Chapter 10
Chris fixed his gaze on me, his voice dropping to a low rumble. "I don't like how you're acting right now."
"Oh," I nodded. "Then what do you want me to be like?"
"Don't beat around the bush with me."
"I'm not." I stood up, wiping my hands with a napkin. "It's funny, you know. People are weird sometimes. You used to always ask if I was upset, but now you go straight to asking what I want."
Chris stood up as well. "Because you're not angry right now."
I picked up my coffee cup from the table and took a small sip.
The coffee was a bit bitter.
"So what am I doing, then?" I asked.
"You're watching," he said.
I raised an eyebrow.
Chris looked at me, his voice steady, but his gaze was anything but steady. "You've been watching me since two days ago. Watching what I say, how I react, trying to catch me off guard."
I set the cup back down on the table and gave a small smile.
"You know me pretty well," I said.
"So, what have you figured out about me?" he asked.
I looked at him, saying nothing.
The sunlight fell on the collar of his shirt, making that small patch of fabric look almost bleached.
He stood across the table from me, with the same familiar face and figure I'd always known, but for some reason, he suddenly felt like a stranger.
It wasn't because there was another woman by his side.
It was because he had begun to wonder how much I truly knew, rather than questioning the rift between us.
I looked down and pushed the coffee cup to the side.
"Chris," I said.
He looked at me. "Yeah."
"Right now, you really look like someone who's been caught doing something wrong."
His eyes flickered for a moment.
"I didn't..." Chris began, trying to protest.
"See?" I interrupted him, my smile still faint. "Here you go again, rushing to explain yourself."
Then, the maid came out of the kitchen with a fresh plate of fruit, standing a few steps away, looking unsure whether she should come over.
I turned and gave her a small smile. "Leave it there for now."
The maid let out a sigh of relief, set the fruit plate down, and quickly stepped away.
I turned back to Chris, picked up a cherry from the fruit plate, and slowly plucked off the stem.
"I'm dropping by your company this afternoon," I said.
"What for?" Chris asked.
"To check on that rose in your office," I replied, popping the cherry into my mouth. The cherry was sweet, with a touch of tartness. "And maybe see what kind of cup you like these days."
Chris looked at me, his expression turning grim.
"Kate," Chris called.
I spat the cherry pit into a tissue and carefully folded it up.
"What's wrong? Is it a bad time?" I asked.
"If you want to see it, you can drop by whenever you want," Chris said.
"Good," I said, grabbing my bag. "After all, I don't like seeing my own things sitting on someone else's windowsill."
With that, I turned and walked out.
When I got to the entryway, the driver had already pulled the car up to the door.
I bent down to slip on my heels, and just as I finished, Chris followed me out.
"Let me take you," he said.
"No need," I replied, leaning against the doorframe and looking up at him. "Aren't you taking Vivian to Lencity today?"
He fell silent for a moment.
"I'll send someone else with her," Chris said.
I smiled, "So, what, are you scared I'll run into her?"
Chris didn't say a word.
But I suddenly got a spark of interest and tapped him lightly on the chest.
"Chris, the most amusing thing about you used to be that you were never any good at lying," I said.
Chris lowered his eyes, watching me.
"And now?" he asked.
"Now?" I pulled my hand back, my smile turning sly. "Now you're not just lying, you're gambling that I won't expose you."
His breathing grew heavier for a moment.
I didn't let him get another word in. I got right into the car.