Sorry guys I meant to post this earlier but I kept tweaking different parts of it and it ended up being like 3 chapters long so I had to cut it into pieces. But the good news is that means lots of updates very soon! I can't wait for you guys to see where the story is headed.
Also, random, but who here has heard the new Lumineers single 'Ophelia'? Its like it was written for the damn character.
P.S. Reviews are love ;)
Eleanor decided to go down to the kitchens instead of waiting for something to be brought up. Patience was not a virtue she had been blessed with.
She was pleased to find the kitchens mostly empty. Only one cook, a middle aged frenchman named Luca, remained after breakfast to begin preparations for lunch. He smiled when he noticed her and pulled out a tea pot and cup.
She sat down on one of the stools at the counter. The cook grabbed a tin of tea and scooped some into the pot before removing a kettle from the stove and pouring in hot water. He placed the pot and cup down gently infront of her. She smiled at him gratefully.
As she waited for the tea to steep he opened the large industrial refrigerator. He pulled out a carton of eggs, some milk, and butter. He grabbed a bowl off a shelf and cracked two eggs into it expertly with one hand. He added a splash of the milk and some salt and pepper before grabbing a whisk and beating them into a creamy yellow froth. She watched intently, mesmerized by his skillful ease.
He set a pan on the stove top and lit it, then scooped in a bit of butter and swirled it around to coat it. After letting the butter melt he poured in the eggs. He let the them heat slightly before swirling them around vigorously with a spatula. He let the eggs cook until he looked satisfied -she had no idea how he could tell when they were perfect- before banging the pan lightly on the stove, and gently folding them into an omelet.
He turned and slid it onto a plate on the counter before breifly returning to the fridge to retrieve a green bundle of chives. He placed it on a cutting board, grabbed a knife, and chopped them up quicker than she thought humanly possible. He scooped up the herbs onto the knife and sprinkled them on the omelet before placing the finished product next to her tea cup and saying, "Pour ma belle princesse."
"Merci, Luca." she thanked him dearly. He winked at her before wiping his hands on a dish towel and walking into one of the adjacent kitchens.
She grabbed the fork and scooped up a bite of the omelet. It was heavenly, just like everything Luca ever made. She grabbed the petite tea pot and poured some tea into her cup.
She saw a familiar figure approach out of the corner of her eye.
"Back to stalking me, are we Jasper?" she asked tauntingly without looking up from her breakfast.
"Something like that." He replied dryly as walked toward her.
She glanced at the clock. 11:35.
"You're back early," she observed, meeting his eyes.
"Hill got a call and rushed out." He said taking a seat next to her, "I don't want to know how many crises the man is probably dealing with today."
She nodded and took another bite of her eggs. Undoing Pryce's mess had to be a hell of a job.
Jasper reached for her tea cup but she swatted his hand away.
"Get your own!" She whined, pulling it out of his reach.
"Didn't anyone ever teach you to share, princess?" he chastised.
"Nope." She answered smugly between sips.
He shook his head in mock disbelief and muttered to himself, "I shouldn't ask questions I already know the answer to."
"Hill didn't say when he would be back but he left me in charge of coordinating security until he does so I-"
"No. Nononono No." She cut him off, "You are not abandoning me after less than 10 hours on my detail Jasper Frost!"
He wasn't one for dramatics like eye rolls but he almost made an exception. "It's just for the day Len you'll be fine"
"I swear to god if you assign me Shrek you are never getting laid again," She threatened.
"Hey I would gladly assign you someone else but unfortunately he's the only one that hasn't filed a complaint of harassment against you, princess."
"Oh please I'm a joy to work with," she
He raised an eyebrow, "You're hell to work with and you know it,"
"Yeah and you missed it like crazy." she teased.
Suddenly his expression darkened and his gaze on her intensified. "Yes. I did."
She felt her heart jump. His eyes did things to her. They were so piercing, especially when they were focused on her.
She held his gaze. God she'd missed him too. So much it was unbearable. She wasn't lying when she told him it was too hard to see him everyday. Being near him but not being with him was agonizing, and having him back in her life for mere hours felt like being able to breath again. Not that she'd ever let him know that.
She swiveled her seat toward him and reached up to lace her fingers behind his neck. "I might have possibly missed your company as well bodyguard." she admitted, looking up at him flirtatiously.
"Might?" He challenged, rising from his seat to slip his hands around her waist. He stood between her legs and pulled roughly her to the edge of her seat so her crotch pressed against his thigh. His face was now just inches from hers and he could hear her breath shorten. He lowered his head so his mouth was right by her ear and spoke softly, "You didn't sound so uncertain last night."
Just like that he pulled away and headed towards the door, leaving her breathless.
As she watched him away she scoffed, trying to think of a witty comeback. She came up empty.
"Ophelia will be here around 1:20. Try to be in the entrance hall before then." He instructed her before dissapearing through the door.
She stabbed at her omlelet, and cursed him under her breath for how easily he could fluster her.