Chapter 11 - Cake tasting and then some.

"Where the hell have you been?!!!"

Alexander groaned as he stood up from Cara's couch as soon as she walked in.

She wasn't expecting him, maybe she shouldn't have given him her extra key card considering his ability to just pop into her apartment unannounced.

She was beginning to get tired of it.

"Out."

She murmured as she took off her heels and set them aside.

She had spent a lot of time with Nicholas at the lounge, much more than she planned.

They had agreed on one drink but Cara found herself ordering more and she suddenly felt so guilty for having so much fun with him.

She shouldn't even be spending any time with him at all.

It was dangerous. But she couldn't help it.

He was so nice to talk to.

And he was such a good listener.

They talked about her company and his and they has avoided any topic that had to do with Alexander like the plague and she had enjoyed it.

It was her first real conversation with Nicholas.

"Out where exactly?!"

"I called Malory, she said you left for something work related, I tried to call your office but nobody was picking up and your number was unreachable."

She finally looked at Alex who was waiting for her to reply.

She was going to lie that she was with Malory, but since he already called Malory, she was just going to pretend it was work related.

"I had to finish up some work at the office. How are you?"

"I'm good. I just wish you'd pick up the damn phone sometimes. I mean that's the whole point of having a phone."

"I'm sorry."

"Did you get something to eat yet?"

She asked and he shook his head.

"I was hoping we'd eat dinner together. I had the place set up and everything."

He said as he pointed to the small dining table at the end of the living room.

Cara looked at it and paused.

"Oh! I didnt know that."

"I'm sorry. That's so sweet."

She said as she started walking towards her room.

Alexander sighed.

"Is that really all you're going to say?"

"Nothing else?"

He said and she turned to him slowly.

"I'm sorry."

"Would you just stop saying that! What are you sorry for? It's getting annoying!"

"Sometimes it feels like you're not even here anymore!"

"Alexander is this about dinner or something else?"

Alexander shook his head, he set his mouth in a thin hard line as he pointed at her.

"This is about you. And your recent attitude. What's going on?"

"Nothing."

Cara said as she took a few steps back.

"I've just been really really busy with the wedding plans and it's stressing me out. That's all."

She finished as she walked into her room.

What else did he want her to tell him?

She wasn't happy with the wedding and everything, it was clear as day, he knew that but he chose to ignore it

And there was nothing she could do about it.

They always got along before.

At least before she knew her fate and she accepted it.

She and Alex tried to make it work, but as everything drew closer she began questioning her choices..

Is he really the man she was going to spend the rest of her life with? Just because her parents wanted her to save their company?

Was he really worth it?

No, but her feelings didn't really matter.

Whatever she thought, about Alexander and his family also didn't matter.

What only mattered was her saving the family company. Her parents had made that bit very clear to her.

She was removing her makeup with wipes when Alexander walked into her room.

His utter lack of her privacy annoyed her sometimes.

"Since you don't want me here. I'll be leaving."

He said as he turned to look at her.

"I didn't say I don't want to here Alex, I'm just tired. I've had a long day."

He shrugged.

His face was hard and grim.

"Next week we'd finalise the plans of officially merging your company with ours. There might be some big drastic changes. I'm just giving you a heads up."

Cara turned.

Her eyes wide.

She knew the merger was coming soon but the Greenes had swore that there wouldn't be any drastic changes..

"What kind of changes?"

She asked but he ignored her.

He walked out of the room, Cara followed him.

"Alex, what kind of changes are you talking about?"

She snapped and he ignored her again.

When he reached the door he turned to look at her and he shrugged.

"Just be prepared. that's all I can tell you for now."

"Goodnight Cara."


Cara was going cake tasting with Malory and Mrs Greene the next day. Alexander should have been the one to accompany her but he had made it very obvious that he didn't care so much for wedding plans and Cara's mother was too busy planning her annual garden tea party to accompany her.

Mrs Greene had agreed to come, she had always been very interested in the planning of the wedding and she wanted everything to be exquisite and done to her taste.

Malory on the other hand being her maid of honour followed her everywhere as well as her wedding planner.

Unfortunately, her wedding planner couldn't attend, with there being only two months and a week to the wedding there was still a lot to do and Cara left it all to the wedding planner.

Malory and Cara were seated on a table while Mrs Greene was talking to the baker.

"So you said we were going to talk yesterday, but you left in such a hurry, We couldn't talk anymore."

"Are you sure everything is okay."

Malory asked as she touched Cara's hand and Cara shrugged.

"Oh! There's no problem I'm just so stressed out. I feel like everything is moving a little too fast."

She confessed as she looked at Mrs Greene.

Malory nodded.

"I know. I'm surprised you agreed to move up the wedding. When you told me while I was in Wyoming, I just couldn't imagine how stressful it would have been for you."

Cara nodded.

"Yes. But Alex insists we moved up the wedding and he can be quite determined honestly."

"But you're not okay with it? And why the rush anyways?"

Cara smiled.

Alexander said it was because of the merging of the companies.

She couldn't tell if that was the real reason or it was because it looked like she was going to pull out of the engagement at a point.

"I can't really say Malory. I just can't wait to be over with everything."

Cara said, Malory raised her eyebrows.

"I thought every bride is normally excited about her wedding day?"

Cara rolled her eyes.

"Malory, you of all people know that this isn't a normal marriage."

Malory nodded.

"I know. But I thought you and Alex were getting along? What changed?"

She asked and then she looked up.

"Oh! I didnt know Nicholas was coming."

"Nicholas?!"

Cara said as her heart skipped a beat.

He was here?!

She thought as she ran a hnd through her messy bun.

What the hell was he doing here?

She thought as she looked straight at him and sighed.

He was wearing a nice pair of khaki pants and a plain white shirt and he somehow was able to catch the attention of everyone in the bakery.

Oh what was he doing here?!

Mrs Greene came to meet Cara.

"I hope you don't mind. I told Nicholas I was here and he wanted to join us. he has such a sweet tooth."

She said with a smile and Cara shrugged.

"Oh it's not a problem. He's welcome to join us."

"Cara! You look dashing as usual."

Nicholas said as he hugged her from behind and kissed her cheeks.

Cara froze in her spot as she tried to shake away the shock of the contact quickly.

Nicholas walked over to give Malory a short hug.

"It's good to see you again Malory, I heard you were in Wyoming."

She nodded.

"Yes, I'm back to New York for a while. Cara can't really do anything without me."

Malory said as she winked at Cara and Cara rolled her eyes.

Mrs Greene came to sit at the table with a huge smile on her face.

"So the baker will be bringing some of our choices so we can decide on."

"I already went over our top designs with her and it'll be narrowed down as soon as we pick the flavour we want."

"Excellent!"

Cara noted as she smiled at Mrs Greene. The woman was so happy to help. And Cara was very grateful for g
her help, even though she could be a little imposing, Cara wasn't sure she minded that much.

"We're starting with the traditional vanilla cake with the vanilla buttercream."

The baker said as her attendant placed the small quaint plates in front of all of them.

Malory smiled.

"Can't really go wrong with vanilla."

She said as she picked up her fork.

Cara did the same, avoiding Nicholas's gaze.

"This isn't bad at all."

Mrs Greene said.

"Love the buttercream."

She said as she dropped her fork.

Cara took a bite.

The cake was delicious, the texture was amazing but vanilla was way too plain of a flavour for her.

"The cake is delicious."

Malory nodded in agreement.

"Hmmmm."

Nicholas moaned as he took yet another bite.

"The buttercream just melts in your mouth. Even though, I'm not going to lie I'd pick chocolate over vanilla any day."

"Me too."

Cara added and Nicholas smiled

Mrs Greene nodded.

"I am sure we can all agree that we don't want the traditional vanilla cake."

"Yes!"

Cara and Nicholas chorused.

The baker nodded.

She signalled to the attendants again.

"Next, there's a pistachio cake with honey buttercream and caramelized pistachios."

"Hmmm that sounds delicious."

Cara said and Nicholas shook his head.

"I'm not really a big fan of pistachios."

He said and his mother rolled her eyes.

"Well, it's a good thing it's your brother's wedding."

His mother said and Nicholas looked straight at Cara.