NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7: Chapter 6
Emily glanced around. A few customers were browsing the aisles, but the store was still quiet, and no one seemed to need her assistance at the moment.
__Emily: " Sure. What kind of cake are you trying to bake?" she said, a hint of warmth in her voice.
Marshall's eyes brightened, the thrill of his act intensifying. She was falling for his vulnerability and was now willingly entering his trap. He pulled out his phone and opened a picture of a fluffy, layered cake.
_Marshall: " It's a three-layer cake with buttercream frosting. I want to surprise my friend with it." he answered, showing her the picture.
Emily's eyes flicked to the picture on his phone, taking in the delicate layers and the thick swirls of buttercream. She couldn't help but admire the beauty of the cake.
__Emily: "It looks lovely," she commented, her voice sincere. " Do you have all the ingredients you need?"
He smiled at her compliment, his chest swelling with the success of his deception.
__Marshall: "I think so," he said, pretending to think for a moment. "I've got the flour, the sugar, the eggs, and the butter. But I'm not quite sure about the measurements. I was hoping you could help me with that?"
Emily nodded. "Of course," she said, her helpful nature taking over. She began to give him detailed instructions on the measurements he would need for each ingredient, along with some tips on how to ensure the cake came out light and fluffy. Her voice was gentle and reassuring, her advice clearly from someone knowledgeable in baking.
Marshall pretended to listen intently to her advice, his eyes glued on her face, watching her features as she spoke. Her voice was soothing and he found himself getting lost for a moment in her soft, melodic tone. But beneath his attentive facade, his mind was racing, thrilled at the fact that she was willingly engaging with him, unknowingly playing right into his hands.
Emily finished her advice, pausing for a moment to ensure he had grasped everything. She couldn't help but notice how intensely he was listening to her, his eyes never leaving her. She felt a slight flutter in her stomach, though she pushed it aside, attributing it purely to the excitement of giving baking advice.
He let out a soft breath, feigning awe.
__Marshall: "Wow, you're really good at this. I must admit, I was worried I would mess it up, but now I have a great feeling that this cake is going to turn out beautifully, thanks to your advice." he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
Emily couldn't help but smile at his praise, the corners of her lips reluctantly turning up. She was unused to such genuine appreciation from customers, most of whom merely grunted or nodded before rushing off to the next task.
__Emily: " I'm glad I could help... And remember, baking is a lot about patience and precision. Take your time and don't rush the process." she said, her voice warm
Marshall nodded along, pretending to absorb every word she said. Patience and precision indeed, he thought to himself, a sly smile playing at his lips. But his patience was for an entirely different reason than baking a cake.
__Marshall: "I won't," he promised, his voice laced with fake sincerity. "I'll follow each step you instructed. I can't let my friend down."
Emily chuckled to herself, shaking her head slightly as if at a child's enthusiasm. The way he looked at her, the way he listened to her, it was all making her cheeks flush slightly.
__Emily: "I'm sure your friend will love the cake. It's always nicer to receive something made from scratch." she said, her voice a little softer than before.
Marshall's heart skipped a beat at her chuckle, her reaction exactly as he had predicted. She was falling under his spell and her guard was getting lower and lower with each exchange. Her soft voice and the slight blush on her cheeks were subtle signs but he didn't miss any of them.
__Marshall: "Thanks to you, it's definitely going to be a special surprise," he said, his voice warm yet intense, his eyes not leaving hers.
She felt a shiver run down her spine at his intense gaze, her heart beating just a little bit faster. She tried to ignore it, attributing it to the thrill of helping someone with baking, something she was passionate about.
__Emily: "You're welcome," she said quietly, her cheeks flushing a little more under his unwavering gaze.
She glanced away, pretending to adjust some packages on the shelf, trying to regain her composure.