Chapter 304 - 304: Your Master Chef

It was already 4:00 o'clock in the afternoon when Elle and her team finished their interview with Senator Mondragon. They also asked him to do a video shoot for this doc.u.mentary program.

They also got his consent and permission to disclose and include some private and personal information about him. They would show them the edited videos and compilations before showing it on the Television. The producers and editors would finalize everything.

"Ali, what are your impressions about Senator Mondragon?" Sandy asked her out of the blue.

Elle paused for a moment. She was recalling their interactions with him.

"Hmm, he has a charm that could easily capture people's hearts. He is also easy to talk to, approachable, friendly, and… has a sense of humor." Elle said as she enumerated some of his qualities.

Sandy nodded as she agreed with Elle's remarks.

"He is also humble and generous. No wonder, he is considered as the cleanest politician in the country." Sandy commented.

Elle frowned when something popped up in her mind. She somehow felt strange. She didn't know why but she sensed something more about Senator Alex Mondragon.

"Hmm. But my true impression about him is that… he is a mysterious guy." Elle had a nagging feeling but she couldn't figure it out yet.

"Huh? Mysterious? Why do you think so?" Sandy asked her confusedly.

"I don't know. It's just my sixth sense… I guess. Hmm… never mind." Elle simply said as she shrugged at her.

"Hmmm, alright! By the way, Diana and her father have opposite behaviors. I feel like she is quite intimidating and not easy to deal with." Sandy shared her thoughts with her.

"Hmm. I agree with you. But she's quite capable like her father. She's smart and a very talented woman. She also has a strong personality. In short… I don't like her." Elle admitted to them.

Josh who was just listening to their conversation, burst out laughing.

"Ali… I think. The feeling is mutual. It seems like she doesn't like you too. You are always contradicting her." Josh butted in.

Elle just gave him a timid smile as her response.

When they reached the gate, they were surprised to see the three people outside. Erick and his team were still there, in their car.

"Ali… I thought they went back to their headquarters as soon as their talk with Senator Mondragon was done. Why are they still here?" Sandy asked her with disbelief.

"I have no idea," Elle said. She was also wondering why they were still there.

Then they saw Erick wave at them. Josh stopped the car beside them. He was the one driving while Elle and Sandy were sitting at the passenger seat in the back.

Erick approached their car. He went to the side where Elle was sitting. He knocked at her window. She lowered the car window to face him.

"Hey, Chief Lee… what's up?" Elle said as she greeted him.

"Can I ask a favor?" Erick said to her while grinning widely.

"Handsome pervert! Why are you still here? I thought you have lots of work in the headquarters." Sandy butted in, interrupting Erick and Elle.

Elle rolled her eyes skyward after hearing Sandy calling Erick a 'handsome pervert' once again.

"We ran out of gas. So I want to ask you for a favor. Can you drop my colleagues to the headquarters… please?" Erick requested.

"Sure, Chief Lee." Josh was the one who answered.

"Thanks, Josh," Erick said.

Elle frowned and asked him, "How about you? You're not coming with us?"

Erick gave her a meaningful look before he responded. "I will be staying for a while. I am just waiting for someone to deliver some gas. I can't leave my car here."

Then Elle felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She picked it up and saw a message. A light flickered through her eyes when she read the message.

Meanwhile, Bryan and June got inside the car. June sat down in the front passenger seat while Bryan joined Sandy and Elle at the back passenger seat.

Erick thanked them once again before he returned to his car. Josh just turned on the engine when Elle suddenly stepped out of the car.

"Hey, Ali! Where are you going?" Sandy promptly asked her.

"Go ahead first. I just remember I still have something to discuss with Chief Lee regarding Senator Mondragon's case." Elle said as her alibi.

She didn't let Sandy speak another word as she immediately closed the car door and left.

Bam!

'What the hell is she doing again this time? She could also ask the two agents here.' Sandy thought to herself as she watched Elle's retreating back.

Sandy just shook her head and heaved a sigh of defeat.

"Let's go, Josh!" Sandy said as she signaled him to drive the car and leave.

On the other hand, Erick was smiling from ear to ear when he saw Elle walking towards his direction. He immediately got out of his car and opened the car door in the front passenger.

Elle let out a soft chuckle before she stepped inside the car. The message which she received a while ago came from Erick.

[ Time to pay me your debt. Let's have dinner tonight. ]

According to Erick, she owed him two meals. So here she was, ready to repay the first one.

"Hmm… Chief Lee… it's still too early for dinner." Elle said to him.

"You are not coming back to the headquarters? You still have two working hours left," Elle added.

"No worries. It's alright for me to go home early today. Besides, I've always worked overtime in the past two years. No one will try to complain against me." Erick said as he started the car.

"Hey, I thought you ran out of gas?" 

Erick let out another chuckle. "I lied."

Elle couldn't believe this guy. "You are lying more often Chief Lee. That's not a good habit."

"Heh… you should tell that to yourself also." Erick retorted as he smirked at her.

Dang! Another K.O from Mr. Detective. Elle couldn't refute that. She could only glare at him.

"So, where are we going to eat?" Elle asked him.

"Home!" Erick simply said to her.

Elle's heart skipped a beat after hearing the word 'Home'. Two years had passed. She wondered how Erick's place would look like now. When she was with him, she would always feel at home. Erick's side was her true home. And she missed it a lot.

"How can I treat you tonight?" Elle asked him again.

"We will go to the supermarket first. You will be the one to pay for the ingredients. Hmm, if you want… you can also cook for me." Erick shamelessly suggested to her. 

There was a gleam of joy and excitement in his eyes.

"I like the first suggestion but the second one… hmm, let's forget it!"

A husky laugh escaped his lips.

"I knew it. You are not fond of cooking."

Elle pouted. "It's not because of that. I am tired. My hands are also hurting because of shooting arrows. Can't cook tonight."

"Alright! I believe you. I'll be your Master Chef tonight, Ma'am!"

Elle's giggle bubbled up inside the car. She got what she wanted. She missed Erick's cooking. And tonight, Erick would cook for her.