I hear a knock. I look up and find Chris smiling at me. I sit up straight, smiling back. "Dinner is ready. Do you want to eat?" he asks.
I nod, "Sure…"
He nods, walking back. I bring my legs across, checking the bandage, wondering if it's way too bad. I hear steps and I look up, finding Luthien walking in with the tray, "Here, eat something."
I bow, mumbling a thank you, "Did you eat, boss?" I ask, grabbing the tray.
"Just call me by my name, it's my home." Luthien says, ignoring her face.
I nod, biting my lip. "Okay, Luthien."
"Um, why did you lie to your boyfriend? I mean… if you stay together, he would take better care of you." Luthien asks, making me gasp, I look away.
"I-I… just don't want him to worry." I lie, through my straight face, damn.
Luthien nods, sitting before me. "Um, I am sorry."
My eyes widen as I stare at him, "Huh?"
He is apologizing? To me?
Am I dreaming?
"I said I am sorry. For… you know, messing around." He apologizes sincerely. It had me gasp, my chest fluttering, and I looked away, gulping, "O-Okay."
"I really didn't know…you were taken." He adds, I bite my lip.
I am not, if I knew…he would be doing this, I wouldn't have lied.
Why do I feel this way? Am I disappointed?
No, no! Sierra, you sly bitch.
Just work and make life, don't delude yourself of romance!
"I-It's okay, really." I mumble, clearing my throat as I look at the bowl, playing with the soup. I hear him chuckle, "Then…let's be friends, shall we?"
I gasp, louder than I realize.
He chuckles, fuck…
I like this, his smile. It's so pretty.
"Friends?" I ask, he nods, looking at me patiently.
"I hope you don't mind, apart from work… we can manage being friends, right?" Luthien asks, I nod my head unconscious, "Wait- what?"
He chuckles again, damn… I love how he sounds.
"Sure…yeah, okay." I mumble, flustered.
"You are turning red, " he teases me. I gasp, covering my face. "No! I am just…surprised," I say, looking away, and he smiles, nodding his head.
"I mean it, I am sorry… I jus- never mind." He mutters, scratching his temple as I look away too, embarrassed.
"As long as…you behave." I mumble, startled by my own comment, my eyes flew to him, who looks at me baffled, he chuckles, looking away as he nods his head.
"Sure, I will behave." He says, raising his hands, as if surrendering.
I couldn't help but chuckle.
I halt, clearing my throat, "Come on, eat now." He says, I nod, focusing on the bowl since I couldn't face him with how flustered I was.
"Once you are done eating, let's get to know each other." Luthien says, standing up, I just stare, he smiles, "I will go and eat too." He walks out, I watch him disappear down the hallway, and I bite my lip.
I smile, feeling my heart skip a beat.
How come he is suddenly a different man?
I like this…side more.
Slapping myself out of the delusional world I am pushing myself into, I compose myself and drink the soup, eating the rice along. It tasted good, did he make it?
No, I shake my head.
Just don't think about him.
—---
Third Pov
"She is eating?" Chris asks, Luthien nods.
"Why are you smiling?" Chris adds, squinting his eyes, then slowly makes a face, grinning.
"Something happened, didn't it?" He continues, poking Luthien's arm, rolling his eyes, Luthien huff, "Just eat."
"Come on, did you make up?" Chris mumbles, as if it were a secret.
Luthien looks at Chris, raising a brow. "What's there to make up? I just apologized…" He mumbles, scooping a spoonful of rice into his mouth. Chris smiles, "It's making up, dude."
"Anyways, found anything suspicious?" Luthien questions, focusing his eyes on Chris, who shakes his head no. "It's a dead end. I walked around, hoping to find something… I did notice the human trails to the edge of the hill."
"Human trails?" Luthien asks, frowning. Wondering why.
Chris nods, "It seems like they were humans."
Luthien huffs, "Using humans to hide the clues now, are we?" He shakes his head, groaning, "Forget it, just eat."
"How should I forget this?" Luthien glares.
"I mean for now. Come on, it's getting cold. Also, they will try again, we have plenty of options." Chris says, Eating with ease. Luthien nods, exhaling deeply, "You are right."
"It's almost morning, shit." Chris mumbles, checking the time.
"Duh, everything happened by evening, the time went by in a blink." Luthien says, "I won't be sleeping, I will head to the company, keep watch on her." He adds.
Chris nods his head, "Sure. I will get to sleep, yes!" He says, happily.
Luthien squints his eyes, "Sleep? Don't you dare."
"What? Why?"
"She might need you. What is the reason for questioning?" Luthien says, done with eating as he stands up, grabbing the used plate and walking to the sink, "Come on, you won't be going to the office right now."
Chris whines, huffing.
"Be there for her, I will sleep." He adds, looking at Luthien.
"Go on then. I will wake you up before I leave." Luthien says, Chris nods his head, happy. "Thank you! I love you!" Chris jumps onto Luthien, making him gasp, "Dude." Luthien scoffs.
"I am going to sleep." Chris says, rushing to the guest room.
Luthien smiles, shaking his head as he continues cleaning. Once done, he wipes his hands and makes his way to his room. "Do you need anything more?" He asks, Sierra flinches at his sudden appearance, shaking her head no, and she smiles.
Luthien nods, grabbing the tray and returning it to the kitchen to wash.
A subtle smile on his face, etched without his knowledge, kept him on edge.
The feelings are all so different and confusing, keeping him on his toes, ever surprised and alert.