C82 Pillow Talk

The moment Alicia asked her question, Chris immediately waved his hands. "Hold on, hold on!" he said hurriedly. "Don't look at me like that." Alicia folded her arms. "You said you have a girlfriend." Chris shrugged innocently. "I only said that to chase Anna away."

Both Mike and Alicia stared at him. "You don't believe me?" Chris laughed. "If I had said I was single, she'd probably have confessed right there." Mike couldn't help laughing. "That's actually possible."

Chris nodded confidently. "I know my department." "They're becoming bolder every day." Alicia narrowed her eyes. "So..." "You don't have a girlfriend?" Chris smiled helplessly. "I wish I did." He looked at his phone before quietly adding, "But the one I want isn't here." His expression softened for only a brief moment before he quickly changed the subject. "Anyway, Mike, weren't you rushing somewhere?" Mike looked at the time. "Oh no..." "I'm late." The three exchanged goodbyes before heading in different directions.

Laura was already waiting outside the café. The moment she saw me approaching, a bright smile appeared on her face. "I thought you stood me up." "I'd never do that." She laughed before lightly hitting my arm. "You made me wait five whole minutes." "I'll make up for it." "You'd better."

The evening passed peacefully. We talked about work. About our families. About our dreams. Unlike before, there were no awkward silences. Everything felt natural. Comfortable. At one point Laura suddenly became unusually quiet.

She looked down at her coffee before speaking softly. "Mike..." "Can I ask you something honestly?" I nodded. "Of course." She looked into my eyes. "When you first agreed to date me..." "Were you just giving me a chance..." "...or did you already like me?"

I smiled. "I wanted to know you better." "But..." "I've realized something." She waited patiently. "I smile a lot more whenever I'm with you." Laura's cheeks gradually turned red. "So..." "Does that mean..." I gently reached across the table and held her hand. "It means I like being with you." She smiled so brightly that I couldn't help smiling as well. "I was afraid..." she admitted. "Afraid of what?" "That your heart might belong to someone else."

For a split second... Alicia's face flashed through my mind. Almost immediately, I pushed the thought away. "My heart is here." Laura's eyes became slightly watery. "So..." "We're really doing this?" I nodded. "We are." When dinner ended, I walked her home.

As we reached her gate, neither of us wanted to say goodbye. Laura nervously played with her fingers. "I had a wonderful evening." "So did I." Silence followed. She slowly stepped closer. "So..." "This is usually the part where couples kiss..." My heart skipped a beat. "You've thought about this?" She laughed shyly. "A little."

Without another word, I gently cupped her face. She closed her eyes. Slowly... Our lips met. It was only a brief kiss. Gentle. Awkward. Yet somehow... Perfect. When we separated, both of us couldn't stop smiling. "I'll see you tomorrow," I whispered. Laura nodded. "I'll be waiting."

Elsewhere, Chris had just arrived home when his phone vibrated. His heartbeat instantly quickened. It was Sarah. He opened the message almost immediately. "Sorry. I only just turned my phone on." Chris smiled. His fingers moved quickly. "It's okay. I was worried."

A few seconds later another message arrived. "You asked whether I have a boyfriend." Chris stared at the screen. Then... Her reply appeared. "No. I don't." A huge smile spread across his face. He leaned back against the sofa. "Thank goodness." The two continued chatting for almost an hour.

She answered every question. She even laughed at a few of his jokes. Yet... Something still felt different. The warmth she used to show was missing. Her replies were shorter. Safer. As if she had built an invisible wall around herself. Chris could feel it. "She's talking to me..." "But she's keeping her distance." The realization left a bitter feeling in his heart.

Dinner at the Chambers residence was unusually quiet. Valeria watched Chris push his food around the plate without much appetite. She frowned. "Chris..." He looked up. "Yes, Mom?" "Is my cooking that bad today?" Chris blinked. "What?" She sighed dramatically. "Ever since Alicia cooked dinner, you've barely touched my food." "Have you already lost your appetite for your mother's cooking?"

David burst into laughter. "Honey..." "Don't compete with the poor girl." Valeria crossed her arms. "I'm serious." David finally looked at Chris carefully. Only then did he notice his son's gloomy expression. "Something's bothering you." Chris forced a smile. "It's nothing." But both of his parents knew... It definitely wasn't nothing.

At the Wood Residence... Ben slowly opened the door to his bedroom. Silence welcomed him. For the first time in years... The room felt unbearably empty. Samantha had moved to another bedroom far away from his. There were no cosmetics on the dressing table. No perfume lingering in the air. No cheerful voice complaining about his messy habits. Only silence remained.

During dinner... Things became even worse. Everyone ate quietly. Nobody looked at him. Nobody spoke to him. Even his father ignored him completely. Each bite felt heavier than the last. Regret slowly filled Ben's heart. But regret alone wouldn't solve anything.

As he returned to his room that night, another idea slowly formed. "If Father won't trust me anymore..." "Then I'll make myself impossible to ignore." His eyes narrowed. "I'll increase my shares in the company." "If I can convince some of the smaller partners to sell their shares..." "I'll gain more influence." "But first..." "I have to earn their trust." For the first time since everything collapsed... Ben finally had a plan.

Meanwhile, dinner at the Mooney Residence was filled with laughter. Halfway through the meal, Alicia suddenly remembered something. She looked around the table. "Grandpa..." "Dad..." "Grandma..." Everyone looked at her. "What is pillow talk?" Mark immediately choked on his drink. "Cough! Cough!" Peter nearly burst out laughing.

Georgia looked at her granddaughter in complete surprise. "This child..." "She's becoming bolder every day." Seeing everyone's strange expressions, Alicia became nervous. "Chris wouldn't say something bad... right?" She looked toward her grandmother. "Grandma..." "Please tell me."

Georgia immediately realized that Alicia genuinely didn't know. Smiling gently, she explained, "Pillow talk is the quiet, personal conversation couples often have while lying together in bed. They usually share feelings, dreams, secrets, or simply enjoy talking after spending a romantic moment together."

The moment the explanation ended... Alicia's face turned completely pale. Slowly... She looked toward her father. Mark's face had become frighteningly dark. "I'm dead..." "Why didn't I search the meaning first?" "Chris tricked me!" "I'll definitely get my revenge." Everyone watched as her expression changed from excitement... ...to pure embarrassment.

Peter laughed loudly. "My granddaughter is growing up so fast." "I think it's time we start looking for a husband before she becomes even wilder." Mark nodded seriously. "I agree." "And I'm beginning to dislike those two boys." "They're corrupting my daughter." "Dad!" Alicia almost cried. "It wasn't them!" "I only heard some girls mentioning the word at the office." Then she quickly looked at Peter. "And Grandpa..." "I'm still young." "I've only just started my career." "I want to establish myself first before thinking about marriage."

Georgia smiled warmly. "That's understandable." "But one day you still have to get married." "And while we're still alive..." "We'd love to see our beautiful great-grandchildren." Everyone laughed. The atmosphere quickly returned to normal.

Later that night, Alicia lay on her bed staring at the ceiling. "Why would Chris joke that Mike and I had pillow talk?" "Why does everyone keep treating us like a couple?" She sighed. "Maybe..." "Maybe I should start distancing myself from them." The thought lasted only a few seconds. "No." "They're my brothers." "They accepted me without hesitation." "How could I suddenly push them away?"

Her thoughts slowly shifted. Saturday. Aunt Mary. A gentle smile appeared on her face. "Maybe teaching her how to make Cranachan Mille-Feuille will make her happy." For reasons she couldn't explain... She genuinely wanted to spend time with Aunt Mary. The older woman had never cared about wealth or status. She had simply welcomed Alicia into her home with warmth. Like family. And perhaps... That was exactly how Alicia was beginning to see her.