CHAPTER SIX
764 Words
The moment I stepped into the kitchen, the noise hit me, clattering dishes, low voices, movement everywhere.
Sofia was at the far end, arranging plates, she looked up when she saw me. “Hey,” she said quietly, “you okay?”
“Yeah,” I replied, grabbing a glass to have a sip of water. “Just trying to survive another day in paradise.”
She smiled faintly. “You’ll get used to it.” and turned her attention back to what she was doing.
Before I could say anything else, I heard my name. “Riley.”
I turned, one of the maids stood near the counter, holding a silver tray, two crystal glasses sat on it, filled with whiskey.
“Take this to the study,” she said.
I frowned slightly. “Since when do I deliver drinks?”
She shrugged casually. “You’re the only one who's doing nothing.”
Something about her felt… off.
I looked at the tray again, then back at her., so I took the tray from her.
“Careful,” she added lightly.
I paused. “Why?”
She smiled faintly. “So you won't trip.”
Then she turned and walked away.
I stared after her for a second longer then left for the study.
The closer I got to the study, the tighter my grip became on the tray.
I knocked once, when I got to the door.
“Come in.” I pushed the door open.
Leonardo and Damien were inside.
Damien leaned casually against the desk, looking like he didn’t have a single problem in the world.
Leonardo stood across from him, composed as ever, his presence filling the entire room without effort.
Both of them looked up, Damien smiled immediately.
“Well, look who it is,” he murmured.
I ignored him and walked in.
“Drinks,” I said, setting the tray down between them.
Leonardo didn’t respond, Damien did. “Perfect timing,” he said, already reaching for one of the glasses.
Leonardo picked up the other.
And just as Damien lifted his glass to his lips.
Leonardo’s voice cut through the air. “Wait.”
Damien paused mid-motion, glass halfway to his lips, lifting his brows slightly.
Leonardo didn’t drink, his eyes were fixed on the glass.
He brought it closer to his nose to smell. Then his gaze snapped to mine.
“What did you do to this?” he asked.
My chest tightened. “What?”
“The drink,” he said, voice low “Did you do anything to it?”
“No” I answered immediately
Damien frowned slightly, and brought his own glass close to his nose, his expression changed. “…Yeah,” he muttered. “That’s not right.”
The room went still.
“You brought the drink, and you deny doing anything to it,” Leonardo said.
“A maid gave it to me,” I said immediately.
“Which maid?”
I paused.
“I…” I frowned. “I saw her in the kitchen. She handed it to me.”
“That’s not an answer,” Leonardo said coldly.
“I didn’t think I needed to memorize her face,” I snapped.
The temperature in the room dropped instantly.
Leonardo stepped closer. “If that drink had touched my lips,” he said , “you wouldn’t be standing here explaining yourself.”
“I didn’t poison you, I'm not stupid.”
Damien’s gaze shifted between us.
Leonardo turned slightly, “Adrian.”
The door opened almost immediately, and he stepped in. A tall, composed man, dressed in black.
There was nothing flashy about him.
But the way he carried himself screams danger.
His eyes flicked briefly to me… Then back to Leonardo. “Sir.”
Leonardo didn’t waste time. “Gather every maid in this house.”
Adrian didn’t question it or hesitate.
“Yes, sir.”
Then he turned and walked out, the door shut behind him.
Uncomfortable silence followed.
I could feel their eyes on me, but I barely noticed, my mind had already gone somewhere else trying to connect the pieces.
My gaze dropped briefly to the untouched glass sitting on the table.
If Leonardo hadn’t noticed… I wouldn’t even be standing here right now.
A slow chill crept up my spine, my fingers curled slightly at my side, nails pressing into my palm.
The maid, the way she smiled, the way she watched me take the tray.
That wasn't a coincidence, this had been planned, and somehow…. I had walked straight into it.
- Writer
