She's My Sleeping Pill

Cayenne went back to her room and changed her upper clothes. She wore a light pink shirt with a cute white bunny print. "Is this fine now?" Cayenne asked while showing him her outfit.

"That looks good and I think I have something to make it look better." He took hold of her hand and gave her a bracelet. There were small letters that accentuates the gold bracelet and when she read it, it actually spelled her name. "I know this looks good on you."

Cayenne touched the bracelet with her fingers. "I like it." She mumbled with a smile. "But, what's this for? You won't be deducting my salary for this, right?"

"Of course, not." Stefan responded instantly. "This is my 'thank you' gift for you. You've been helping me a lot these days and you showed genuine concern for me. Although my office is off-limit to everyone unless I consented them to come in, I am not angry at you. In fact, I'm quite happy to know that someone cares for me."

"You are paying me to do my job. You don't need to give me a gift."

"I want to give you one. Please don't refuse it." She nodded her head in agreement and walked to his side. "Shall we go?"

"Are you excited?" Stefan still asked, whether she lies or not, it won't matter to him. He just wanted to know.

Cayenne was walking beside him and hearing his question, she stopped walking for a while. "I'm not particularly excited to this date but I'm looking forward to the experience. Even if this is just a consensual date, at least, I still get to experience what date is like."

"I see. I'll do my best to give you the best date in your life. I might exceed your future husband."

"Let's not talk about future husband or whatever you call it. I don't think it will come to me."

"Fine. Let's just enjoy our day."

And because the mighty boss went to have a date, Chris, was left to deal with all the work in the company. "This is fine. I will have a long vacation leave after this." He had this premonition because Stefan was planning to go somewhere in February. And if he will go somewhere unrelated to work, that means, he can take a leave, too. Hopefully.

Stefan drove the car to the city with Cayenne sitting shot gun beside him. "What do you want for dinner, by the way?"

"Hmm, I don't have any cravings. How about we have street foods? Have you ever eaten some street foods?"

"Of course." Stefan admitted instantly. "When I was in high school and college, I don't have so much money like I have now. I had to skip meals and whenever I got some money, I would buy fish balls, tempura, chicken feet, squid balls and other food the can be bought in the street. Many of my classmates warned me about it because these kinds of food are considered dirty and not well-prepared. However, these foods kept me going. It helps me survive."

"We, sort of, experienced the same thing. You know that we are not well-off, right?" Stefan nodded. "When my brothers' father was still around, he would bring us different kinds of food. He worked for the family. Things happened and he's now gone. When there were just four of us, our mother had to work hard for us. I was still studying back then and every penny counts for us. We don't buy things if it is not really needed. Our wants were pushed at the back of our minds and all we did was study hard and be thrifty. When we ran out of viands, we will buy some street foods to eat with our rice." Cayenne was caressing the bracelet on her hand while talking to him. "When I think about it, I'm thankful that I get to experience those difficult moments in my life."

"I feel the same." Stefan replied to her. "Those moments helped me become a better person." Cayenne raised her head and looked at him with questioning look on her face. "That does not apply to my attitude towards women."

"I have the same thought." Cayenne chuckled at his honest words. "Anyway, having a woman in life has nothing to do with me. You can do with whatever you want. However, you'd have to do it during the night because you need to spend the night with me."

"Hn." Although he perfunctorily agreed with her words, he's got no plans to do it. He wouldn't look for someone while the two of them are still together. Perhaps, after getting cured from his insomnia, he will find someone to bed with again.

Not long after, they arrived at the theater but the parking lot was fully packed. Stefan looked for another parking space. He drove to the largest mall in the city and found an available parking space. The theater stage room was not far from where they parked and they can just walk towards the venue.

"Make sure to wear your glasses and cap." Stefan reminded her. He waited for her to get herself ready while she was putting on her cap and glasses.

"Do I look okay?"

"Hn. No one will recognize you now." Stefan put his own glasses and got out of the car. "Don't go out yet."

Cayenne blinked her eyes while following him with her eyes.  She was curious as to what he was planning this time. He walked to her side of the car and opened the door for her. "You don't really have to do this." Cayenne mumbled and she was thankful for the cap and glasses which helped hide away her blush. Although she was hiding her bashful face, her earlobe gave her away.

Stefan smirked upon seeing this reaction. 'This is just the start.' Stefan thought. He took hold of her hand and intertwined their fingers as if they were a real couple; and walked towards the theater.