MAYA
The car slowed to a stop before a building with the name The Gilded Rose etched boldly across the stone in gold.
A valet in a crisp tuxedo stepped forward immediately, pulling the door open for Silas.
Silas stepped out, letting the cool city air rush into the car.
He turned back and extended his hand toward me, his fingers steady and waiting.
The gesture felt more like a command disguised as an invitation.
I stared at his open palm.
A surge of rebellion rose in me, a sudden, sharp desire to ignore him and step out on my own.
But the warning in his eyes stopped me.
It was a silent reminder that the acting began the moment we hit the pavement.
Stepping inside was like entering another world.
The Gilded Rose didn’t just display wealth; it screamed it.
Massive crystal chandeliers draped from the ceiling like frozen rain, casting a dim glow over the room.
The air was cooler here, carrying the faint, heavy scent of white lilies.
I took a breath and swallowed my pride.
Forcing a bright, practiced smile onto my face, I took his hand.
He pulled me out of the car, his grip firm as he drew me close to his side.
“Mr.
Blackwood,” a smooth voice interrupted.
A man in a tailcoat appeared from the shadows, bowing slightly.
“Your table is ready.
Right this way.”
As we followed him, the atmosphere in the room shifted.
Diners leaned in to whisper behind manicured hands.
A few didn’t even try to be subtle, angling their phones to capture a rare glimpse of Silas Blackwood in public.
The weight of their stares was heavy.
If this was a business meeting, Silas hadn’t mentioned a word of it.
Actually, he hadn’t mentioned anything at all.
As the man in the tailcoat led us forward, a voice boomed from across the room, cutting through the chatter.
“Silas Blackwood!
You’re a hard man to track down these days!”
Silas went rigid beside me.
His pace slowed just enough for me to notice.
A handsome man in a gray suit approached us with a wide smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
He didn’t wait for an invitation; he stepped directly into our path, forcing us to stop.
“Mathew,” Silas said.
He extended a hand, and the two men exchanged a brief, stiff handshake.
He looked me up and down with obvious curiosity.
“Won’t you introduce me to the beautiful lady beside you, Silas?”
”This is Maya.
My new Executive Assistant,” Silas said curtly.
“Assistant?” Mathew’s eyebrows shot up.
He stepped closer, invading my personal space as he took my hand before I could pull away.
Instead of a shake, he bowed slightly and pressed a lingering kiss to my knuckles.
“Silas, you’ve been holding out on us.
I never knew you had an assistant who looked like this.”
I felt the heat rise to my cheeks.
My practiced smile wavered under his stare.
“I really should stop by your office more often,” Mathew continued.
He spoke to Silas, but his eyes stayed on me.
“If only to see this beautiful face again.
Business would be so much more tolerable with a view like this.”
Mathew leaned in closer to Silas, his voice dropping to a low whisper that I could still catch.
“Seriously, Silas.
Are there any more like her where she came from?
Or are you keeping the best for yourself?”
Silas didn’t even acknowledge the question.
He didn’t look at him anymore.
“We have a very tight schedule, Mathew,” he said, dismissing him entirely.
“We’re already behind.”
”Always the busy man,” Mathew laughed, stepping aside and raising his hands in surrender.
“Don’t work her too hard, Silas.
A gem like that deserves a break.”
Silas didn’t respond.
He gave a sharp nod to the man in the tailcoat, who immediately resumed leading the way.
Despite the rush, the back of my neck prickled.
I couldn’t help myself; I glanced back over my shoulder.
Mathew was still standing there, watching us.
When he saw me look, a slow smirk spread across his face, and he gave me a playful wink.
He was handsome, sure, but he had a weird vibe I didn’t like.
I turned back quickly, focusing on my stride so I didn’t trip over my own feet.
The table was perfectly secluded.
It was tucked away where no one could see us, and the muffled music made the booth feel like a soundproof box.
A waiter appeared instantly.
“Mr.
Blackwood.”
”The regular,” Silas replied without looking up.
The waiter turned to me, but I sat frozen, my hands clamped tight in my lap.
I didn’t even know if I was allowed to speak. Get faster updates on g.com.
I looked at Silas, waiting for a cue or some sign of permission.
His eyes saw my hesitation before he cleared his throat.
He slid a sleek, gold-trimmed tablet across the table toward me.
“Take the menu, Maya.
Order what you want.
We don’t have all day.”
I picked up the tablet, my fingers trembling slightly.
The prices were astronomical, but the names were what made my head spin.
Oeufs Jeanette with Périgord truffles.
Blue Lobster Omelet with Ossetra caviar.
I didn’t recognize half the ingredients, let alone know how to pronounce them.
The silence was heavy.
With the waiter standing there, every second felt like an hour.
I felt the heat rising in my cheeks as my thumb hovered uselessly over the screen.
Silas reached across the table, his hand momentarily covering mine.
His skin was warm against my knuckles as he pulled the tablet toward him.
“Let me,” he murmured, sparing me the embarrassment.
He tapped the screen with ease, making a few selections before tilting it back toward me.
“Is this okay?”
I looked at the screen, pretending to be familiar with the names.
I hadn’t a clue what any of it would taste like, but I gave a small, tight nod.
“Yes.
Thank you.”
As soon as the waiter left, I leaned across the table.
I finally asked what had been on my mind since we stepped inside.
“Why are we in a restaurant, Silas?
We just had breakfast.”
Right on cue, my body betrayed me again.
A loud growl rumbled from my stomach.
Oh God.
No.
Not again.
You have to be fucking kidding me.
My heart sank.
I was dying of embarrassment.
I dropped my head, letting my hair fall forward to hide my face.
My posture slumped in a way that would have made Viktor scream.
I stared down at my lap, waiting for Silas to laugh, or worse, to call me a peasant just like Isabella had.