Devil's Desire {A BWLM Novella}

6

Chapter 6

It was a beautiful hell, I had to admit. Alex's mansion, perched high on a hill, looked like something out of an eighteenth-century fantasy—a palace of old-world opulence. As I stepped through the massive carved mahogany doors, my breath caught in my throat. The grand staircase was a swirling vision of white marble and gold, and overhead, the ceiling was painted with cherubic angels playing harps against a backdrop of the bluest sky I'd ever seen.

Everything here was gilded, polished, and perfect. The floors, the furniture, even the air seemed too luxurious for someone like me, still in my chef's uniform, which suddenly felt like a potato sack in this grand setting. The insignia on the marble floor caught my eye again—something about it itched at the back of my mind, like I'd seen it before but couldn't place it.

"Good evening, sir. How can I be of service?" The voice came from a distinguished older man dressed in a butler's uniform. His posture was straight, his expression unreadable.

With a hand on my lower back, Alex guided me through the grand foyer like he owned not just the mansion, but me too. "Is the room prepared?" he asked.

"Yes, sir."

"I have some business to attend to. Make sure Miss Stacey is fed and comfortable."

The butler nodded. "Of course, sir. Shall I take your coat?" Alex handed over his leather jacket, then leaned in to plant a soft kiss on my forehead before disappearing into the depths of the mansion.

I stood there for a moment, feeling utterly out of place in this palace. "Wow, this place is... something else," I muttered, more to myself than anyone else.

The butler, Rodger, gave me a tight smile. "Indeed, Miss. There have been quite a few upgrades over the years. If you'll follow me, dinner will be served shortly."

He led me to a dining room straight out of a fairy tale, with a crystal chandelier dripping elegance from above. As soon as I sat down, Rodger appeared with a basket of buttery garlic bread and a glass of red wine. "Mr. Alex tells us you're fond of seafood. Our chef, Gio, has prepared something special for you."

Moments later, an attractive man in a crisp chef's uniform appeared with a dish that made my mouth water. "Pan-roasted lobster with Chive Beurre Blanc. Bon appétit." The dish was a work of art, served on a plate adorned with that same insignia from before. That itching feeling crept up again, but I pushed it aside.

"Thank you, it smells amazing," I said, trying to be polite.

Chef Gio smiled, bowing slightly. "It is my pleasure, madam. And as the future—"

Rodger shot him a look that shut him up fast. They both went stone-faced, their emotions locked down. I raised an eyebrow, filing that weird interaction away for later. Something was definitely off.

"Uh, thanks for the food," I added awkwardly, deciding to focus on eating rather than interrogating the staff. The lobster was divine, but my mind was too scattered to fully enjoy it.

When I finished, a wave of exhaustion hit me like a freight train. "Rodger?" I called out, uncertain if he'd still be lurking nearby.

He appeared almost instantly, like he'd been waiting in the wings. "Yes, Miss Stacey?"

I jumped at how quickly he showed up. "Where did you come from?"

His smile softened. "Part of my job is to anticipate the needs of our guests. I knew you'd need me, so I stayed close."

I sighed, deciding to cut to the chase. "Could you relay a message to Alex? Tell him I'm ready to go home now."

Rodger cleared his throat, placing a gloved fist over his mouth. "I'm very sorry, Miss Stacey, but that won't be necessary."