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I swallow.
His eyes play. ”I came all the way for one.”
”Don’t tease me,” I breathe, gulping again and dig my nails into the costly wallpaper behind me. ”Can I take your coat?”
He shakes his head, hanging it himself and the stretch of his arms, causes a whiff of his scent to reach me. The smell reminds me of salty water and suede. For the first time ever do I wonder if cologne is drinkable.
And he’s dressed in an impeccable grayish suit with a navy tie. If I was his stylist, I wouldn’t change a thing because he’s just that perfect.
”What are you doing here?” I whisper when he turns to me again ”You said you wouldn’t come.”
”This is what happens when you do a hug and run.”
I feel a muscle tick somewhere in my body but I’m too distressed to locate it. The last thing I want is for Hendryk to see me like this. I’m not my best when I’m at work and
I don’t want Hendryk to be reminded of that I’m…baseborn.
But I brace myself, deciding to do the best of this situation. ”Dinner will be served in there,” I say, nodding at the room, ”and the maid will make you any drink you like.”
”I don’t drink,” he shrugs. Curiosity flickers in his eyes. ”When are you going home tonight? Maybe we can share a cab?”
”Don’t count on it.” My face turns hot. ”I sleep here, actually. This is where I live.”
He seems surprised. ”You do? Can I see your bedroom?”
”Why do you want to see my bedroom?”
”You complained about neck pain,” he shrugs. ”I just want to make sure you sleep on ergonomic pillows.”
I don’t but I open up the door. To the cupboard, below the stairs. My voice trembles a little. ”I know it’s small, but it’s functional. Homey even.”
Hendryk nods, grabbing my pillow and starts feeling it between his palms. ”This won’t do.” He drops it and leans against the wall. ”I have better ones at my place. You should come by one day and pick one out.”
I stare at him, my eyes growing wet because I’m not blinking.
”Hendryk!” a hysterical Frau Falther yells, breaking the moment. ”Where are you, you naughty boy? Get over here and tell me all about your delicious adventures!”
Rolling his eyes, Hendryk whispers, ”I’ve been summoned.” His breath tickles my ear and I break out in goosebumps, that remain for longer than necessary.
He walks away but his fists are clenched as if he’s angry about something. And I got the feeling he was holding his tongue when he saw the cupboard/bedroom.
I shake myself to get a grip and help the maid out in the kitchen, but she orders me to bring another plate into the dining area.
”No,” I pant, feeling as if I have a belt around the throat and invisible hands keep tightening it. ”Can’t you do it? Just for tonight? I really don’t want to go in there.”
She tells me it doesn’t matter what I want, refusing to listen to me. With a heavy heart, I grab a plate. The porcelain trembles in my hands, my shoes clicking against the floor and I’m terrified I’ll slip or make a fool of myself somehow.
I enter the dining area carefully but nobody’s paying attention to me. They’re too busy entertaining each other and Hendryk’s in the limelight. All attention is on him and even the lamps seem to blink a little extra, just for his sake. The live candles hug his face, giving his complexion a more golden shade than usual,
”I’m loving the music,” I hear him say, his voice warm and enthusiastic. ”What elevator is it from?”
”The one at the Ritz,” Frau Falther replies unironically and with the same amount of enthusiasm. ”It’s uplifting isn’t it?”
”Very much so,” Hendryk nods, giving me a quick glance. ”It reminds me a little bit of a piece I heard in the one at the Hilton.”
Frau and friends hum with interest and I don’t know whether to bawl or laugh. Why is he doing this? He’s making fun of them and they don’t even get it. They’re lapping up everything that comes out of his mouth. I don’t breathe when I stop to arrange his plate.
”Thank you,” he says, looking up at me and our eyes arrest. ”Will you be joining us?”
