Into Everything That Is Mine
Country: Aurivelle
City: Auremont
Alvara
I woke up before him.
Which was unusual.
Grayson was typically the first one awake.
The first one moving.
The first one already three steps into the day before anyone else had opened their eyes.
But this morning
He was still deep asleep.
His arm around me.
Holding me with the particular firmness of someone who had decided something in their sleep and intended to keep it.
I lay there.
And looked at him.
His composed face is completely absent.
Just him.
I looked at him for a long time.
At this man who had walked into my life and changed the temperature of everything quietly.
Without seeking permission.
Who had shown me not by telling me but by doing it consistently, repeatedly, without fail that not all men were the same.
That some of them showed up.
That some of them stayed.
I was still looking at him when his eyes opened.
Slowly.
Then immediately they found me.
He pulled me in.
His face against my hair.
Like waking up and finding me there was the best possible version of the morning.
I let him hold me.
For a moment.
Just there.
Then he pulled back slightly.
He looked at my face.
And kissed me.
Deeply.
When he pulled back he looked at me.
"You were staring at me,"
His voice was rough from sleep.
"I was admiring you,"
"Admiring," he repeated.
"Yes,"
"For how long?"
"A while,"
"And your conclusion?"
I looked at him.
At this face I had memorised across months.
"It still feels unreal," I said quietly.
"What does?"
"That you belong to me,"
"I have belonged to you," he said quietly, "for longer than either of us was willing to say out loud."
I looked into his eyes for a short moment.
Then I looked away.
"I'm going to bathe," I said.
"I'll..."
"You will not," I said.
"Last night..."
"It was last night," I said. "And your mother hearing me moan was enough humiliation for one weekend."
"That wasn't..."
"I am locking the door,"
"Starling I..."
"I mean it,"
I got up.
I walked to the bathroom.
I looked back at him.
"Do not test me,"
He was already smiling.
"I wouldn't dream of it,"
I closed the door.
Locked it.
Loudly.
On purpose.
I heard him laugh on the other side.
When I came out of the bathroom wrapped in a towel ...
A set of clothes had been laid on the chair near the window.
A deep olive structured blouse.
High waisted black trousers.
Everything is my size.
Everything is exactly right.
I looked at it for a moment.
Then I got dressed.
The blouse.
The trousers.
The heels that had been placed precisely beside the chair.
By the time I was done there was a knock.
"Are you dressed?" Grayson said.
"Yes,"
He came in.
Already in his trousers and shirt.
Tie in his hand.
He looked at the outfit.
Then at me.
"My mother must have done that.,"
"Obviously ," I confirmed.
He shook his head.
He dressed while I finished my makeup.
When he reached for his tie I was already there.
He looked at me.
I took it from his hands.
Stood in front of him.
I folded it.
Adjusted it.
He watched me do it quietly.
"What?"
"Nothing,"
I straightened the tie, stepped back and looked at him.
"Good," I said.
"Are you ready"?
I opened my mouth.
Then I closed it.
"What?"
I held the door handle.
"I can't go out there,"
He looked at me.
"What do you mean you can't..."
"She heard us,"
I said.
"Last night. In the bathroom."
"She didn't..."
"Grayson,"
"The matching pajamas were on the bed when we came out."
"That doesn't..."
" She knew we were having sex in the bathroom, she absolutely heard..."
"The walls are thick,"
" I don't believe that "
"Alvara..."
" I cannot face your mother this morning, I can't sit across the breakfast table from her knowing...."
"She is not going to say anything,"
He kissed my forehead .
"Come,"
"Grayson..."
"She loves you, she is not going to embarrass you."
He held his hand out.
I looked at it.
Then at the door.
Then at him.
"If she says anything,I will never forgive you for last night."
"She won't say anything,"
I took his hand.
He opened the door.
We walked out.
The dining table was already occupied.
They all looked up when we appeared.
Mrs. Hawthorne looked at me.
I tried to remove my eyes but she smiled warmly.
Entirely unbothered.
Nothing in her expression that acknowledged anything other than a good morning.
I exhaled quietly.
"Good morning sweetheart," she said.
"Good morning," I said.
"Did you sleep well?"
"Very well,"
She nodded.
Satisfied.
"Come and eat," she said.
I sat.
Grayson sat beside me.
After breakfast the table began to clear naturally.
Mr Hawthorne stood first.
Straightened his jacket.
Looked at me briefly.
"You make him lighter," he said calmly. "This house has not heard him laugh this much in years."
"And for that alone," he added, "I'm very glad he found you."
"Thank you, sir," I said quietly.
He nodded once.
Then he left.
Mrs. Hawthorne stood.
Kissed Grayson's cheek.
Then turned to me.
She took my hand briefly.
"Come back ," she said.
"I will," I said.
She smiled.
And left.
Julian stood.
Picked up his bag.
He looked at me.
Then unexpectedly
"Can you come back soon?"
I looked at him.
"The house is better when you're here," he said. Simply. "Grayson talks less about work."
"Julian," Grayson said.
"It's true," Julian said.
"Please come back," he said.
"I'll come back," I said.
He nodded.
Then pointed at Grayson.
"Stop talking about acquisitions at dinner," he said.
"I talk about..."
"Every dinner day ," Julian said. "For as long as I can remember."
He looked at me.
"You changed that." He picked up his bag.
"Thank you."
Then he left.
The room was quiet after he left.
I looked at Grayson.
He was looking at the doorway Julian had walked through.
"He notices things," I said quietly.
"Yes," Grayson said.
I held his hand briefly.
Then I stood.
"Come on," I said. "We're both late."
In the car the morning moved past the windows.
December in Auremont.
Cold and clear.
We talked about the day ahead.
The Eldoria trip for Leo's birthday.
At some point he reached across and took my hand on the console.
The way he always did.
Without looking.
Just finding it.
"The estate company," I said. "I'm going there today."
"I'll come by in the evening,"
"You don't have to.."
"I'll come by in the evening," he said again.
I looked at him.
"To pick you up,"
"Evander..."
"I'll pick you up,"
"Fine,"
He looked at the road.
"Six o'clock," he said.
"Seven,"
"Six thirty,"
"Fine,"
He drove.
---
Alvara Properties appeared ahead.
"ALVARA PROPERTIES DEVELOPMENT."
My name.
My building.
He stopped the car at the entrance.
Turned to me.
Then he leaned forward.
And kissed me slowly.
When he pulled back I straightened.
I picked up my bag.
"Six thirty," I said.
"Six thirty," he confirmed.
I got out.
I walked toward the entrance.
At the door I turned.
He was still there.
Engine running.
Watching me.
The way he always watched.
Until I was safely somewhere.
I raised my hand.
He nodded once.
Then the car pulled away.
Into Monday morning.
Into Auremont.
Into the day.
I turned.
Pushed through the door.
Into my building.
Into my company.
Into everything that was mine.
And the day's work began.