Flash Marriage: Shrewd Wife, Devious Husband
Chapter 46: Lunch Date

Chapter 46: Lunch Date

Marcella didn’t want to stand there hearing the sneers of the other women. She opened the cabin door and stepped out.

The women stared at her. Some bowed their heads and looked away out of guilt. Cindy, the queen bee was not affected in the least. With a challenging smirk, she lit up a cigarette.

Marcella was amazed by Cindy. Even if what she said was true, usually people would feel ashamed of gossiping about other people especially when they are talking badly about that said person. Cindy, on the other hand, looked like she enjoyed it.

Marcella knew the secret was out. Cindy must know who she is.

Talk about a woman scorched! Tony might have told his "pal" the secret. Just because Tony ignored Cindy and left with her that night, Cindy decided to out the secret.

What will she do if she learns that I married Tony? Uh! She’s going to destroy my peace in the workplace!

"Shut up, Cindy," Marcella said before Cindy could say a word. If she stays quiet any longer, she will be treated worse by Cindy. She didn’t like that prospect.

She didn’t worry about her secret getting out anymore. She wanted to be the one who tells Gloria the truth. Gloria was the one friend she was not willing to lose.

"Let’s go, Glo," Marcella held Gloria’s hand and walked out of the cabin.

"What were you two doing in there together?" Bernice asked.

Marcella glared at her and she took a step back and hid behind Cindy. Marcella turned her attention toward Cindy. Cindy scoffed, not believing what she was seeing.

Cindy stepped forward pointing her finger at Marcella. "Are you glaring at me? What? What will you do to me? Huh? Did you think just because you’re~"

"Oh, shush, Cindy!" Marcella said and walked out while flipping the bird with both her hands.

With a giggle, Gloria joined her. "Mars! What was that?" Gloria hugged her arm. "You finally got fed up with her! You talked back! Aww... I taught you well..."

Gloria couldn’t hide her happiness.

"Stop!" Cindy shouted from behind.

"Don’t stop," Marcella told Gloria. Gloria nodded and both of them made a run for it. They couldn’t stop laughing. Cindy followed them for some time but she couldn’t catch up with them in her pumps.

"I have something to tell you, Glo," Marcella said. Gloria nodded.

"Let’s talk in the diner."

They were still jogging in the hallway. Just as they turned the corner at the end of the hallway, Marcella almost slammed on a man.

She came to a quick halt. "Sorry," she told the man.

Gloria who was running behind her couldn’t stop suddenly. She collided with Marcella’s back pushing Marcella to the front. Like a falling domino, Marcella ended up with her nose squished on that man’s chest.

Ah, he smells good!

"My apologies, Sir," Gloria apologized and pulled Marcella back grabbing her shirt.

"It’s good to see my employees having fun," the man said. His voice was deep and Marcella could hear the obvious mocking undertone.

Marcella looked at the tall man wearing a charcoal-tailored suit. His hair was parted to the side and he smiled as he adjusted his green tie that matched his eyes.

"Mr. Fletcher... We..." Gloria had started to panic.

"We are sorry," Marcella bowed her head. "We shouldn’t be running in the hallways."

Gloria joined Marcella and bowed her head. They are employed by him and they cannot afford to get fired.

Marcella was ashamed to have been caught red-handed by the big boss while they were acting like elementary school children. Just yesterday, she buried her sister. She’s too jovial already.

"No need for apologies," Louis said. "Not at all. It’s the lunch break, isn’t it?" he checked his watch.

"Yes, sir. It is..."

Both Marcella and Gloria smiled awkwardly.

"Had lunch yet?" Louis asked looking at Marcella.

Marcella grimaced. She did not like to be put on a spot. "No, sir. Not yet. If you’ll excuse us..." Marcella looked at Gloria.

"We get lunch in the diner next block," Gloria added.

Both of them couldn’t understand why Louis Fletcher was blocking the way. He was not obese or anything. He was well-built and had broad shoulders. He had a larger-than-life presence as he smiled.

"You won’t invite me?" Louis asked Marcella with a smile.

Marcella was sure she saw stars twinkling in his emerald eyes. His eyes were so green it was mesmerizing. And his smile... She didn’t know she had a weakness for men with a good smile.

But... what is this? Why is he asking me?

Gloria could sense the awkwardness around them. She was not a fool to not see that Mr. Fletcher was interested in Marcella. But Marcella was uncomfortable. Marcella is pretty as a goddess and it was not odd that a high-quality man like their boss was interested in her. Too bad, Marcella is not interested in dating and marriage.

She will only care for her friend’s feelings. But...

"Uh... Su- sure, sir. You can join us," Gloria said before Marcella would refuse. "We’d be honored."

Just because Marcella is not interested in dating, doesn’t mean she can allow her to stay that way for long. She is nearing thirty and she should think about starting a family. She can be the wing-woman helping her friend land a great man like Fletcher. She could be benefitted too if Marcella managed to marry Louis Fletcher.

But if Louis Fletcher had other bad intentions with Marcella, he will die in her hands.

Marcella raised her brows at Gloria. She couldn’t believe Gloria would agree to this absurd request. Gloria nodded with a meaningful smile. Marcella could only sigh.

She understood Gloria though. They cannot refuse their boss. They will have to act politely. Also, she thought it wouldn’t be bad to have the acquaintance of Louis Fletcher considering how powerful he is. He is the heir to his father’s fortunes and she has to get all the support she can get if she wants to find her sister’s killers.

Both of them, with selfish desires, followed Louis Fletcher. Gloria was floating on the clouds imagining being the friend of the owner’s wife. Marcella didn’t think that Louis was interested in her. His father knew that she was married. She thought it was him being friendly toward her.

-----

Tony walked out of the diner with the sandwich he ordered. He had to be on the other side of the city, but he was here buying sandwiches for his wife.

A lunch date with his wife.

Imagining the surprise on her face to see him in front of her office building, he walked with a skip to his step.

He was waiting to cross the road when he saw Marcella exiting the building with her friend. He waved his hand with a smile but he noticed the man walking beside them.

Louis Fletcher? What is he doing with... Is he with them?

They were walking together. Marcella covered her face with her hand as the sun hit her face, and Tony noticed that she was not wearing her ring!