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"He went home."
"Was he still sad?"
"Sad?" I help her onto the kitchen stool. "Why would he be sad?"
Riya shrugs. "I had to pee last night and it was really, really late, and someone was yelling at Uncle Tony on the phone and he kept saying sorry. I heard the man on the phone. He was really mean."
I frown, running my fingers through her hair. "I'm sure it was a work-related call. Uncle Tony can look after himself, but if you want to make him feel better, we can make some dumplings for him."
That puts a smile on my baby's face. "Can we?"
"Of course." I pinch her cheek lovingly. "And we'll make plenty so that Auntie Maya and her babies can also eat."
I just want to spend time with Riya, so we spend the whole day together. When I put her down for a nap at noon, I hear the doorbell ring. It's a delivery man.
"I didn't order this." I stare at the food boxes.
He studies the address on his phone/ "You're not Cynthia Morrighan?"
"I am."
"Then this is your order," he insists.
"I'm not paying for food I didn't order," I try to argue, ignoring the way my stomach rumbles at the delicious scents coming from the containers.
"Ma'am," the delivery guy musters up every ounce of patience he has, "the order is paid for. Will you please take this? I have other deliveries to make."
I have no choice but to take the food. Once I unpack it in the kitchen, my eyes widen. There is no way I can eat this much by myself. There are three different containers of soup, along with multiple beef and chicken dishes with rice. And so many dumplings.
Bewildered, I stare at the containers covering my table before finally sighing and calling up Tony and Maya. Neither of them knows anything about this but they have no problem coming over to 'share the burden'. What was supposed to be a dinner meet-up, turns into lunch with them.
"This must have cost more than a hundred dollars," Maya muses as she packs some of the food to take with her. "Are you sure it wasn't someone from your office?"
"It could be Kofo, but if he used the company card, I'll kill him," I say. "If he wants to butter me up, he'd better use his own money for it."
Maya laughs. "I like your assistant. Remember when I came by to drop off the beef stew for you at your office? I brought one for him as well. He told me it needed more spice and then he offered to teach me a few spicy dishes. Tony has banned me from going to your office now."
"Yeah." I shake my head. "He's had a little crush on you ever since."
"Who has a crush on my mate?" Tony's voice booms as he enters the kitchen. "Is it that kid with no palette? Has he been making eyes at you again, Maya? Did you see him somewhere?"
"Kofo is harmless," I chuckle. "Besides, his family has a thing about arranged marriages, and apparently, his mother has already chosen a girl for him. She's a sweet thing, and he's quite excited about it."
Once they leave, I find myself wondering if it was Kofo who sent the food. I'll have to ask him.
I find the whole thing weird.
****
I end up going to the office for the entirety of the next week.
Adam seems to be intent on making a nuisance of himself. He keeps showing up in my office to the point that even my own staff is beginning to wonder what's drawing the tyrant CEO to our department. The problem is he seems to have a legitimate excuse each time.
It's on Friday that I finally snap. The day is going as well as it can.
One of the managers from the procurement department comes by with some documents for me to sign while Adam is in my office.
"Let's step outside." I sigh, ushering the manager out. I pointedly close the door behind us.
