Chapter 8: Chapter 8

“Oh, by the way, you remember my cousin right? Lukas? He arrived yesterday and he is staying at my apartment. He invited you to eat dinner with us.” Kelly said to Lorelai while they are waiting for the elevator to open.

Lukas Smith is Lorelai’s close friend when they were in college, but he moved to New York to work there. Lorelai missed him, and both of them need to catch up to the new happenings in their lives. Immediately, Kelly knows that Lorelai would accept her invitation.

“Sure, but I don’t have a gift for him. Should we buy something first before we go to your apartment?”

“Oh, no need to buy him a gift. Don’t worry I know you’re presence is enough for him” Kelly said while patting Lorelai’s shoulder. Lorelai is looking at the number of floors they are in. She moved when the elevator is getting crowded.

“He will pick us up, by the way,” Kelly whispered to her because the elevator is packed with people.

“Oh okay. Why would he do that though, we could go by ourselves,” she whispered.

Before Kelly could answer her the elevator opened, and they are on their floor already. Kelly winked at her and shrugged. Lorelai gave her a disgusting look.

“Girl, you are creeping me out.” she pushed Kelly lightly while laughing.

“Bleh, just wait for me later, okay? We will go outside together.” Kelly said as she seat, Lorelai just gave her a smile and a thumbs up.

For the remaining time, she focused on answering work-related emails. She could feel her back is sore so she stretched a little. Then she rests her head on the chair, she closed her eyes a little because it feels dry from looking at the monitor for too long.

“I did not know that employees could sleep here, tch. Is that the kind of employee Maxwell is paying for.” Lorelai heard someone speak she assumed that it is pertaining to her, so she opened her eyes and sit up straight. She saw Elizabeth standing behind her back, everyone stopped working and looked at them.

Elizabeth is smirking in front of her, she likes to see Lorelai get embarrassed. Meanwhile, Lorelai keeps her composure and gave her a blank stare.

‘Does she actually think I am a pushover?’ Lorelai thought to herself, she smirked and faced Elizabeth.

“I can assure you Ms. Palmer that I won’t last 3 years and a half here if this is the way I work. Pretty sure that whoever is paying me is paying me for my hard work. But what I did not know right now is why some boss here is acting like her employee is a dog?” she said, as she raise her brows to her.

Lorelai knows her worth, she doesn’t deserve to be crumpled down just because she is a mere worker and she is the boss. She is being too much, treating her like trash even though she barely knows her.

“How dare you talk to me like that, you bi-” Elizabeth is about to slap Lorelai. Lorelai closed her eyes, readying herself for Elizabeth’s palm to touch her cheeks. But seconds later, it did not land. She opened her eyes, Maxwell is holding Elizabeth’s hands, his gaze is cold and emotionless.

“Stop it, Eli!” Maxwell said, harshly throwing Elizabeth’s hand in the air. Elizabeth looked at him surprised.

“Louis, did you hear what that bi-”

“Don’t call her like that! You can’t hurt her, Eli. For God sake’s please, stop acting so immature. You mess with her, you mess with me. Remember that! Everyone goes back to work!” Maxwell said furiously, everyone could see how his jaw clenched.

This is the first time that everyone saw their boss get angry ever since he arrived at the company. Maxwell always acts calm and expressionless. But now seeing him that angry, all of them can’t help but shiver.

He walked away leaving everyone’s mouths open. “Louis!” Elizabeth quickly followed him.

Lorelai sighs so loud, she holds her chest. She could feel her heartbeat beating faster. She stares blankly at the spot where Maxwell stood minutes ago.

“Hey, Rory– are you okay?” Kelly shakes her, it brings back her senses, she blinked and nods slowly. Clara is also beside Kelly, looking worried.

“I’m fine, don’t worry. I am just, ah– shocked?”

“How could Ms. Palmer say that to you? It's right that you knock some senses on her. Lucky you, Sir Maxwell came to help you. Are you sure you can work?”

“Yeah, I can work still, I don’t want her to think again that they are paying a lazy worker.” she said as she roll her eyes.

“I gotcha, girl. I know you can defend yourself, fighting, Rory!” Kelly said and gesture her hand as if she is cheering Lorelai. Lorelai laugh and pushed her back to her sit so both of them could start working.

“Fighting, Lorelai!” Clara cheered too, she gave Lorelai a pat on the shoulder before going back to her desk.

Fortunately for Lorelai, the remaining hours of her shift are finished without any commotion. She saw Elizabeth walking out of Maxwell’s office not looking at anyone. Lorelai felt grateful to Maxwell for stepping up in the scene because for sure she don’t know what she’ll do if Elizabeth slapped her.

Kelly and Lorelai are waiting for Lukas to arrive, they are standing in front of the building. Kelly is busy with her phone, while Lorelai is busy looking at the car that passes by.

“Are you okay?” Lorelai looked behind her when she heard a familiar cold voice.

There is Maxwell standing with his hand in his coat’s pocket. He is looking at her observing her from head to toe. Lorelai, paused looking for the right thing to say.

“I’m fine, Sir. Thank you-”

“Don’t thank me, Elizabeth has every right to be angry at you, but– she doesn’t have a right to hurt you. You should just keep your mouth shut earlier.” Lorelai felt embarrassed by his answer.

“Ah– yes sir, I’m sorry,” she said while bowing. He just nod and did not utter a word.

A few minutes later, Lukas arrived. He greeted them and kissed Lorelai on her cheeks. Lorelai missed him a lot so she hugged him. She jumps with joy after seeing her long-time close friend again after long 3 years. Maxwell is behind them watching as he saw Lorelai’s eyes sparkle with joy when she saw that man. Maxwell felt the urge to grab Lorelai and keep her for his eyes only, but he ignored this urge and decided to go home.

“Are we just gonna stand here? Can we do this hugging and kissing later, we have to go order some food too.” Kelly said with her arms crossed. Lukas laughs and puts his arm on Kelly's shoulder.

“Oops, my cousin is jelly” he said while pinching Kelly’s nose.

When they arrived at the apartment, they ate dinner. After that they talked about stuff that they missed about each other, talking about every story they’ve been saving for each other.

“Oh, yeah. I haven’t seen Lorelai’s house because she never invited me to come. And it's been what– 3 weeks already since she moved! I am starting to get angry at her.” Kelly said while furrowing her brows, cutely. Right now, they are watching a TV series, Lukas is sitting in the middle of Kelly and Lorelai.

Lorelai feels that she is sweating when Kelly finally brought up that topic, she doesn’t know what to say.

‘How am I going to say that I live with someone? And to make things worse, I live with our CEO?!’ Lorelai said to herself, she is starting to panic.

“Don’t be angry, I promised I’ll invite you, right? It's just I am so busy that it's still a mess.” Lorelai tries to keep her composure.

“Hmp, as if I never live with your mess for almost 3 years.” she said while pouting.

“Can I come to visit too?” Lukas pleaded.

Lorelai fake a laugh, and nod at him.

Sure! After I get everything settled.” she assured them.

While Lorelai is having fun she did not notice the time. On the other hand, Maxwell is losing his mind with every tick of the clock. He is so tense, he keeps pacing back and front, staring at the door and waiting for it to open.

He doesn’t want to calm down till he sees Lorelai arrive safe and sound.

“Where did my wife go?” he screamed, as he throw his phone in frustration.