Dinner continued peacefully, at least by Valen’s standards.
Isadora had done most of the talking while Valen simply listened, occasionally answering with a few words.
At some point, she rested her chin on her hand and looked at him.
“You know, you’re really quiet.” “I prefer silence.” “That explains why you barely talk to me.” “I talk when there’s something worth saying.” Isadora gasped dramatically.
“Are you saying I don’t say anything worth hearing?” “I didn’t say that.” “You implied it.” Valen took another sip of his drink.
“You’re just proving my point.” She narrowed her eyes.
“You’re annoying.” “I’ve been told.” A small silence followed.
Then Isadora noticed something.
“You know what else I’ve noticed?” Valen raised an eyebrow.
“You don’t seem interested in women.” He looked at her.
“I’m not.” Isadora blinked.
“Wait.” She leaned closer.
“Are you gay?” Valen nearly choked on his drink.
Isadora burst out laughing.
“No.” “Oh.” She nodded slowly.
“Okay.
Good to know.” Valen gave her a flat look.
“I just don’t like relationships.” “Why?” “They’re exhausting.” “How?” “Women talk too much.” Isadora’s smile disappeared.
“Excuse me?” Valen continued calmly.
“They ask too many questions, complain about everything, and somehow manage to turn a simple conversation into an hour-long discussion.” Isadora stared at him.
“Are you describing women or me?” “Both.” Her jaw dropped.
“You’re such a misogynist.” “I said you talk too much.” “That is not a defense!” Valen’s lips twitched slightly.
“It’s an observation.” She crossed her arms.
“Well, for your information, not every woman talks too much.” “I know.” “You’re impossible.” “And yet you’re still talking to me.” She opened her mouth.
Then closed it.
For a second, she simply stared at him.
Then she pushed her chair back.
“Fine.” Valen looked up.
“I’ve lost my appetite.” “You’ve been talking for twenty minutes.
I’m surprised you still had one.” Her eyes widened.
“Excuse me?” “You heard me.” “You know what?
You’re a complete macho.” Valen calmly took another sip of his drink.
“And you’re proving every point I made.” Isadora stared at him.
“You seriously think women talk too much?” “Not all women.” He looked directly at her.
“Just you.” Her mouth dropped open.
“Wow.” She shook her head.
“That’s probably why you don’t have a girlfriend.” “I don’t have time for one.” “No woman wants you anyway.” “Then why are you so determined to convince me?” She froze.
“I—” Valen raised an eyebrow.
“Exactly.” She glared at him.
“You’re arrogant.” “I can afford to be.” “Oh, that is such a rich-man answer.” “It’s an accurate one.” She scoffed.
“You know what?
I’m done.” “You’ve said that three times.” “Because you keep making me angry!” “Then stop giving me reasons to.” Isadora stared at him in disbelief.
“Do you enjoy annoying me?” “More than I should.” That answer caught her off guard.
She narrowed her eyes.
“Well, enjoy your dinner alone.” “And for the record, you’re a complete jerk.” Valen leaned back in his chair.
“And yet you spent the entire dinner talking to me.” “Because I was trying to be polite.” “No.” His eyes met hers.
“You were curious.” Isadora went silent.
He had hit the mark.
She immediately looked away.
“Whatever.” She turned toward the door.
“Don’t worry.
You won’t have to deal with my talking anymore tonight.” “I’ll survive.” She stopped.
Slowly, she looked back at him.
“Enjoy it while it lasts.” Then she walked away.
Valen watched her disappear through the doorway.
A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Finally.
Silence.
It lasted approximately three seconds.
“AND I’M STILL MAD AT YOU!” Valen closed his eyes.
He had spoken too soon.
Isadora stormed back to her room, still furious.
She threw her bag onto the sofa and slammed the door behind her.
“I cannot believe him.” She paced around the room.
“Who does he think he is?” She stopped in front of the mirror.
“And why did I agree to live with him?” She pointed at her reflection.
“You had a perfectly good apartment, Isadora.” She nodded firmly.
“A perfectly good apartment.” Then she sighed.
“Okay, maybe the rent was killing me… and oh they tried to kill me also” She paused.
“But still.” She dropped onto the bed.
“This was a terrible idea.” She stared at the ceiling.
“I’m going to regret this.” A few seconds passed.
She pulled the blanket over herself.
“Definitely.” .
.
Later That Night Isadora was asleep.
Or at least, she had been trying to sleep.
THUD!
Her eyes flew open.
She stared at the ceiling.
“What was that?” Silence.
She slowly closed her eyes again.
BANG!
She sat straight up.
“Oh, come on!” She looked at the clock.
1:14 a.m.
“Is he seriously doing construction up there?” Another loud noise echoed through the manor.
THUD.
Isadora groaned and buried her face in her pillow.
“What is this man doing?” She lifted her head.
“Anthony literally told me not to go to the third floor.” She stared toward her bedroom door.
“Maybe there’s a perfectly reasonable explanation.” Another crash.
She frowned.
“Probably not.” She climbed out of bed and walked toward the door.
She opened it slightly and looked into the quiet hallway.
Nothing.
Then another muffled sound came from above.
Isadora looked toward the staircase.
“The forbidden floor…” She swallowed.
“Nope.” She closed the door.
“I value my life.” She returned to bed and pulled the blanket over herself.
Five minutes passed.
THUD.
Her eyes opened again.
“Seriously?” She sat up.
“What could possibly be making that much noise at one in the morning?” Another sound.
Isadora stared at the ceiling.
“Is he moving furniture?” Silence.
“Practicing martial arts?” Another BANG.
“Building a secret room?” She paused.
“…Okay, that one sounds like something he would actually do.” She sighed and fell back onto her pillow.
“Why did I agree to live here?” She turned onto her side.
“Tomorrow, I’m asking him.” A beat.
“Actually…” She pulled the blanket over her head.
“I’m not asking him anything.” Another loud noise came from the third floor.
Isadora sat up again.
“Okay, I’m definitely asking him.” She glared at the ceiling.
“Because if I’m going to live here, I deserve to know what kind of psychopath makes this much noise at night.” She finally lay back down.
But sleep refused to come.
And above her… the mysterious noises continued.
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