Chapter 25: Chapter 25

Zenovia

Marisha did not exactly answer my question, but she just dragged me towards the lifts, and we got into one.

“You haven’t had breakfast yet, have you?” she asked with a wide smile.

I looked up at her, since she was almost a head taller than me. She wore gold-coloured high heels that were obviously expensive, while I wore the golden flat sandals that went well with my printed red-and-gold floral dress. A pair that Maksimillian also bought for me.

I shook my head.

“That’s great! I wondered when I could talk to you.” She smiled sweetly.

“Y-you knew I was in Maks’ room?”

She chortled that startled me because of its loudness. I didn’t expect she’d laugh that loud. Was it natural or she just found something hilarious in what I’d just said?

“Dorogoy (Darling), I know everything that my son or my nephew is doing!” she told me with amusement in her knowing green eyes.

I felt the heat creep up my face once again because of it. I was speechless and could hardly look at her.

“I may be always out of their sight, but I just know where they are, what they do, who they’re with, where they sleep or what they eat or drink.” She gave me a sweet smile, again. But I thought there was something more to it. I must say this woman was scary. And yet, she looked rather charming. It was crazy.

And that somehow chilled me to the bones. For some reason.

“But don’t be embarrassed, dorogoy. I think you’re one special woman for my nephew. Otherwise, you won’t be staying in his room,” she added after the lift sounded to warn us that we reached the ground floor, and its door opened.

My brows met, suspicion growing. Maksimillian must have a lot of girlfriends. “May I know what you mean by that?” I tried to clarify while we walked through the lobby and the hallway towards the restaurant. The wall on our right was painted with light blue, while the opposite one that faced the parking lot was made of glass, so there was natural light that streamed in.

“Well, my nephew is a virile man, Zenovia.”

Crap! She knew my name even though I hadn’t told her yet, I just realised.

“So, he had a lot of women. But they were all his pastimes. Ergo, he had numerous one-night stands. Now, I’m wondering why you’re not discarded after his first use? Forgive the word. I don’t mean to offend you, but that’s the word that comes to mind, considering my nephew’s taste,” she hurriedly explained.

I glanced at the restaurant, which smelled of bacon and coffee. The walls here were painted with a brighter tone of yellow. The square wood tables glistened, spotless. They were arranged in rows of threes. There were about twelve of them, and every one of them was a four-seater. The chairs were high-backed with intricate geometrical design, which gave them a nice look.

Marisha guided me to the one in the farthest corner. As we sat facing each other, two bulky men came in and took a table opposite us. I noticed Marisha’s stare at them but hadn’t said anything. She instead took the menu that was lying on the table and studied it. I had no choice but to do the same.

“Well, I have nothing against you in case my nephew is—”

“I’m sorry. Please hold it.” I put a hand in front of me. “I don’t think we are what you think we are,” I told her honestly. I shook my head with a shrug of my shoulders.

She slightly put the menu down, still holding it, to give me a measuring look. Her big round eyes seemed to search mine. “Okay, I will hold it. But let me ask you, do you like my nephew?”

It was my turn to laugh. But it wasn’t as loud as hers, of course. But it was enough to get some attention from a few people that were present there.

“I wouldn’t be here if I weren’t. But rest assured this is not what you think it is,” I emphasised again, just in case she missed it the first time.

Her curvy eyebrows rose. “What? Do you mean you’re playing my nephew?”

Now that made my jaw hung open. “Uh, no. I don’t mean it like that,” I slowly drawled. “It’s something I can’t explain, I’m sorry.” I shrugged.

Her eyes narrowed. “What did you two do in a public notary office?”

Doamne ferește! She knew about it? But I hoped not the content of the notarized file. I wouldn’t know how she’d take it and what she’d think about it. Or me for that matter.

“I prefer not to say, I’m sorry. And I hope you’ll respect that.”

She stared at me for a long moment before she smiled at me toothlessly. “Well, if my nephew is clinging onto you, he must have a special reason. I won’t be meddling with your affair, whatever it is, but I hope none of you will get hurt. You see, I’m an understanding person. I love love. You know what I mean, dorogoy?”

“Of course,” I nodded curtly and gave her a small smile.

‘There’ll be no one that’d get hurt. We only have a deal, Maksimillian and I,’ I mused.

“Tell me, what is your plan for today while Maksimillian is away for an emergency business trip?” Marisha asked after we got our order minutes later.

She had a Romanian breakfast composed of smoked ham, sunny sideup, zacusca, sliced tomato, a few pieces of sliced cucumber, green onion and toasted bread, whereas I opted for mashed potato and sausage. She also ordered a cup of black coffee, while I chose fresh orange juice as my beverage.

“Hmm… I haven’t decided yet—”

“That’s perfect!” She clapped her hands that it startled me. She never ceased to do that to me.

I looked at her with confusion. “I don’t see why it’s perfect,” I slowly expressed before drinking half of my orange juice. Then, I put the glass down on the table, looking pensive while chewing on my inner cheek.

“You and I are going to Cetatea Râșnov,” she stated with a wide smile.

That was part of Antonia’s original itinerary, next to visiting the Bran Castle.

“Oh! Well… I don’t really—”

“Like to go with me?” she tested.

‘Yes! Because I know you’ll tell me just anything about Maksimillian. And I’m afraid. I’m afraid I might fall for him if I know more,’ I desperately thought.