Dinner Full of Secrets
1183 Words
The golden chandelier bathed the dining hall in a warm, ambient glow. The long mahogany table was lined with polished silverware, freshly arranged flowers, and an extravagant dinner that could feed a small army. Everything about it screamed luxury—yet beneath the surface, tension simmered.
Rhea adjusted the soft silk of her gown, her fingers nervously brushing against the edge of the glass goblet. She had expected awkwardness from a sudden arranged marriage, but this was turning out to be far more theatrical. She’d barely spoken to Zay all day. After the drama on their wedding night, she wasn’t in the mood for another showdown. She had taken the high road, deciding to keep things civil—for now.
Zay walked in, his navy-blue tailored suit making him look every bit the man the media would fawn over. He nodded politely to Rhea and sat down across from her. His expression was unreadable. Rhea knew better than to expect an apology. Instead, she smiled sweetly, pretending everything was fine.
Zay raised a brow. “You’re good at that.”
“At what?” she asked.
“Smiling like your heart isn’t slowly breaking.”
She leaned forward. “Years in marketing teaches you that. Fake it until you make it, right?”
Before he could respond, a soft voice entered the room.
“Dinner is served, sir and ma’am,” said the head butler.
Behind him came Isadora Cruz’s longtime nanny, Miss Claudette—a graceful woman in her late sixties who had raised Zay since he was a child. Her posture straight and hands folded, she stood at the corner, overseeing everything with the silent authority of someone who knew all the family secrets.
As the food was served—lobster bisque, roasted lamb, truffle mashed potatoes, and a host of decadent dishes—Rhea tried to distract herself by admiring the crystal centerpiece. But even the food, which she would normally enjoy, felt like tasteless fluff in her mouth.
The silence was broken by Miss Claudette.
“You two should eat. Cold food makes for a colder heart.”
Zay chuckled. “You still speaking in riddles, Claudette?”
She walked closer, setting her hand gently on his shoulder. “Only when the heart I raised is pretending to be someone else.”
Rhea looked up, surprised. This wasn’t the scolding of a nanny—this was a woman who cared.
“Zay,” Claudette continued, “Your father would be disappointed in you right now.”
The atmosphere shifted. Zay’s posture stiffened. Rhea’s fork paused halfway to her mouth.
“Cla—” Zay began, but the woman cut him off.
“You were once a boy who said he would change the world. Now look at you. Throwing your future away for parties and shallow distractions.”
Zay exhaled sharply. “I didn’t ask to be married. I didn’t ask for the throne.”
“No,” she said firmly, “But the world didn’t ask to lose a good man either.”
The room fell silent again.
Rhea cleared her throat. “Excuse me… Miss Claudette, I don’t mean to intrude but—thank you. For being honest. Not many are.”
Claudette smiled. “Honesty is like spice, my dear. Burns a little, but makes things better.”
Rhea’s lips lifted into a genuine smile for the first time that evening.
They began eating, the initial tension melting slightly under Claudette’s soft wisdom. But it didn’t take long before a new storm started brewing.
Michael entered.
He walked in, uninvited, holding a wine glass. “I hope I’m not intruding.”
“You are,” Zay muttered.
But Rhea, sensing a new wave of drama, tilted her head. “Please, have a seat. Let’s add more spice to this dinner.”
Michael laughed, pulling up a chair. “You’re a feisty one. Zay, how did you manage to land someone like her?”
Zay glared at him. “I didn’t. She landed herself here.”
Rhea leaned forward, her smile tight. “Correction: I was invited by your mother. At least someone around here sees potential.”
Michael raised his glass mockingly. “To potential.”
The nanny cleared her throat, not impressed. “You’re not welcome here tonight, Michael.”
Michael feigned surprise. “I only came to say congratulations. Besides, I thought family dinners were open for all… family.”
Zay’s eyes narrowed. “You mean to gather intel before our CEO competition?”
Michael shrugged. “Who says I need intel? You’ve been doing a great job destroying your own chances.”
Claudette stood. “Enough. This is not a boardroom. This is my dining table tonight. If you want to argue, do it outside.”
Zay looked to Rhea. “See what I mean? This circus wasn’t my idea.”
Rhea set down her fork. “Maybe not. But we’re both stuck here. So either we survive it… or we let them win.”
Zay blinked. He wasn’t expecting that.
Miss Claudette smiled to herself. The girl had fire.
Michael stood. “Well, I see dinner is getting cold and attitudes are heating up. Enjoy your night, newlyweds.” He bowed sarcastically and walked out.
Zay stood. “I’m done here.”
As he began to leave, Claudette grabbed his wrist. “Running again?”
Zay clenched his jaw. “No. Just stepping outside.”
He stormed off.
Rhea sighed, finishing the last bite of her meal. She looked up to Claudette. “I’m sorry. I know you wanted this to go differently.”
Claudette shook her head. “You’re doing well, my dear. Sometimes, the hardest part is staying.”
Rhea nodded slowly. “Well, I’m staying. I may not love Zay, but I love my word. And I intend to keep it.”
The elderly woman gave her an approving smile. “You remind me of someone I once knew. She married a stubborn man too. He became one of the best this company ever saw.”
Rhea smiled slightly. “Let’s hope history repeats itself.”
Later that evening, Rhea found Zay sitting alone on the balcony, sipping whiskey, staring at the stars.
“Fancy seeing you here,” she said.
He didn’t respond.
She sat beside him. “I didn’t come to fight.”
Still silence.
She continued. “You’re angry. I get it. But maybe if you stopped being angry for a minute, you’d realize not everyone is out to get you.”
He looked at her, his eyes darker than usual. “You think you know me?”
“No,” she replied, “But I’d like to.”
They sat in silence.
Somewhere between that silence and the distant city lights, something changed. It wasn’t love. Not yet. But it was respect—the kind that could grow.
Zay turned his glass, watching the amber liquid swirl. “You really want to go through with this?”
Rhea answered without hesitation. “Yes.”
And for the first time since the marriage, he believed her.
- Writer
