Reborn As Mr. Coldwell's Wife
Chapter 125: As Much As You Like

Chapter 125: As Much As You Like

Ellen stared down at the plate of food in front of her, trying to focus on the meal Mason had brought over. She hadn’t expected him to be so... attentive. As she looked at her fettuccine and salad, she couldn’t help but glance across the table at Mason, who had nothing in front of him.

Her mind drifted back to just a few minutes earlier when they had entered the cafeteria. She had hesitated, unsure of where to sit, but Mason had told her to find a seat while he went to grab her something to eat. It was unexpected and thoughtful. Now here they were, sitting together, though Mason hadn’t gotten anything for himself.

"What are you waiting for?" Mason’s voice broke through her thoughts, his tone calm but with a touch of impatience. He gestured slightly toward her plate, his gaze was fixed on her. "Eat."

Ellen blinked, feeling a little embarrassed for getting lost in her own head. "Right," she mumbled, nodding quickly before picking up her fork. She started to eat, but she could feel the weight of Mason’s eyes on her.

It wasn’t just him, either. Ellen had noticed the subtle glances from people around the cafeteria. It wasn’t outright staring, but enough to make her feel self-conscious. She could feel their curious gazes, probably wondering what she was doing there with their boss.

As she ate, Ellen’s eyes drifted around the room, realizing with a quiet sigh that they were seated almost in the middle of the cafeteria. It wasn’t the most discreet spot. In fact, it felt like all eyes were on them. She tried to focus on her food, chewing quietly, but the stares made her stomach tighten.

She leaned in a little, keeping her voice low. "Why are they all looking at me?" she asked, her eyes flicking briefly to the nearby tables before returning to Mason.

Mason didn’t even bother to look around. His expression remained as calm and indifferent as ever. "Let them look," he remarked. "They have eyes. They can see whatever they want to see."

Ellen sighed softly, knowing that his answer was typical Mason—straightforward, no-nonsense. She couldn’t help but feel a little more on edge, though. She wasn’t used to this kind of attention, especially not from people in Mason’s world. What were they thinking? That she was just here for a free lunch? That she didn’t belong here?

She kept eating, trying to push those thoughts away. Her fingers gripped the fork a little tighter, and she ate quicker than usual, just wanting to finish and get out of the spotlight. The fettuccine, though good, suddenly felt heavy in her stomach. After a few more bites, she gulped down some water, then wiped her mouth with a napkin.

"You didn’t have to do this," Ellen said, glancing up at Mason, her voice soft but sincere. "I could’ve eaten alone."

She was telling the truth, but deep down, she was glad he had brought her here. It was a simple gesture, but it meant more than she wanted to admit. Sitting with him, even under the scrutiny of others, made her feel... cared for, in a way. Mason had taken time out of his busy day to make sure she didn’t eat by herself.

Mason shot her a quick glance and then relaxed in his chair. "You should’ve told me you were coming," he said, his tone a little sharper now, though not unkind.

Ellen’s lips twitched into a small, sheepish smile. "I want to make a suprise. And well... I didn’t have your number too," she said, half-joking. Her smile widened just a little, though she tried to keep her tone light. "Not like you’d give it to me if I asked, anyway."

To her surprise, Mason’s expression didn’t change, but he raised his hand slightly, catching the attention of one of the cafeteria staff passing by. He didn’t even look at them as they approached, but his focus returned to Ellen. "Give me your phone," he said, his voice casual, as if he hadn’t just surprised her.

Ellen blinked, confused for a second. "What?" She tilted her head, unsure if she’d heard him correctly.

"Your phone," he repeated, still holding his hand out toward her. "Don’t you want my number?"

Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She hadn’t expected this. Quickly, she fumbled in her purse, pulling out her phone. Her fingers moved quickly to unlock it, and she handed it over to him, her movements slightly awkward from the surprise of it all.

Mason took the phone without another word, his fingers quickly typed something on the keyboard. After a few moments, he handed the phone back to her. Ellen looked down at the screen and saw a series of numbers saved under his name.

Ellen smiled, unable to hide her amusement. "Thanks," she said softly, slipping the phone back into her bag. She felt a small warmth spreading in her chest, a quiet happiness that she hadn’t expected to feel today.

She looked at him, studying his face. Mason was leaning back in his chair now, arms relaxed at his sides, his expression calm and collected as always. For a brief moment, Ellen hesitated, wondering if she should say what was on her mind. But then, feeling a little more confident after everything that had just happened, she decided to go for it.

"I hope next time, we can actually have lunch together," she said with hope.

Mason raised an eyebrow, his gaze locking onto hers with mild curiosity. "You still want to come back?" he asked.

"Yes," Ellen replied. She tilted her head slightly, a teasing smile tugging at her lips. "Why? Are you saying I’m not allowed?"

Mason’s lips twitched, just the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth. He uncrossed his arms, sitting up a little straighter in his chair, and there was a subtle shift in his posture—something more open, more relaxed.

"I don’t mind," he said. His eyes met hers, and for a brief moment, that made Ellen’s heart flutter just a little. "You can come as much as you like."