Emily ate the breakfast the dangerously handsome Theodore brought her, and she would often moan her appreciation. She liked muffins, and she wondered how he had guessed.
He didn’t want to have anything, claiming he had eaten already, but did watch her eat with an amused expression on.
It was close to 11:30 am when she told him in a soft voice, “I need to head out. I want to go to the cemetery.”
“Are you throwing me out, Miss Emily Nill?” He said in a mock shocked voice.
She smiled slightly at that.
“Hit the nail on the head, huh?” He pursed his lips slightly.
“It’s not like that,” she told him sweetly, trying to placate him. “I just…”
“I’ll accompany you,” his words albeit spoken softly were determined.
Her smile broadened and she nodded at him.
“I’ll go change then,” she announced, pointing at her bathroom.
After a tearful visit at the cemetery, where Theodore simply remained standing behind her, Emily felt more at ease – relieved – and less alone.
And then, seeing as he didn’t want to leave her alone as he claimed, she wanted to indulge in pizza, especially since she didn’t want to cook.
Instead of taking her to the local diner, he took her to the neighboring town’s restaurant. It was too fancy for her. And not only was she not dressed appropriately, she also couldn’t possibly afford to eat there.
“I can’t eat here,” she said timidly.
He scowled at her. “Do you not like the place?”
She shook her head negatively. “I’ve never even tried it. But look at me.”
“I am looking,” he told her in a slightly amused tone.
Kindly don’t laugh at my expense, she mentally begged. My heart wouldn’t take it.
“Okay, you might not have the most beautiful attire out there,” he conceded, “but that doesn’t make you any less beautiful.”
“Oh, come on.”
“It’s the truth,” he assured her. “If that’s all, let’s head in.”
“I also don’t have that kind of money to be able to afford this place.”
Although the confession hurt her pride, she needed to tell him that. She couldn’t pretend this wouldn’t hurt her budget.
“Because you thought you were going to pay perhaps, dorogaya?” He chuckled.
“Of course,” she nodded. “I need to pay for my share at the very least.”
“Nonsense,” he waved her worries away.
“I beg your pardon,” she interjected angrily. “It makes plenty of sense to me. I won’t be a kept woman.”
“You’re not, dorogaya,” he told her softly as he leaned over the distance that separated them in the car. “Please just accept that I want to treat you to lunch.”
She pouted briefly, at a loss for words, and then ended up accepting.
Emily would have to admit that the restaurant was absolutely magnificent. Its walls were decorated with refined taste and she had never seen anything like the painting that had her full attention.
“Excuse me, sir,” the receptionist called for Theodore’s attention. “Do you have a reservation?”
She barely looked at Emily, and when she did, her stare was full of disdain. But then again, even the receptionist was elegantly clad.
Emily blushed in embarrassment.
“I don’t,” Theodore said calmly. “But I’m Theodore King. I believe the owner will make an exception for me.”
“Sir, you have to understand that more formal attire is required to enter. Your companion…” she trailed off but her eyes said it all.
And that was when Emily witnessed just how cold and haughty Theodore could be. “Look, little girl. Call the manager or the owner for me, no questions asked, and you won’t be fired for your insolence.”
“Sir…”
“Pronto,” he snapped his fingers at her.
She blushed at the rude gesture and then went to call for the manager – although if Emily had to guess, she’d say she wasn’t calling him out of curtsy for Theodore.
It wasn’t long before she returned with a bald and serious looking man who was dressed just as elegantly as the receptionist.
“Mr King,” he began, making sure to avoid looking Theodore in the eyes – to show his submission or god knows to what end. “Kindly accept our deepest and most sincere apologies. Jennifer here didn’t recognize you, hence the confusion.”
“What confusion do you speak of?” Theodore iced out, looking levelly at the two people in front of him, before grabbing Emily’s hand. “I do not tolerate disrespect towards my woman from anyone.”
The manager nudged the receptionist none too gently, and she was quick to apologize, her eyes teary, “I’m so sorry, madam. I’ve always thought that respecting the dress code was mandatory.”
Emily just flashed her a small smile.
The manager and the receptionist both looked at Emily pleadingly, as if she had a say in this. And it wasn’t until Theodore looked at her that she realized, they were waiting for a more vocal answer from her.
“It’s okay,” she told them softly. “There is no loss of life.”
And thus, both Jennifer and her manager breathed out a sigh of relief, while Theodore simply looked at her with something akin to adoration in his eyes.
“Let me show you to your table at once,” the manager then offered sweetly. “Would you like a VIP room or a simple table?”
“VIP room, thank you very much,” Theodore declared matter-of-factly.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Their lunch went well. And although they didn’t talk much, the silence wasn’t a suffocating one.
When it was time to part with Theodore for the day, Emily told him softly, “Thank you for spending the day with me.”
She did really need someone by her side on that difficult day, even if she would rather drink acid than openly admit it.
“Anytime, dorogaya,” he said softly, stroking her cheek and then her bottom lip with his thumb.
Her heart thudded in her chest and her breathing became ragged, at the sensual and electrifying touch.
What was he doing to her? It should be illegal to have such an effect on another human being.
“Go, dorogaya,” he grumbled huskily. “Go before I lose control and decide to devour you whole.”
She smiled at him and then left the car and entered her building.
That night, she slept with a smile on her face, and dreamed of steely gray eyes looking at her lovingly, of her boss’ rugged body making love to hers passionately.
The following morning, alone or not, she was more than ready to face the world.
But nothing could have prepared her for the cold welcome of Mrs. Steams. “Why, pray tell, didn’t you come yesterday?”
She hadn’t even bothered to greet her good morning.
“It was the anniversary of my parents’ passing, Mrs. Steams,” she told her with a bleak smile.
“Be that as it may, we don’t tolerate absenteeism. You should have at least called,” came the cold retort.
“Well, Mr. King did call me, and I told him I was not coming,” Emily countered. Mrs. Steams didn’t seem to believe her still, so she went on, “He even spent the day with me.”
“Preposterous! Don’t speak nonsense,” she admonished her angrily.
“But it’s the truth,” Emily countered sullenly.
“You know what? You are fired, Miss Nill. Do not bother showing your face here anymore. Your check will be sent to you.”
That was like a slap to the face.
And the saddest part of all was that it occurred to Emily that – maybe – Theodore had seen how messed up she had been yesterday, and thus she was fired unceremoniously.
Sparing herself further heartache, she simply nodded, a bitter smile on her face, and then left the main residence, and headed straight for the staff’s quarters.
She shall not cry. Not over Theodore. Not over her harsh dismissal… not yet anyway.