INTERLOCKED: A JOURNEY.

6.SIGNED!

The Flakes.

        IT'S DONE. I'VE SIGNED it. The pact is sealed. In one month I'll be married. Oh my God! This is really happening.

        She could practically feel her eyes sting, tears threatening to spill.

        Hold yourself together. Be strong. Be strong. Be strong.

        Snow kept telling herself, so that she wouldn't be a crying mess in front of Willow, which would be both humiliating and embarrassing at the same time.

        A slight knock on the cabin door startled Snow.

        Willow noticed the change in her demeanor instantly. Before he could guess or ask whether she's fine or not, she replied to the knock on the door.

"Come in."

        Such an innocent and beautiful voice! Willow wondered in awe. What the hell Willow, get a grip. He scolded himself for slipping up on something that he's never done before.

        Jane enters with the trolley which contains four cups of coffee and some macrons. "Snow" Jane began, "I've tried something different today. Taste it and tell me if it's good to add it to the kitchen menu." She grinned from ear to ear.

         Jane was a 30 year old, who worked for The Flakes as a head chef. She was splendid in her job. She practically could cook any dish in the entire world. Mexican, Italian, Asian, etc. - just name it and it'll be ready in minutes. She also modifies them with her own logics. Snow adorned her as if she was the goddess of all chefs.

         "Thank you so much Jane. Like always I'm pretty sure it'll be the best modification. I'll tell you during mate-ship hour?"

        "Sure girl, enjoy." Jane waved goodbye to Snow and smiled at Mr. Garner as she exited leaving them all alone.

        "Here Mr. Garner, your coffee and try these macrons too." Snow excitedly handed Willow his coffee and snacks. "I'll just call up Alicia and ask them to head to my cabin."

Willow only nodded in response.

        Why is she so informal with her employees? Willow was too curious so he decided he should just ask it to Snow directly.

        Once Snow was done with the call, Willow called out, "Miss. Ander-"

        "Snow." She cut him of abruptly. "Please call me Snow Mr. Garner." She added with a small smile.

        "Willow. As we are on first name basis you can address me as Willow."

        "Okay. So Willow, you were telling me something?"

        "Yes Snow. I wanted to ask you, why are you so informal with your employees?"

         She couldn't handle it. She was aware it was coming. So she burst out laughing. Almost everyone asked her this. They never can understand how much of gratitude she holds towards her mates.

        Willow was amused by her sudden outburst. He heard her laughing for the first time. The always guarded Willow Garner was genuinely smiling in ages.

        Snow immediately stopped laughing. Something about Willow's smile sent butterflies to her belly. "I'm so sorry Willow." Her face flushed with embarrassment. "And to answer your question, no offence, but I'm not like the other employers who just bark their orders at the poor employees who work hard for them. I like it the way it is."

        Willow was taken aback by her answers. He was speechless. There was more to this. He could sense it.

        He was saved by answering back as the cabin door opened and in came Alicia followed by Jude.

        "Please be seated guys." Snow ushered Jude to take a seat beside Willow and Alicia dragged a chair beside Snow.

        It seemed as if four friends were just chilling out.

        Alicia broke the silence by asking Snow, "Snow what about the mate-ship hour?"

        "I asked Jane and Claire to handle it since we were busy." Snow replied smiling at her, remembering that they were busy stalking Willow.

        "Oh yeah. Two hours of research. Pretty tedious." She winked back at Snow.

        "What is mate-ship hour?" Jude asked out of curiosity.

        "Mate-ship hour is when all of us meet up at our mate-room. You remember the big hall down on the second floor I introduced as mate-room?" Alicia explained. Jude nodded his head in response asking her to continue. "On Saturdays we have half day to work and half day to party. It usually starts at 4 pm. In case of any meetings it delays up to 6 pm normally, like this one. Technically what we do i-"

        "I guess if you are free you can check it by yourself, what we do at our mate-ship hour." Snow cut off Alicia inviting Willow and Jude to their party.

        Alicia smirked at Snow and she recedes with a death glare in response.

        Jude's head whips at his boss as he surprises everyone with his answer, "Sure."

        They spent some time talking about business and working out the future plans for their companies. Finally it was 6'O clock.

         Snow turned to Alicia and asked,"Ali can you walk Jude to the mate-room please? I need a minute with Willow."

        Alicia's eyes widen and she starts coughing frantically. She quickly covers up and eyes Snow. It spoke 'Already at first name basis... I see.' So she just responds with a nod and walks out along with Jude.

        Willow expectantly looks up to Snow, waiting for her to start speaking.

        "Willow" she begins "umm...My employees are not just my employees they are like a family to me and I want to break the news today about our going-to-be-marriage. Is it okay with you?

        He pondered over her question for a bit. Is it okay with me? This would be the first official announcement of my marriage.

         "Of course Snow. You can break the news to them." He said awarding Snow with a smile that made her toe curl.

        "Thank you so much Willow. And one more thing, they cannot know the reason of our marriage." Snow was damn serious as she said this.

        Willow was willing to ask her 'why so' but instead chose to let it go.

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