23
The amber glow of the candlelight flickered gently against the walls of the dining room, casting soft shadows over the polished table.
My mother had always been meticulous about dinner—nothing was ever out of place.
It was one of the few constants in my life, this weekly dinner, and tonight, I felt more unsettled than usual.
My brothers were out of city this week hence it was just the two of us.
My mind was heavy with thoughts of Lenora—thoughts I'd never expected to entertain.
As I sat down across from my mother, I realized just how much I'd been dreading this dinner. Not because of her, but because of what I was about to reveal.
"So, how's business?" my mother asked as she picked up her glass of wine, her tone light and casual. The conversation started as it always did, with her asking about the latest deals and transactions I'd been involved in. But tonight, my mind wasn't in business—it was with Lenora.
"Business is fine," I answered, my voice distracted. I took a sip of my own wine, needing the familiar taste to steady myself.
"You're hardly present tonight, Luca," my mother observed, her sharp eyes catching my subtle shift. She raised an eyebrow, leaning slightly forward. "What's on your mind?"
I hesitated. I hadn't expected her to notice so quickly. She always had a way of reading me.
I opened my mouth, then closed it again, unsure how to begin.
The thought of Lenora was consuming me, but I wasn't used to talking about my personal life—especially with my mother,she worried too much.
I preferred keeping my emotions to myself, locked away behind the cold exterior I'd carefully cultivated over the years.
But tonight, I couldn't keep it in. I didn't want to.
"There's someone," I said quietly, my voice almost betraying the weight of the words.
My mother's gaze softened immediately, her eyes lighting up with curiosity. "Someone special?"
I nodded, still unsure of how to put it into words. "Her name is Lenora. She's my assistant."
She paused, taking a sip of her wine before setting the glass down gently. "And?"
I felt my frustration grow at how easily she could read me, how effortlessly she probed into things I didn't want to talk about. But she wasn't going to let me off the hook so easily.
"She's different," I said, the words slipping from my mouth before I could stop them. "Innocent, pure... She's been through a lot. I can see it in her eyes."
My mother studied me closely, her expression softening further as if she were considering every word I said. "I assume this isn't just a passing attraction, then?"
I swallowed hard, the truth hitting me like a ton of bricks.
"No," I admitted, my voice raw. "It's more than that.
There's something about her, something that.
.. draws me to her. I want to protect her.
I want to make sure nothing ever happens to her again.
But at the same time, I can't seem to get her out of my head.
I'm..." I trailed off, unsure of how to finish that thought.
My mother's lips curled into a small smile her eyes sparkling, one that I couldn't quite place. "Luca, I've never seen you like this before."
I looked up at her, frustration bubbling to the surface. "What does that mean?"
Her smile widened, almost imperceptibly, and she leaned back in her chair.
"You're a man who's always had control, Luca.
You're ruthless in your business, and your emotions are carefully guarded.
But this..." She trailed off, her eyes flickering with a mixture of amusement and something else I couldn't quite decipher.
"What are you saying?" I pressed, leaning forward.
"I'm saying that I've never seen you so affected by anyone. You're usually so composed, so careful. But this Lenora, she's clearly... different." She gave me a look that I couldn't read, before speaking again. "If you care about her this much, you should bring her here for dinner."
The idea caught me off guard. "Dinner?" I repeated, almost incredulously.
"Yes. Bring her here. I'd like to meet the girl who's managed to break through that armor of yours." Her smile widened, and I could see the eagerness in her eyes. She wasn't just intrigued by Lenora— she was excited.
I felt a sudden tightness in my chest at the thought of Lenora being here, in my mother's home, under her scrutiny. But at the same time, there was a part of me that was... curious.
"I don't know if she'd be comfortable with that," I said, my mind racing. "She's very... private. She doesn't like to talk about herself much."
My mother raised an eyebrow, a knowing look crossing her face. "If she means enough to you, Luca, you'll make her comfortable. And if she's as special as you say she is, I think I'll enjoy getting to know her."
I looked down at my plate, feeling a flicker of guilt rise in my chest. The truth was, I hadn't even told Lenora about my mother yet. I didn't know why, but I hadn't felt the need to. But now that it was out in the open, I realized how important it was for her to meet the people who mattered to me.
"Alright," I said, my voice steady. "I'll invite her."
My mother's smile softened. "Good. I'm looking forward to it."
We continued eating in silence for a while, but my mind was no longer on the food or the conversation. I was thinking about Lenora, wondering how she would react to my suggestion. Would she be nervous? Would she be reluctant? Would she even agree to it at all?
The thought of her here, sitting across from my mother, made my chest tighten. I didn't know why, but I knew this dinner—this moment—was going to change things. It was the next step in whatever this... connection between Lenora and me was becoming.
And I had no idea what to expect. But for the first time in a long while, I found myself excited for something that wasn't business. Something personal. Something... real.