They finally reached the house.
Calliah, Josh, and Axel stepped inside together.
Little Axel—the puppy—ran immediately to Axel's foot, wagging his tiny tail.
Calliah scooped him up and cuddled him.
"Axeelllll," she giggled, rubbing his fur and belly.
Axel didn't stop. He went straight to his room without a word.
Calliah followed him a minute later.
"Are you hungry? Josh is already making supper," she said, dropping her purse on the table.
He paused at what he was typing and respond "No. I'm filled already"
"You should eat instead . tomorrow is the main day. You have to be healthy" he continue typing
" Unless you eat also"she added
She picked some clothes and went to shower. A few minutes later, she returned, dressed in a long, soft gown, hair tied up neatly. She headed downstairs.
"Two plates of spaghetti," she said.
"Two?" Josh asked serving.
"Yes. One for Axel."
She tasted the spaghetti. "You're a good cook. No wonder you have a lot of girlfriends."
"That's not the secret," Josh smirked.
"Then what is?"
"Take a look at My boss. He can cook and he doesn't even have one girlfriend. He just has you as a… let's say, friend. If you don't mind."
Calliah gave a smile. "Of course."
"The real secret is… I'm handsome."
She burst into real laughter.
"Hahahaha! Handsome you say? Please!"
"Why are you laughing?" he frowned.
"So you mean Axel isn't handsome?" she teased.
Calliah gave a fake smile. "Of course."
Axel had already come down the stairs. He froze when he heard his name and her laughter.
He couldn't remember the last time he saw her laugh like this loud, carefree, bright.
Josh raised his hands. "I never said he isn't!"
"Exactly. Axel is cuter than you. More handsome too. Obviously that's not the secret. Axel doesn't love anyone. If he did, half the state would be dating him. Women love him because he's him and girls follow you because you are you"
Josh's face dropped.
"Boss…" he whispered when he noticed Axel standing behind them.
Calliah's grey eyes snapped toward the stairs.
"How long have you been there? Were you eavesdropping?"
"I wasn't. I came to check on Axel," he lied, walking to the dog.
. "I thought you don't like dog?"
"I… do." Another lie.
"Besides, he's sleeping."
Josh nearly choked trying not to laugh. Axel hated dogs. The fact that his cold boss was LYING? He wanted to record it so badly.
"Yes… I…" Axel started, shooting Josh a deadly glare finish it.
"You came down to eat?" Josh said quickly.
If Axel could throw a knife into Josh's forehead, he would have done it right there without battling an eye.
Josh kept smiling. Axel's face remained expressionless, but his eyes screamed murder for exactly 19 seconds.
"Since you're down already, let's eat here," Calliah said, setting the plate on the table.
Axel walked over and sat beside her.
"Mmm. Josh, you're a good cook," Calliah said after tasting a spoon.
"Better than my boss?" Josh teased.
Calliah turned her face to Axel slowly.
Their eyes locked.
"Almost. But Axel is the best chef. You're just a better cook," she said.
"Ehh??"
"If I ever learn anything, I'd go for cooking classes straight from Axel."
"I'd rather be the worst cook than learn from—"
Axel lifted his head sharply.
Before he could finish, liah phone rang loudly.
Rue.
She answered on speaker.
"Hello, Calliah. The plan is ready. See you tomorrow."
"Good." She ended the call.
"Our plans are all set." She turned to Axel.
He nodded.
"Aren't you eating?"
"I'm"
"You barely touched your food."
She stood up, scooped some spaghetti, and held the spoon to his lips.
Josh's eyes widened.
"Oh, I must get a picture of this," he whispered, already recording secretly.
"Say ahhhh," Calliah said, smiling, trying not to laugh.
Axel stared at her, refusing to open his mouth. Cold, handsome, stubborn.
"If you take one bite, I'll let you go. Promise."
He bit his lower lip.
Josh nearly gasped.
His boss would NEVER do this.
"Ahhhhh," she said again.
"And I'll join Josh," she added.
"You're going to feed Josh?" Axel asked sharply.
Without warning, she put the spoon in Axel's mouth.
Josh snapped the picture instantly.
"I'm using this as my wallpaper," he whispered happily and hid his phone before Axel could kill him.
"No, I won't," Calliah laughed, sitting down and continuing to eat.
She looked so happy too happy for someone who was supposed to be a betrayed bride.
But tomorrow was revenge day.
That explained the sparkle in her eyes.
She finished eating and stood up.
"Josh, teach me how to play the video game."
Axel's house had always been boring and quiet.So she and Josh bought a PS5 and decorations to give the place life.
"Okay," Josh plugged in the TV and PS5.
They sat together.
"I'll go easy on you," Calliah said, folding her legs like a professional wrestler.
Two rounds later she lost.
Josh set it to team mode. They lost again.
Axel, watching from behind, said,
"Blow her on the throat."josh said
"You set it on hard mode, didn't you?" she accused.
"I didn't!"
Axel moved closer to the screen.
"You're just a bad player."he added
"I'm losing!" She spammed the buttons desperately.
Axel walked closer, placed his hand over hers his fingers covering hers and pressed "O" instead.
Josh raised a brow.
He never knew his boss could play this well.
Though the result said otherwise.
"AHHHHH!" Calliah screamed and dropped the controller.
"YOU LOSE," the screen announced loudly.
"Axel, you're really great at playing. You should be crowned best player," she said sarcastically, heading back to her room.
"And Josh, we'll play again tomorrow night!"
Josh laughed.
"Boss, she's right. You should join the contest. Maybe you'll win something."
Axel shot him a death stare.
"Shut your mouth if you still value it. And… did you do what I asked?"
"Yes."
"I have something else to say, but another night. Eat your food. And take the dog upstairs. It'll rain tonight."
He walked up the stairs and entered his room, finding Calliah already asleep.