First Lunch Together

Author's POV

Coming out of the hospital, Lelia stood near the road to hire a cab when she realized she had no money.

"Hope someone helps them." Taking a deep breath, Lelia starts walking when her phone starts ringing.

Lelia took out her phone. It was an unknown number. Lelia picked up the call.

"Hello, who is it?" Lelia asked

"It's me" Came a deep voice over the phone.

"Duke" Lelia was confused. Where did he get her number? "She didn't remember giving him her number"

"Yeah, it's me" Duke answered calmly

"Where did you get my number?" Lelia asked her

"Is it important now? I am your husband? Is it not normal that your husband has your phone number?" Duke asked in his deep voice

"It didn't mean anything like that. Do you have anything to say?" Lelia asked him

"Where are you now?" Duke asked her even though he was aware of her location.

"I am outside of the hospital"

"Then, buy some groceries. I will come home for lunch" Duke said.

"Buy groceries!" Lelia looked at her empty purse. "What should I do now? I don't have any money left"

When Lelia didn't answer Duke spoke up again, "I am sending money to your account. Use it as you wish"

Lelia's phone beeped up. She was shocked. Duke has sent 10,000$

"Where did you get money?" Lelia asked him. She still remembered her Father telling her about Duke's condition. He has no job. Then from where did he earn this money? Don't tell me he did something illegal!?

Duke chuckled hearing his wife. She was questing him to see that little amount which he usually earned every ten minutes.

What will she do when Duke will reveal his true identity? Will she be shocked or happy?

"Are you there?" Lelia asked when she didn't get any response.

"Don't worry, Mrs. Winters, I didn't rob anyone. Be at ease and use it as you wish"

Saying this Duke disconnected the call before Lelia.

Lelia looked at her phone for some time and walked towards the store.

Mark was shocked to hear the conversation. Did his Boss use his personal number to call her? He never shared this number with anyone. Only his grandfather called him on this number.

"Once, Duke said he only shared this number with his family. How did the woman get close to him? It doesn't matter now. Now he needs to look after Lelia too.

Duke saved Lelia's number as wifey and smiled at her cuteness.

"Boss, won't you have lunch with the client?" Mark asked him.

"No. I will attend the meeting only. Attend the lunch at my place" Duke said and looked outside of the glass.

"What should I buy?" Lelia was looking around the store.

"What type of food he likes?" Lelia took out her phone and messaged Duke.

"What do you want to eat?"

Sending the message, Lelia brought some vegetables when her phone beeped up. Lelia looked at her phone

"Cook whatever you want. Just don't make it spicy. I don't like spicy food"

Lelia picked up a packet of meat. She wanted to make meatloaf for Duke.

Buying the all ingredients for meatloaf she

left the store.

Lelia put her bag on the couch and then entered the kitchen. She took out ground beef, eggs, onions, milk, bread crumbs, salt, and pepper.

For sauce, she took out ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard.

She took out a bowl and then mixed the loaf ingredients in it. Then she took a loaf pan and put the mixed ingredients in it.

Mix ketchup, brown sugar, and mustard together in a small bowl until well combined, pour over meatloaf, and spread it evenly over the top.

Then she let it bake in the preheated oven until the meatloaf is no longer pink in the center.

Then she made tomato pasta.

"What should I make for dessert?" Lelia whispered to herself when her eyes noticed a little basket of apples on the dining table, which she had brought in the morning.

"Great, I can make apple pie for dessert" It is Lelia's favorite dessert. Lelia picked up some apples from the basket.

Lelia picked up a knife and started peeling the apples, then she cored and sliced the apples.

Taking a large mixing bowl, she gently tossed the apple slices, granulated sugar, light brown sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest, and lemon juice until well combined and set aside. Then she put the oven in the center position then preheated the oven.

Then she prepared everything and let it cook.

After twenty minutes, when the crust was a lovely golden brown, and the juice was bubbling up the sides of the pan, Lelia took the pan out.

She made salad and then put everything on the dining table.

In the meantime, Duke arrived. He has a wine bottle in his hand.

Lelia looked at the bottle and crossed her eyebrows.

"Where did you get that?" Lelia could not able to hold her curiosity

"It is just a bottle of wine. Why are you asking like I brought a national item?" Duke put the bottle on the dining table.

"Yeah, I can see it is a bottle of wine, and it is very expressive." Lelia had seen this wine before. Liam had a habit of collecting expensive wine at his wine store. She had seen this wine at his store when she visited his home once. Also, she had seen it at his grandfather's wine store

"How did you know that?" Duke sat down on the sofa.

"I have seen it before at my grandfather's wine store," Lelia said

"A friend of mine gives me that," Duke said.

"You shouldn't have taken it. Medicine will not work on you if you drink this. Give me that" Lelia picked up the wine

"Medicine! What Medicine?! Duke was confused. He wanted to enjoy the wine after eating the first lunch his wife made, but why did it turn out like this?

Lelia put the wine away then they had lunch.