Chapter - 54 - Tortellini soup

The boxing match was going on interestingly but was disturbed when Gianna's phone started to ring all of a sudden. Rick and Gianna both were annoyed by the disturbance and Gianna saw another unknown number on the screen. Rick muted the channel and let Gianna attend the call.

"Good evening, Dr. Gianna!" an old man's voice was heard from the other side of the phone. Gianna recognized the voice instantly and replied looking at Rick sitting beside her "Good evening, Mr. Ellerbrock." Rick was surprised to hear the name and slowly looked at Gianna. Gianna caught every facial change on Rick's face and smirked at him.

"I am surprised that you recognized my voice!" "How can I not, when you have sent a notice to the whole city to protect me and acknowledge my requests?" Mr. Ellerbrock laughed heartily and said, "You are indeed a smart woman! It's my duty to protect you when you did your duty to protect my grandson." "Well, I see there is no reason to interfere with your duty." "It's all good then. Also, I hope you were not disturbed by my men."

"I was not disturbed but was irritated. Now I am alright!" said Gianna in a calm voice. Rick totally gave up on trying to understand Gianna because she clearly knew who Mr. Ellerbrock was and still talked with so much arrogance to him. 'Is she smart or ignorant? Don't she know she is playing with the fire?' thought Rick in his mind. He noticed that she was about to switch on the speaker mode and wondered why she was doing it.

"Have you seen a wounded man in complete black attire somewhere near your apartment at around midnight?" asked Mr. Ellerbrock in a serious tone. Gianna looked at Rick tauntingly and said, "A wounded man in black attire around midnight? Hmmmm…." Rick's heart pounded faster because he knew those men were still lurking around in the area and would be here anytime if Gianna tells him the truth. Rick looked at her eyes and waited to hear what she would say.

"Nope. Yesterday, I slept early as I was exhausted from two back to back surgeries." said Gianna with a smirk on her face. Rick let out an inaudible sigh and looked away. "Okay then, please take care of your health." said Mr. Ellerbrock before hanging up the call. Gianna let out a chuckle and looked at the television.

"Why didn't you tell him the truth?" asked Rick looking at the television. "Patient's details are confidential and cannot be exposed to third parties." said Gianna indifferently looking at the television. Rick chuckled at her reply and said, "Thank you, Gianna!" There was no response from her and they continued to watch the matches in silence.

"What do you want for dinner?" asked Gianna as she noticed it was already ten minutes to nine. "Are you going to cook?" asked Rick. "No." Rick wanted to eat her dish for one last time because he knew he can't see her again even if he wishes to and also he would only bring danger to her. "You can order anything. I don't have an appetite." said Rick in a low voice. Gianna caught Rick's disappointed look in her peripheral vision.

Gianna grabbed her wallet and phone and walked out of the apartment without a word. Rick didn't know whether he angered her again or she went to bring the takeout but decided to wait anyway. Gianna shopped for groceries as she decided to cook one of her favorite soups. Rick continuously glanced at the clock and 20 minutes had already passed but Gianna still didn't return. He paced back and forth in the living room and made up his mind to go in search of her but then he heard the apartment door open.

Rick looked expectantly at the door and saw Gianna entering with a bag full of groceries. Gianna gave a questioning look at him. "I was worried because it took you so long to return," said Rick. Gianna chuckled and asked, "Do I look like a kid to you?."

She placed the groceries on the kitchen counter top and started with cooking. "What are you going to prepare? Do you need a hand?" asked Rick happily. He never thought Gianna would decide to cook and wondered what made her decide to cook.

"Tortellini soup. You can take a rest and I will call you once it's ready." said Gianna while cleaning the ingredients required. 'Tortellini soup? Come to think of it, why does she have a Velarish food preference even though she is from Ascania? Does she know I am from Velaris or is she also from Velaris?' thought Rick as he observed Gianna. "If you are going to stand there, come and chop these vegetables." said Gianna as she cleaned the raw chicken.

Rick took the onions and started to chop them gladly after peeling it. Gianna noticed his chopping skill and said, "I see you have got some good cooking skills." Rick shrugged and said with a smile, "When you live alone, you gotta pick some skills to survive." "That totally makes sense!" said Gianna, chuckling and continued with her work.

Gianna placed a large sauce pot over the medium flame and added the olive oil and chopped onions to it. She kept sauteing the onions till it was softened. Then slowly she added the chopped bell pepper, carrots, and garlic and sauteed till it softened. She gave spinach and parsley to Rick and told him to wash it. Rick gladly accepted the task and completed it.