CHAPTER 14

Dakota started eating even though she didn’t look at what was in front of her, she knew that he was looking at her. Even if she wanted to ask Ivo, she couldn’t because she was ashamed. Maybe it would be better if she asked him later when they got home.
“Thank you for the delicious dinner, Chef Ivo,” said Shane. She was still holding her own stomach, still rubbing it a bit.
“Do not worry. That is said to be deducted from your salary.” Ashton was teasing Shane again.
“W-what? Don’t do it, Chef.” Shene looked at Ivo.
“Of course not. Don’t trust Ashton.” Although she knew that Ivo was not angry, his voice was still serious while saying that. He glanced at her, but the look just passed. Short-lived.
It wasn’t long before they were on their way home again. When they got to the restaurant, Ashton said goodbye first, along with Kurt, Shane, Wendy, and Willow. Dakota doesn’t know why Liam hasn’t gone with them yet. She wants to talk to Ivo. Dakota felt she needed to talk to him in person and in private.
“Aren’t you going to go inside yet?” Liam asked her.
“I was going to talk to Chef first. You go first,” she said, bowing slightly because she was shy. She only spoke weakly before.
Liam just looked at her and also at Ivo, who now just got out of the car. “A-alright. I will go first,” he said. “Chef, I’m going. Thank you again.”
“Okay.” Liam left them both. It has come close to her and is obviously surprised because she is still there. “Why haven’t you gone upstairs yet?”
Dakota cleared her throat first before speaking. She even smiled slightly at him. “Chef, are you okay?”
Ivo was obviously surprised by her question. He slightly frowned at her. “Yes. Why?”
“Hmm… nothing.” She nodded slightly. “By the way, thank you for helping me earlier, chef.”
Ivo didn’t seem to expect what she was going to say. He looked at her, then nodded. “Don’t mention it. Anyone would do what I did.”
Dakota nodded. “Alright, Chef. I’ll go upstairs first.” She said goodbye.
“All right.” He smiled slightly at her. “Dakota, wait—”
She was about to turn away, but because she heard Chef Ivo calling her, she turned back. “Yes, Chef?”
They both looked at each other. It seems that Ivo wants to tell her something, that she doesn’t know what it is. He took a deep breath and smiled at her again. “Nothing. Go up to your room so you can rest.”
“All right. You as well.”
Dakota went up to their room first. She didn’t know how she would feel now that she was able to thank Chef Ivo. She did the right thing, and she felt really good. But it seems not seem so easy. Dakota felt that she also needed to apologize to him. It’s just that she doesn’t know how. She said she was going up, she can’t go back.
Dakota stopped walking because something was actually stopping her from going up. Her body seemed to want to go back and talk to Ivo again.
‘But it’s embarrassing.’
She took a deep breath before following her heart’s desire. She turned down and stopped walking when she saw that Ivo was still there. He was leaning against the side of his car and seemed to be deep in thought. Dakota suddenly wondered if she would do the right thing if she approached him to talk to him.
But it will be too late if she backs out now. Ivo saw her and frowned while looking at her. He straightened up and stepped closer to Dakota. He greeted her, then he smiled sweetly. “Why did you come back? Did you forget something?” he asked.
Dakota shook her head. “Nothing. Ah, I just want to apologize to you, Chef.”
“Apologize? For what?”
“I-I don’t know. I just feel like I need it. Maybe because I’m a bit of a burden to you and to my other friends.”
Ivo laughed softly. “Don’t think about that, okay? No one says you are a burden.”
Because of what he said, she felt a lightness in her chest. If before it was just a little, now she can say that she is really relieved. “Okay, chef.”
“Is it because of Ashton that you feel like a burden? That’s just the way he is, but he’s kind. You will also get used to his attitude and the way of speaking.” He still smiled.
Dakota laughed because of what she heard. At some point, yes. She could tell that Ashton often made her feel like she was really a burden, especially when they were inside the restaurant. It’s not just her. Even with Willow, it’s the same. It’s not just like her. Willow takes the man’s words to heart too much.
“If it’s Ashton, Chef Ivo is fine with me too. I don’t care what he says. I just stay away when he’s hot-headed because, for sure, Willow and I are the heap of his anger.” Something that is true.
“That one has been like that since we were in high school.”
Dakota’s eyes widened. “Have you known each other for a long time?”
“Yes. He was my classmate until we went to college. Because since I saved him then, he has become so attached to me that he never left me.” They both laughed because of what he said. “So if you notice, even though I’m stuck with him, I can’t get rid of him either. And if he talk to me, it’s like I’m not a chef and a restaurant owner.”
“Yes.” Dakota couldn’t believe that Ashton and Ivo’s friendship was that deep. By the way, if you look at it, Ashton seems to be very pro-Ivo. There is a reason and she will admit that she is happy because of the kind of friendship they have. She just couldn’t believe it at first, because it seemed like the two were treated differently. By the way, they have been used to each other for a long time.