Reopening
946 Words
Chapter Eleven
The rest of lunch rolled by fast.
Isabella told Ezekiel childhood stories and other stories she could think of.
Soon it was time to go home.
"Goodbye dear."
"Make sure you call me when you get home."
"I'll try to do so. Take care of yourself."
Amaya said, waving at Isabella as she was getting into the car.
----------------------------
The drive back was much quieter.
Ezekiel answered emails on his phone while Amaya scrolled absentmindedly through i********:.
A familiar name appeared on her screen.
Carter.
Where are you?
Her smile faded.
Without opening the message, she locked her phone and slipped it back into her bag.
She wasn't going to let him ruin today.
After several minutes of silence, Ezekiel spoke.
"I'll stop at the office. The driver will take you home."
"No problem."
He nodded and returned to his phone.
Trying to distract herself, Amaya opened a puzzle game until the car slowed outside a sleek office building.
Ezekiel stepped out.
Before he closed the door, Amaya smiled.
"Don't stay too late at work."
He looked at her for a second.
"Go home."
That was... surprisingly shocking.
She smiled to herself.
"See you later."
The door shut.
............................
The car pulled into the Moretti estate a short while later.
"Welcome back, Madam."
"Elena!"
Amaya hurried over and hugged her.
Elena laughed.
"I'll take that as a sign lunch went well."
"It went better than well. Mrs. Moretti is wonderful."
"I knew she'd like you."
"I think she spent half the lunch exposing your boss."
"Oh?"
"He apparently burned water."
Elena blinked.
"...I actually believe that."
Both women burst into laughter.
.......................................
Back in her room, Amaya finally peeled off the dress with relief.
"I can breathe again."
"I know the feeling," Elena said, helping her put away the jewelry.
"When did you start working here?"
"Twelve years ago."
"Twelve?"
Elena nodded.
"I've watched Mr. Moretti grow into the man he is today."
"So you've seen everything?"
"Almost."
Amaya changed into an oversized shirt and comfortable shorts.
"The house feels so... quiet."
"It does."
"What time do you guys get off work?"
"The others leave around five, i leave around five-thirty."
Amaya sighed dramatically.
"So after that I'm stuck with your grumpy boss?"
Elena laughed.
"You could always try talking to him."
"I'd rather interview a brick wall."
"I think he'd appreciate being compared to something sturdy."
Amaya groaned.
"You're taking his side."
"I'm staying employed."
........................
With Elena gone settling things in the house, silence settled over the mansion once again.
Amaya wandered into the living room and dropped onto the sofa.
Her thoughts drifted back to Carter's message.
She frowned.
"No."
She refused to let him occupy her mind.
A passing housekeeper noticed her bored expression.
"If you're looking for something to do, there's a library."
Amaya's eyes lit up.
"There's a library?"
"Just down the hallway, ma'am."
"Thank you!"
She practically skipped toward it.
The room stole her breath.
Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves stretched along every wall.
A ladder rested against one shelf.
A large fireplace sat opposite a comfortable reading couch.
"Oh..."
She whispered.
"This is heaven."
After wandering the shelves for several minutes, she picked out a mystery novel and curled up on the couch beneath a warm reading lamp.
She became so absorbed in the story that she completely lost track of time.
The sound of the library door opening finally pulled her back to reality.
She looked up.
Ezekiel stood in the doorway, his tie loosened and the sleeves of his shirt rolled to his forearms.
His gaze drifted to the book in her hands.
"Good choice."
Amaya blinked.
"You're back early."
He glanced at the antique clock on the wall.
"It's after nine."
Her eyes widened.
"What?"
She followed his gaze.
Nine o'clock.
"I've been in here for four hours?"
"It would appear so."
She laughed sheepishly.
"I guess your library kidnapped me."
A faint hint of amusement flickered across his face.
"It tends to do that."
She stared.
"...Was that a joke?"
"I'll deny it if you repeat it."
A grin spread across her face.
"Noted."
For the first time since they'd met, the silence between them didn't feel awkward.
It felt... comfortable.
Ad she liked it.
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