Chapter 6 Boyfriend? Ex?

• “Carlson,” Leila breathed out.
• “Leilani.” He smiled. Those familiar emotions of anger that she had buried since their failed date bubbled inside her. “I didn’t think I would be seeing you anytime soon.” Neither did she, she should have looked first before hopping into his car like a rabbit. “I’ve been trying to reach you.”
• “Oh.” What was the kindest way to tell someone she blocked him? Her fake smile became faker. “I changed numbers. Might be why you couldn’t reach me.”
• “Sweet. Can I have your new number?”
• “What?” she squeaked out.
• “Your new number. I’ll give you a call later.”
• Today he was wearing a beanie so she was spared the sight of his thinning hair. When his head tilted to get a fuller view of her, she froze.
• “Look, we got off on the wrong foot. I apologise.”
• “It’s okay. Can we just go?” she asked.
• “Where to?”
• “Straight ahead. I’ll let you know when to stop.”
• Carlson burst into a string of apologies as their ride began. Leila cursed her fate over and over again. She should have used Kelvin’s driver.
• They manoeuvred into another corner and she blurted out, “If I give you my new number, will you stop talking?” Carlson slowed the car but maintained a leisure pace. “Is that a yes?”
• “It is.”
• “Good,” she said. “Just drive, no more talking.”
• A few metres ahead, Leila asked him to stop. Carlson volunteered to help with her bags but she refused. After rushing out her number to him, she began the long trek to her house. One, there was no way she would have let him drop her off at her house. Two, she was staying away from public transport until the end of today.
• The load of the bags weighed her down but she trudged on. Her bag vibrated at intervals. It had to be her husband but she didn’t look. Minutes or maybe hours later, the top of their building came into view and Leila hurried her steps.
• At last.
• Her heart pounded as she neared her apartment elevator. She tried to think up excuses for her husband. Would he be mad at her? Did he have any right to be? How was this supposed to work?
• There was a figure pacing in front of the elevator with his head bent over his phone. He ran his fingers through his hair and sighed heavily. As if sensing her presence, he raised his head.
• “You’re back,” Kelvin said by way of greeting.
• She nodded. “Yes.”
• “Why didn’t you use the driver?”
• Because she was mad at him for acting like he didn’t know her in the office. She didn’t matter to him but he could have at least tried to be nice to her.
• A flood of emotions rolled through her. Why did she even care? Knowing she could have avoided the scenario with Carlson if she used his driver made her more annoyed at him.
• “Do you have any idea how worried I was?”
• “Sorry, Sir.”
• Kelvin sighed again. “Sorry isn’t the answer.” Leila had no words for him. “Just call me if you will be late again and next time, please use the driver.”
• “Okay.” She didn’t want to speak to him but he was not just her husband, he was her boss. He held her future. His eyes narrowed at the bag in one hand, she raised it to explain. “Stopped by to get ingredients for soup so I could make us dinner.”
• Kelvin frowned. “You are making dinner?”
• “Yeah.” Was she wrong to make dinner for them? He didn’t stop staring and it made her uncomfortable. Her hand dropped to her side and she offered him a faint smile. “Sorry I missed your calls.”
• “It’s fine.” He collected the bag from her before she had a chance to refuse, and she sucked in her breath as his fingers brushed hers. “I’ll help you with this.”
• Kelvin didn’t say another word as they stood there, waiting for the elevator. The elevator slid open and they both entered. They stood on opposite sides like strangers, both of them quiet.
• The air thickened with awkwardness. She stole glances at him and pursed her lips. This man was her boss’s boss. Her husband.
• Her phone rang, startling both of them. “Sorry,” she mumbled under her breath. Apologies seemed to be the only thing she did around this man. Leila took out her phone and frowned at the caller.
• She didn’t have this number saved on her phone.
• The call ended and the phone rang again.
• “Aren’t you going to pick?” Kelvin asked.
• Without thinking, she swiped up and pressed the phone to her ear. “Leilani. It’s me, Carlson.”
• “What do you want?” she asked through gritted teeth. Kelvin quirked a brow, she turned away so she was facing the other side of the elevator.
• “We got off on a bad note but I would like to make it up to you. A real date this time. No lies.”
• “Not interested. Please stop calling me.”
• Leila ended the call and blocked this number. A thicker wave of awkwardness settled over the couple as they waited to reach their floor.
• “Trouble with the boyfriend? Ex?” Kelvin asked.
• “None. I don’t have a boyfriend.”
• Kelvin took off his glass. “If you don’t want to speak to him, you can tell him you’re married.”
• How did he know it was a him? He shrugged at her blatant stare and she pushed down the urge to flick a finger over his forehead. Telling Carlson she was married should solve the problem but Leila wouldn’t give Kelvin that pleasure of knowing his suggestion was welcomed.
• “Right.” A second later, she added, “Thanks.”
• “You’re welcome, wife.”
• “Are those recommended?” she asked when she couldn’t take the silence any longer. She motioned to the glasses tucked in his breast pocket. As kids, she and her friends used to wear fake glasses because it gave the impression of smart students. Kelvin nodded with a half-smile. “Nice.”
• To that, he said nothing and she watched the numbers on the panel reduce until they were at their floor. A warm feeling spread through her chest when he went straight to the kitchen to drop the bag on the table.
• He scratched the back of his head as she dragged a stool to sit opposite him. “I can’t cook,” he blurted out.
• Leila laughed. “Not to worry,” she replied, “I can.”
• “Thank you, Leilani.”
• She cringed at the mention of her full name. There had to be some sort of understanding between them. He had no reason to be formal with her all the time.
• “Kelvin, I know you are my boss,” she said and he squinted. “But you don’t have to be so formal.”
• They watched each other, she expected him to say something, do something but he gave her a polite smile and stepped out of the kitchen. She fell back to her seat and groaned. Love was out of the equation but they could at least try to be friends or act civilised.
• Forcing thoughts of her weird husband out of her mind, she set to cooking. She rinsed the vegetables and chopped them, humming a tone that ceased when Kelvin strutted into the kitchen. He had changed out of his suit but he still looked as good as he did in one.　　
• From the corner of her eyes, she saw him inch closer to her and she stopped chopping.
• To talk or not to talk. In the end, she whispered, “Do you need something?”
• “No. Do you need help?” She shook her head but he took another step forward and carried the bowl on the counter. Spellbound, her eyes followed him as he placed the rice in a pot to boil after rinsing it. He offered her a small smile. “Did I do it wrong?” He did it perfectly well. He pointed to the vegetables, she was halfway done with chopping them. “Are you sure you don’t need help with that?”
• “No.”
• “Leila.” Her eyes jerked to his face, he leaned back on the wall, observing her. “Your boss called you Leila.”
• “Everyone calls me Leila,” she answered.
• She turned away from him and resumed cutting. “Sarah thinks you deserve a promotion.” The knife stopped moving for a brief second. “Leila? Leila.” He said her name like he wasn’t sure. “I like the sound of that better. Henceforth, I’ll call you Leila.” Without meeting his gaze, she nodded. “You can call me Kev when we are alone.”
• “Okay, Kev.” It bothered her that he only wanted her to use that name when they were alone but she decided to focus on the positive. A yawn escaped Kelvin, she noticed him struggling to stay awake. “Get some rest, I’ll let you know when dinner is ready.”
• Kelvin didn’t object. He staggered forward and she smiled when he paused briefly at the door to say, “Do you really have to make us dinner today? I could just order in and you will cook some other day. You haven’t even had a change of clothes.”
• “I want to,” she replied. It had always been her routine as a single lady. Make dinner, bath, eat, then go to bed. “Just go, Kev. I’ll call you soon.”