When lunchtime finally arrived, the office slowly returned to its usual rhythm.

The excitement from the morning announcement had settled, replaced by the familiar hum of work and quiet chatter.

However, Sienna had no intention of spending her break with her team today. She had a mission focused on food, cooking skills, and recipes.

Carrying a neatly packed paper bag in one hand, she made her way down the corridor toward Ava’s office, her steps unusually light, her lips curved in a small smile as she thought about this sudden mission.

Inside the bag were two Caesar salads with grilled shrimp and two cold sodas. Peace offerings, or more accurately, strategic tools.

She stopped in front of Ava’s door and knocked gently.

"Come in..." Ava’s calm voice answered almost immediately.

Sienna pushed the door open and stepped inside, lifting the paper bag slightly as if it were a prize. "My dear friend," she announced cheerfully, "I brought you lunch."

Ava glanced up from her desk, caught off guard. Her eyebrows raised slightly as her eyes shifted from Sienna’s bright smile to the bag in her hand, then back to her face.

"Well... this is new, you come to my office," Ava said slowly, standing up. "Did I miss something? Is today a special occasion?"

Sienna ignored the suspicion entirely and walked toward the small meeting table in the corner as if she owned the place.

"Come, come," Sienna said casually, placing the salads and drinks on the table. "Let’s eat together."

Ava followed, though her eyes never left Sienna’s face, studying her like a detective who had just found a very interesting case.

"Wow..." Ava murmured, staring at the food before glancing at her friend again. "What brings you here? And with lunch? Should I be worried?"

Sienna narrowed her eyes playfully before she gestured for Ava to sit. "Eat first," she said, smiling sweetly. "We can talk later."

That alone confirmed Ava’s suspicion. Something was definitely wrong.

Still, Ava sat down across from Sienna and opened the salad, picking up her fork. She took a bite, but her attention remained fixed on the woman in front of her, who, suspiciously enough, was eating with full focus like nothing unusual was happening.

Sienna chewed calmly, even nodding slightly as if the salad deserved praise.

Ava watched her for a few more seconds.

However, as minutes passed, Ava finally couldn’t take it anymore. She placed her fork down, picked up a napkin, and wiped her lips lightly before leaning back in her chair.

"Alright," she said, her tone gentle but firm. "Tell me. What do you want?"

Sienna didn’t even look up. She took another bite. Chewed. Swallowed. And reached for her soda.

Ava chuckled in disbelief, looking at how strange Sienna had become.

"Sienna," she repeated, her voice still calm but now carrying a hint of warning. "Why are you acting suspiciously? You’ve never brought me lunch like this before. Not even on my birthday."

Sienna finally glanced at her, completely unbothered. "Sister Ava, that’s because you usually treat us. Now, let me do this once..." she replied casually, then returned to her food.

Ava narrowed her eyes. "Alright, now tell me, or I won’t help you later when you ask."

That worked.

Sienna’s fork froze mid-air. Slowly, she lifted her gaze and met Ava’s eyes.

For a moment, they simply stared at each other.

Then, with a small sigh, Sienna placed her fork down on the box. "I need you to teach me something," she said.

Ava raised a brow. "Teach you what?"

Sienna hesitated for just a second before continuing, "A simple dish. Your signature dish."

Silence fell between them.

Ava smiled to hear that. She leaned back slightly, clearly surprised. "You want to learn how to cook?"

Sienna nodded, trying her best to look calm.

"Why?" Ava asked, tilting her head slightly.

Sienna hesitated for a moment, contemplating whether to tell the truth. However, Zachary’s face suddenly appeared in her mind: the villa, the mysterious ’We,’ and the fact that she had confidently agreed to become a chef for people she had never even met—all of this made her stomach turn with nerves.

"...I just want to learn," she said finally, her tone casual. "You know I like cooking sometimes. I want to improve my skills."

Ava stared at her. A smile emerged on her lips as she didn’t believe a single word. But she didn’t push Sienna further either.

Instead, Ava picked up her fork again, her expression calm. "Alright, I’ll teach you."

Sienna’s eyes lit up instantly. "Really?"

"Yes," Ava nodded. "But I’ll keep it simple. Something easy. Meat and chicken dishes. Quick to prepare, but still delicious."

Sienna straightened immediately, grabbing her phone like a student ready for class. "Wait, wait...say that again."

Ava chuckled softly. "You’re so serious about this." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Very serious," Sienna nodded, already opening her notes app.

And just like that, their lunch turned into an unexpected cooking lesson.

Ava explained patiently, describing ingredients, techniques, and little tricks that could make a simple dish taste better. She spoke about seasoning, timing, and balance, occasionally demonstrating with hand gestures as if an invisible kitchen had appeared between them.

Meanwhile, Sienna listened like her life depended on it. She nodded repeatedly, recorded parts of the conversation, and even asked questions.

"Don’t overcook the chicken," Ava reminded. "And always taste before serving."

"Got it," Sienna replied seriously, typing quickly.

"And presentation matters," Ava added. "Even simple food should look good."

"Noted."

Ava couldn’t help but smile, and her mind was already filled with so many questions: ’Are you trying to cook for the man you fell in love with? Tsk! Tsk! Sienna, I know you’re hiding something from us.’

By the time they finished, Sienna leaned back in her chair, letting out a satisfied sigh.

"I feel smarter already," she declared.

Ava raised a brow. "Let’s not get ahead of ourselves."

Sienna laughed, standing up and gathering the empty containers. "Still, thank you. Seriously."

She cleaned the empty box and can and put them in the paper bag, her expression brighter than before, her confidence clearly boosted. She is ready to take her side job as a chef!

"Oh! And don’t forget..." Sienna added as she walked toward the door. "Email me the recipe at your earliest convenience, okay?"

Ava nodded slowly, watching her. "I will—"