Getting Familiar

TERESA'S P.O.V.

Lucian's hand was firm, yet somehow gentle as he led me into an enormous kitchen. I felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole, except this was no Wonderland—it was more like stepping into the culinary version of the White House–gleaming countertops, shiny stainless steel appliances, and chefs dressed in pristine uniforms bustling around with practiced ease. The smell hit me first: fresh herbs, roasting meats, and... was that saffron? My stomach growled before I could stop it. Embarrassing.

The kitchen staff greeted Lucian like he was some kind of royalty. "Good morning, Alpha," they said in unison like they had rehearsed it, heads slightly bowed. Their eyes flickered to me for a moment, curious, before returning to their work.  Alpha? The word buzzed in my brain like a pesky fly, I opened my mouth to ask, but the sight of a towering, intimidating Lucian, calmly striding forward, killed the words before they left my throat. Instead, I swallowed my confusion, pretending I understood. I mean, why did they keep calling him that? I thought Alpha was just a metaphor for a "guy who looks good in suits."

Lucian barely glanced at them, waving off their greetings with a casual flick of his hand, all while still holding mine. Does he know we're still holding hands? I wondered. If my life were a cartoon, my cheeks would've been glowing like neon signs by now.

We walked up to a middle-aged woman with silver streaks in her hair and it was pinned up in a messy bun. She had this no-nonsense aura around her. She smiled warmly but gave me a quick once-over like she was trying to figure out what on earth I was doing here. Lucian introduced her as Madi, the head chef.

"This is Teresa," Lucian said, smirking like he was introducing me as the next heir to a throne I didn't know existed. Madi's eyebrows shot up ever so slightly before she masked it with a smile. Oh great, I'm already gossiping material.

"And what's cooking today, Madi?" Lucian asked, his voice laced with just the right amount of charm and sarcasm that I wasn't sure if he was interested or mocking. That man had layers.

Madi rattled off a list of dishes—half of which I'd never heard of. Bouillabaisse? Cassoulet? Some word that sounded like it came from a sci-fi movie? Lucian nodded knowingly. The guy probably ate gourmet for breakfast. I on the other hand just smiled and pretended I totally knew what they were talking about. I figured I'd Google it later.

"Anything in particular you want to eat?" Lucian asked, suddenly turning his gaze on me. His eyes had that sharp glint like he already knew my answer but wanted to see if I'd trip over myself trying to please him.

I froze, staring at him like a deer caught in headlights. What do you even ask for in a place like this? Pancakes? That seemed too basic. Caviar? Who eats caviar... what time was it? At ten in the morning?

"Oh, uh, surprise me?" I blurted out, praying I didn't sound as awkward as I felt.

Lucian's grin widened like I'd just thrown him the best challenge of his life and I instantly regretted it. "Oh, I will," he promised before rattling off a ridiculously long list of food orders that made Madi scribble down faster than I thought humanly possible; things I couldn't even begin to pronounce. My mind was racing, wondering what I'd just gotten myself into, but before I could even process it, Lucian tugged me out of the kitchen like we were on some kind of secret mission, his hand still firmly gripping mine.

As we walked away, I could feel the staff's eyes on me, their whispers and curious glances trailing behind us like a breeze. Some looked confused, others... jealous. Yep, definitely gossip material.

My heart started pounding, and not in a good way. They're going to hate me, I thought. I'd only been here for what, four hours? And already I was the girl who held hands with Lucian Blackwood, the mysterious, grumpy, 'Alpha' like they all called him. What if they thought I was trying to get close to him on purpose? And how was I supposed to survive five months of side-eye and whispered conversations?

How?

"Kitchens too overwhelming for you?" Lucian's voice broke through my spiraling thoughts, and I nearly jumped.

"N-no, it's just..." I hesitated, struggling to put my thoughts into words without sounding like an insecure mess. On second thought, I decided It was better I kept silent.

Lucian raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "I know something is bothering you,Teresa. Out with it."

I froze. How did he always know when something was bothering me? Like, did he have some kind of sixth sense? I scrambled for something else to say. "I... I was just thinking... maybe I should go job hunting? You know, so I'm not just... sitting around." Why did I say that? Panic set in as I realized how stupid it sounded. I was supposed to be his maid but he was giving me this tour, practically treating me like a guest, and here I was talking about job hunting. Smooth, Teresa. Real smooth.

Lucian raised an eyebrow. "That's what's got you all tied up in knots?"

I nodded weakly, expecting him to tell me to stop being ridiculous.

Instead, he laughed—a deep, rich sound that startled me.

"You don't need to job hunt, Teresa, you don't even need to work at all" he said, his tone dismissive. "But, if you really want to, give me a list of your skillset, and I'll find you a job in one of my companies," he said like it was the most obvious thing in the world.

I blinked at him, my brain short-circuiting. "W-wait, seriously?"

Lucian's smirk deepened. "You doubt me?"

Before I could stop myself, I threw my arms around him. "Thank you! Thank you! You won't regret this!" I babbled, hugging him tightly. The smell of him—something woodsy and clean, with a hint of leather—was comforting, and for a second, I forgot where I was.

Until I noticed the group of gardeners staring as if they had just seen a UFO, hedge trimmers frozen mid-air.

I jerked back like I'd touched a hot stove. "I-I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to... I just..."

Lucian chuckled, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Relax, Teresa. I'm not going to bite. Yet."

My cheeks flushed again, and I mumbled something that sounded vaguely like an apology. Meanwhile, my heart was somersaulting. How could he be so unbothered while I was out here making a fool of myself?

He turned to Juliette, who had been following us at a distance, like a shadow. "Juliette, get a car ready. And a new wardrobe," he said casually, waving her off with a wink.

"Of course, Alpha," Juliette replied with a knowing smile before she disappeared, leaving me more confused than ever. A new wardrobe? A car? For what?

Before I could ask, Lucian steered the conversation back to something light, and we walked through a beautiful garden while chatting as if we were close friends. By the time the servers arrived, carrying trays of food that could feed a small army, I wondered if I'd be able to eat even a quarter of it.

"I... don't think I can eat all of this," I mumbled, and Lucian just gave me a knowing smirk.

"We'll see."