Chapter 24: A Tensioned Dinner

Chapter 24: A Tensioned Dinner


"I'm not ignoring you," I answered, her tone cutting. "I simply have nothing to say." 

Alexander's keen eyes moved to her leg, where she had subtly hidden her foot under the table. "What happened to your leg?" he inquired, his voice relaxed yet tinged with worry. 

Heat flooded my cheeks, embarrassment engulfing me while I struggled to find a response. “It’s not a big deal,” I responded swiftly, attempting to dismiss it. 

Alexander raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. “You’re wearing those heels. They can’t be comfortable.”

I looked at my footwear,  beautiful, strappy heels in a deep shade of red that matched her dress perfectly. The intricate straps intertwined gracefully around her ankles, while the tapered toes extended her legs, giving her a sense of strength and vulnerability. However, in spite of their elegance, the shoes squeezed her feet, and she let out a sigh. They were the sole shoes Vee had taken with the dress, leaving her without another option. 

“They’re just a bit… tight,” I admitted, the truth slipping out despite my initial hesitation.

A knowing smile crept onto Alexander's face as he leaned back in his chair, fully aware of my discomfort. He had noticed it the moment I walked out from the Mansion, but he hadn’t expected it to worsen. “You could have chosen something easier to walk in, you know.”

“Hm…” I mumbled, my eyes darting back down to the shoes. The truth was, these were the only shoes I had since they had been bought with the dress. The rest were just regular shoes,  at least that’s what Vee had told me.

“Maybe,” I said, still focused on the shoes. “Aren’t you the one who bought them?”

“I told Vee to get everything you needed for tonight. I didn’t realize she’d pick out uncomfortable shoes,” Alexander replied, his tone light yet teasing.

Why did it feel like it was my fault and why did he care? Dysis wondered, a flicker of anger stirring within her. 

Alexander's thoughts drifted as he observed her, recalling how he had brought her to the mansion against her will just a few months ago. She arrived with nothing. Alexander doesn’t see the thing she brought as anything but rags. 

Are those the only shoes she has? he thought, realizing just how limited her options were. Alexander noticed her skin, a hint of amusement in his gaze as he remembered Lucian's words. "She has healed completely.”

“You’ve healed completely,” he remarked, studying her intently.

Dysis met his gaze, a tumultuous mix of pride and vulnerability stirring within her. "It won’t last. I’ll get sick again," she said, attempting to sound indifferent, though a hint of warmth colored her cheeks at his compliment.

“You’re hoping to get sick again?,” he countered. 

Her anger flared, and she shot back, “yeah.. All thanks to you.”

“I didn’t bring you out here to fight,” Alexander replied, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice.

“Then what? Why not kill me instead?” Dysis retorted, her heart racing with a mixture of fear and defiance.

“I'll consider it," he remarked, his voice earnest. 

A chill ran through me as I began to speak, but before I could say anything, the waiter arrived, skillfully carrying a tray filled with our meals. 

He set down Alexander's filet mignon first, the meat perfectly seared and garnished with a delicate sprig of rosemary. I gazed, however I was drawn to my own dessert, the strawberry cake.

The cake was a stunning sight to behold. Layers of soft, buttery sponge were meticulously stacked, each tier filled with a luscious strawberry cream that glistened under the soft restaurant lights. The top was adorned with vibrant, fresh strawberries, their ruby red hues glistening with a hint of sugar, while a dusting of powdered sugar framed the edges like a delicate veil. 

Atop the masterpiece sat a dollop of whipped cream, perfectly swirled and inviting. The entire creation rested on a white plate, garnished with a sprig of mint that added a pop of green, making it look even more elegant.

I couldn't help but smile at its beauty, it seemed to embody a sense of joy that momentarily distracted me from the heavy conversations they had just shared.

“Enjoy,” the waiter said with a nod before leaving them to their meal.

Alexander noticed the faint smile on her lips and couldn’t believe how quickly a simple strawberry cake had managed to distract her and diffuse the tension of their argument. He found himself smiling, almost amused by how easily her mood shifted.

He watched as Dysis took a bite of the strawberry cake, her expression lighting up momentarily as if savoring a rare joy. But then, as if catching herself, she quickly masked her pleasure and pretended not to enjoy it, trying to maintain her guarded stance.

Alexander had never encountered anyone with a spirit as unrestrained as hers. Others couldn’t even meet his gaze, but Dysis was different, she wasn’t afraid to look him in the eye, and she always spoke her mind. It wasn’t that she was fearless, it was more as if she didn’t care about anything anymore, how long can she keep up with this.

“If you want my cake so much all you can do is just ask”. I said while still eating the cake and the spoon in my mouth like a little girl. “ but you don’t know how to ask.. you take” I continue. 

Alexander smiles, “asking is a waste of time” 

“Your girlfriend wasn’t happy to see me going out with you” I asked 

Alexander’s eyes darkened slightly, as though she had crossed some invisible line. His smile returned, but it was colder now, more guarded. “Does it matter?”

I blinked, surprised by the sudden shift in his tone. So he was in a relationship after all. Then why did he take me out instead of her or are they fighting and he needed her to be jealous?

“Everything about this night matters.” She leaned forward, her eyes never leaving his. “I’m here with you. Why?.”

He let out a slow, almost imperceptible breath, as if he was considering her words carefully. Then, in a voice that was almost too soft, he replied, “cause you wanted to go outside.”

Before she could respond, a shadow passed over the table, John, standing behind Alexander’s chair, his presence as imposing as ever. He cleared his throat, drawing their attention.
“Boss, there’s something you need to see,” John said, his voice low, urgent. The air around them shifted again, this time with a sense of foreboding.
Alexander straightened, his expression instantly transforming from one of quiet amusement to one of focused intensity. “What is it?” His voice was sharp, commanding, and Dysis felt a chill crawl up her spine.
“There’s been a development,” John continued, his eyes flickering momentarily to Dysis before returning to his boss. “Something you should know immediately.”
Without waiting for another word, Alexander stood, pushing his chair back with a swift movement. He glanced at Dysis briefly, his eyes unreadable, before turning to leave. “Stay here,” he ordered, his voice low, yet laced with an undeniable force. "I'll return in a moment." 

Her heart pounded as he turned to leave, the abrupt change in his behavior making her uneasy. What might be so pressing? What was the reason for John's interruption of their dinner? 

Dysis struggled to control her feelings. By this point, she knew Alexander sufficiently to realize that his life was perpetually in flux, constantly balanced on the brink of disorder. And still, there was an aspect of this moment that seemed distinct. The manner in which John spoke, the strain in his tone, made Dysis feel as if she were poised on the brink of a precipice, ready to plunge into something beyond her control.