The Gilded Cage

chapter 14

The door opened slowly, so I straightened up sitting. He entered without even knocking!

He was holding my phone, which was ringing in his hands, and said calmly: "Ethan is calling you..."

He added boredly: "He seems like a talkative person!"

I stood up, heading towards him, and snatched the phone from his hand: "You're the last one to talk about chattiness!"

My phone stopped ringing before I could answer, so I exchanged looks with him calmly while he put his hands in his pockets, muttering: "Two guests are visiting me..."

I put my phone on the nightstand and straightened up, looking at him puzzled: "Today?"

He tilted his head, so I said, smiling a small, barely visible smile: "I can prepare food and tidy up the apartment. Don't worry, I'll go out to give you a chance to be alone with them... I'm an intruder here anyway..."

He shook his head: "No need for that... Stay!"

I asked disapprovingly: "In what capacity? They'll undoubtedly wonder about that!"

He smiled calmly as he answered: "A temporary wife?"

I said quickly and impulsively: "Fool! You're dreaming... You must be enjoying saying your trivialities again..."

He raised his eyebrows sarcastically, then advanced a little: "Then? What should I tell them?"

I gritted my lip, eyeing him with great annoyance: "It doesn't matter..."

— "Doesn't matter?"

— "Tell them we're just friends. Since long ago, for example... or your neighbor, for instance?! Or—"

— "Forget this suggestion..."

He said it with sarcastic mockery... so I said: "Why?!"

— "They know almost all my friends... This little lie won't fool them!"

— "Tell them we're new friends, then!"

— "That won't work either..."

— "What? Are you having difficulty creating a suitable lie? You're a professional and creative liar. Okay, fine... forget the whole matter, then!"

I don't know why his tone changed as he said: "Stay! I'll tell them we're neighbors if..."

Then he left the room silently. What a strange reversal!

I sighed deeply, but he entered again: "Wear the most beautiful thing you have! Please, and don't try to seduce me with what you'll wear. I may seem deviant, but in reality, I'm a well-behaved young man who's hard to get..."

He left again, so I stared into space, not comprehending, until I found myself putting my hand over my mouth and laughing softly!

No room for doubt... He's deranged!...

I was tidying up the apartment while he helped me organize some things. I sighed tiredly when I finished and looked at the place with satisfaction and joy!

The place looked better, elegant, comfortable, and beautiful...

All that remained was preparing dinner...

I asked him with interest: "What do you want for dinner?"

He dried his face with a towel after washing it, then answered: "I don't know! Prepare what you can cook..."

And so I prepared some decent dishes. While I was busy with the final touches, I raised my feet to get a distinctive plate on the top shelf. I couldn't reach anymore... Should I bring something to climb on?

But I was soon surprised by his hand that reached out to get the plate for me!

I turned to look at him silently and calmly, so he mumbled a little before saying thoughtfully: "This is supposed to be a romantic scene, right?"

— "Huh!"

— "Don't you know what happens after these situations? The hero stares into the heroine's face, then..."

He raised his left hand, intertwining it with his right: "Then they exchange a prolonged embrace... or even a quick kiss! But... in your case, even exchanging looks seems impossible..."

— "Wonderful... your imagination is very broad. It's good that you perceived reality in your last sentence!"

I snatched the plate from him firmly and put it on the table, so he sighed helplessly and left the kitchen. Then I smiled absently as I looked at the plate and looked again at the spot where he had been standing...

By the time the clock pointed to eight in the evening, I was completely finished...

He smiled cheerfully: "The smell is delicious! By the way, what do you think?"

I looked at him inquiringly and found him wearing an elegant, wonderful black suit!

It made him look completely different! From the appearance of a playful and careless young man to the appearance of a very elegant young man... even a distinctive aura had surrounded him and made the air with every particle around him completely different...

I asked, puzzled: "Are the guests important people?"

— "Sort of..."

— "So that's it!"

— "I'm still waiting for your opinion."

— "Ah! Um... I think it's suitable..."

He ruffled his hair and muttered in frustration: "Only suitable? Anyway, I know... Now, aren't you going to wear your clothes? They must be about to arrive. Maybe they'll be here within—"

The doorbell interrupted him, so I said, heading to the room: "I won't be late!"