Chapter 41
Cutting, Bending, Dissolving, Freezing, Boiling, and Melting
Brandon
Max kept Zoe to himself for over nine hours—saying that I’m having withdrawals would be an understatement.
Of course, the second Max left her room this morning I had to check in on her.
I figured she’d be exhausted but when I cracked open her door she was already up and brushing through her hair in the bathroom.
“Well good morning, Princess.” The shock in my voice isn’t the least bit disguised.
“Good morning,” She sighs as she works through a particularly difficult knot.
“Would you like some help?” I ask, extending my hand to her hairbrush with a reassuring nod. She hands it over to me, seemingly giving up on trying to get through it on her own. I step behind her and I start at the bottom of the knot. “How are you feeling today?”
She twists her lips to the side in a way I haven’t seen before, but I can tell she is trying to hide back a smile.
“I feel,” She begins but pauses to think of her next words.
“For the first time in my life, I feel complete. Whole.” She admits.
I’m so stunned by her honesty there is a pause in my brush strokes, but I try to refocus so as to not shy her away from the openness.
“What do you mean, princess?” I finally get the bottom half of the knot free when my eyes meet hers in the mirror.
“I guess, I mean that I never felt like I belonged. As selfish as it sounds, I feel like I never had enough, and I never got to have something for myself that makes me happy. And after last night, and after everything that has happened since you all found me… I feel sure. Sure, that there is comfort here, sure that I have family here. Sure, that this is home.” Her eyes start to shine with unshed tears, but she blinks them away quickly and casts her gaze back down to her hands.
“I finally feel held.” Her final words are a whisper, and I don't respond right away.
I finally free fiery stands from the knot and brush her locks until they are back smooth.
“Princess, you were family from the very beginning. You have had us wrapped around your little finger from the second you took that mask off.” I collect all of her hair, and I begin a simple braid at the base of her head.
“You have never had a family, not a real one anyway. So maybe you aren’t sure how they work.
But you have been held from the beginning, you have been valued and cherished from the beginning.
” Her breathing stutters but I continue on anyway as I tie off the braid. “Zoe, it is never selfish to want.”
I grab her shoulders, and I turn her to me.
When she faces me, I catch a rogue tear that has broken free and is sliding down her cheek just before it could drop off.
“You are allowed to want; you are allowed to take. In this dysfunctional family, you get to have anything you could ever dream of.” I kiss her gently on the corner of her lips as they start to quirk up. “Unus pro omnibus, omnes pro uno.”
Her eyebrows pinch together in confusion, “Was that fucking Latin?” There is a laugh laced in her voice, and I’m happy to see the tears have gone away.
“I’m a firm believer that there is no such thing as a dead language.” I shrug and I pull the bright white strand of her from her braid, and I curl it around my finger.
“What does it mean?” She asks, crossing her arms in that defiant way that just makes me want to kiss her harder.
“You’re smart, I’m sure you’ll figure it out.” I kiss the other corner of her mouth. “How are you feeling physically?” I step away from her and start digging through her closet.
“Deliciously sore, but I like the reminder.” She hums as she follows me into her closet.
I turn to her, with her clothes for the day picked out.
She’s leaning against the doorframe with her arms crossed and her bare legs crossed over one another.
It wasn’t until now that I realized she is not only naked from the waist down but also draped in my t-shirt.
I know after watching the cameras that Max is the one who dressed her, and I also know that him doing that is showing us just how okay he is with her belonging to all of us.
“Good because we have some work to do. Sunjay should have breakfast ready by now.” I hand her the stack of clothes but as I pass her, I smack her ass cheek and make a swift exit before she could retaliate. She calls something after me, but I don’t quite hear it before I begin my jog down the steps.
I’m still chuckling to myself when I make it to the kitchen to find Sunjay, our housekeeper and chef who really does go above and beyond for us to make our lives easier.
Sunjay is a small woman, shorter than Zoe.
She has onyx black hair cut into a short spiky bob and she’s taking off her apron next to the kitchen closet.
She jumps in surprise clutching her chest, “I’m sorry Mr. Brandon, I wasn’t expecting to see anyone down here this early.
” She gives me a shy smile but keeps her eyes down as she shuffles towards the kitchen sink.
“I didn’t mean to surprise you, and I told you just Brandon is okay.
You don’t have to be formal with me Sunjay.
” I take a moment to appreciate the spread she has laid out on the table before I open the fridge.
It seems she also made a grocery run. She remembered to restock Teddy’s chocolate milk and even bought extra.
She must have realized how quickly it’s going now that Teddy is sharing with Zoe.
We really need to be sure she gets an extra bonus this year.
We give all of our employees holiday and summer bonuses but Sunjay consistently goes out of her way to make sure that every household need is squared away.
She also is so observant and tedious that she didn’t even miss a beat when we invited a whole additional person to our home.
“Sunjay,” I say, trying to get her to look towards me.
When she turns off the running water she stills for a moment before turning to meet my eyes.
“I just wanted you to know we appreciate what you do for us. I know Max doesn’t always show it, but you really help us out.
And this breakfast looks amazing!” I complement.
Max honestly isn’t always the best at letting people know they are doing a good job, despite me constantly reminding him.
He just gets this tunnel vision and forgets that most people need to hear an attaboy on occasion.
“Thank you, Mr. Brandon.” She laughs nervously, and I worry I may have made her uncomfortable.
“How is your mother?” I ask. “Any changes in her condition?”
Sunjay relaxes a bit and leans against the counter, ringing a towel in her hand, “It’s the same, really.
She has some good days and some bad days.
I’ll be going to see her again today, but the home said she’s more confused than usual lately.
They told me to be prepared for her to not know who I am this time. ”
I give her a sympathetic smile, knowing it can’t be easy to go through. None of us really had relationships with our parents, or parents at all for that matter. But I know Sunjay was close with her mom before she got sick. “We’ll keep you in mind. Is there anything we can do to help?”
“I may need to be off for a few days? Just to try and adjust. But that all depends on how today goes.” She looks wary, almost if she thinks I’ll be upset.
“Of course! Just let us know when and then we’ll make any necessary adjustments.
You take as much time as you need.” I try to comfort her with a smile and then I hear a familiar group of footsteps making their way down to us.
I look away towards the stairs for just a moment, but when I turn back Sunjay is already gone and I frown.
She is so damn fast, and I know she gets nervous around the others. Dean intimidates her, Max stresses her out, and Teddy just fucking scares her and I can’t blame her on that. She has yet to meet Zoe, but I’m sure they will soon.
“Hey there early birds!” I greet everyone.
I just get half asleep grunts from Dean and Teddy, Max nods but is ever entranced by his phone screen, and Zoe gives me a secret smile before they all land in their unofficially assigned seats.
“Who were you talking to?” Zoe asks as she opts to leave her own seat and sits on Dean’s lap instead. I smile at how natural it all feels as I take my own seat.
“Sunjay. She just finished up with breakfast and needed to head out.” I began to make Zoe’s plate, and Teddy began pouring her a glass of chocolate milk. Everything has become so routine, and after Max and Zoe have finally fucked a certain peace had taken over the manor.
I stacked Zoe’s plate with a few slices of French toast, a healthy serving of bacon, half a grapefruit with sugar, and a large portion of syrup.
I’ve slowly learned all of her likes and dislikes.
She likes bacon, but only when there is syrup to dip it in.
She requires there to be sugar on her grapefruit, and she will never say no to extra powdered sugar on her French toast. I went ahead and served her a cup of black coffee as well in case she needed an extra kickstart to her morning.
I pass Zoe her plate and she gives me a bright smile followed by an honest thank you. She almost started to eat but she pauses and stands from Dean's lap. Teddy, Dean and I exchange confused glances when we see Zoe watching Max.
To our surprise, Zoe picks up a plate and begins adding food to it, but not for herself.
I watch as she’s careful of the portions and how she is particular to make sure none of the different food groups are touching.
Zoe then takes a napkin and wipes any excess drippings from the edges of the plate and places the perfectly served dish in front of Max.
For the first time this morning Max looks away from his phone. He looks at the plate for a bated breath and slowly he turns to look at Zoe who is now standing next to him with her head bowed and her hands behind her back.
It seems we are all so shocked by Zoe’s new behavior towards Max, nobody is able to piece together a response. I can’t even think of a remark to make to cut the tension.
Max leans back in his chair and lifts a hand to Zoe’s cheek, “Good girl, Harpy. Thank you.”
Zoe’s lips do that little twist again in a poor attempt to hide her smile, but I see the blush creeping up her neck. “You’re dismissed.” Max says and she nods a thank you and returns to Dean's lap as if nothing is different about this morning.
“So,” Dean starts by clearing his throat, “Are you like… obedient now?” he asks.
“Not for you.” She snorts and takes a fork full of French toast into her mouth. This seems to cut the roiling energy, and we all let out a breath of relief with hearty laughter, including Max.
We continue to eat in what seems like a comforting silence before I get an alert on my phone. I read the notification five times before Max finally asks, “Is everything okay?”
I set my phone down next to my coffee and realize everyone’s attention is now on me.
Clearing my throat I say, “The drop off date has changed to Saturday, just three days from now. And I have a plan.”