Free Web NovelChapter 31: Is Samuel serving you well?
Xavier noticed the brief, distant look in April’s eyes—the same eerie, unreadable expression she had right before she read his future.
He set his coffee cup down, his curiosity deepening, but he chose not to pry into whatever she was mentally calculating.
"How was your rest, anyway?" Xavier asked, his voice dropping back into its usual calm, calculated tone. "Is the room to your liking?"
April pulled her focus back to him, leaning back comfortably in her chair. "Delightful, Mr. Reed. The bed is incredibly comfortable, and the privacy is exactly what I needed. Your staff is quite efficient."
"Good. As long as you are under my roof, your comfort and security are guaranteed," he said simply.
Xavier lowered his gaze back to his cup, a rare, reflective silence settling over him. He watched her across the table—no sharp profile, no cryptic warnings, just a normal young woman thoroughly enjoying a quiet morning meal in her silk sleepwear.
A sudden, unfamiliar thought crossed his mind: When was the last time I actually sat down to eat breakfast on time?
Worse, when was the last time I sat down ’with someone’ for breakfast?
Usually, his mornings consisted of standing near a kitchen counter, downing a scalding espresso while scanning international market trends before rushing into a sedan.
The board directors had been pestering him for over a year about finding a suitable partner, establishing a public image of stability, and securing a successor.
For the first time, looking at the quiet morning light hitting the table and the relaxed woman sitting opposite him, he wondered if he should actually start listening to them. Perhaps he could even ask April to read his love life fortune.
He caught himself, mentally shaking the thought away. No. Only when I’m actually ready to settle down. Right now, he was far too busy with work. Settling down would just disrupt him.
He cleared his throat, steering his mind back to reality. "Is Samuel serving you well?"
"His service is splendid. He’s exactly what I need during this period. Though..." April trailed off, her fork pausing in the air as a thought struck her.
Right. Tonight is the night. Samuel was scheduled to get his heart completely broken by his girlfriend before he could even pull out that custom engagement ring.
Honestly, the whole situation was bugging her a bit—not out of pity, but out of pure, unbothered curiosity.
She was working herself to the bone preparing for the end of the world; sneaking around to watch a real-life relationship breakup drama play out tonight sounded like a nice break. And it would be thrilling.
A little giggle slipped past her lips, making Xavier tilt his head slightly at her sudden change in mood.
April quickly masked the chuckle, resting her chin on her hand as her eyes danced with mischief. "Mr. Reed, do you want me to read your fortune today? Or should I wait until tomorrow?"
"I’ll put it off for now," Xavier replied evenly.
April’s smirk widened, a playful challenge in her eyes. "What? Scared of paying up?"
Xavier shook his head, leaning forward a little across the dark mahogany wood, his broad shoulders narrowing the distance between them. "I’ve never been scared of anything in my life, Miss April."
A subtle, slightly charged vibration flickered in the air between them, the atmosphere in the dining hall suddenly turning thick and heavy.
April kept her brilliant, knowing smile locked on his. Well, not until two months from now you won’t, she thought with absolute inner certainty. But if you’re thoroughly prepared by then, then you might really not have anything to worry about.
Before the silent tension could stretch any further, a ringtone broke the quiet of the room.
Xavier pulled his phone from his pocket, his expression instantly snapping back into that of a cold, unyielding tycoon as he checked the screen. He gave April a brief, tight nod and slid the screen to answer the call.
"Speak," he commanded flatly, lifting the phone to his ear.
While Xavier was occupied on his phone, April went back to enjoying her meal, savoring a spoonful of the warm, savory broth.
Xavier’s expression quickly turned dark and solemn as he listened to the voice on the other end, indicating a highly serious discussion. Sensing that the corporate matter required his undivided attention, he politely excused himself from the table with a brief nod so he wouldn’t disturb her breakfast, walking out toward the other parts of the house.
Just as he left, a sharp vibration echoed from the tabletop. April looked down to see her brand-new Titanium Pro phone ringing. Oh, her first call. She could already tell who it was from.
She checked the screen with a wide grin on her face.
It was the heir himself.
She slid the screen to answer and brought the phone to her ear. True to his rowdy reputation, the very first thing that burst through the speaker was a rough, panicked, and demanding shout. freёwebnoѵel.com
"Who the hell are you?!" Alexander demanded, his voice shaking with a volatile mix of terror and adrenaline.
April leaned back in her chair, completely unfazed. "I’m the one who saved your life," she said smoothly, a low chuckle escaping her lips. "And I’ll keep saving your life. For the right price, of course. So, when do you want us to meet?"
"Now," Alexander snapped instantly.
April raised an eyebrow. Now? She mentally reviewed her schedule for the day. She still had to go to the bank to deposit that massive fifty-million-dollar check into her account, and she needed to look over the city’s private trade sectors with Samuel to carry out some truly unhinged wholesale shopping.
Alexander was the one desperately hanging onto a cliff; he could afford to wait on her time. ƒгeeweɓn૦vel.com
"Three hours," April countered coolly, leaving absolutely no room for negotiation. "I have some business to attend to first. You can make the reservation and send me the address. I’ll be there when I’m done with my business."
Before he could protest, she purred, "See you then," and smoothly cut the call.
He would’ve definitely argued back if she had given him the chance. She could feel the desperation and impatience in his tone.
