Ensnared by Mafia, Days and Nights
Chapter 8: Salted Caramel

The lunchbox kept the food warm.

Henry Jefferson settled Giselle Lambert onto his lap, offering her a bite of steak with his fork.

Giselle instinctively resisted at first, but the sight of his lips curving into a slight smile, signaling his good spirits, made her relent and eat quietly.

After their meal, Giselle fetched another lunchbox and slid it towards Henry, announcing, "I made you a dessert for after the meal."

Surprise flickered in Henry's eyes, his expression subtly shifting as he opened the lunchbox at a leisurely pace. Inside, a caramel pudding, enticingly colored, beckoned appetizingly.

He spooned up a bite; the pudding dissolved instantly in his mouth, yet his brow furrowed.

"Is it not to your liking?" Giselle inquired, her gaze fixed on him.

Henry downed a large gulp of water, nodded, and said, "It's delicious."

"Then you should have it all," she said, fighting back a smile yet sounding utterly serious. "Alright."

With a complex emotion, Henry stared at the pudding; it was as salty as a mouthful of salt.

Despite its unpalatable taste, since it was the first dessert Giselle had made for him, he didn't want to crush her enthusiasm. Thus, he slowly ate the entire "caramel pudding."

Giselle struggled to contain her laughter, watching his painstaking effort to swallow.

It hadn't been intentional-she had realized only after baking that she had mistaken salt for sugar.

Unable to redo it, she had brought the ruined dessert instead.

She had reasoned that if Henry found it unappetizing, she would apologize and discard it. Her main aim was to let him know she was making an effort for him.

But, unexpectedly, not only did he compliment the taste, he finished the whole thing...

It was a testament to his resilience, befitting a mafia boss.

After a moment, Henry suggested gently, "Next time, let Sophie help you with the ingredients."

"Okay," Giselle agreed. "Since you ate my pudding, perhaps there's something you could give me in return?"

Henry already knew what she was hinting at but asked anyway, "What would you like?"

"I want to go back to university classes."

"Alright."

They spoke almost in unison.

Giselle paused, surprised at the ease of his agreement.

"But there's one condition," Henry added. "Join me for lunch at the office every day."

"Deal!" Giselle quickly agreed. What was a lunch compared to returning to school?

Henry was a man of his word, meaning her return to school was imminent!

Seeing the joy on Giselle's face also brightened Henry's mood. He checked his watch, "Let's head out now; you'll make it just in time for your afternoon classes. I'll drive you there." "No..." Giselle started to refuse, but seeing the firm set of Henry's expression, she reluctantly agreed.

He took her hand, and instead of heading to the executive elevator, they used the staff lift.

Planning your weekend reading? Ensure you're on 000005s.org for uninterrupted enjoyment. The next chapter is just a click away, exclusively available on our site. Happy reading! It was rush hour, and the elevator filled with employees sneaking glances at them.

Rumors had circulated that Henry preferred men, as no woman had been seen by his side before.

Today, however, revealed that he had indeed been hiding a jewel.

Giselle, with her delicate figure, looked as though she belonged next to him, a couple that could have stepped right out of a painting.

Feeling eyes on her like thorns on her back, Giselle was relieved to reach the university gates. Henry opened the car door, intending to escort her to her classroom.

She quickly grabbed him, closed the car door, and pleaded with folded hands, "Please, let's keep our relationship private. I don't want my classmates to think I am..." She couldn't finish the sentence about being a kept woman.

Henry, looking into her earnest eyes, nodded, "Alright, I'll switch cars for your school trips."

Relieved, Giselle got out, backpack in tow, and dashed into class as the bell rang. Her teachers and classmates were unfazed by her arrival, and class began as usual. She patted her chest in relief. Thankfully, her enrollment was still active, and she could continue her education.

Thanks to Henry's arrangements, even if she had missed a semester, her degree was secure.

After a long afternoon of lectures, as she prepared to leave, she noticed a familiar figure at the door.