The Cherished Wife (Noelle and Charles)

laced with annoyance. "Who does that first thing in the morning?"

An hour passed before Noelle could peel herself off the bed. With a hand on her aching back and her legs shaking like jelly, she shot a glare at Charles, who was strolling out of the bathroom and looking way too pleased with himself. "Back off!" she snapped, her voice Her cheeks turned a shade redder as she bit her lip. "This is all your fault!"

Charles, still riding high, softly touched her cheek. "Come on, get ready. We're short on time!"

"If not for what you did, we would've had plenty of time!" Noelle retorted, but she dashed into the bathroom anyway. Charles watched her go, a sly grin creeping across his face.

He quickly changed and dialed Ronald. "Cook breakfast for the missus!" He barely hung up when Noelle burst back out of the bathroom, frantically getting dressed and mumbling to herself, "Just great! I'll be late for my first day!"

Noelle zoomed into the closet to change and emerged in a ponytail, still hunting for her phone.

Charles could not help but chuckle. He gently grabbed her. "Relax. You're not going to be late." Noelle shot him a playful yet accusing look. "If I am, I'll make you suffer the consequences!" "Deal!"

Charles's car was parked at the office, so he insisted on hitching a ride with Noelle to work. Noelle was not having it, though. It wasn't like Charles did not have another car to drive his garage at the swanky Phoenix Tree Residence was a treasure trove of shiny million- dollar rides.

Charles claimed all those cars had not been on the road for too long. He said they were probably running on empty or worse, rusting away.

Noelle rolled her eyes at the excuse but glanced at the clock and realized they were cutting it close. With a sigh, she waved him in.

Since Noelle was nursing a sore foot, Charles took the driver's seat. That's when Noelle understood what Charles meant by not being late. His driving speeds could rival the wind.

As they cruised up to a crossroads

one block away from Collosus Group, Noelle checked the time. They were a whole fifteen minutes early. She told Charles to pull over and, without a shred of guilt, booted him out. She claimed they could not risk being spotted together, so he had no business being seen in her car.

Left on the curb, Charles watched Noelle zoom off and just laughed. He had seen this coming. Besides, he had another reason for the pit stop-Ronald was waiting right there. Ronald raced down the street, breakfast in tow, to find his boss standing alone on the main road at the crack of dawn. The sight was a mix of hilarity and despair.

Charles shot Ronald a sideways glance and checked his watch. "You're late."

"Mr. Hoffman, this isn't on me!" Ronald was near tears. It was not his fault, after all. Morning rush hour was a nightmare, and the breakfast line had been endless. To top it off, Mr. Hoffman had said before that there was no rush for breakfast! "So, you're saying this is my fault?" Charles arched an eyebrow, and Ronald shuddered. "No, I failed in my duties. I take whatever punishment you see fit, Mr. Hoffman." Ronald's face turned ghostly pale. "But the breakfast?"

Charles squinted. "Figure it out and give it to Nelly!"