Cecilia's PoV

. . .

I woke up late, as usual, to the sound of my phone ringing. But unlike every day, the caller wasn't my brother. It was my boss.

"Good morning, Ms. Cecilia."

"G-good morning Sir. I'm so sorry for not answering your previous call. I uh-"

"No worries there. I just wanted to inform you that you can take a day off today. I'm going for a conference in Chicago, and I'll be gone this weekend. So you get the weekend by yourself too."

I was a bit shocked. We were a start up after all, and we couldn't afford to lose days just like that! Was he serious?

A slight chuckle resonated from the other end. "Yes Cecilia, I'm serious."

I blushed, cursing myself for saying that out loud.

"I'm sorry Sir, I shouldn't have said that out loud. I'm just not sure whether it's okay to lose days like that. We're already behind the schedule."

"I understand your concern, but for now, it's perfectly okay. I have assigned some duties to Neil, who'll take care of that. Besides, you and Melanie really need some rest. You both have been working very hard and deserve a break."

"Okay Sir."

"So take this weekend. Re-energize your brain so that when we meet on Monday, you can come up with fresher ideas."

"Thank you so much Sir. That's very kind of you."

"Ah no worries. Can you inform Melanie too? I'm running late."

"Yeah sure. Have a safe trip!"

"Thank you Cecilia. Have a good weekend. Bye."

The call disconnected immediately. I breathed a sigh of relief. I got up, brushed my teeth and then proceeded to call Mel before she loses her cool in getting this info so late.

"Hey Mel!"

"Oh Cecilia!"

I rolled my eyes.

"I called to tell you something, not to listen to you sing in your horrible voice."

She chuckled, and I joined in.

"So, what's up? Aren't you supposed to be getting ready?"

"Yeah, about that. Boss called. He's going for a conference, and won't be coming back until Monday. So we have the weekend to ourselves!"

She squealed, probably damaging my eardrums for good.

"OhmygodOhmygodOhmygod! I can't believe we FINALLY got some time off! I'm so happy!"

I chuckled at her excited self. I was happy too.

"Well, if you're done with your squealing, can you now calm down?"

"Yeah. Sorry. Couldn't help it. So, what's the plan now?"

"Well firstly, get your ass here. Then we'll decide what to do."

"Cool. I'll be there in 20."

We hung up. I quickly took a shower, and got dressed for the day. As I entered the kitchen, the doorbell rang. I sighed, and then went to open the door. In the sixty seconds that took me to reach the door, the bell was rung a thousand times. Impatient brat!

I swung open the door, only to be met with those gorgeous pair of eyes.

"Oliver?"

"Morning sweet cheeks", he replied, with a playful wink may I add.

"G-good m-morning."

"Hmm, someone is stuttering. Do I affect you that much?"

I rolled my eyes, just to prove him wrong. But internally, I was a mess. Butterflies were playing football in my stomach. Even in a simple white tee and jeans, he looked amazing.

I cleared my throat. "No. I was just surprised to see you this early in the morning."

He smirked. "Whatever cupcake."

"What's with you and these diabetic nicknames you're giving me?"

He laughed, and later I joined him too. I'm sure my neighbours would be judging me right now but who cares.

"Come on in. I was making breakfast actually."

"Ooh what's there in the menu?"

"Well, there is toast, boiled eggs and some leftover pasta."

"No meat?"

"I'm a vegetarian."

"I see. Well I'll just watch you eat. Better treat isn't it?"

"That's actually creepy, you know."

He chuckled and grabbed a fruit from the fruit stand.

"Were you waiting for me to show up?"

"No, why?"

"Because you have two plates arranged on the table. Unless you live with someone. . ."

"Oh that. Yeah I was waiting for Mel. Which reminds me, where the hell is she?!"

"Huh? Who's Mel?" he mumbled.

As if on cue, my phone rang.

"Mel? Where are you?!"

"I'm sorry Cecily, but I won't be able to make it today."

"What? Why?"

She groaned. "I have to babysit my niece today. Brit has to go somewhere. Ugh!"

I chuckled. Suffice to say that her niece isn't exactly the one we'd like to babysit.

"It's okay Mel. Have fun babysitting."

"Yeah, laugh all you want at my misery."

I could imagine her rolling her eyes which made me laugh even more.

"Are you okay?"

My phone nearly slipped out of my hands. For a min I had totally forgotten that Oliver was sitting right in front of me.

I nodded in response to him.

"Cecily? Did I hear a man's voice?"

My eyes widened. Oh no! Now she'll grill me all the time about it.

"N-no? Why?"

"Don't lie to me Cecilia! I know there's someone with you right now!"

Oliver smirked. Of course he heard her. She was practically shouting.

"Calm down Mel, there's no one-"

Oliver snatched my phone from me.

"-here. Hi, I'm Oliver, Cecilia's ahem. . ."

My jaw dropped open. What did he just say?!

He was smirking when he returned my phone.

"H-hello?"

"YOUR WHAT??"

I cringed. "Nothing Mel. He's my new neighbour. That's all."

"You're not lying are you?"

"Obviously not. Why would I lie to you?"

"Okay. But I want details the next time we meet. Got it?"

This time, I rolled my eyes. Typical Mel.

"Yeah got it. Now go babysit."

"Ugh thanks for reminding me. Anyways, bye Cecily! I love you!"

"Bye Mel, love you too!"

As soon as we hung up, I glared at him.

"Why did you say that to her?" I growled.

His eyes widened for a second before he started laughing like a maniac.

"I'm sorry, but that's kind of funny", he said in between his laughs.

"No it's not funny! You don't know her!"

"Haha okay fine I'm sorry."

I folded my arms and looked away.

"I'm sorry Cecilia, it won't happen again."

I continued eating and ignored his pleas.

"Cecilia! Are you listening to me? I'm sorry."

I got up to wash the dirty dishes. He got up too.

"Okay fine. Will you drop the act and forgive me if I take you out for coffee?"

I grinned. Coffee was my life and I'd do anything for a free coffee.

I turned around to face him. "Fine. It's a deal."

He burst out laughing and I joined in later.

"You're such a drama queen."

"-who loves coffee", I added and winked. He smirked in response.

Within twenty minutes we were standing outside Cafe Illuminati. In the daylight, the building actually looked pretty, sort of belonging to the renaissance period.

As usual, the cafe was empty. But that's how I liked it to be. We walked to the counter and greeted Elliot, the hot barista.

"Hey Cecily!"

I chuckled. "It's Cecilia, but you can call me that too."

"Oops, my bad. Anyways, nice to have you back!" he smiled.

I smiled back. I couldn't look away from his dimpled smile. Then I heard someone clear their throat.

"Done smiling both of you?"

Elliot smirked while I grinned. "Nope", we answered together and burst out laughing. A ghost of a smile lingered on Oliver's face.

"Whatever", he mumbled.

Elliot smiled and handed me the card. "What do you want to try today?"

I looked at the card, still not sure what to choose. I turned to Oliver.

"What do you want to have?"

"I'll have anything that you'll have. Choose anything."

I blushed a little, but quickly recovered before any one of them noticed.

"Well?" Elliot asked.

"Umm, espresso maybe?"

Oliver nodded in response.

"Espresso it is."

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