Chapter 54 Chapter Fifty-four
Elena's POV
"Whose number?” My heart jumped again, Shannon and I frozen, while I clutched my phone to my chest like a teenager that is about to sneak out to make a call and then her father catch her, I know this isn't going to end up well, I thought of all the things I could tell father to let me off the hook, and for him not to scold us.
"Dad, it's..." I turned, wanting to explain, when my eyes fell on the one standing near the stairwell door with a lazy grin on his face. It wasn't my father, but that naughty little uncle of mine. My relief instantly turned into irritation. “You asshole!” I lunged at him before I could stop myself, smacking his shoulders lightly.
“Ouch!” Carson winced dramatically, clutching his chest like he had been stabbed. “Violence? Against your poor little uncle?”
“Why would you startle us like that?” I demanded, crossing my arms.
Carson blinked innocently. “I didn’t.”
Yes, he absolutely did, but the expression on his face said something else entirely. His gaze slowly moved between me and Shannon, a very suspicious look, as if he was trying to put the pieces together of a secret puzzle. Still, before he could open his mouth again, Shannon shoved the glass of milk into his hands, “Drink this,” she said firmly.
Carson looked down at it. “Why?”
“And stop copying people’s voices,” she continued. “This isn’t the Moretti mansion, where you wander around.”
He raised a brow, sipping from the glass, and gave it back to Shannon. “Why can’t I wander around, if you two could? And what are you two doing up here?”
“Because,” Shannon said sweetly, “we are princesses.” Carson blinked, "and princesses have every right to do whatever they want.”
He scoffed, "Oh yeah? If you’re princesses, then that makes me a prince.”
I burst out laughing, "Oh no,” I said quickly, shaking my head, "that is not how it works.”
Carson frowned. “Excuse me?”
“In every kingdom,” I continued dramatically, “there is only one prince, and that is always the first son.” His eyes narrowed, "Since my dad is the first son,” I finished with a smug smile, “that makes him the prince.” Carson stared at me blankly, "and you,” I added sweetly, “are just the king’s extra son.”
For a moment, he stood there in stunned silence, then his gaze shifted, "Elena!” he roared.
"Run!" Shannon screamed, and I shrieked and then ran. I dashed across the rooftop, laughing as he chased me.
“You little brat!” he shouted behind me.
Shannon’s giggles echoed through the night as she followed us toward the stairs. This was always us; any little time we spend together is like we are turning ten again. Carson eventually caught me near the other doorway, grabbing me around the waist and lifting me off the ground. “Put me down!” I squealed.
“Apologize to your prince.”
“You’re not a prince!”
“I can throw you off this roof.”
“You wouldn’t!”
He set me down with a dramatic sigh, “Ungrateful children,” he muttered.
"Thank God, you know you are one." We all ended up laughing, and somehow, by the time we went back to our room, Carson ended up staying in the same guest room as Shannon and me. He claimed it was because he didn’t trust us to behave but I suspected he just didn’t want to sleep alone.
Morning came far too quickly, a maid knocked gently on the door, “Breakfast is ready ma,” she announced politely. “Please come down, the family is at the dining already.” My stomach twisted at the reminder that we were leaving today, and that I might not get the opportunity to meet Nikolai soon. We took our bath and dressed quickly while I followed Shannon and Carson downstairs. When we entered the dining room, almost everyone was already seated, as the maid had said earlier. My father sat at one of the heads of the table beside him was Amara, opposite them sat Don Alessandro, and next to him was my beloved Rafael.
The moment he saw me, Rafael stood and pulled out the chair beside him, "Come sit here, baby." My stomach tightened. I didn't want to sit beside him. I parted my lips to decline, but of course, my perfect wannabe stepmother voice came up.
"Go on darling," she said sweetly, "no need to be shy because we are here."
I clenched my fist at my side, forcing a polite smile, "I'm fine sitting beside my Dad"
But my dad smiled, shaking his head, "Don't worry, my love, you can sit beside Rafael, Dad wouldn't be mad." He said calmly probably thinking I didn't want to sit beside Rafael because he is here. Although all my life, I had always sat beside him whenever he was around, today, that wasn't the reason; I didn’t want to sit beside Rafael. I wasn't comfortable sitting beside Rafael anymore. I hesitated for a moment, then I moved to the chair Rafael had pulled out
He smiled as I sat down beside him, and I smiled back at him, a smile that didn’t reach my eyes. A few seconds later, Shannon and Carson entered, “Good morning, Sir and ma,” Shannon said cheerfully.
Carson saluted lazily, while Amara gave them a tight, fake smile, “How is your injury?” she asked Shannon.
Shannon shrugged. “It’s fine," she said, sitting down, lifting her foot slightly, "the gel Nikolai gave me worked really well.”
Silence fell instantly, and I froze. Shannon had told me last night that Nikolai gave her a gel to apply to her legs, but I didn't expect her to say it in front of everyone. My father slowly turned his head toward her, “Where did you see him?” he asked, Shannon stiffened, my heart began pounding because I know father wouldn't let this matter slide, for some reason father doesn't like Nikolai and he is not even hiding it, “Go on,” my father said quietly, his fists were clenched tightly on the table.
Amara gently placed her hand on top of his, running soothing circles with her fingers on it. "I'm sure Nikolai was only trying to help,” she said softly.
But my father’s gaze remained locked on Shannon, demanding an answer. Shannon frowned slightly, then she said carefully, "I saw him in the kitchen on my way to get a glass of milk." Then she pointed towards her foot, "I was limping, and he noticed, he said he had a gel that could help."
Don Alessandro, Rafael's father, cleared his throat, "Come on, Valkor,” he said lightly. “My son isn’t a bad person." My father said nothing, and Alessandro continued, "Yes, he can be a bit headstrong." That was the understatement of the century. Nikolai is ruthless, but he is nice. “But if you get to know him," Alessandro added, "you will see he is actually a good man.”
My father’s lips curled slightly, "That doesn’t change the fact,” he said coldly, “that he is the spawn of a demon.” I choked on my coffee, the bitter liquid went down the wrong way and I started coughing violently.
“Are you alright?” Both my father and Shannon asked at the same time. With the way the two said the word at the same time, you would think it's a father and mother worrying for their child. Sometimes, I wish Shannon were much older so she could just marry my dad and be my stepmom, instead of that two-face Amara.
I nodded quickly, grabbing a napkin, “I’m fine.” I forced a smile toward Shannon to reassure her. Carson shook his head and silently added more food to Shannon’s plate.
The table fell into an awkward silence, and after a few moments, my father wiped his mouth and asked, "Where is Nikolai?" My heart skipped, while my eyes went to my father. Why was he suddenly asking about him? "Isn't he supposed to be here for breakfast?"
Father added while don Alessandro shrugged slightly, grabbing the napkin and wiping his lips, "he had some important business to attend to this morning, so he left early."
My chest tightened unexpectedly. he left early? He couldn't even wait to say goodbye to me before leaving. My father nodded slowly. He said something that made my stomach twist, "Tell him to contact Amara later." Apart from Amara being my dad's girlfriend, she is his assistant. I frowned, "he will be compensated for helping my family."
"Dad?" I called softly, and he lifted a hand, stopping me. I didn't like that he was treating it like a duty that deserved wages. I sighed, but I had nothing to do. The conversation moved on, but I had lost my appetite. Someone risked his life to save me, and my father thinks whatever amount could compensate him for the risk he took. What if the bullet met him?
I stared down at my plate, thinking about the incident at the kitchen, the kiss at the rooftop, his number in my phone, the way my heart beat for him and the fact that my father doesn't like him, a heavy sigh escape my lips, "can we go home now" I said suddenly and everyone gaze fall on me, I stood up before anyone could respond, "I'm tired." Without waiting for permission, I walked out of the dining room, because if I stayed one minute, someone might notice the reason I wanted to leave.
"I think we should leave now."