“Why are you here?” Miranda asked.

Paul raised the stackable lunchbox in his hand. “I’m here to bring you lunch.”

Joli was taken aback

Great. Everyone around here had their lunches delivered exept him!

Annoyed, he turned and stormed back to the lab bench. “Lunch? Who needs that anyway? Work is everything! Nothing is better than work!” he thought crossly.

Paul sat on the couch in the dining area and opened the lunchbox. He took out each compartment carefully and set the food on the table. There were three dishes and one soup all steaming hot.

“Why didn’t you inform me beforehand?” Miranda asked again.

“I called, but you didn’t answer,” he replied.

“You know I always keep my phone on silent when I’m in the lab. Why didn’t you tell me in the morning?”

“How else could I surprise you?”

She raised an eyebrow. “Why does it sound like you’re preparing for a war?”

sighed. “Winning your heart is like conquering a fortress. However, I’m confident that I can slowly and surely…

“Hmm?”

“Make

you fall for me.”

Miranda was at a loss for words. Paul was getting better at pulling off romantic lines lately. Thankfully, Sebastian and Madison were sitting far away in the opposite corner, otherwise.

She picked up her spoon and fork, preparing to devour the food. “Have you eaten?”

He nodded. “I have. This is all for you.”

Despite his intentions, Miranda couldn’t finish it all. There was simply too much food.

Paul tidied up the stackable lunchbox and wiped the table clean. Rising from his seat, he said, “I’ll get going now. You should take a short nap before continuing in the afternoon. Don’t overwork yourself. Oh, right…”

He remembered something and grabbed a bag nearby with thermos inside. “This is ginger and lemon tea. Drink it after your nap.”

“Alright.” Miranda smiled as she saw him out. She watched him get into his car before heading back inside. Sebastian didn’t leave like Paul. Instead, he stayed back to help his girlfriend… No, he stayed back to work in the

lab.

At 5:00 pm, Miranda packed her things to leave work. With Sebastian’s “assistance“, Madison had finished her tasks an hour early, and the couple had already left happily for their date.

Before leaving, Miranda reminded Joli, “I’ve configured the system. The lab bench will shut off automatically at 6: 00 pm. Don’t forget to leave on time.”

“I got it,” Joli answered.

“Hurry off to your dates already. Pairs of lovebirds, all of you! So frustrating..” he grumbled in his head. However, he would never admit that a tiny flicker of envy crossed his heart.

Miranda got home at 6:15 pm As soon as she stepped inside, the sound of the exhaust hood in the kitchen reached her ears. There was also a delicious aroma lingering in the air.

The noise from the hood drowned out the sound of the door opening and closing, Silently, she tiptoed toward the kitchen.

Paul stood at the stove in an apron and was cooking skillfully with a spatula. He occasionally flipped the pan with flair, and his actions actually looked quite professional.

Miranda waited until the dish was plated and set aside before stepping forward. She wrapped her arms around his slim waist and hugged him tightly from behind. “Let me se who this hardworking man is, preparing dinner all by himself?”

The moment she pressed her soft body against him, Paul felt a sudden jolt of electricity travel down his spine. His body stiffened instinctively.

He took a deep breath to compose himself before turning around slowly. “You really…” His tone was a mix of noveldrama

plessness and affection.

Let go. I’m covered in the smell of cooking oil. It’s not pleasant,” he said.

In response, Miranda deliberately leaned in and sniffed his body. “No, all I can smell is the warmth of home.”

How did you come in so quietly?” he asked.

“How else could I surprise you?” she replied, echoing his words from earlier in the day with a grin.

Paul raised an eyebrow. “What’s this? Are you trying to conquer my fortresses? There’s no need. I’ll surrender willingly.”

With that, he raised his hands in a mock gesture of surrender.

Dinner was even more lavish than lunch. There was pasta in marinara sauce, antipasto, roasted vegetables, and grilled chicken.

Miranda ate to her heart’s content. After dinner, she moved to clean up, but as expected, Paul stopped her

“Don’t move. I’ll take care of it.”