Purvi woke up early the next morning.
The first thing she noticed was the ache in her hand.
She lifted it carefully.
The bandage was still wrapped neatly around her wrist.
She remembered the night before.
Vincenzo sitting beside her.
His careful fingers dressing the burn.
The way he had blown gently over it when she flinched.
A small smile appeared on her lips.
Then she remembered something else.
“You’re not going into the kitchen tomorrow.”
Purvi laughed softly.
“Who said I was going to listen?”
She got out of bed.
By the time the mansion began waking up, the kitchen was already filled with delicious smells.
Purvi stood at the counter, carefully preparing breakfast.
She had wrapped her injured hand in a protective covering.
She used her other hand for most of the work, occasionally wincing when she accidentally moved her wrist.
But she didn’t stop.
She prepared everyone’s favorites.
Alessandro’s favorite pancakes.
Isabella’s favorite spicy potatoes.
Lucia’s favorite Indian-style breakfast.
Serafina’s preferred tea.
And, despite herself, she prepared Vincenzo’s favorite breakfast too.
She smiled when she looked at the table.
“Done.”
One of the cooks stared at her.
“Mrs.
De Luca, Mr.
De Luca specifically said you shouldn’t be working.”
Purvi smiled.
“I know.”
“And you’re still doing this?”
“Yes.”
The cook shook her head.
“You are very brave.”
Purvi laughed.
“No.
Just stubborn.”
Upstairs, Vincenzo stood in front of the mirror.
He was already dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit.
His shirt was buttoned.
His cufflinks were in place.
His hair was slightly messy in the way that somehow made him look even more intimidating.
There was only one problem.
His tie.
He held it in both hands.
He tried to knot it.
Failed.
Tried again.
Failed again.
“Ridiculous.”
He pulled the tie apart.
He tried another knot.
It came out crooked.
“Why is this thing so difficult?”
He stared at his reflection.
The tie stared back.
Vincenzo narrowed his eyes.
“You are a piece of fabric.”
He pulled it again.
“You’re supposed to obey.”
Nothing.
He tried another knot.
It became worse.
“Unbelievable.”
He threw it onto the bed.
Then picked it up again.
“You’re a tie.”
He muttered.
“How difficult can you possibly be?”
He attempted another knot.
It tightened around the wrong section.
Vincenzo’s frustration increased.
“Stupid thing.”
He tugged at it.
The knot became even worse.
He stared at it.
“Perfect.”
He sighed.
Then heard laughter.
He turned.
Purvi stood in the doorway.
She was smiling.
Her injured hand was held carefully against her body.
“Are you laughing at me?”
“No.”
“You are.”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were.”
Purvi stepped inside.
“I’ve never seen someone argue with a tie before.”
Vincenzo glared at her.
“It’s not cooperating.”
“It’s a tie.”
“Exactly.”
She tried not to laugh.
Vincenzo looked at her hand.
“What are you doing out of bed?”
“Good morning to you too.”
“Purvi.”
She smiled.
“Good morning.”
“What are you doing?”
“I made breakfast.”
His expression hardened.
“I told you not to.”
“I know.”
“Then why did you?”
“Because everyone was hungry.”
“You could have let the cooks do it.”
“But I wanted to.”
“You just got out of the hospital.”
“I know.”
“Your hand is injured.”
“I know.”
“And you’re standing in the kitchen cooking.”
“I know.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“Do you enjoy disobeying me?”
Purvi smiled.
“Sometimes.”
He rubbed his forehead.
“You’re impossible.”
“You’ve already told me that.”
He glanced at the clock.
“I’m already late.”
Purvi looked at the tie.
“You still haven’t figured that out?”
He looked down.
“No.”
She smiled.
“Give it to me.”
Vincenzo raised an eyebrow.
“What?”
“The tie.”
“No.”
“Why?”
“Because you’re injured.”
“I’m not using that hand.”
“You should be resting.”
“And you’re supposed to be wearing a tie.”
He stared at her.
Purvi held out her hand.
“Come here.”
Vincenzo reluctantly walked toward her.
She took the tie from his hand.
Then she looked up.
And up.
And up.
He was ridiculously tall.
Purvi stood directly in front of him, the top of her head barely reaching his chest.
She frowned.
“You’ll have to bend your neck.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
“What?”
“Bend down.”
“I’m not bending down.”
“Then I can’t reach.”
“You’re very short.”
Purvi gasped.
“Excuse me?”
He raised an eyebrow.
“It’s true.”
“I’m not short.”
“You are.”
“I’m normal height.”
“Compared to whom?”
Purvi pointed at him.
“Compared to normal human beings.”
For the first time that morning, Vincenzo almost smiled.
Almost.
He finally lowered his head.
“Happy?”
“Very.”
Purvi wrapped the tie around his neck.
Her fingers moved carefully.
Vincenzo remained still.
She concentrated on the knot.
“You really don’t know how to do this?”
“I know how.”
“Your tie suggests otherwise.”
“It was a bad knot.”
“You made three bad knots.”
He frowned.
“You’re talking too much.”
“You need someone to keep you humble.”
“I don’t need anyone.”
Purvi smiled.
“Of course.”
She tightened the knot.
“There.”
She looked up.
“Perfect.”
Vincenzo straightened.
He looked at himself in the mirror.
The tie was perfectly knotted.
He glanced down at her.
“Thank you.”
Purvi smiled.
“You’re welcome.”
Then he noticed her injured hand.
His expression changed.
“You shouldn’t have been cooking.”
Purvi sighed.
“And we’re back to this.”
“I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
“You could have made the burn worse.”
“I was careful.”
“That isn’t the point.”
“Then what is?”
Vincenzo didn’t answer immediately.
He looked at her bandaged wrist.
“The point is that you don’t take care of yourself.”
Purvi’s smile softened.
“I do.”
“No, you don’t.”
“I do.”
“You nearly died protecting my grandmother.”
Purvi looked at him.
“She’s family.”
“You’ve known her for weeks.”
“That doesn’t matter.”
Vincenzo stared at her.
Purvi smiled gently.
“Sometimes you don’t need years to care about someone.”
His expression became unreadable.
She stepped back.
“Now go before you’re late.”
He looked at the door.
Then back at her.
“Did you eat?”
Purvi blinked.
“What?”
“Breakfast.”
“Not yet.”
His brows furrowed.
“Why?”
“I was preparing everyone else’s.”
Vincenzo sighed.
“You really are impossible.”
He walked toward the door.
Then stopped.
“Come downstairs.”
Purvi smiled.
“Why?”
“You’re eating with us.”
She stared at him.
He didn’t wait for an answer.
He walked out.
Purvi stood there, smiling.
For someone who claimed he didn’t care…
Vincenzo was becoming very bad at proving it.