Chapter 3 : Breakfast

Marlene raced out the door, careful not to trip in her high-heeled boots.

She was going to be almost an hour late to her renovation at the restaurant. 

She had stayed up until almost four in the morning preparing herself with multiple options for the restaurant design.  So she managed to get almost three hours of sleep, and skip breakfast just to be almost remotely close to being on time.

When she walked through the iron gates to the restaurant, Shane was standing, setting a table.

When she was approaching him to threaten him about trying to make a move on her, the restaurant owner blocked her path.  She began telling him about her design ideas.

As she went by Shane, he attempted to say hi, but she shot him down by storming away to move some tables out of the way.

Her stomach began to grumble, and she started to feel a tad light-headed.

And she collapsed to the ground.

Shane decided it was now time to make his move, and he hoisted her from the ground, and took her to the address stated on the business card--her home.

Marlene awoke starving and with a terrible headache.

She felt her head only to feel a giant lump where she hit her head on the brick.

When she got up, her senses where filled with the aroma of food waiting for her at her table.

She tucked into her the mac-and-cheese.  She didn't know if it only tasted good because of her growling stomach, or if it was just an experienced cook who made it.

"Enjoying your meal, I see?"  A man chuckled behind her.

"Yeah, thank you for taking me home.  You didn't have to stay though," She smiled.  She didn't know why she was in such a good mood.

"Oh, it was no problem.  I also wanted to see where an interior designer lived, but I see you save your best decorations, furniture, and general style to other people's homes." Shane responded with a laugh.

Marlene ignored the insult.

"But seriously, thank you for not leaving me on the floor of the restaurant..." Marlene said, pulling him into a thankful hug.

Shane offered to take her to work, even though her wasn't the one driving.  But he did pay for the fare!

"You two are the cutest couple!"  The taxi driver said kindly.

Marlene and Shane were silent.

Marlene entered the room to a surprise.

Jasmine nudged Aaron and he cleared his throat.

"Aaron and I got engaged!" Jasmine shouted, hoping her best friends reaction would be a happy one.

Aaron could smell a cat fight coming, and he took it as his que to wait outside in the taxi for Jasmine.

"You're what?  You've known him for all of what, a few weeks?  And you know how much I like him!" Marlene said, prickling tears beginning to form at her eyes.