At the Sign of Trouble

Chapter Six

CHAPTER SIX: Double Date

Wait, did that just really happen?

He started towards them, intent on catching them in the act when Kyla saw him coming and smiled politely at him before quickly exiting the supply room and walking past him.

Baffled, he could only stare at her back before turning his head to look at Frank.

Seeing Henry gawking at him, Frank asked: “What are you standing there for young man, do you need anything?” When he didn’t get a reply, he just shrugged and walked past Henry.

That can’t be right, Henry thought to himself when he got back in his office. He couldn’t understand why but he was irked by the notion that his grandfather might be having a relationship with the new pastry chef. Frank’s too old to even think about starting anything with a woman forty years younger than he is. Even if he did, why would he choose her of all people? She is young and eye-catching, he admitted. With that long brown hair, big brown eyes and pale skin that seemed to have a pinkish white glow after she finishes baking---he stopped himself. Geez, when did he start noticing small details about her when they rarely saw each other? He shook his head. Regardless, to him she is nothing but an ordinary-looking woman who worked for him. It didn’t make any sense to him why Frank would be interested in her.

But then again, he only met Kyla because his grandfather recommended her, saying she was the granddaughter of a family friend. What if they knew each other even before Kyla got here? Speculations ran rampant inside Henry’s head. Something about this didn’t sit well with him, knew that it couldn’t be what he thinks it is. He’ll get to the bottom of this---even if it means he literally has to keep an eye on both of them.

* * *

“Hey, is something bothering you?” Alexi asked Henry.

They were out having dinner in a French restaurant when Alexi noticed that Henry was a little distracted. At four in the afternoon she got a call from Henry asking her out for dinner to thank her for doing the interior design for Galiana’s despite her busy schedule. She reluctantly agreed after feeling bad when he reminded her that she wasn’t able to make it on the opening day of the coffee house. It had been awhile since they went out together and not talk about work, and she was feeling a little bit uncomfortable. It wasn’t because they used to date but her gut was telling her that to Henry, by the way he’s been acting lately, this wasn’t just dinner.

While working at Galiana’s Henry would pick her up from her apartment, take her to work and then drive her home and he call her to check up on her. She tried telling him to stop whenever she had the chance but he would just look at her and give her one of his mischievous grin and tell her he likes doing it for her.

Alexi didn’t want to admit it to herself, but that smile still has an effect on her.

“Nothing,” Henry replied. “I was just thinking about work.” He lied. He was still preoccupied with what he saw last week.

“How’s the coffee house doing?” Alexi inquired.

“We’ve been open for only a couple of days so it’s still pretty hard to tell. Eric’s thinking of putting up a website where we can take orders and promote our products and people are still pouring in.” Henry answered.

They stayed after dinner and talked about random stuff over dessert and coffee. Henry couldn’t seem to take his eyes off Alexi the whole night. She looked incredible wearing a vintage knee-length black dress with her hair down and curled at the bottom.

Henry knew how much Alexi loved what she did and it showed in the way she talked about her ideas for their company’s new client, how animated she was while describing how she wanted the place to look like. Henry smiled quietly while trying to concentrate on what she was saying. He was thrilled when she finally agreed to have dinner with him. He’s been trying to ask her out but she always said she was busy with work.