66. Dinner


    <<. Miles. >>


    I''m in the kitchen, surrounded by the fragrant smell of spices and the sizzling of the pan on the stove. Avery and Alfred have just arrived.


    After meeting him this noon, I went back to the office to wrap up my work while Avery packed her stuff.


    I am a little nervous. I don''t know what happened, but I suddenly felt a bundle of affection when I saw Avery getting scolded like a little girl.


    I couldn''t let her take the heat alone.


    She pulled me into her room and asked, "Are you out of your mind?"


    "I guess so."


    She eyed me for a moment and poked a finger into my chest. "OK. But we will live


    in different rooms. I cannot afford that you start hating me because I took away your privacy."


    I gave it a thought. "Alright. You certainly know more than me about rtionships."


    She grimaced. "Only failed rtionships...."


    I pulled her in my embrace and said, "You know what they say.... Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again... So use me to start again."


    Alfred clears his throat behind me, and Ie out of my chain of thoughts. My eyes fall on Avery and she is busy setting up the table with tes and silverware I handed her.


    "I never imagined you would be into cooking."


    "I like to do it on asions..."


    A thought crosses my mind. I don''t know if Avery likes to cook or not. Although if we will have dinner regrly, maybe it''s high time to hire a chef.


    He nods.


    "I am d you two resolved your differences, but remember Liam-" I wince at his use of name... That was a reckless decision. Now all that game seems childish. “- I just wanted to remind you that marriage is not easy. It takes work andpromise from both partners. But if you keepmunication open and put in the effort, it can be the most fulfilling thing you''ll ever do.... I just want you both to handle things better before it''s toote in any argument."


    I nod and wince inwardly again.


    17:24


    Aften c


    Avery is right to be worried. Someday we will have to tell him the truth. Alfred will be so damn disappointed in both


    of us.


    "I understand Dad. we both will try to do better."


    After that we casually make some chatter. I take a nce at the dining area. Avery is sitting at the table, silently watching us with a warm smile on her face. I can tell that she''s happy. That''s guaranteed good sex for the night.


    Because of her packing, my work and this nned dinner, we couldn''t make it to the barn for her training tonight. Maybe we will explore some options in my bedroom.


    As we sit down to eat the grilled salmon with a lemon butter sauce and roasted vegetables, the conversation turns to our hobbies and interests. Avery tells us about her passion for photography. I make a mental note to make sure she has the best cameras in the world at her disposal.


    Alfred''s phone rings, and he makes his way to the balcony to talk. After a while, our phones vibrate.


    I ignore my phone while Avery picks up hers.


    Her reaction stunned.


    "It''s Ran," she says. "De has been arrested."


    I frown. So soon?


    She looks at me perplexed and hesitantly asks, “Did you... pull this off? Because Investigation wasn''t evenplete, Miles.... How?"


    "What? No." I feel a little embarrassed at her usation. Do I have resources to pull this off?


    Yes.


    But I didn''t because I simply didn''t want to. Avery was conflicted when I told her I had a hand in leaking her chats


    to the media. I did that because her investigating officer wasn''t taking her case seriously.


    Why would I hamper an ongoing investigation?”


    Alfred makes his way inside the room with a grim expression.


    "It was Joy... Uhmmm De has been arrested."


    "Did they give any reason? Is it rted to my case?"


    "they haven''t disclosed anything. But only mentioned that they gathered sufficient evidence and they believe that the attacker poses an imminent threat to public safety."


    He takes a seat in defeat.


    "Why don''t you stay here for the night, dad?" I suggest.


    17:24


    After Slooning with


    He shakes his head and gets up. "I am in such a limbo. Joy was hysterical."


    You should go to her," Avery says and Alfred looks at her.


    Yes dad. I understand you. De is your daughter too. No matter what they do..." She takes a pause. "And it must be hard on you."


    He nods and gets up. Alfred is clearly conflicted. I can see it on his face.


    "After crying her heart out, she will throw a tantrum. But before that, I can sure offer her a shoulder........... I should leave now,” he says finally and I look at his te, then nce at Avery, wondering if I should ask him to stay a little longer. Avery shakes her head.


    He walks towards the door and says, "It''s hard on me... but De needs to face consequences of her actions. She is no longer a child who can have everything. This time she crossed a line."


    Avery bites her lips and nods. "It means a lot to me, dad..."


    Avery''s father excuses hims and Avery and I are left alone in silence.


    You okay?"


    She shrugs and gets up.


    I think I need to call in the night. I want to lie in bed."


    I scratch my head.


    This is not how I expected the night to be.


    7 made some dessert too. Would you like that?"


    "Sure," she says and walks to the kitchen counter with me.


    I decorate Tiramisu on two small tes and she looks at me with fascination.


    "Who taught you to cook?


    Mom had this chef at home. I would sneak in. and learn a trick or two...


    "We have she takes a pause and frowns. Unde Orin. He isn''t exactly a chef, but he cooks real nice... But I


    never learned. I don''t enjoy cooking. She chuckles.


    I hand her the te and she says, "This smells nice what is it?


    Trs an Italian dessert and the pure heaven you smell is coffee and cocoa powder."


    She takes a spoonful while leaning onto the counter and hums, "Hmmm, this is


    sin."


    1724


    We eat in silence, looking at the mess I created on the counter.


    I pull my phone out and send a quick text to Isha.


    Me: ''Please arrange me a chef by tomorrow.''


    Now that I am not living alone, I will have to assign some people who can take


    care of the kitchen.


    Isha replies immediately, and I smirk.


    Isha: Tull time? Stay at home.''


    Me: ''Oh please, I need my privacy. Once a day. Dinner time would be nice.''


    Me: ''But he should cook, clean and get out of my house in no time.''


    Isha: ''Consider it done.''


    I put the phone down and see Avery is observing me. I raise my brow at her and


    take thest bite of my dessert.


    "Nothing... I am just tired," she says as she nces at her luggage bags in the


    hallway. "I guess I should unpack..."


    I nod. Unsure if I should offer my help.


    Would it be clingy If I want to watch her unpack?


    Yup, very clingy.


    Jeez, this is hard.


    "Sure go ahead," I say.


    <<. Avery. >>


    Unpacking keeps me distracted for a while. But as soon as I am done putting my


    stuff in the closet, thoughts swarm around in my head once again.


    "Focus on something else," I mutter to myself.


    I pick up my phone and text Miles.


    Me: ''So...


    Miles: ''Sex?''


    Iugh.


    17:24


    Aften cr


    Me: ''Nope!''


    Miles: Dang


    Me: ''So I guess Ran doesn''t need to follow me around anymore. Right?''


    Miles: Yea... I guess so. As you are living with me now. You are safe.''


    I nod to my phone and think about his words from the afternoon. He suggested I should get my stuff from New York. He is right. What''s the point of keeping it in two ces?


    But before that need to discuss it with Lena. Jake has been begging metely to give him his girlsister back. Two of them are pretty capable of handling the business there. For the past three years, I met


    them every single day. Is this an end to our close sistership? An ache


    rises in my chest.


    Maybe I should go with Lena and live there for a few days before moving to Las


    Angeles for good?


    Me: Tomorrow there will be a shit storm in the media. I think maybe I should go to


    New York for a while. Away from all this madness..''


    Miles: ''Nope.''


    Me: Excuse me?''


    Miles: ''Maybe you forgot the auction. It''s still happening. And you signed a


    contract with the club. You can''t back off."


    I blush profusely.


    Me: You wouldn''t let that happen now. Would you?''


    Miles: We will see about that. But postpone your New York city trip until after the


    auction.''


    The door knocks and I nce up and see Miles leaning on the door with a pair of


    short and no shirt on.


    "Such a Tease...


    Heughs under his breath and shows me a bottle of wine, along with two


    sses.


    "My room is still a mess," I say as I scoop into the bed, making some room for


    him.


    "Who cares... Just enjoy the nightcap..." he says, pouring wine into a ss.


    I hold it as he hops on my bed.


    "I thought a drink would make you a little rxed..... along with one more thing."


    He shows me a sh drive.


    "What''s that?" I ask with fascination.


    He grins and hands me his wine.


    17:24


    He makes his way to the TV and connects the drive.


    "I downloaded it from cloud today... I think it would be nice to remember the day


    we first met....


    He looks at me and adds, "Even I haven''t seen it before... It''s our wedding


    video.."