Begin Again: Chapter 14

Audrey knows that Ellen hates to be disturbed in the middle of work, even more during the busy hours of dinner. Audrey doesn’t normally take the risk to go see Ellen at times like this, but right now she’s curious to death and she needs answers. 

Audrey is left to wait inside Ellen’s office while Andy is off to the kitchen to let his boss know. Even though Ellen and she already know each other for quite a while, this is only Audrey’s second time inside this room. Ellen’s office at the Ramses. The first time that she went into this room, she meant to give a surprise to Ellen, which… didn’t go quite as planned. On that day, Audrey found out two important things about Ellen. First, that Ellen doesn’t like to be disturbed while she’s working. Two, Ellen doesn’t enjoy surprises. 

Audrey had only wanted to give a birthday surprise by appearing at the Ramses with a birthday cake and some friends that Ellen also knows. But Ellen didn’t seem surprised at all, let alone happy, when she saw Audrey there with her other 20 friends, yelling “happy birthdaaay!” Oh, no. That woman was not happy at all. Audrey can never forget the look on Ellen’s face when she scolds her in front of her friends in this room.

That unpleasant memory makes Audrey looks around the room while cringing. Her eyes land on a box on Ellen’s working desk. That box has the exact same patterns with the one she’s holding in her hands. She approaches the desk to get a better view. Yes, it is the very same box. From A Piece of Cake. On top of the box, there was a sticky note which says, “PRIVATE PROPERTY. Trespassers will be heavily punished. Yes, including you, Andy.” 

Audrey lifts up the lid and sees only 2 tartlets inside it. 

“What do you need, Audrey?” 

Audrey spins around and flashes her sweetest smile despite knowing that it doesn’t have any effect on Ellen. Ellen is one among a very few people who aren't astonished or instantly turns into an obedient dog once seeing Audrey’s smile. That’s one of the things that makes Audrey likes her, besides the fact that Ellen DeGeneres is the owner and the executive chef of Ramses. And if she can be completely honest, Audrey hopes that Ellen’s tendency to be slightly cold and apathetic towards her is just a mask and that deep down inside that woman secretly likes her back. 

“I want to give you this,” Audrey says, lifting the box she’s holding. “I went to your friend’s patisserie earlier and bought this.” 

There’s a slight but noticeable change in Ellen’s demeanor. The light on her eyes softens in a split second and she smiles a little. “Oh? That’s great. Did you see Portia?” 

Audrey nods her head. “I did. I bought these tartlets for you, but I can see that you already bought some yourself,” she says while pointing at the box on Ellen’s desk. 

Ellen smiles. “Oh, I didn’t buy it. It was a gift,” she says, almost proudly. “But I’ll be glad to receive another package of Portia’s tartlets. Everybody here is addicted to it.” 

“That’s why you feel the need to protect the remaining two?” Audrey asks, talking about the sticky note on Ellen’s box. 

“Yes, exactly.” 

Audrey hands her box to Ellen and Ellen puts it carefully on her desk, next to the other one. Audrey’s eyes go to Ellen’s left hand. The ring that she always wears on her ring finger is nowhere to be seen. “Anyway, she told me she’s not your friend.” 

“Who?”

“Portia de Rossi,” Audrey says. 

Ellen raises her eyebrows. “She said we’re not friends?”

“Mm-hm.” 

Ellen is quiet for a while, then shrugs. “Well, I guess she’s right,” she says while smiling. 

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Audrey thinks to herself, frowning. Does this have something to do with the ring that’s hanging on Portia’s necklace? 

“Oh, where’s your ring?” Audrey asks innocently. “Your grandma’s ring, I mean. The one you always wear.” 

Ellen looks at her left hand. “I took it off,” she says briefly. 

No further explanation, so Audrey doesn’t know what to do. She wants to ask more, but she’s not sure that she wants to hear Ellen’s answer.

“So, why were you looking for me?” Ellen asks. “Only to give me the tartlets?”

Audrey puts on her best smile again and mumbles a yes. “But I also wanted to make sure that you haven’t forgotten about the Christmas party at The Plaza tomorrow.” 

“What Christmas party?”

“Oh, Ellen,” Audrey groans. “Why can’t you keep track of your promises?”

“What Christmas party?” Ellen repeats her question. 

Audrey pouts. “The Christmas party that’ll be held by the designer who hires me. I already told you about this weeks ago. This is very important, Ellen, and you promised to go with me.” 

“I did?” Ellen asks again instead. 

“Yes,” Audrey says vexedly. Ellen has always been like this. She rarely remembers her promises and rarely listens to Audrey’s words. Audrey should’ve gotten used to it by now, but instead, it keeps her wondering whether or not Ellen ever really pays attention to her. “I can’t go to the party alone, Ellen. They told me that I can bring my girlfriend with me, so I asked you to come. And you agreed.” 

“Alright. Alright,” Ellen says placidly. “Don’t need to be stressed about it. I’ll go with you. Is that it? Anything else? I have to get back to work.” 

Audrey shakes her head with a wide, joyful grin. 

Ellen stares at her confusedly. “Why are you smiling like that? It looks scary.” 

Audrey shakes her head again, but her grin only gets wider. “Nothing.” 

Ellen looks dubious but doesn’t say anything. She only walks past Audrey and says, “Okay. Gotta get back to the kitchen. You can show yourself out, right?” Ellen already disappears before Audrey can give out any answer. 

That’s okay. Audrey is not offended. She’s too freaking happy to be offended at the moment. She almost shouts out of joy right there. How can she not? She just implied that Ellen is her girlfriend and Ellen didn’t deny it.