"I am sorry. I usually don't sleep this much." Adam apologized meekly, scratching the back of his head. "But you shouldn't have stayed back." He added.
"It's not a big deal, Sir." Stella replied politely.
"I was heading downstairs to grab a bite, would you like to join me?" Adam decided to make the most of the situation. 'Since I want to know more about her, I have to spend time with her.' He thought.
"It's alright, I will order something for myself. Thank you." She declined his offer.
'CRAP! Think Adam, think. You don't know when you will have another chance if you let this one go.' He cursed himself.
"Yes you can, but it will take sometime, especially at this hour. The roads are usually packed at this time." He replied with a faint smile, praising himself for thinking such an exceptionally good excuse. 'She can not decline me now. She's buying it, I can see the struggle on her face.'
Before Stella could say anything, he added, "It's not like I am going somewhere else. I am just going downstairs to the cafeteria."
"Isn't it supposed to be closed at this hour?" Stella asked with confusion.
"It is, but not for me. Are you forgetting that I am the boss?" He smirked.
Stella shook her head sideways meekly in reply.
"Then shall we go now?" Adam asked, his hand pointing towards the hallway only to get a nod in reply. 'Ahh! I need to make her feel comfortable around me so that she can at least talk a bit more around me.'
Both of them walked to the elevator quietly next to each other. It was the first time that Stella got to use Adam's private elevator.
Reaching the 22nd floor, they exited, one after the other. They soon entered the cafeteria, but Adam kept walking across the hall entering another room which turned out to be the kitchen.
Once they were in the kitchen, Adam called out, "Bob? Where are you old man? I am hungry and I need food. Oh and I have a guest with me as well."
"You are the old one here. Who the hell are you calling old, huh?" A man in his early forties came out, almost screaming at the top of his lungs.
"Easy man. We have a company here, at least respect the little lady." Adam replied with a chuckle.
"You finally found yourself a girlfriend, and a pretty one too." Bob exclaimed, giving him a toothy smile.
Adam glanced at Stella briefly, her cheeks tinged a shade of light pink. 'Oh, so she knows how to blush. She looks cute though. But now is not the right time to enjoy seeing her flushing.'
"Bob! She's my new assistant, not my girlfriend." He replied. 'Well not yet though.' He thought the later part to himself.
"Okay, okay. And here I thought, I finally had something to celebrate. Well, what would you like to eat lad?" He asked Adam.
"Surprise me as usual." Adam smirked.
"And what will this pretty girl be having?"
"Umm. I will have whatever Sir is having." She replied meekly.
"As you say mademoiselle." Bob smiled at her politely.
"Her name is Stella, stop making her uncomfortable. And Stella, meet Bob. Bob Rodriguez. He's the head chef of our kitchen, but he usually just supervises and only cooks for me." Adam said slowly, introducing the two of them.
"Hello Stella. It's lovely to meet you. Why don't you accompany this stupid boss of yours and wait out there? I will be done soon and bring out your dishes." Bob gave her a toothy smile.
Stella just nodded in response. Adam led her out back to the sitting area and pulled out a chair for her. She sat down quietly.
Adam sat opposite her, "What is it Stella?"
Stella pursed her lips, then opened them, "Umm You wear glasses Sir?" She asked him, her eyes wide, looking at him intently.
Adam was stunned for a moment then spoke up, "Yeah! I am a bit short sighted. But I wear them once in a while." He took a pause then continued, "Why do you ask ? Don't I look good with these on?"
"No. I mean you actually look a bit younger with these on. Moreover, I have never seen you in casual before. You don't look like your usual self today." Stella replied, gathering her thoughts.
"My usual self ?" Adam asked with his eyebrows raised, gray eyes looking back at those hazel ones.
"The aloof CEO, Sir." Stella replied nodding her head.
Her reply made Adam laugh hysterically which echoed through the quiet hall, making her eyebrows furrowed.
"Never trust what you hear in the news. They manipulate things for their own benefits." Adam said, trying to control his laughter. "You will know whether I am aloof or not, sooner or later in the coming future little lady."
"Who are you calling a little lady?" Stella asked him with a pouty face.
Adam looked at her amusingly, "Do you see anyone else here other than you and me?"
Stella scowled at him, "No, Sir."
"The office hours over Stella. Stop calling me Sir." Adam was a bit annoyed at her. 'Why does she have to add Sir to every sentence.?'
"But-" She said but Adam interrupted her. "No buts."
"Okay." She relented.
Soon Bob arrived with their dishes. Putting them down before them, he exclaimed, "Bon appetit." and disappeared back to the kitchen.
"Ss- I mean since Bob cooks for you then why did Bella order your food from a restaurant the day I interviewed?" Stella asked him out of nowhere.
"Because it was his granddaughter's birthday, so he took off and went to see her. He just returned this morning. And before you ask, yes, he was the one who made my breakfast today. Now eat before the food gets cold." Adam answered all of her queries with patience.
Both of them started eating in silence with Adam discreetly glancing at her once in a while.