บท 73: Chapter 73: Note writer
As they reached the estate, Lisa stepped out of the car, expecting Lugard to follow. But instead, he nodded curtly and drove off, leaving her standing alone.
Lisa frowned, feeling a pang of disappointment. "What a man," she murmured to herself, shaking her head. "He didn't even say a word and left, just like that."
She sighed, entering the estate's grand entrance. The soft click of the door closing behind her echoed through the silent hallway.
Lisa couldn't shake off the feeling of being dismissed. Was Lugard still bothered by Emilia's flirtation?
As she walked upstairs, Lisa's thoughts swirled with questions.
Why did Lugard leave without a word?
Was he upset with her?
And what about Emilia? Would she be a threat to their complicated relationship?
Lisa reached her room, her mind still reeling.
After changing, Lisa lay on her bed and decided to rest for a while. Her phone buzzed, breaking the silence.
"Hello?" Lisa answered with a smile.
"Hello, our baby girl! What's up?" It was Didi, her best friend calling.
"I'm fine," Lisa replied, settling into the conversation.
They chatted for a while, catching up on each other's lives.
"When will we meet? I miss you so much," Didi said, her voice filled with longing.
Lisa smiled. "Soon, my darling."
"Where's Emma?" Lisa asked.
"She went to get some food stuff from the market. We're tired of eating restaurant food," Didi replied.
Lisa burst out laughing, her eyes shining with mirth.
"You're tired of restaurant food? That's rich, coming from you!" Lisa teased.
Didi chuckled on the other end. "Hey, someone's gotta keep Emma in check. She's been experimenting with cooking, and let's just say... it's been an adventure."
Lisa giggled, imagining Emma's culinary attempts.
"How's she doing?" Lisa asked.
"Better than expected," Didi said. "But we still miss your cooking. When are you coming over?"
"Soon, my darling," Lisa promised. "I'll talk to Lugard and plan something."
Didi's tone turned serious. "How's life with the hubby? Still mysterious and brooding?"
Lisa's smile faltered for a moment before she recovered. "He's... complicated. But I'm managing."
"Complicated, huh?" Didi repeated. "That's code for 'I'll fill you in later,' right?"
Lisa laughed, grateful for Didi's understanding. "You know me too well."
"Call me later," Didi whispered back. "Love you."
"Love you too," Lisa replied, ending the call.
Lisa wondered what Lugard's mood would be like when he returned.
Just then, Didi texted: "Emma's cooking update: burnt rice & overcooked chicken. We're ordering pizza"
Lisa giggled, imagining Emma's frustrated expression.
She continued chatting with Didi, enjoying the lighthearted conversation.
As they wrapped up their call, Lisa realized Lugard still hadn't returned.
She checked her phone for any more messages but found none.
Lisa's mind began to wander.
Was Lugard still thinking about Emilia?
Or was he handling business matters?
As night fell, a group of men gathered in a private room, sipping their drinks and engaged in hushed conversation.
Among them was Lugard, his expression stoic as he listened intently.
The group of men chuckled and teased Jerry, their friend who had recently rented out two rooms in his house.
"Jerry, you're becoming a landlord in your old age!" one of them joked.
Jerry shook his head, laughing. "Hey, I just wanted some company. The house was feeling too empty."
Another friend chimed in, "And now you've got strangers traipsing through your home. What's next, a boarding house?"
The group erupted into laughter, Jerry joining in.
Lugard, sitting in the corner, observed the banter with a hint of a smile.
"You're going to regret this, Jerry," another friend teased. "You'll be dealing with noisy tenants and damaged furniture."
"I don't know why I rented my house to those troublemaker ladies!" Jerry cried out to his friends.
His friends, Lugard, Jonathan, and Ben, exchanged amused glances.
"Troublemaker ladies?" Lugard repeated, chuckling. "What did they do?"
Jerry shook his head. "They're always looking for someone, threatening to break his teeth... I have no idea what's going on."
Ben laughed. "Sounds like you've got some fiery tenants."
Alex asked, "What's the problem, Jerry?"
Jerry sighed. "They found a note I left, and now they're on a mission to find the person who wrote it. They're going to drive me crazy!"
Lugard raised an eyebrow. "A note?"
Jerry hesitated before revealing, "I might have told them to pack out if they didn't like the food."
The group erupted into laughter.
Jerry pouted, "I wrote on the room door, 'If you don't like the food prepared by the chef, then pack out.' And they became furious when they saw it! Threatening to catch the writer—which was me—teaching me a lesson, breaking my teeth, and... making me remember the minutes I was born!"
The group's laughter grew louder, with Jonathan holding his stomach.
Ben choked out, "Remember the minutes you were born?"
Jonathan grinned. "That's a new one."
Jerry shook his head, laughing. "I know, right? I didn't think they'd take it so seriously."
Lugard chuckled. "You should've kept your chef's critique to yourself."
Jerry smiled. "Yeah, hindsight's 20/20."
Just then, Jerry's phone buzzed. He glanced at the screen and groaned.
"What now?" Ben asked.
Jerry showed them the text: "We know you're hiding in your room. Come out, coward!"
The group burst into laughter again.
"I didn't write it for my new tenants," Jerry said, regretful and pitiful. "I wrote it when my ex-girlfriend kept complaining about the chef's cooking. But there's nothing wrong with the chef's cooking, so I got angry and wrote that. I completely forgot about it since then."
The group's laughter intensified, with Jonathan being the first to tease Jerry.
"Jerry, the ultimate chef defender!" Jonathan chuckled.
Ben joined in, "Or the king of passive-aggressive notes."
Lugard grinned. "I think Jerry's just trying to say, 'If you can't handle the heat, get out of my kitchen'."
Alex quipped, "More like, 'If you can't handle the heat, get out of my life'."
Jerry shook his head, laughing. "You guys are enjoying this way too much."
Jonathan pretended to write on an invisible chalkboard. "Jerry's Rules for Tenants: Don't criticize the chef, or face eviction... and possible dental surgery."
The group erupted into laughter again.
"Jerry's Tenancy Commandments," Ben joked, "Thou shalt not criticize the chef's culinary mastery."
Lugard chimed in, "And thou shalt pack out if thou dost disagree."
Jonathan pretended to hold a microphone. "We have a live one here, folks! Jerry, the chef's ultimate protector!"
Alex quipped, "Jerry's chef is the real MVP – Most Valuable Protector."
Jerry shook his head, laughing. "You guys are killing me."
Ben feigned seriousness. "Jerry, we need to start a support group for Chef Defenders Anonymous."
Lugard grinned. "Meetings will be held in Jerry's kitchen, with complimentary chef-prepared meals."
The group's laughter filled the room, with Jerry good-naturedly enduring the teasing.
Suddenly, Jerry's phone buzzed again.
"What now?" Jonathan asked.
Jerry checked the screen, his expression turning sheepish.
Jerry's face turned bright red as he read the message.
"What is it?" Ben asked, curiosity getting the better of him.
Jerry hesitated before revealing, "It's from my tenants. They say they've set a trap for the 'coward' who wrote the note."
The group burst into laughter again.
Lugard chuckled. "Looks like your tenants are taking things to the next level."
Jonathan grinned mischievously. "You should pretend to be the note-writer's lawyer and offer to negotiate."
Alex quipped, "Or send a fake apology note with ridiculous conditions."
Ben suggested, "Why don't you just own up to it and face the music?"
Jerry shook his head. "You guys are not helping."
Just then, Jerry's phone buzzed again.
The message read: "We've prepared a special dinner for the note-writer. Come and face the consequences."
The group roared with laughter.
Lugard, offered advice to Jerry.
"Listen, Jerry, own up to it. Apologize and explain the context. They might understand."
Jerry hesitated. "But what if they don't? What if they still want to 'break my teeth'?"
Lugard shrugged. "Then you'll know you're renting to crazy people and can evict them."
Ben chimed in, "Or maybe they'll challenge you to a cook-off."
Jonathan joked, "Jerry's culinary skills versus the tenants' wrath."
Alex suggested, "Just offer to make them dinner, Jerry. Your cooking might disarm them."
Jerry thought for a moment before responding.
"You know what? Lugard's right. I'll own up to it and apologize."
The group nodded in agreement.
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