Chapter 11: The file is missing.
The following morning, Theodore shuffled down the stairs to find Bella already bustling in his kitchen. All those years, a woman had not graced his home, and the sight of her cooking sent a curious flutter through his chest. A sweetness he hadn’t felt before spread through him. Perhaps, he mused, having her around wouldn’t be entirely unbearable.
Bella’s head turned as she heard footsteps on the stairs. "Good morning," she greeted, her smile warm. "I hope you don’t mind entering your kitchen without your permission. I thought you must be hungry, and I took the liberty of making breakfast."
Theodore didn’t know how to express his appreciation. He simply nodded, his face betraying nothing.
Bella interpreted his silence as coldness. ’A thank you wouldn’t kill him,’ she thought, the smile on her lips faltering for a brief moment. Regaining her composure, she set a glass of juice beside a plate piled high with golden French toast and crispy bacon.
The aroma danced in the air, causing Theodore’s stomach to rumble. He pulled out a chair and began to eat without a word, leaving Bella standing there in disbelief.
Not a single word of thanks, not even a flicker of acknowledgment – he had simply dug right in. A flicker of annoyance pricked at her heart.
He sat at the table and started eating. Bella stood by the table, looking at him with disbelief. Without a word of gratitude or anything, he had simply started eating. The warmth she had intended for the morning was not there. His lack of gratitude stung, and a pang of annoyance twinged her heart.
Despite her irritation, Bella took a deep breath and regained her composure. "Is everything to your liking?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.
Theodore nodded and continued eating.
Bella’s annoyance deepened. ’Couldn’t he at least thank me?’
Theodore paused mid-chew, his gaze darting up to meet Bella’s. "Why don’t you join me? Sit down and eat," he finally offered.
But his attitude had already annoyed Bella and she had lost her appetite. "No, thanks," she muttered. "I need to go to the office early."