"Miss Lexi?"
"Unhh…" I groaned, rolling over and cuddled with… a waist? I jerked awake and looked up at Sebastian. He was smirking at me. I quickly unwrapped my arms from around him and sat up.
"I have your morning tea ready," he said.
"Um, okay thank you... I guess," I replied.
Sebastian stood up and poured tea from a fancy teapot into an equally fancy tea-cup, then brought it to me in bed.
"Lord Phantomhive has invited you to breakfast. I have set out your morning dress. When you are ready, I will take you to his study."
I said nothing and sipped my tea, staring out the window, nodding. He bowed and walked out. I set the cup gently on the night table and got out of bed, quickly dressing into the dreadful dress. I then sat back down and finished my tea, waiting for the butler. He came five minutes later and we walked to Ceils study. Knocking, Sebastian waited until a forceful, "Enter!" came through and he opened the door for me. I saw two chairs in front of a large oak desk and sat in one, crossing my legs. Behind me, Sebastian grunted and I uncrossed them. The boy behind the desk looked tired but alert. He leaned back in his chair and laced his fingers together.
"Alexis E. Cross. Your father WAS the owner of Cross Weapons and Machinery. Now, it's just you. Am I right?"
This statement caught me off guard and I just stared at him, trying to compute what he had said.
"Ms. Cross? That was a question," he said, slightly impatient this time.
"Uh, yes. You're right. It's just me now."
"And is it also true that your late parents were in debt?"
"My late— Oh. Yes, they were. But I don't see how this is-"
"It is relevant, I assure you."
I looked at Sebastian for an explanation, but all he did was stare straight ahead.
"Ms. Cross, I have a proposition. My butler has informed me that you have been out to the stables?"
I looked down and mumbled, "Yes."
"We are consequently in need of a stable hand. I am offering you that job, along with full room and board." He said this with an annoyed looking face. I looked up at him, doing my best to mask my joy and said, "I accept."
"Aren't you going to think about it before you accept?" he asked
"No," I said simply.
Ceil sighed and rubbed his temples. "Then you are dismissed." I stood up, unsure of what to do, and curtsied then quickly left the room and waited in the hallway. After a few minutes, I put my ear to the door and listened. I could make out whispers but nothing audible enough to understand. I got impatient and decided to look for breakfast. The first thing I did was take off my shoes, then I padded down the carpeted hallway and into the grand foyer.