As the phone rang, Adelmo's ears perked up, and he quickly made his way towards it. With a professional tone, he answered, "Madison's Knowledge, how may I assist you today?"

Little did he know that a mischievous surprise awaited him on the other end of the line.

On the other side of the conversation, Nik couldn't help but chuckle mischievously.

In a playful manner, he responded, "Hey there, I'd like to place an order for a thousand books, please."

The mischievous glint in his eyes was evident even through the phone.

Adelmo's eyes widened in disbelief as he recognized Nik's voice. Realizing it was his friend, he couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief.

"Dude, don't do that," he replied, a mix of amusement and caution in his voice.

Nik's laughter echoed through the phone as he reassured Adelmo, "Relax, I'm just messing with you."

Adelmo couldn't help but join in the laughter, but he couldn't resist adding, "You know, a real order like that would bring in a fortune."

Nik, curious, asked, "Have you ever had an order for that many books?"

Adelmo paused for a moment, contemplating, before responding, "I guess not. Well, in that case, please don't get my hopes up like that!"

Nik, always the generous friend, offered, "Not like you're hurting for money, dude. Even if you were, you can always ask me for some help."

Adelmo smiled and said, "I know, and thanks. I just have something else a little more important on my mind at the moment."

Nik, ever curious, replied with an excited tone, "Oh yeah! Do you have another trip to take? Can I come?"

Adelmo's face contorted with worry as he tried to explain the situation to Nik.

"Dude, calm down," he pleaded, hoping to ease his friend's anxiety.

"It's nothing like that, Lana's sick."

Nik's eyebrows shot up in surprise, his concern evident in his voice. "Dude, did you knock her up?" he asked, half-jokingly.

Adelmo's eyes widened in shock at the suggestion.

"What! No... at least not that I know of," he quickly clarified.

"She asked me to move in with her, and I turned around and proposed to her."

Nik couldn't help but tease his friend, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

"Oh gee man, you made her sick with all that mushy stuff," he quipped.

Adelmo's face grew serious as he tried to convey the gravity of the situation.

"Man, I am trying to be serious here. I am worried about her," he confessed.

"She claimed it was from the excitement of me proposing to her, but I am not convinced. I've never heard of that happening before."

Nik leaned back, adopting a more reassuring tone. "Well, first things first, you worry too much," he reassured his friend.

"I am sure she will be fine. As for what she said, she might be right. Just because I haven't heard of it doesn't mean it hasn't happened."

Adelmo nodded, realizing the truth in Nik's words.

"I guess you've got a point there," he admitted gratefully.

"Thanks for calming me down."

As if on cue, Lana emerged from the backroom, interrupting their conversation.

Adelmo quickly spoke up, addressing Nik.

"Hey Nik, can I call you back?" he asked, his attention now fully focused on Lana's well-being.

Nik responded enthusiastically, "Absolutely, and if you plan any trips, be sure to give me a heads up because I definitely want to join you, alright?"

Adelmo chuckled before replying, "Yeah, sure thing. I'll catch up with you later."

With that, they bid farewell and hung up the phone, each going about their day with a smile on their face.

Glancing at the clock, Adelmo realized it was well past lunchtime. He couldn't help but wonder where the time had flown by.

Lost in his thoughts, he approached Lana and inquired, "Are you alright?"

Lana, looking a bit dazed, responded, "I think so. How long was I out for? It felt like an eternity."

Adelmo tried to reassure her, "I'm not entirely sure, maybe a couple of hours."

Lana expressed her doubts, "Maybe I shouldn't have come in today. I thought I could handle it, but now I'm not so sure."

Adelmo comforted her, "Don't worry, take care of yourself. I've got everything under control here."

Lana's eyes filled with regret as she apologized, "I'm so sorry, I really did try. I didn't mean to disappoint you."

Adelmo reached out to her, "It's alright, baby. Your well-being comes first. Don't push yourself too hard."

Lana lowered her gaze and confessed, "I didn't want to let you down. I thought I could handle it all."

Adelmo reassured her, "You're not letting anyone down. Take a break, regroup, and come back when you're ready. I'll be here to support you every step of the way."

Adelmo's heart ached as he tightly grasped Lana's hand, his voice filled with reassurance as he spoke, "Darling, you have never let me down, and you never will. Please don't ever doubt yourself. You are absolutely perfect just the way you are. There's no need for you to constantly strive so hard, because you already have me by your side."

A gentle smile formed on Lana's face as she replied, her voice tinged with vulnerability, "I know, but I can't help but fear losing you."

Adelmo's response was immediate, his voice filled with conviction, "You have no reason to worry about that, my love. I am here to stay."

Adelmo pulled Lana into a warm embrace, holding her tightly against his chest.

With a tender tone, he whispered, "Go home, my love, and take care of yourself. That's all that matters right now."

Lana's gratitude was evident in her voice as she replied, "Okay, thank you for understanding."

Knowing Adelmo's words of encouragement and reassurance brought a sense of comfort to Lana. She knew that she had someone by her side who truly cared for her well-being. As she left to take care of herself, she felt a sense of relief knowing that Adelmo was there to support her. Their bond grew stronger through moments of vulnerability and understanding, showing the depth of their connection and love for each other.

As Lana bids farewell to Adelmo, she embraces him briefly before making her way out of the store. The cool evening air greets her as she steps outside, the streetlights casting a warm glow on the sidewalk. She looks forward to returning to her cozy home, where her comfortable bed awaits her. Adelmo, on the other hand, remains behind to attend to the remaining tasks that need to be completed before closing up shop for the night.