Somehow Love is Found (BWWM)

Chapter 24: Meeting Kane Koch

"One of his greatest talents was empathy; no sadist can aspire to perfection without that diagnostic ability."

― Vernor Vinge

Octavia's POV

The next day I drove over to Refael's house to pick him up as usual.

When I got there, he was nowhere to be found.

"Master Koch got kicked out," said one of the older servants.

I felt my blood run cold.

What? 

"Where is he?" I asked.

"I wish I knew Lady Hale," said the man, sighing sadly.

He must've gotten into it with his folks.

Suddenly I realized that it wasn't a good idea for me to be here.

Just as I turned to leave, a maid approached me.

"King Koch and his wife wish to see you," she said.

King Koch?

Talk about ego.

I was about to refuse when the maid grabbed my arm desperately.

"Please, my job is on the line," she pleaded.

I felt my blood boil.

The bastards. No wonder Refael hated it here.

I nodded to her and followed her into Koch Manor.

*****************************************

When we arrived at the study, the maid simply knocked and left.

"Enter," came a gruff voice.

I rolled my eyes but entered anyway.

A woman with brown eyes and brown curly hair sat in one of the chairs. She wore an elegant black gown. 

This must be his mother, the hair...

And seated in the largest chair was a well-built man in a suit. His hair was black and straight and he had grey eyes. 

Ah, Refael's father.

He and his wife assessed me with a scowl, their eyes taking in my features. Luckily for me, I was dressed in my most decent uniform, my hair pinned back neatly.

"Do have a seat," said Mr Koch.

I nodded stiffly, doing as I was told.

He smiled at me and I don't think I've ever felt more disgusted in my entire life.

"You are quite the beauty," he said, much to his wife's displeasure, "I can see why our son is so besotted."

I wanted to hurl.

Even I knew he didn't mean nor believe a single word he said.

But since he wanted to play that game.

"Why thank you, sir, you're too kind," I said, "but let's take our masks off and deal with reality."

He still kept up the cheery demeanour.

"What's wrong Miss Hale?" he asked.

I turned to look at Mrs Koch, who looked as if she wanted to kill me and sacrifice me to the gods.

Understandable, since I hospitalized her daughter.

I merely smiled back.

"Oh, nothing is wrong. Just that it won't profit us to feign civility," I said, glancing at his red-faced wife.