Page 87 of Ashes of Sin and Stardust

AndromedaPrincess - oh my gosh you guys, this is so complicated. Back with my old daddy, we just did what we wanted and hoped for the best (facepalm) okay. This is good. I’m taking notes.

Prettybloodyprincess - also, practice your (pout emoji) face in the mirror. Make sure you can do it on command. It comes in handy.

MisterMaster - @prettybloodyprincess I knew you did that! You naughty girl.

Prettybloodyprincess - :p idk what you’re talking about, Sir.

Mark and Cat both teasedthe hell out of me as I left for Reuben’s house. I ignored them to the best of my ability, but I didn’t mind so much about the teasing because I was excited. Reuben understood and accepted me for who I was, and although I was still terrified, I was also hoping this would work out.

Alex caught me before I left and gave me one of her silent whispers. {“I’m proud of you. You two are good together. He is a good man and he cares for you, Alice. Don’t give up on him, or yourself. It’s worth it.”}

I arrived two minutes past six because I got stuck behind an old lady whose car was probably not legal to drive. Hurrying out of the car, I raised my hand to knock on the door, but it opened before I got a chance.

Reuben looked smug as hell. “You’re late.”

“Old lady,” I said. “Pretty sure she was peddling up the mountain in a flintstone car.”

He gave me the tiniest eyebrow raise and stepped aside, allowing me to enter. The kitchen table was already set, with a large pot on the trivet that smelled amazing.

“I won’t punish you today,” he said. “But in the future, after we conclude negotiations, you’ll receive a punishment for every minute you’re late. I want you to clearly understand the consequences of your actions.”

“Do you always talk like Mister Darcy?” I spat out before I had the wherewithal to stop myself.

He cocked his head at me in disbelief, as if he were shocked that I would say such a thing.

“Oops. Didn’t like that.”

“Mister Darcy?”

“I’m sorry, Reuben, but you really do speak like an old English gentleman sometimes. It’s very entertaining.”

He took my coat and hooked it on the coat stand. “Are you going to be a brat to me this evening?”

“Well,” I sighed dramatically. “I haven’t bratted you in almost three days, and it’s starting to wear me down. So yes, probably.”

The bastard pulled the brat pass I’d made him for Christmas out of his pocket, handed it over, and winked.

“You... ugh.”

“Twenty-four hours, Alice. It’s three minutes past six.” He looked over his shoulder at me. I tucked it into my cleavage. He did not respond, but he did pull out a chair for me.

“You really should have saved this for an all-day thing,” I said. “But if that’s what you want... that’s what you get,” I gave him my sweetest smile and sat down in the chair.

Fine. He wanted to play nice? I’d play nice. But today only. He was going to get it tomorrow.

Dinner was grilledasparagus, steak, and scalloped potatoes. Never in my fifteen years of working in the professional world of company-paid dinners and catered meals had I had a dinner as delicious as this. I didn’t evenlikeasparagus and I couldn’t stop eating it.

“Mister Weston.”

“Miss Benson.”

“I’m going to get very fat dating you.”

He smirked. “More to bite.”

I choked on my potatoes. I hadn’t expected him to flirt so bluntly. When I looked up at him in surprise, he looked back at me with that completely polite and withdrawn face he always wore, but just a hint of smugness in his eyes that he couldn’t hide.

“How did you learn to cook like this?” I asked. “Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had my fair share of fancy meals. The CIA had an unlimited budget for dinners and catering. But this... wow.” I took another bite of my steak. It was pink in the middle, juicy, with a perfect crust on the outside, and melted like butter in my mouth.

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