird and awkward by his action.

Then Elle raised her eyebrows as she observed Erick who was busy scanning the food on the menu list.

'This is our first time coming here together. Did Erick often go here and eat with someone for these past two years?' Elle couldn't help but ponder.

She gritted her teeth from that thought. She couldn't help but feel jealous as she remembered Selena. In her mind, Elle was thinking that Erick and Selena might have visited this place. She thought that the two of them became so close.

'Does Erick develop a feeling towards Selena? I disappeared for two years. What if he already likes someone else? Am I too late now?'

Elle had lost her appetite. Her mood also changed. The smile on her face disappeared. She didn't notice that she was now wearing an ugly expression on her face.

"Hey, what's wrong? You don't like the food here?" Erick asked her worriedly.

With her glaring eyes, Elle angrily spoke to him. "Why did you choose this place, Chief Lee? I don't like it. The food here also looks so expensive! Are you taking advantage of me because this lunch is my treat?"

Erick blinked several times as he looked at her confusedly. He had no idea why suddenly Elle reacted like that. 

'Is she mad?'

Elle was still frowning, waiting for his response.

"Do you often come here?" Elle added. She was really curious.

"No. This is also my first time coming here. I just heard this place from Bryan. He and April always come here." Erick answered her truthfully.

Elle was taken aback by his response. It seemed like she was mistaken. Erick didn't sound like he was lying. She believed him.

Cough! Cough!

Elle cleared her throat. She couldn't look straight in his eyes. She felt embarrassed for overreacting. She even raised her voice at him due to anger and jealousy.

"I am sorry for not consulting you. I thought you will also like this place. But If you don't like this place then we can leave now and find another one." Erick softly said to her.

'[email protected]! I ruined the moment. Why can't I control my anger these days? What should I do now?'

"Ahem… Sorry. I didn't mean what I had said a while ago. Hehe, Actually... this place looks good. I am just mistaken. The food is not that expensive. Hehe, you can order anything you want!" 

"Are you sure?" Erick asked her again, feeling doubtful.

"Of course, yes! Hehe, I just pretend that I don't like it here. I am just trying to test you a while ago." Elle just spouted things that came in her mind. She didn't know how to justify her sudden burst out a while ago.

"Is that so?" Erick chuckled. 

"Are you really good at pretending? Hmmm. But I guess you are not good at lying." Erick said to her meaningfully.

Cough! Cough!

Elle choked on her drinks after hearing Erick's meaningful remarks. Elle could read behind the lines. She knew what Erick was referring to by saying that.

"Hey, easy! Drink slowly." Erick said as he gave her the tissue.

'Easy my @ss! This is your fault!' Elle cursed him inwardly.

"Are you okay?" There was a genuine concern in his voice as he asked her that.

"I am just fine. Let's order now." 

"Hmm. Actually, I also brought you here because I heard this restaurant is serving the most delicious beef steak in town. You like beef steak very much!" Erick said to her matter of factly.

Her back stiffened after hearing the word 'Beef Steak'. It looked like it was Erick who was testing her right now. When she glanced at him, he was eyeing her, a wry and clever smile twisting his lips.

A soft giggle escaped Elle's lips.

"When did I mention I like beef steak that much? Chief Lee, you are wrong." Elle said to him confidently. A mischievous smile appeared on her lovely face.

'I only like the beefsteak you cook, Erick! That's what I like most.' Elle thought to herself.

Erick just looked at her helplessly. He couldn't help but frown. How could he be wrong? He knew that Elle liked beef steak a lot. She always requested him to cook that food. Now, she was really denying it. Liar!

As if, Elle could read his mind she spoke up to defend herself.

"Chief Lee, believe me. I am not lying. I don't like the beefsteak here." She said truthfully to him.

'Because it tastes different from your cooking.' she wanted to add but she just kept it in her mind.

When Erick saw her sincere eyes, he was convinced that she was not lying. Unaware that Elle only liked the beefsteak he cooked, now, he felt very confused.

'Did her taste also change? She liked beef steak in the past.'

In the end, they still ordered beefsteak and other food. After the food was served, they took their lunch together. This was the most enjoyable meal Erick had for the past two years. Not because of the delicious food nor the luxurious and nice atmosphere inside the restaurant, but because Elle was with him.

"Are you full?" Elle asked him.

"Yeah. Very full." Erick cheerfully replied.

"You eat a lot today. Hmm. I wonder why you look so thin. You should eat more and stay healthy. You don't look well." Elle blurted out of the blue.

Erick paused for a moment after hearing that. He gazed up to see her face.

'[email protected] Elle! Stupid! It is a slip of a tongue.' Elle scolded herself inwardly.

"Do I look ugly now? Am I less attractive in your eyes, now?" Erick asked her seriously.

Elle let out a forced laugh. "Why are you asking me that, Chief Lee?"

Then Erick became silent. Elle felt a little bit awkward. Then Erick spoke up again.

"Can I ask you something?"

"Eh… s-sure. What is it?" Elle didn't know why but she felt really nervous as Erick was looking at her with a very serious expression on his face.

"If you are not Elle then why did you hug me back? Not only once but twice." Erick asked her directly to the point.

Elle let out another forced laugh. She could feel the tension building up between them.

Elle bit her lower lip before she replied. "Because… you are so handsome! I can't resist your charm!"

Erick was rendered speechless by her response. 

'Sh!t. I am doomed! Can't you come up with a better excuse, Elle? Why do you have to say that? Where's your pride as a lady?' Elle's cheeks reddened quickly from embarrassment.

'I-I have to go to the comfort room!" Elle stood up immediately and ran to flee.

Erick just watched her figure running away to escape. Because of her answer, the insecurities he felt a while ago disappeared immediately.

"She still finds me handsome," Erick mumbled to himself.

Then a husky laugh bubbled up in their booth.

After a few minutes of calming herself down in the comfort room, Elle went back to their table. She picked up her purse and went to the counter to pay for their bills.

"Table 3 Bills please!" Elle said to the cashier.

"Ma'am, your boyfriend already paid your bills!" The cashier said to her politely.

'Boyfriend?!' Elle's eyes widened. She was supposed to treat him. Erick followed her and now he was standing beside her.

Elle faced him with an eyebrow raised.

"I should be the one paying our bills!" She complained to him.

Erick put on his cool smile and said. "It's alright. Don't worry. This is not free. Now, you owe me two meals! Let's eat together again next time!"