Chapter 250 More Than Breakfast

Chapter 250: Chapter 250 More Than Breakfast

Half an hour later, Alpha Killian emerged from the bathroom and reached for the shirt instead of his usual robe.

The white fabric fit him perfectly. It looked like every other shirt in his closet, but it did not feel like one.

He added dark trousers and left the collar open. In the mirror, he looked less like Sterling Group’s untouchable Alpha and more like a man waiting for one woman to notice him.

The thought annoyed him.

It also made him take a picture.

[Fits perfectly. Thank you.]

He sent it before he could change his mind.

At Number Nine, Eira had just stepped out of the shower. Her hair was damp, and a cream towel was wrapped around her shoulders when her phone chimed.

She opened the message.

Alpha Killian stood in front of a mirror with wet hair, an open collar, and the shirt she had chosen for him. Without his tie, vest, and polished shoes, the usual distance around him had softened.

He looked dangerously human.

Eira stared at the picture a little too long.

Her tablet began ringing. Miss Gwen appeared on the screen, ready to discuss a work issue. One look at Eira’s distracted expression made her pause.

"Did I catch you at a bad time?"

"No." Eira glanced back at Alpha Killian’s photo. "Go ahead."

The call lasted less than five minutes. When it ended, Eira sent Miss Gwen a goodnight message, then returned to Alpha Killian’s text.

Her fingers moved before she could overthink it.

[Glad it fits. Get some rest, Killian. I’ll bring you breakfast tomorrow.]

She pressed Send.

Then she froze.

The message sounded far too much like something from high school, when girls traded homemade lunches with boys they liked and pretended it meant nothing.

Eira had always been too busy with textbooks and lab work to understand that kind of thing.

Apparently, she understood it now.

She set the phone facedown.

A reply appeared almost at once.

[Sounds good.]

Eira stared at the two words, then slipped into bed without answering.

For the first time in days, she slept through the night.

--

Eira woke at seven-thirty, half an hour later than usual.

For the first time in days, she had slept through the night.

Downstairs, Mrs. Jones had already set breakfast on the kitchen island. The room smelled of fresh coffee, toasted sourdough, and bacon sizzling in a cast-iron skillet.

"Morning, Mrs. Jones."

"Morning, Miss Crawford. You look better today."

Eira reached for a hard-boiled egg, then paused.

"Do we have any breakfast sausage?"

Mrs. Jones glanced toward the refrigerator. "Links or ground?"

"Ground. And some English muffins or brioche."

Mrs. Jones raised her brows. "Are you planning to cook?"

"I’m making a breakfast sandwich."

"For yourself?"

Eira picked up the egg and headed toward the stove. "For Killian."

Mrs. Jones’s smile grew warmer. "I see."

"It’s only breakfast."

"Of course it is."

Eira ignored the teasing and heated a skillet. She seasoned the sausage with black pepper, garlic, and a little sage, then shaped it into two thin patties.

While the sausage cooked, she cracked four eggs into a bowl and whisked them with a pinch of salt.

The kitchen soon filled with the rich smell of sausage and buttered bread. ℴ

Mrs. Jones sliced and toasted four English-muffin halves, then spread a little butter over them. Eira folded the eggs with sharp cheddar and divided them between the two sandwiches. She added a sausage patty to each one.

She wrapped the larger sandwich in parchment paper and slipped it into a paper bag.

"Are you only making one?" Mrs. Jones asked.

"I made two," Eira said. "The larger one is for Killian. The other is for Lila."

Mrs. Jones raised her eyebrows. "You made his larger?"

"He eats more."

"Naturally."

Lila wandered downstairs halfway through a stretch and stopped when she saw Eira at the counter.

"Aren’t you usually at the lab by now?"

"I slept late," Eira said. "I have something to take care of first."

Lila followed the smell toward the stove. "Is that sausage and egg?"

"It is," Mrs. Jones said. "Wash your hands."

"I was only asking."

"You were also staring at the plate."

Lila grinned and disappeared toward the bathroom.

When she returned, Mrs. Jones handed her the extra sandwich. Lila took one bite and closed her eyes.

"Eira, I may have to move into the kitchen."

"You’re welcome to take the recipe with you."

Eira pulled on her charcoal coat and ankle boots. She wrapped a soft scarf around her neck, grabbed an umbrella, and slung her oversized tote over one shoulder. Inside were her notebook, tablet, and one section of the blue legal file Susan had given her.

Alpha Killian’s car was waiting at the gate.

The driver stepped out and opened the rear door.

"Good morning, Dr. Crawford. Alpha Killian had an early meeting, so he drove himself to Sterling Tower."

Eira nodded and got in.

As the car moved through the cool Palo Alto morning, she pulled out the legal documents. She marked bank transfers, circled dates, and added notes in the margins. The blue file was too large to study in one sitting, but she intended to know every important detail before the hearing.

By the time the car stopped outside Sterling Tower, she had finished another section.

"Good morning, Dr. Crawford," the security guard called as she entered.

"Good morning."

The receptionist smiled. "Back from your trip?"

"Yes. Good morning."

Eira badged through the lobby and walked to the elevator at the far end of the building. It was Alpha Killian’s private elevator. The scanner recognized her face, and the doors opened at once.

As soon as the elevator doors closed, the receptionist leaned toward her coworker.

"She always uses Alpha Killian’s private elevator."

"So?"

"Don’t you think something is going on?"

"By that logic, everyone who rides with him is dating him."

"It’s his private elevator. And her clearance is higher than most senior executives."

"She’s leading the Sovereign project."

"I know. But they’re always together. When Dr. Crawford is around, Alpha Killian is never far away."

Her coworker gave her a tired look. "You need more work."

Eira heard none of it.

The elevator carried her to the executive floor just as Alpha Killian’s meeting ended.

He walked at the front of a large group, dressed in a dark suit and pale shirt. Miles and Natalie followed close behind, along with senior leaders from Sterling headquarters and several subsidiaries.

The moment Alpha Killian saw Eira, he stopped.

Everyone behind him stopped too.

Eira stepped aside. "Good morning."

Alpha Killian ignored the waiting executives and walked toward her. He held out his hand.

"Breakfast."

Eira glanced at him, then at the silent line of executives watching them.

"Now?"

"You promised."

She hesitated before taking the paper bag from her tote and placing it in his palm.

The plain bag looked almost absurd against his expensive watch.

Alpha Killian opened it. The smell of sausage, eggs, and melted cheddar drifted into the hall.

A faint smile touched his mouth.

He took a bite, then pushed open the office door with his free hand.

"Come in."

Eira walked past him.

Behind her, dozens of executives watched in silence.