Chapter 35 || A Dinner for Two

Chapter 35: 35 || A Dinner for Two

Knock. Knock.

The door opened.

Aria stood outside, facing Cassian.

He wore a black, long-sleeved shirt with the first two buttons undone, revealing part of his chest, along with a pair of brown trousers. A faint smile rested on his face.

"You’re late."

"I was busy," Aria replied flatly.

"You liar."

Cassian stepped aside and gestured towards the room.

"Come on in."

Aria walked inside.

Then she froze.

The room was dark, illuminated only by candles arranged around it. At the centre stood a table with two chairs facing each other. A single candle burned inside a glass holder on the tabletop, casting a warm glow over the carefully arranged setting.

The door closed behind her.

Cassian walked past Aria and approached one of the chairs. He pulled it out and gestured towards the seat.

"Don’t just stand there. Have a seat."

Aria’s gaze moved across the room, taking in the candles, the table, and the two chairs. Finally, her eyes settled on Cassian, whose expression remained suspiciously calm.

’What’s he planning?’

She approached the chair but stopped before sitting down.

Bending slightly, she examined its legs.

"What are you doing?" Cassian asked.

Aria straightened.

"Nothing."

She pulled the chair out and sat down.

Cassian walked around the table and took the other seat. He glanced at his watch, then looked towards the door.

"The girls seem to be late."

He turned to Aria.

"Wait a little. They’ll be here soon."

Aria narrowed her eyes.

’What girls is he talking about? Is it those two?’

Just then—

Knock. Knock.

Cassian smiled.

"They must be here."

Aria immediately rose from her chair.

"I’ll get the door."

She crossed the room and opened it.

Megan and Sophie stood outside, both dressed in beautiful red and blue gowns that stopped at their knees. Their hair and clothes had been carefully arranged, and neither looked as though she’d come for an ordinary visit.

Aria studied them for a moment.

Megan’s expression soured.

"You."

"Yes, me. What do you both want?"

Sophie glared at her.

"Cassian invited us over, got it? So stop all this and let us in."

Megan tried to walk past her.

Aria stretched out an arm, blocking the entrance.

"I’ll have to ask my master first."

Megan stared at her.

"What?"

Without another word, Aria closed the door in their faces.

She turned around just as Cassian emerged from the kitchen, holding a glass of water. He took a sip before looking at her.

"Who was it?"

"Your girls are here to see you. Should I let them in?"

"Of course. Let them in."

Aria opened the door again.

Sophie shot her an irritated look as she stepped forward.

"Don’t you dare shut the door in our faces ever again."

Aria moved aside without responding, allowing both girls to enter.

Megan marched into the room, already preparing to complain.

"Cassian, look what she—"

Her words trailed off.

She stopped to take in the candlelit room, her irritation giving way to surprise.

"Wow. This is beautiful."

Sophie looked around as well, a smile spreading across her face.

"I didn’t know you were so romantic, Cassian."

From behind them, Aria scoffed.

Megan ignored her and approached Cassian.

"Thank you for inviting me."

"You’re welcome," he replied.

Sophie glanced between the two chairs before turning to Cassian.

"Cassian, there are only two chairs. Who’s going to sit with you?"

Before he could answer, Megan hurried towards the table and claimed one of the seats.

"Me, of course. Cassian texted me first."

Sophie’s smile vanished.

"What do you mean by that?"

She stepped towards Megan, who remained comfortably seated.

Cassian took his place in the remaining chair and looked directly at Megan.

"Get up."

Megan froze.

Slowly, she turned towards him, her smile disappearing.

"What?"

"The chair isn’t meant for you. Get up."

Megan hesitated before rising to her feet.

"I... I don’t understand."

Sophie seized the opportunity. She hurried over and shoved Megan aside before sitting down in the vacated chair.

"That means the chair is meant for me."

She settled back with a satisfied smile.

Cassian stared at her.

"What are you doing?"

Sophie’s smile faltered.

"I’m sitting on my chair."

"I just told Megan to stand up. What makes you think you can sit on it?"

Sophie shot to her feet.

"Sorry, Cassian."

Megan folded her arms, looking from one to the other.

"Then if neither of us can sit there, who will?"

Cassian turned his head slightly.

His gaze settled on Aria, who had remained near the door throughout the exchange.

"Aria. Come take your seat."

Aria walked towards the table and stopped in front of the two girls.

"Excuse me."

Both girls frowned before reluctantly stepping aside.

Aria pulled out the chair and sat down without a word.

She looked at Cassian, trying to make sense of his behaviour.

’Why is he doing all this? I can’t understand anything.’

Sophie stared at Cassian, clearly displeased.

"If Aria is the one who’s supposed to sit there, what did you call us here for?"

Megan nodded in agreement.

"We even got dressed up."

"That’s the first question you should have asked before trying to sit down."

Cassian rested an arm on the table, his voice calm.

"You two will serve me and Aria tonight."

He turned towards Aria.

"Aria won’t be doing any work today."

The smiles on both girls’ faces disappeared.

"What?!" Megan exclaimed, taking a step forward. "You want us to work for Aria?"

Sophie threw her hands up in disbelief.

"Then what was the point of telling us to dress up?"

"Did I tell you what you should wear?"

Cassian slipped a hand into his pocket and brought out his phone. He switched it on and glanced through his messages.

"Strange..." He frowned faintly at the screen. "I thought I typed it out, but I guess I forgot."

He placed the phone on the table as though the matter wasn’t worth another thought.

"Anyway, let’s leave that aside. It doesn’t matter what you wear. Now, go to the kitchen. Aria must be hungry."

He looked at Aria.

"Am I right?"

Aria remained silent.

Cassian chuckled at her response—or rather, the lack of one.

He turned back to the girls and waved them towards the kitchen.

"Go on. What are you still standing there for?"

Megan and Sophie exchanged bitter looks before reluctantly heading into the kitchen.

Their footsteps faded down the short passage.

Cassian leaned back in his chair, looking entirely at ease.

"Now we wait."

Aria turned towards him.

"What do you want?"

"I don’t quite follow."

"Don’t play dumb. I know you’re up to something."

Cassian smiled, resting his hands on the arms of his chair.

"Aria, Aria, Aria. What am I going to do with you? You always assume the worst of my intentions."

He tilted his head slightly.

"I’m simply rewarding you for all the work you’ve done for me over the past month."

"You already made up for that with your rating. You don’t need to do anything else."

Her tone was cold, leaving little room for argument.

Cassian sighed.

"You’re still mad about the rating?"

He shook his head.

"You should learn to let things go, Aria. Like I said, I’ll raise your rating next month. So let’s just enjoy our dinner."

He glanced towards the kitchen.

"Speaking of which, what’s taking them so long?"

As if on cue, the girls returned, each carrying a tray. Their faces were tight with irritation, and neither made any attempt to hide it.

Megan approached Cassian and began serving him.

Sophie walked towards Aria and placed a plate of steak in front of her. She set an empty glass beside it, then turned and returned to the kitchen.

A moment later, she came back carrying a bottle of wine and two wine glasses.

She placed the bottle on the table, poured wine into one glass, and set it beside Aria’s plate. Then she handed the bottle to Megan.

Megan poured another glass and placed it beside Cassian’s plate before carefully setting the bottle in the centre of the table.

The two girls stepped back.

Neither said a word.

Cassian picked up his fork and knife. He cut a piece of steak, lifted it to his mouth, and began eating as though nothing unusual had happened.

Across from him, Aria stared at him with an expression that made it clear she wasn’t pleased.

Cassian glanced up at her.

He paused with his fork in hand, meeting her gaze.

"What? Don’t you like the food?"

Aria lowered her gaze to the plate in front of her.

’This must have cost a fortune...’

She looked back at Cassian, who continued eating with a relaxed expression.

’I see. He wants me to eat his food so he can charge me for it later. What a cheap trick.’

"No, I’m not hungry."

Cassian paused, his fork hovering above his plate.

"Did you eat something before coming here?"

"Yes, I did."

He set down his fork and gestured towards the glass of wine beside her plate.

"You can try the wine, then. You’ll love it."

Aria glanced at the red liquid.

"No, thanks."

"Just do as Cassian says. You should be grateful you’re even getting to eat such an expensive meal," Megan interjected.

Cassian turned his head towards her.

Megan immediately lowered her gaze and fell silent.

Aria picked up her glass, examining the wine for a moment before setting it down.

"For all I know, you could have poisoned it."

Megan and Sophie frowned, their displeasure evident, but neither dared to respond.

Cassian simply smiled at Aria.

"Alright, then."

He turned towards Megan.

"Test her food."

Megan’s head snapped up.

"What? But, Cas—"

"Do it."

His voice had lost its earlier warmth.

Megan pressed her lips together and reluctantly approached the table. She picked up the fork and knife, cut a piece of steak, and took a bite.

After swallowing, she lifted the wineglass and drank from it before placing it back on the table.

CLINK.

She shot Aria an irritated look, then returned to stand beside Sophie.

"Are you satisfied now?" Cassian asked.

Aria glanced at the utensils Megan had used.

"I’ll need to change those."

Megan clenched her fists at her sides.

Sophie turned sharply and marched back into the kitchen. She returned with a fresh glass, fork, and knife, placing them in front of Aria.

Then she poured wine into the new glass, gathered the old utensils and glass, and carried them away.

Aria watched her leave before looking down at the wine.

After a brief hesitation, she picked up the glass and took a sip.

She set it down and turned towards Cassian.

"How much will that cost?"

Cassian stopped moving.

"What do you mean by that? I’m not going to charge you."

He picked up his utensils again.

"Silly girl."

Aria said nothing more and returned her attention to her meal.