I'm on my way home. Madeline refused my offer to drive her back to her apartment. She's actually in no condition to drive. But I can't say no to her. She was so vulnerable. It's like if you took the wrong move, she would break down. So I let her go home by herself, but I asked Jack to follow her, secretly.

Here I am, alone, driving my Bentley to my house, while my mind keeps showing me Madeline's upset face. I swear I would kill Hudson if he was in front of me right now.

My phone rings from bluetooth. I press the green button. "Yes, Jack?"

"Your girl arrived safely at her place," he says without preamble.

"Great. Stay there Jack."

He's silent for a while, but eventually he says okay and we end the phone.

I call Grandma. I'm planning to take her to dinner outside today. But I don't think I can go have fun with my Grandma while Madeline alone in her place, and most likely crying.

"Ethan," comes my Grandma's soft voice.

"Grandma.. where are you?"

"Home, getting ready for our date," she says happily.

"I'm sorry Grandma, can we change the time for our dinner?" I ask her.

"Sure. Is everything okay?"

"Can you call Madeline? Invite her over?" I ask her. My Grandma knows I'm going to tell Madeline about the video.

"She saw the video?"

"Yeah," I say. Madeline's cry is still ringing in my head. She didn't cry like a movie star. Her cry was so raw. That was an ugly cry. But my heart broke when I saw her face. I couldn't do anything to stop her cry, and I hated myself for that.

"Oh my God. Sure. I will call her now! Where are you? Where is she?" I sense the panic in Grandma's voice.

"I'm on my way home. Arrive in 10 mins. She just arrived at her apartment. I asked Jack to follow her, because she was wrecked when she left the office. And he is still there right now. So if Madeline agreed to come over, Jack could drive the car for her."

"Okay. I'll call her now." Grandma hangs up the phone without waiting for my answer. I can feel she loves Madeline so much, and somehow it warms my heart.

Next, I call Consuela, my chef. I ask her to defrost the salmon. I can't stop her cry but at least I hope I can put a smile on her face, even for an hour or two, even though it's not me who makes her happy.

***

I know Helen Hall is good at persuading people. I stay behind the door to the dining table. Listening to my grandma and Madeline chat happily. I can see Madeline smiling at my Grandma. Finally, you can smile again. I don't want to leave from there, but I need to. I don't think Madeline will appreciate it if I stalked her like this. So I go to my room and eat my meal.

Consuela set the dining table for 2. I know Madeline is not comfortable with me. Not to mention after that disaster video. That's why I stayed away from her. At least for tonight, even though I wish I was there to comfort her. As long as she can smile again, everything is worthy.

I finish my dinner and go to my office so I can't stalk on Madeline. I always have work to check, to review. I'm in the middle of reviewing some deals, and someone knocks. Actually, that's not a real knock. It's a voice.

"Knock, knock," Madeline says, peeking into my office with her smiley face. And it's fucking enchanting. She's wearing a simple jeans and a white shirt. With big gold hoops earring. Her strawberry blond hair flowing down behind her. Gone the professional air she has at the office. This Madeline looks carefree and young. With just a lip gloss on her lips. Her face is free from the makeup. God, she is like an angel.

"Sweetness." I stand up. "What are you doing here?" I'm surprised to see her, and somehow that makes my voice clipped.

She stops and blinks at me. "I... I thought you know I'm here... sorry Ethan, I..."

Shit! I run to her and hold her wrist, preventing her from running away. "I know you are here. You were having dinner with Helen. I thought... I thought you wouldn't come to see me." The words tumble from my mouth in a rush. I don't want to have another misunderstanding with her and make her upset.

She stares at me and suddenly she blushes. Damn! That blush is just too cute.

She clears her throat. "By the way, thank you for the dinner. Helen told me you are the one who cooked the salmon. I love it! It was delicious!" she beams happily. And I feel a little taller.

"Glad you like it."

"And.. Thanks for arranging today's dinner. I really need it." She bites her lip shyly. I'm surprised. I told Helen to not tell Madeline it was my idea. Helen the traitor!

"You should've joined us in the dining room rather than eat alone in your room. Is not because you don't want me there right?" She peeks at me under her long and thick eyelashes.

"What? No, Madeline. There's no way I don't want you," I say fast. I can hear a panicked in my voice, and suddenly she laughs. "I was kidding," she says and punches me lightly on my shoulder. She is so relaxed. The dinner with Helen really helped her.

"It's good to watch you smile." I touch her cheek. Suddenly she is sober from my touch, and our eyes lock. As usual, everything else seems black and white when we lock our eyes like this.

"I hope you can always smile, Sweetness. Your smile is so bright, like the sun. Don't let anything take it away from you," I whisper at her.

Her eyes glassy but she smiles at me. "Thank you, Ethan," she whispers back.

I lean closer to her. Her eyes travel from my eyes to my lips. My eyes do the same. She closes her eyes and when our lips almost touch...

"Sweetheart, you found Ethan?" Grandma calls from downstair breaks our chemistry. Grandma, I thought you were my cupid!!

Madeline's face blush and she clears her throat. "Helen asked me to get you. She baked your favorite cake." She walks out from my home office without waiting for my answer, while I'm still reeling after our almost kiss. I rake my hair, trying to compose myself, and catch up with her.

"So, what is your favorite cake?" She asks me and I shrug. "I don't know. I have eaten Helen's cake since I was a baby. I love them all."

"Lucky you!" She laughs. God, that laugh is intoxicating. "I love apple pie and madeleine cake."

"Apple pie because you are from Julian Town and Madeline's cake, because that's your name? Seriously?" And we both burst into laughter.

"You got me! What can I say? I ate those 2 cakes since forever."

When we arrive at the pantry, there is a batch of madeleine cakes. "Your favorite cake, Ethan!" my grandma says cheerily. Okay, I did say I love all her cakes, but I never specifically said I love this cake. I look at Grandma and raise an eyebrow.

"You said you like Madeleine a lot. So this is it. I baked a lot for you," she says, and I'm still confuse. "Oh! I was wrong. You mean Madeline, not madeleine cake!" She emphases the words Madeline and Madeleine. Jesus, Helen is really a cupid.

Madeline's face reddens. She unconsciously tidies up her hair even though there is no wind here.

"Well done, Grandma," I say sarcastically, and she laughs. That's my grandmother.

"Sit down and eat, kids," she says while arranging the cake and the tea.

We chat and Helen, as always the great host, knows how to steer the conversation. She makes the conversation fun and light. We talk about some of our employees in Julian Town about their reaction when they realized she is Helen Hall. She tells me that Madeline was crying when she leaves Julian Town because she couldn't eat Helen's cake anytime she wants again. And she tells Madeline that I always asked her to make a batch of cookies, a pie and a cake before she goes back to Julian Town — it's true, by the way. We all laugh at everything that comes from Helen's mouth. And I'm glad that the videos did not affect Madeline that much.

Helen was right. She is a strong woman. She can handle the world. And I can see myself drowning in her. Her smile, her laugh, the sparkling of her aquamarine eyes, her animated face, her apple scent, her everything...

***

After we finish the dessert, Helen says she has to sleep. Apparently, the brat that is her grandson asked her to bake a batch of cookies for tomorrow before she goes back to Julian Town. Helen, not too subtle, asks me to accompany Madeline while she is finishing her wine. My cupid grandmother pours a generous amount of wine into our glasses (actually the wine was almost full to the brim) and leaves us.

"I didn't know Helen could walk that fast. I thought she was old enough to join the morning jogging. Apparently she still can join the Olympic." I chuckle and shake my head. I'm sure Madeline notices my grandma's big plan.

Madeline giggles and drinks her wine. "This is nice," she says. And I make a mental note to give her one next time.

Jeez, Ethan. You really are a sap!

"Hey,you want to check the garden?" I ask her and she nods. So we go to the garden. I promise myself to control myself. What she needs is a good friend. And I can be a good friend to her. Put the smile on her face.