Vincent smirked down at her, and she shooed him off, the thought of food on her mind and enticing, more so than the man in front of her. She was deceiving herself if she was saying that he wasn't attractive. What was alarming was the fact that she no longer had the warning bell around him.
Her eyes wandered down his sharp shoulders, and the curves of his arms, focusing on the veins that ran up his arm with his shirt sleeves rolled up. started down the hallway. The food came only half an inch short of winning.
"Come with me. You haven't eaten yet."
Charlotte pressed a hand to her stomach, grateful. She was veering on the edge of getting bad hunger pains. Vincent led her down the stairs and shifted to the left, and Charlotte's gaze darted around to find that there was no one around. Not even Sebastian who tended to loiter around her.
She fell into step with him, her strides perfectly matching his despite knowing that he was deliberately slowing his pace for her. Charlotte ruffled her hair, turning her head to the side so that he wouldn't see her reaction. Looks like he was a gentleman at times. Not that it was the time to care about such matters.
Charlotte burst the thought bubble when they strode through another corridor and into the dining hall. She peeked her head in, and there was still nobody around. The dining room was gorgeous however albeit dark with the moody furniture that was all dark brushed hardwood and limited lighting from the candles on the table.
"Where is everyone?" she questioned.
"I may have told everyone to go home."
She squinted her eyes when he loosened his tie, as he sat down at the furthest chair next to the fireplace with unspoken animosity. "Did you fire them?"
His lips flattened into a thin line. "I didn't want to see their incompetent faces for the day. Who told them to send you into my office when I was in bloodlust? You were clearly an important guest."
Charlotte shook her head. "It's okay. I'm fine now."
Vincent pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose. "I understand, however, they went against my orders. They are off for the time being."
"Even Sebastian?"
"He's out getting food."
Charlotte laughed. "Poor Sebastian, but still... they didn't know better. You shouldn't harshly punish them."
"How I go disciplining my staff is my business."
Charlotte folded her hands in her lap since she didn't want to fight a losing battle. "I see. Well, carry on."
She didn't want to overstep her bounds, and Charlotte was still trying to figure out their push-and-pull relationship that was overly tiring. That part of their relationship hasn't changed from the first moment that they met. She gave him a wry smile, her heart dropping slightly from the sudden change in his mood.
Sebastian didn't need to announce his arrival with the trudging steps that echoed down the hallway. Charlotte shifted in her chair just as Sebastian walked through the doors with two bags in each hand. He was out of breath and looked uncomfortable for a change.
"They didn't have the spicy version, so I bought both mild and non-spicy for a palate cleanser," Sebastian said, setting down the bags on the table.
Charlotte held in the snicker from the paradox of take-out bags in an otherwise extremely vintage dining room. Vincent waved him off, but Sebastian still lingered near the doorway, standing steadfastly or rather, not swayed.
Charlotte waited for Vincent to eat first before she served herself, but he served her with the dishes that were also brought over from Sebastian. She thanked him and laid the napkin in her lap, not wanting to ruin the dress.
It seemed that there were only dresses available in the house, but she knew that he could have ordered her clothing if he wanted to. It seemed redundant to mention it at that point. The dresses were feminine that had a menacing chill to it.
Finally, Vincent placed the white plate before her and leaned back in his chair before leveling an irritated glare at Sebastian. "If you're going to sit, sit."
There was uncomfortable tension, and Charlotte realized that Vincent had never truly interacted with his staff. He and Sebastian seemed to be in an only employer-employee relationship from what she could tell.
Sebastian bowed his head before taking a seat on the other side of Vincent. Charlotte happily ate her curry, covering her soft laugh with her hand. Vincent lifted his brow at her.
"What's so funny?"
Charlotte motioned out to the spread of dishes before them. "We are eating curry and fried chicken in a medieval-like setting."
Vincent shook his head, but she found him to also acknowledge the paradoxical event when the corner of his lips hiked up. He turned his attention to Sebastian. "Do you know anyone that can color hair?"
Sebastian wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Ah yes. No one is too professional, but Katerina has done it before."
"That's fine. As long as you think it's suitable."
"Kat will be of use then."
Vincent took a sip of the glass of water. "Call her up."
"As your wish, young master."