THE RUNAWAY BRIDE (1ST BOOK IN BRIDE SERIES)

CHAPTER TWENTY FIVE

"What are you doing here?"Alia ask as she turns to look at the culprit who just ate her freshly made chocolate cream for the cake and now licking the fork.

"I came to see you."

"Again? You're coming here every day and eating like never before. That's not you." Alia turns wiping her hand with a towel and removing her apron.  She turns to her staff who's mixing batter,"Pinky, you can go after you're done.  I will close tonight."

She pulls her from the countertop and takes her out pushing her in the chair,"this is for cake.  And You're eating chocolate."

"So?"

"So my dear Amy, you're stress eating. Tell me.." she says as she walks towards the pie counter and cut two pieces from them.

"Rey is again acting like an ass." Amyra whispers as tears form in her eyes. Alia sits next to her and pull her closer,"what did he do now?"

"He is with sheena again." Her lips tremble as she holds Alia tightly and sniffs, "why he does that Aalu di? Why can't he just tell me what he wants?"

"I think he told umpteen times what he wants Amy." Alia runs her hand over Amyra's back,"it's you who's not understanding Amy."

"Do you talk to him?" Amyra moves away and looks at Alia accusingly who shrugs,"he's my friend Amy. We share a great bond and yes, we talk."

"So you were the one who gave him updates about me when you came to me, didn't you?" Amyra gets up,"I thought you came to me to stay away from Aayan bhai." She glares at Alia," friends you say. Fine then, be his friend." She takes her clutch from the table and pushing her chair away, walks out with Alia rushing behind her.

"Amy, I didn't tell him anything."

"Liar." Amyra glares at her with her teary eyes,"you all are the same. That Meher, she already leaves no chance to do bizarre things to ruin everything for me and now you too. I hate you all.." she opens her car door and climbing in, she slams the door, glaring at Alia once more. 

When her guard still doesn't start the car, she shouts at him,"do you want me to call Bhai and ask to fire you?"

The guy starts the car and rushes leaving Alia standing with a deep frown on her head. She stand there, looking at the way the car just went.

Stressed and worried she calls Riddhima who answers in second ring,"Riddhi maa, amy just went from the bakery. She's again having a breakdown."

Riddhima sighs,"what do I do with these kids. She said anything to you?"

"No, she was just upset over something.  And I guess Mahi again troubled her." Alia walks in the kitchen,  still talking on the phone,"Riddhi maa, she was very upset."

"Don't worry, Aalu. I will talk to her." Riddhima says calmly,"what are you planning for your A's birthday tomorrow? You'll come here?"

"We'll come day after tomorrow,  Riddhi maa. For Friday dinner. " Alia smiles,"A said some of his friends are coming to the hotel and we'll celebrate there. We'll cut cake on Friday night."

After she hangs up the call, she dismisses everyone from the kitchen. It's already closing time and there's no customers in the bakery.  They have two cakes orders and a bunch of doughnuts order for tomorrow but that's in the evening and the preparations are almost done. She's asked the staff to come at 6 in the morning tomorrow so they'll get to work early and be done.

Taking the mixture,  she starts preparing for the cake she's been thinking since a week for Aayan's birthday.  While mixing,  she puts her phone on the counter and dials Meher's number putting the phone on speaker but Meher rejects her call.