Chapter 13

"Where do we start?"

Lexton's voice filled the room, making Aurora instantly pay full attention. The time had come, and she knew she couldn't possibly avoid it this time.

"Uhm," Aurora cleared her throat slightly. "As you wish, sir."

Lexton watched the young woman carefully. Ever since her arrival last night, he realized he had not been paying Aurora much attention. Because Lexton was already bothered by Aurora's presence there, already annoyed that Aurora was taking up his time.

The woman's face was perfectly round, with the same long hair in a ponytail. Her beady eyes were hazel-colored, with a clear curve to her cheeks. Her neck looked long, with a height that was not too tall. Her nose was sharp, and her pink lips looked so tempting.

Lexton took a breath. It occurred to him again that she was the first female guest --other than Mireli the head chef of course, who had spent time in the Alfacht clan mansion.

Looking closely, Lexton noticed a similarity in the shape of Aurora's eyes and lips that instantly reminded him of Gama. Although the two siblings did not resemble each other facially, the shape of their eyes and lips looked similar.

Aurora Vernon was indeed the younger sibling of Gamaliel Vernon.

A knock on the door broke the silence that had taken over, followed by Mireli's head poking out from behind the door.

"Sir, I brought your breakfast," Mireli said as she approached, carrying a tray with a flat plate and a cup with black coffee in it.

Lexton turned his attention from Aurora to Mireli.

"Thank you, Mireli."

Mireli placed the tray on the table, bowing slightly in salute. Finding that Lexton was not alone there, the head chef also greeted Aurora.

"You're here, Miss Aurora," she greeted kindly. "What would you like to drink?"

Aurora raised a hand, waving it in the air in a gesture of refusal.

"No, Mireli, thank you," the woman declined. "I've already had breakfast."

"Very well, miss."

Mireli gave a small smile, then retreated from there. Leaving Lexton, who now had one leg over the other, looking relaxed and leaning back on the sofa. The pungent aroma of coffee filled the room, making Lexton look forward to taking a sip of the black liquid this morning.

"So, tell me about yourself, Aurora," Lexton asked, trying to open the conversation. His hand moved to his coffee cup, inhaling the aroma before his nose.

Aurora took a breath. Tell me about herself? What kind?

"Uhm, about me?" she asked confused. She wasn't used to speaking formally like this with a man who seemed to be much older than her. "Like what for example?"

The smell of the coffee calmed Lexton down, this time placing his lips on the corner of the cup.

"Anything," Lexton replied again. "About yourself, how you've been living, and where you've been, for example."

Unlike Aurora who looked so awkward, Lexton seemed to be enjoying the conversation. Of course with the cup he was still trying to sip slowly, the man seemed to be waiting.

"I've been living abroad for the past eight years," Aurora replied quietly. She really didn't know where to start. "My brother sent me away from this country for some reason, which he didn't explain to me in detail."

Lexton was silent, listening intently to Aurora as she began to tell her story. Lexton secretly thought that the biggest and most plausible reason for Gama to send his only sibling out of the country might have something to do with the Senegalese clan.

"Then I came back a few weeks ago. Left my first year of college to return to this country," Aurora continued. "I wish I could go back with my brother, but he left and only left a letter."

Aurora was eager to ask about where Gama was now, but suddenly her tongue turned loose. Gama told her not to mention the man, and Aurora didn't want to disobey her brother's orders. She would just be patient, until she knew the truth behind Gama's disappearance.

Lexton set the coffee cup back on the tray, glancing at the muffin topped with nuts and drizzled with mapple syrup. It was Lexton's favorite breakfast menu, though it was actually too sweet when juxtaposed with the many tattoos he had on his body.

Not really.

"You just started college?" asked Lexton with a beady eye. "How old are you?"

Aurora nodded vaguely. "Entering my 19th year."

Lexton's eyes widened for an instant, calculating to himself that he would have to be this young woman's guardian for two years. Gama had asked him to protect Aurora until she turned 21 in his letter yesterday. It didn't seem like much, just two years.

"All right," Lexton said. "And what's your plan?" he asked again.

He was completely blank, not knowing what he should do as guardian. Was he just supposed to prepare a place to live? Or was he just supposed to pay for her affairs? Or what?

Aurora took a few seconds of silence. Not immediately opening her mouth, the woman seemed to think for a moment.

"May I ask you a question, sir?" she asked in return.

Lexton looked at Aurora. "Please."

Squeezing her fingers in her lap, Aurora seemed to be gathering courage.

"May I ask where I am right now?" Aurora asked softly. "Who are you? And what is your relationship with my brother? Why did my brother tell me to meet you, and why are you the one appointed by my brother to be my guardian? Where is my brother? Is he away for a long time? Is he abroad right now?"

Almost out of breath, Aurora gasped as she finished her sentence that contained consecutive questions. Taking a deep breath to fill her chest cavity, the woman stared at Lexton with a straight gaze.

Waiting for an answer, with great curiosity. Lexton cleared his throat, quite loudly this time.

"Which one should I answer first, Miss?" he said flatly. He never explained who he was to others, as it was usually others who wanted to be known by him. But this time, Lexton seemed to have to proudly introduce himself, as well as the organization he had built.

Aurora shrugged unconsciously, seemingly getting comfortable sitting on the sofa.

"Whatever, I'll listen. I'll repeat my question if you forgot," she replied softly.

Lexton smiled faintly, still watching Aurora with his beady eyes fixed on her.

"Alright," the man said. He straightened up this time. "I don't usually introduce myself to people, but I will this time. Let's start with the easy ones first, shall we?"

Aurora winked. "Whatever."

The man's coffee was already halfway down, as he began to answer question after question Aurora asked.

"As you know, I'm Lexton Alfacht. Friend of your brother, Gamaliel Vernon," Lexton began a series of sentences in one breath.

"You're in the mansion of the Alfacht clan, one of the most respected organizations in the country. And this man in front of you is its leader, the Alpha."