I woke up at six in the morning to find Everett already awake, sitting tensely with her eyes fixed on nothing in particular.
"What happened, Everett?" I asked, my voice still rough with sleep.
"Nothing… just a nightmare. Or maybe a dream—I can't really tell. It came around midnight. After that, I wanted to sleep but couldn't."
"You could've woken me up if you weren't able to sleep," I said, pulling her gently into a hug.
"You were sleeping so peacefully. And honestly… you look too cute when you're asleep. I don't like disturbing anyone unless it's really urgent," she murmured against me.
"Still…" I started, but she cut me off.
"It's fine. Come on, let's get to work." She stood and offered me her hand.
"The only work I have is following you wherever you go," I muttered, half-joking, as I took her hand and got up.
We freshened up and had breakfast. She mentioned needing to go to the restaurant, and of course, I said I'd come along. She didn't argue.
On the way there, I hesitated before asking, "It's okay if I come, Everett?"
"It's completely okay," she said simply, eyes on the road.
"I won't be… a disturbance?"
"Nope." She didn't even blink before answering.
At the restaurant, she told me to sit wherever I liked and not to hesitate if I wanted food or drinks. Before heading off to meet the shareholders about a wedding menu, she leaned down, kissed my forehead, and slipped away.
Left alone, I started turning plans over in my head—ways to ruin my stepbrother and his company.
Every few minutes, a server appeared. First a waiter, then another, then a waitress who popped in again and again, asking if I needed something. I kept refusing politely, until one more approached.
"Sir, do you need anything?" he asked with a bright smile.
"Yes," I said. His smile widened instantly, eyes curious.
"What would you like, sir? Drinks, snacks, soup—anything?"
"Anything?" I asked, raising a brow.
"Yes, sir. Anything."
"Then I need information."
"Information?" He looked puzzled now.
"Why do you all keep coming every fifteen minutes to ask if I need something?"
He hesitated, then admitted, "Well… madam asked us to take care of you. Since you weren't ordering, we thought maybe you were waiting, so… sorry if it bothered you, sir."
"You can go now. I'll call if I need something. Go on, do your work," I told him, more firmly this time.
"It's okay, sir. Most of the work is already done. There isn't much left."
"You can go," I repeated.
At last, he left. Nobody disturbed me for the next couple of hours. I scrolled idly through my phone until I noticed the time. Two hours had passed already.
Then the first customers of the day walked in—two men. My eyes widened.
"Why are you both here?" I blurted.
And then, from behind me, I heard the same question echoed: "Why are you both here?"
I turned sharply. It was Everett.
She knew Austin. But how on earth did she also know David Rutherford?