CHAPTER 67: LOVE RIVAL?

Alisha woke up the next morning and did her skincare. Today was another break and there was nothing for her to do.

Jace and Adrian had insisted that they would take over stalking Mr. De Rossi, while she focused on her revenge on Nathan and Katherine, and her career.

Somehow, the weight on her shoulders were lifted as if a heavy burden had been resting on them the entire time.

The sun was up high on the horizon, the wind was cool to the skin and the sky was bright.

"Today is beautiful," she couldn’t help but say.

She left her room and headed downstairs for breakfast. She smelt the aroma of something delicious, like waffles.

She skipped into the open kitchen happily. Since she didn’t have anything to do for that day as it was a rest day for her, she could just chat with the servants and have them teach her a thing or two about cooking since she wasn’t a pro in that aspect.

However, once she saw the muscular back that was facing her, her face soured.

Dante seemed to have felt her stare and turned to find her staring at him.

"What? Is my back so good you can’t look away?" He teased.

Alisha recoiled at his words before rolling her eyes and grabbing an apple.

"Why are you making breakfast? What about the servants?" She asked.

"I chased them away," he replied. "I felt like making breakfast for my wife today."

Alisha recoiled again.

They’d barely spent any time with each other after they went to the mansion to celebrate his parents’ anniversary party.

She didn’t even get to see him last night when she returned.

"You’re being romantic today, hubby," she decided to play along even when that word felt foreign to her tongue.

She wasn’t stunned to see him cook at all. She’d been during the first time he made her a meal which was when she was recuperating after getting kidnapped by Mason. He’d been at home with her most of the time, completely skipping work.

"How are you making this? Teach me," she said, stepping to his side.

"You’re only going to get hurt. Step aside and let me handle this," he said, shoving her aside and blocking her sight with his back.

Alisha hissed under her breath but didn’t retaliate. This was one of those rare days when she wanted to feel good, and she wasn’t going to let Dante ruin it.

She merely watched him as he mixed the ingredients and whisked them perfectly well. She watched his every movement like a hawk and before she realized it, her eyes were already trailing down to his biceps. Since Dante was wearing a tank top, she could easily see how his muscles flexed with every little movement.

"You look good while cooking," she blurted out.

Dante turned and gave her an awkward look. "Oh really now," he had a grin on his lips as he walked towards her, while she took a step back.

"I was lying. Please focus on your cooking or the waffles are going to burn."

"They’re not going to burn," he said, sandwiching her between himself and the kitchen counter behind her.

"Dante..." She gasped. He was so close—too close.

"I want to kiss you," he confessed and her stomach dropped.

He leaned in and she instinctively placed her hand on his chest. "Dante, we’ve already talked about this."

"Really? I don’t remember talking about anything."

She scowled but it didn’t seem like he was going to quit.

"Dante..."

Just when he was about to capture her lips, they heard a voice.

"Ugh...I know that I might be interrupting something again and I’m really sorry—" Rico didn’t get the chance to finish his sentence when he saw a glass cup flying towards him.

Alisha was flabbergasted.

Dante had been so quick that she didn’t see when he grabbed a glass cup.

Rico on the other hand swiftly dodged the cup.

"I said I’m sorry," Rico apologized.

"Don’t come to my house anymore," said Dante. He was feeling beyond irritated.

At this point, he felt like Rico was a weapon fashioned against him, always interrupting his moment with Alisha.

Rico scratched his back, feeling embarrassed.

"I’m sorry," he mouthed.

Alisha also couldn’t help but think that Rico had such bad timing. As much as she was irritated, she was also glad that he’d interrupted them.

"That smells delicious, are you making waffles?" He asked, ignoring Dante as he waltzed right in and grabbed a waffle while Dante glared at him, feeling disappointed in himself for missing his aim.

’I shouldn’t let this ruin my day completely,’ he thought to himself.

"Ryan!!" Alisha yelled, looking at the entrance where Ryan was.

’I spoke too soon,’ Dante thought.

Alisha wrapped her hands around Ryan to hug him. It may seem like a simple hug, but Dante saw more than that.

He saw how Ryan’s hands were wrapped around her waist tightly, the way he buried his head in the crook of her shoulders.

His hands balled into fists as his blood boiled.

"Who’s that?" Rico asked with his mouth full of waffles.

"Ryan," Dante said with so much venom it didn’t take Rico too long to guess that he had bad blood with the guy named Ryan.

"What are you doing here?" Alisha asked.

"I came to give you these." He showed her the documents.

It was the report of the kidnapping and drug pictures she’d taken from Mr. De Rossi’s study the other time.

Ryan had said he was going to investigate the matter and give her a report but she didn’t think it would be so soon.

He could have sent someone else, but the files were highly confidential.

Dante’s gaze narrowed on the files in his hands.

"Oh my, where are my manners," said Ryan when he felt Dante’s gaze. "Dante, it’s been a long time."

"Ryan, I didn’t expect to see you here so soon. Were you missing my wife already?" Dante asked with so much hostility.

Alisha glanced between them, her lips parted.

"I’m Rico," Rico chimed in.