“But that doesn’t mean you should forget where you are,” he adds, still pleasant, but firmer now. “Try not to do anything… impulsive.”
I blink. “I wasn’t planning to.”
He casts a look over his shoulder, all calm eyes and cool restraint. “Then we’ll get along just fine.”
I fall quiet, unsure how to respond. There’s no edge in his voice, nothing overtly cruel, but something about the way he says it makes my spine straighten.
“I just mean—” I start, then stop. What do I mean? That I’m not here to cause trouble? That I don’t belong in places like this?
“Don’t wander,” he says, still walking. “And don’t touch anything unless I say it’s alright.”
“Got it,” I murmur, wrapping my arms around myself against the cold.
He glances at me again, and this time, there’s the faintest smile on his lips. “Good,” he says softly, and then continues toward the mansion, the snow crunching lightly beneath his boots.
The door swings open, and I’m struck silent. If the outside of the Steele mansion was impressive, the inside is simply overwhelming. My jaw drops, but I’m too stunned to care. The floor beneath my boots is marble, gleaming white with veins of grey that swirl like smoke. A chandelier hangs above us, massive and glittering with crystals that catch the light and scatter it into a thousand tiny rainbows across the walls. The space is vast and open, the ceilings so high it feels like they belong in a cathedral rather than a home.
My gaze lands on the grand piano. Sleek, and black, and perfect. I’ve never seen one in real life before, and seeing it now, I am most definitely not disappointed. Who else in this family plays? I wonder. Or is it just for Kai?
Kai strides past me, breaking me free of whatever daze I was in. He moves with his usual confidence, shrugging off his trench coat and scarf in one fluid motion. He hangs them on a hook near the door and takes off his shoes before gesturing to me to do the same.
“Mr. Kai, you’re back later than usual.”
The voice comes from the side, and I turn to see a woman approaching. She’s middle-aged, with soft brown hair streaked with grey, pulled back into a neat flower clip. Her eyes are warm, kind and she’s wearing a simple but elegant blouse and skirt. I notice a slight accent too, undoubtedly French.
Kai slows beside me. “I got held up,” he says smoothly, his tone polite.
My cheeks heat under his gaze, but I say nothing, locking my hands together to keep them from fidgeting.
It’s then that the woman notices me. Her gaze shifts, as though she’s only just realized I’m standing there, and her expression flickers with mild surprise. “And who is this?” she asks, curious. Her eyes move between the two of us, studying. “Mr. Kai rarely brings guests, let alone female ones. Are you by any chance—”
“No,” Kai interjects, smoothly but firmly.
The woman’s eyes widen slightly, but she recovers quickly, a soft smile spreading across her face. She glances between us again, slower this time before her gaze finally settles on me.
“What’s your name, darling?” she asks, her tone as warm as her eyes.
“Adeline, Miss,” I say, my voice quieter than I intend and the woman smiles.
“This is Sue. If you need anything, just ask her. She’s here to help,” Kai interrupts before either of us can say anything else. So she’s a maid? It looks like the two of them are close. Or as close as one can get to Kai at least.
I turn to Sue again, but the warmth in her smile has shifted. It’s still there, but there’s something else now, something I can’t exactly place. Suspicion? Uncertainty? Her gaze flicks to Kai for a moment, and they exchange a look. One that’s so quick and subtle, it almost feels like I imagined it. But I know I didn’t.
Like a silent conversation, one an outsider like me can’t understand. Kai nods slightly, and Sue inclines her head before stepping away, disappearing down one of the many halls. I glance at Kai then, but his expression gives absolutely nothing away, as usual. He starts walking without a word. I take that asa sign I should most definitely follow, unless I want to get lost in this maze of a house.
***
My steps progressively slow down as we pass by a long stand of polished wood tucked against the wall. It’s the kind of thing you’d see in any family home, filled with pictures and trophies.
Except this one has a ridiculous amount of trophies, and awards. And by a lot, I mean a lot. I stop, leaning in to get a closer look. I stare in awe at the certificates framed and hung up on the wall, almost all of them marked with the same name: Kai Oren Steele.
My eyebrows shoot up. “Distinction, Grade 8 piano examination.” And more like it, lined up neatly: Grade 7, Grade 6, all the way down to the beginner levels. There are more too, for Elliot, who I can only assume is his brother.
I guess he’s carrying on the tradition.
It’s no wonder they have a grand piano. There’s even a framed certificate of his GCSE results, and when I properly read it my eyes almost bulge out of my head.
A completely perfect, flawless result. For everything.
