"Good night and sweet dreams, my dear…"
The nearly two-hour-long call ended with a "toot."
In the dimly lit room, as the brilliance from the phone screen died down, Julien sat there motionless, his expression unreadable. Meanwhile, Mario, although masked, seemed to have a lot to say as his limbs swayed here and there, never staying still for even a fraction of a second.
As expected, when he could no longer suppress the itch in his throat, Mario finally opened his mouth, his purpose none other than to incite trouble.
"Sir, Mrs Montclair wished you a good night and sweet dream."
"..."
Mario barely held back his snigger while the corner of Julien's mouth twitched, irritation flickering across his cold features.
"No one will think you're a mute if you keep your mouth shut just for a moment." Julien said through clenched teeth. "What are you still standing here for? Waiting for your 'good night and sweet dreams' as well?"
With a kick, Julien pushed back his chair and raised his eyebrows, casting the bored man a threatening glare.
"No need, no need," Mario quickly waved his hand before adding, "Sir, I'll track the phone number the Madam first tried to dial and start the investigation."
Julien merely hummed in response, as if Mario's words were a given.
The two-hour-long conversation between Madam Montclair and Ruby had never truly mattered. Both of them knew everything that had transpired over the phone was only meant for them to hear.
Mario cleared his throat, continuing to lay out his plan.
"As for the Madam's personal trainer…" He suddenly hesitated. "Sir, do you have any requirements in mind?"
Julien was quick to catch the implication in his question as he stared at Mario, his pitch-black eyes calm and without any ripples. "What are you trying to suggest?"
"She has returned. What if I arrange for the two to meet? Perhaps, they might hit it off and everything will work out as planned…"
Mario's voice trailed off, leaving room for imagination to wander.
"Do what you want." Julien stoically replied, sounding as though they didn't really matter to him. But Mario knew that was far from the truth.
The eyes never lied afterall, even for someone as hardly emotional as his master.
"I'll be going then."
As he made his leave, Julien lightly knocked his fingers against the table to demand for his temporary attention.
"Mario, tell the kitchen to prepare some fish maw soup for tomorrow's breakfast."
Mario blinked, his shoulders stiffening.
'Fish maw soup? As in—the recipe Madam Montclair had just shared over the phone?'
Mario's pupils suddenly shook as if he had stumbled upon something scandalous.
"Don't tell me… Has the Master truly fallen for the girl? Is this his effort to cheer the girl up and win her affection?'
Somehow, he had always got the feeling that his master was treating the girl differently.
Julien was still the same vicious guy who hid daggers behind his fake smile. And yet, when it came to his approach towards this particular girl… something felt off. Mario just couldn't put a finger on what it was.
Was it his leniency, or something else?
"Sir, should I have the cooks prepare another portion for you?" Mario had merely asked out of formality, not expecting Julien's bitter response.
"What are you talking about?" Julien scoffed. "Serve everything in the dining room. I'll be having them together with Young Miss Montclair."
Shock flashed through Mario's eyes.
Julien tapped his fingers against his desk, as if meticulously considering something important, before continuing, "If the cooks encounter any trouble preparing the soup, they can seek Young Miss Montclair for some pointers. She herself is quite the capable cook, after all."
Mario frowned. He simply couldn't understand what his master was planning to do, joining the girl for breakfast when he normally never even bothered to wake up that early in the morning.
As Mario noticed Julien's gradually darkening face in response to his distraction, he quickly gave his confirmation and hurried out of the room, desperate to calm the growing agitation in both his heart and mind.
…
The next day, early morning.
Ruby bit her bottom lip as she sat on the left side of the long dining table. In front of her sat Julien, the brooding storm that should've appeared anywhere but within her sight—as what his habits told of him.
Beneath the table, Ruby's legs shook as if they had been harassed by the cold freezing wind, her busy eyes darting everywhere but the man. At the same time, her thoughts churned nonstop.
'What in a rare blue moon is this? Wasn't he supposed to skip breakfast, dinner, lunch—everything as if he didn't survive on food but only air? Why is he suddenly here, at the same table as me?'
Despite the chaos of the night before, Ruby hadn't skipped her morning routine. At 8 a.m. sharp, she had just finished jogging two rounds when the white-haired butler ushered her to the bathroom, before arranging her into this seat across Julien, her new boss.
What happened yesterday once again made their presence known in her mind, restored fresh anew as if each second had been taped without fault.
'What is this man exactly planning to do???' Ruby shuddered.
Her eyes timidly peeked behind Julien. There stood Mario and his faceless mask, his minute movement revealing not a hint. Finding him not helpful at all, Ruby could only lower her head to listlessly fiddle with her fingers.
The clock ticked against the silence, the battle of wits and patience ceasing when breakfast was finally served.
The room was still as empty as the rule applied, the pair of masked maids only showing up to set up the entire table, before making their retreat without wasting a precious second.
Ruby heaved out a sigh of relief, when she suddenly caught sight of something that made her pupils quake.
A huge bowl of fish maw soup sat on the very centre of the variety of humble dishes, emitting a sweet herbal fragrance as a thin layer of fat floated on the surface, glistening lustrously with golden light.
Ruby closed her eyes, resigned, as she inwardly screamed.
As expected! The man was indeed planning something, after all!