Page 18 of Royal Fling
She had gone out of her way making everything for Luke. There was enough food here to feed an army. Good thing we had two giants that inhaled everything we put in front of them because I doubted Luke could eat all of the food she’d prepared.
The food was ready and kept hot at a low temperature when I finally convinced Fisayo to go get ready. While she was downstairs in her room, I set the table.
“Your Highness, we can do that,” Leah said when she noticed.
I stood straight and looked at her with a scowl.
“Leah, I thought I told you to take the day off. I don’t want Fisayo’s son to see I have personnel and start asking questions,” I told her.
Leah bowed her head and apologized, retreating to her own quarters downstairs.
“If your parents saw you like that, they’d have our heads,” Fisayo said behind me, and I turned to look at her.
She was wearing a patterned dress in yellow, pink, and green tones and a matching gele wrapped around her hair, forming a bow on the side of her head.
“Wow, you’re really going all out, aren’t you?” I said and smiled at her.
“Well, he grew up in a white family, so I thought I’d give him a taste of home,” she replied. “How do I look?”
“Beautiful as usual,” I said and embraced her.
Yannis stepped into the dining room and told us Luke was on his way up, and Fisayo turned to me, the color draining from her face.
“It will be okay. I’m here as long as you need me,” I told her, squeezing her hand, and we went to stand in front of the lift.
When it opened, I almost lost my ability to breathe.
Luke was wearing a white shirt, a grey suit that looked fitted to his body and hugged his curves generously, and a dark ashen tie. The color made his eyes pop and look like pools of light I couldn’t look away from.
Behind him was Beth, the same woman from yesterday, wearing a nice white evening dress.
Was she his girlfriend? We hadn’t actually managed to speak last night while Fisayo and Luke reunited, but I wouldn’t be surprised.
“I brought Beth. I hope that’s okay,” Luke said after his embrace with Fisayo came to an end and turned to me to shake my hand.
“Uhm… we… erm… have more than enough food. It’s not a problem,” I said, taking his hand.
It sent shivers down my arm, and I had to swallow a knot on my throat and force myself to pull away from our handshake.
His touch lingered for an extra few moments, and I felt the heat of his stare on my own gaze.
The temperature in the room went up considerably, and I felt the sweat forming under my T-shirt and suit jacket I was wearing.
Luke broke our handshake a few moments later, though it felt like hours, and followed Fisayo into the dining room.
I lifted my elbow and Beth looped her hand through my arm, and I led her inside, too.
“I hope you don’t mind if I join you this evening,” I said when everyone sat down before I did.
“O-of course not,” Luke said, pining me with a gaze yet again.
This time, I didn’t allow myself to be captivated by his eyes and instead focused my attention on Beth.
“Can I get anyone a drink?” I asked. Fisayo made to get up, but I stopped her. “Sit, Nonny. This is your moment and Luke’s. I don’t need help.”
I could see the protest in her face, but she succumbed. She knew I wouldn’t back down from this.
Nonny had done so much for me all these years, looked after me like a mother. It was my turn to return the favor in this minimal way.
