I took a sip, and it was perfect. Not too sweet, at the ideal temperature where it's hot, but it doesn't burn your mouth and is strong.
"It's delicious," I said. "It's very good. It reminds me of the coffee served in the bakeries in Paris."
"I learned to make it like that in Paris. I thought you might like it," he said. "By the way, did you sleep well?"
"I slept better than ever. That bed works miracles," I said, takinganother sip of coffee. "I didn't thank you last night for getting the room ready for me."
Eric was very attentive last night. He took it upon himself to change the sheets and make sure everything in the room was in order.
"It's nothing, and it's my way of showing you hospitality." He pouted his lip, turning the corner of his left side up a little as he looked me in the eye. "What do you want to eat... ask for whatever you want, and one of the maids will prepare it for you."
He led me to the dining room and pulled out the chair for me to sit in.
As soon as I sat down, a human woman came towards me and placed a plate, crystal glass, and cutlery on the side wrapped in a cloth napkin.
"What could I offer you for breakfast?" she asked.
She wasn't like the humans who worked for my father. There wasn't a hint of fear in her eyes. Instead, she looked like she enjoyed what she was doing.
I looked at Eric and opened my eyes like saucers for him to give me a hand.
"Ask for whatever you want," he insisted.
The woman looked at me confused and then smiled. "Would you like something traditional, eggs, bacon, and toast?"
"Yes, that would be great," I replied.
"And for you?" she turned to Eric.
"The same, and bring orange juice for both of us."
The woman nodded and returned to the kitchen.
As soon as she started cooking, the smell of fresh bacon and toasting bread flooded the place, making my stomach growl.
Eric sat down in the chair next to me and moved closer to me. The table seated eight, and none of them were taken, and for him, it made the most sense to sit so close to me.
"I couldn't stop thinking about you last night," He said out of the blue. "In your situation, I meant."
"What do you mean?"
"Why you left the pack... don't get me wrong, but even though Idon't think it was the place where you were happy, because no one leaves their pack and disappears off the face of the earth completely."
I felt pressured to tell him the truth, but this wasn’t the time, especially being in his house.
"I just wanted to pursue my dream of becoming a fragrance designer," I said with certainty. "My father never supported me, and I knew that if I stayed there, I would be a nobody all my life."
"Fair enough!" he said.
The maid arrived with two plates full of food and a pitcher of juice on a small rolling cart. She was just in time to keep the conversation from continuing.
"It looks delicious," I said. "You should teach me how to make eggs like this. I always break the yolk when I throw them in the pan."
She laughed. "You can't be good at everything, ma'am," she said. "You have other talents, but if you want, I can teach you."
I smiled back at her and began tasting my breakfast. She lifted the corner of her lip a little and looked at me, enjoying her meal. I could tell she was happy with the compliment I gave her for the food. And when she made sure we were pleased, she returned to the kitchen and left Eric and me alone again.
We both ate in silence, but inside me, there was a question that was gnawing at me, so after holding back the urge to ask him, I mustered up my courage.
