Chapter 86 CHAPTER 090
"Good morning." He says, looking at me from head to toe, I don't miss the heat in his gaze. He doesn't get to look at me like that after the stunt he pulled yesterday. But I swallow the sass. That won't help me right now.
"Good morning." It is almost noon. I expected that he would have had breakfast and gone off to his study or home office. I was listening to hear him walk past before sneaking down to whip up something for myself.
And now he is here. I am sure he knows I had my ear to the door. Because it is clearly obvious on my red face.
"Aren't you going to have breakfast?" He asks, casually.
"I was just on my way." I say defensively. I am wearing a shirt and pajama pants. Suitable for breakfast.
"Hm. Let's go then." He says and turns around, holding the door open for me. It is obvious there is no escape. I really thought he already had breakfast. He must have gone downstairs to wait and when I didn't show up, he came back up to pull me out. I still have to take my drugs. It was reckless of me to sleep hungry last night. He knew it and doesn't want me to repeat it.
"Thanks." I say under my breath as I walk through the door.
We walk quietly down the stairs together, I do my best to not look at him.
"How are you feeling?" He asks me when we reach the foot of the stairs.
He pulls out a chair for me at the head of the small dining table in the corner of his multimillion dollar kitchen. One of the things I liked most about the mansion was little organised spaces like these for more intimate or personal meetings.
My mom used to have domestic staff littered everywhere all the time, but I since I came back, I have noticed that Linc let them all go. The housekeeping comes in thrice a week and they leave the mansion sparkling. I have only seen them work once since I have been back, that is how unobstructive they are.
The kitchen staff comes in on command, which is not very often as Linc tends to make his meals himself whenever he could.
Every other house management is handled by Mr. Hageman. The butler who I have met maybe just thrice since I have known Linc. He lives in the house, but according to Linc's preferences, I guess, he is not at his beck and call like a typical butler. He handles the running of the mansion seamlessly.
The house is big and empty, with its cozy private spots like this dinning table secluded from the larger, grander one located far inside the general kitchen space. I like it.
"Uh, embarrassed. I wish I can run away." I reply with a small self conscious smile. Like, it is not something I have given serious thought.
Linc stares at me blankly across the table, he is close and I can smell him. Divine as always.
Then the stare prolongs and his mouth quirks up, I realise he wasn't asking me about the incident yesterday and my cheeks burn even brighter.
Fuck. I have really dug myself a hole.
"Oh, you meant my health? In general. Uh, yeah, I feel okay. I feel fine." I say. Smiling like I don't want to smash my head against the table and pass out. I am so embarrassed. Why can't I move past what happened yesterday? Now I have brought it up again.
"That is good to hear. Did you take your drugs last night? You were asleep when I came to check on you." Linc says, his tone adopts a sarcastic lilt to it. I am this close to flaring up. I tamp down on the urge with sheer will.
"I did. That is why I was asleep." I say tightly.
"Alright." He has the nerve to look neutral and cool as he spoons eggs onto his plate.
I narrow my eyes at him but he doesn't notice. I take in the array of options on the table, french toast, porridge oats, eggs, bacon and coffee. Knowing that he made it all makes my heart waver.
Damn him. He makes me feel several emotions at the same time. That can't be healthy.
I hear footsteps behind me. Hernandez walks up to us. Features stern and professional as always.
My heart gallops. There is only one reason why he would interrupt our breakfast like this. I don't want to hear it.
"Miss Tanner, good morning. I hope you are feeling better?" He says courteously to me.
"I am fine, thank you." I reply quietly. Hernandez turns to Linc who is watching him, waiting, just like I am, to hear what he has to say.
"Mr. Dmitri. Sheryl is here." He says and whilst it is not quite what I was expecting to hear, my stomach still heaves with my anxiety at the name.
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"Sheryl? Hell is she doing here?" Linc's face tightens at the name. He glares at Hernandez like he can't believe he would intrude on our moment for something as trivial as Sheryl visiting.
Except I don't consider Sheryl's presence as trivial. I feel dread clawing at my throat regardless at the knowledge of her presence just behind the door. I drop the toast I was just about to eat before Hernandez walked in, I don't have an appetite anymore.
I realise that whilst I have a rough idea about Linc and Sheryl's history according to Tyler's little deranged story, I have not heard about it from Linc himself. I haven't asked and he hasn't told me.
"I don't know, Sir. She is insisting on seeing you. My men trailing her confirms that Tyler hasn't contacted her. But I think it is still worth a shot to listen to what she has to say. She could give clues on where he might be hiding." Hernandez says coolly. Linc's glare has no effect on him.
I think he is also staying in the mansion with us, but at the same far off part of the house as Mr. Hageman that you wouldn't run into him if he wasn't coming to meet you. Linc always had a thing for boundaries and impeccable privacy.
He has established an order in his home that we could fuck right here on the dining table and no one would walk in on us or even know. Not that that is what I am thinking about or want. After yesterday, I am not that shameless.