Adrien
“Will that be all, Adrien?”
The table is set the way I want the night to feel—close.Low candles, crystal that catches the city’s light, the plates near enough that reaching for her hand will never look like a reach.The lamb Maria tucked into the oven perfumes the room with rosemary and promise, ready for me to retrieve.The dining room was too performative.The Sanctuary’s restaurant, too public.I want her here.
Not only am I hoping she stays the night, but I’m also hoping that by inviting her to a place I typically don’t invite women, she’ll open up to me, perhaps be more open to inviting me into her space.
Why?
Because I want to know her.Is sex part of it?Without doubt.But it’s not all of it.I have questions I want answered.Doubts I want resolved.
“Adrien?”Maria lowers her coat, and I wave her on her way.
“It’s perfect, Maria.”I scan the setting one more time.“At least…if a man invited you over and he had this set up… Should I get her flowers?”
Maria’s grin spreads far too wide, and as she holds her coat against her chest, the odd sensation strikes that she might reach out and pull me into a hug.
“Whoever this lucky woman is, she’s going to love it.And flowers…” She lifts her shoulders and her lips pinch.“She’s coming to your place.But if you want, I can go to the florist?—”
“Get out of here.I’m good.What time is your train?”
Maria has been working for me for almost two years, but she worked for the prior tenant for almost fifteen.I inherited Maria when I purchased the condo.We’ve been slowly getting to know each other, and while I haven’t yet met her family, I’m aware she commutes through Penn Station.“This time of day, they leave regularly.You’re good?”she asks, but she’s already stepping back in the direction of the door.
I surprised her when I arrived home this afternoon and asked her to stop cleaning the library and to instead spend her time preparing dinner for a guest.
Could I have ordered in?Yes, but take-away doesn’t feel as intimate as home-cooked.Could I have cooked?Yes, but the likelihood that the result wouldn’t be palatable is too high.Plus, I’m not sure where Maria keeps the fine china and crystal, but it sets a warmer tone than the black everyday china I use.
My phone vibrates and I pull it out of my trouser pocket, and when I look up from reading my sister’s name, it’s in time to see Maria waving as she steps through the kitchen into the hallway that leads to the foyer.
I smile and nod, and answer the phone with, “Margot.”
“Finally,” she says.“Have you been avoiding me?”
“No.I’ve been busy.”
“You’re lying.”
“Why do you say that?”
“Because Tommy told me you had something going on and you’d tell me when you’re ready.”
The bastard.“Those things have made me busy.”
“Is your sex club about to get bad press?”
Direct and to the point and also making it clear her concern is for the family business and not me.“It’s not a sex club.”
I love my sister, but damn if she can’t be just as infuriating as our parents.
“If there’s some exposé coming, it’ll hit d’Avricourt Luxe.Your business may not be affiliated, but the distinction will not be clear in the papers.Dad will?—”
“Margot.There’s no exposé.I had an employee who was… Well, he’s a traitor.I’m taking care of it.That’s all.”
“Oh.Do you have someone in human resources?I can send?—”
“I’m good.Alicia Morgan is helping me handle it all, actually.”
“Ah.So that’s what she wanted with you.But it’s all under control now?”
