Breaking The Ice, Step By Step III

'Not bad. Unexpected, but not bad, but I will never admit that.'

Leone furrowed his eyebrows slightly, his lips pressing into a thin line as if he were deep in thought. Evelina couldn't tell if he was contemplating the smoothie's taste or calculating how to respond without giving her the satisfaction of a compliment.

"I don't like it... Take it away and ask the chef to cook my prefered breakfast." He said.

Evelina's triumphant expression faltered, replaced by a tight-lipped frown. Her arms folded across her chest, and she glared at Leone. "Excuse me?" she said, her tone icy.

Leone leaned back against the pillows, his expression calm but unreadable. "I said I don't like it," he repeated, his voice firm but without malice. "Next time, leave it to the chef. I prefer my usual breakfast."

For a moment, Evelina didn't move. The silence stretched between them, heavy and charged. Her grip on the tray tightened, and she felt a surge of irritation bubbling in her chest.

"You didn't even taste the rest of the... " she bagan but Leone held up a hand, his expression unchanging. "I don't need to," he said evenly, his voice carrying a finality that only deepened Evelina's irritation. "The smoothie is enough of an indicator."

Evelina's fingers curled into fists at her sides, her jaw tightening as she glared at him. "So, that's it?" she snapped. "You're just going to dismiss it without giving the rest a chance?"

Leone met her gaze steadily, his calm demeanor infuriatingly unshaken. "Also I do not appreciate the effort, Evelina," he said, his tone detached, " I know what I like. And this—" he gestured toward the tray, "—isn't it."

Evelina stared at him, her breath hitching as his words settled over her like a cold, heavy weight. Her hands trembled, whether from anger or hurt, she couldn't tell. "You don't appreciate it," she repeated slowly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Leone said nothing, his gaze fixed on her, unreadable yet unyielding.

Her lips pressed into a thin line as she picked up the tray. "Noted," she said curtly, her voice sharp enough to cut through the tension. Without another word, she turned and strode out of the room, the door closing with a controlled, deliberate force behind her.

Leone sat there for a moment, the silence in the room growing oppressive. His eyes flicked to the bedside table. He let out a soft sigh, his expression shifting ever so slightly.

"That could have gone better," he muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair. But instead of following her or calling her back, he reached for his laptop again, the mechanical clicks of the keyboard filling the emptiness she had left behind.

In the hallway, Evelina paused, her chest heaving with the effort to keep her composure. Her knuckles whitened around the tray as she willed herself to breathe.

"I don't appreciate it," she echoed his words bitterly, her grip tightening on the tray. She glanced at the smoothie, the vibrant green mocking her. For a fleeting moment, she considered throwing it out, but the thought of wasting it felt too much like admitting defeat.

Instead, she straightened her back, lifted her chin, and marched toward the kitchen. If Leone wanted to be ungrateful, that was his problem. But she wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing how much his words had stung.

Evelina sat alone at the long, elegantly set dining table, her sour mood palpable in the dimly lit room. She stabbed a fork into the omelet she had so carefully prepared, muttering under her breath as she brought the bite to her lips.

"There's nothing wrong with my cooking," she grumbled, chewing angrily. "It tastes delicious. What the heck is he saying? I'm beginning to think he's doing this on purpose."

Behind her, Clarissa, the housekeeper who had been quietly observing the scene, folded her hands and shook her head slightly. "Mrs. Evelina seems to be in a bad mood," she murmured under her breath, her voice barely audible. "Well, I can't blame her. The young master rejected the food she made for him."

Clarissa sighed, watching Evelina's rigid posture and the way her movements betrayed her frustration. "She is making an effort, but the young master is a really tough nut to crack."

Evelina, oblivious to the quiet commentary, grabbed the glass of smoothie and took a long, deliberate sip. She slammed it back down onto the table with more force than necessary, the sound echoing through the quiet room. "That man," she hissed, her tone sharp. "He's impossible. I don't know what he wants! Maybe he just enjoys being difficult."

Clarissa hesitated for a moment before stepping closer. "That is how the young master is, Mrs. Evelina," she said gently. "He pushes people away. It's… his way of protecting himself."

Evelina scoffed, her fork clinking against the plate as she set it down. "Protecting himself from what? A decent breakfast?" she shot back, the sarcasm in her voice barely masking her hurt.

Clarissa offered a small, understanding smile. "It's not about the food, ma'am. He's been like this for as long as I've worked here. The young master doesn't trust easily, and he doesn't let people in without a fight. I don't know why."

Evelina sighed heavily, leaning back in her chair as she stared down at her half-finished plate. "He pushes people away, huh?" she muttered, her voice softening. "Well, it's going to take more than an omelet and a smoothie to break through it, apparently."

Clarissa chuckled lightly, a warm sound that momentarily eased the tension in the room. "That it might, Mrs. Evelina. But I have a feeling you'll manage. You're just as stubborn as he is."

Evelina let out a small, reluctant laugh, shaking her head. "Stubborn doesn't even begin to describe him," she said, her lips quirking into a faint smile despite herself.

" By the way did you serve mr Leone ? You know alot about him" Evelina asked.

Clarissa nodded, her expression thoughtful as she adjusted her stance. "Yes, Mrs. Evelina. I've served the young master for a year, so I don't know exactly why he is the way he is ."

Evelina nodded and mumbled, " I see"

Clarissa paused for a moment, then gently cleared her throat. "I've observed him closely in that one year. Evelina, and i noticed something odd."

---

Evelina turned her head slightly, her curiosity piqued by the sudden shift in Clarissa's tone. "Odd? What do you mean?"

Clarissa hesitated, glancing around as if unsure whether to speak, before lowering her voice. "I've noticed something strange, Evelina. Something small, but... it happens more often than you'd think."

Evelina leaned in, intrigued. "What is it?"

Clarissa lowered her voice further, her tone almost a whisper. "It's about the young master. Sometimes, when the conversation takes a turn, or when there's a sudden silence... he seems to drift off, like he's not really here anymore. It's subtle. His eyes go unfocused, almost like he's staring at something far off, but it's not clear what he's looking at. It's like he's trying to find something in the air, something he's struggling to hold onto, but can't."

Evelina frowned, her brow furrowing. "He just zones out?"

Clarissa nodded, her lips pressed together in thought. "Yes, but it's not quite that simple. When it happens, his whole demeanor changes. He goes still, as if he's holding his breath. His hands... they get fidgety, like he's trying to do something with them but doesn't know how. Sometimes, his jaw clenches, like he's fighting something, something he doesn't want anyone to see. And it's always followed by this quiet, almost invisible sigh. A release, but barely noticeable."

Evelina tilted her head, her curiosity deepening. "So, it's not like he's lost in thought... it's more like... he's trying not to react?"

Clarissa's eyes softened, and she gave a quiet nod. "Exactly. It's like a reflex, almost automatic. His body tenses up, but there's no real outward sign of distress—no shaking, no outbursts. Just... the quiet. Like he's trying to hold it all in. Like if he stops for even a second, it might overwhelm him."

Evelina leaned back in her chair, processing the information. "You're surprisingly observant," she murmured, her brow furrowing. "It is kind of odd, now that you mention it."

Clarissa gave a small, almost imperceptible smile at Evelina's response, clearly pleased that her observations had been noticed. "It's just something I've picked up over time, ma'am. I don't mean to pry, but... the young master has always been an enigma. I can't help but notice the little things."

Evelina glanced at the empty plate before her, lost in thought for a moment. "An enigma, huh?" she echoed softly, as if tasting the word. Her expression softened, but a flicker of something darker crossed her face. "I thought I might have a better understanding of him by now, but that doesn't seem to be the case."

'I've only spent a day with him, not a year. This can't be his true self. But how do I get him to feel comfortable with me in just one week?'

Evelina drummed her fingers lightly on the edge of her plate, her thoughts churning. She had only a week to make progress with Mr. Leone, to break through his walls just enough for him to trust her—or at least tolerate her presence. But from what Clarissa had said, that would be far from easy.

'I can't think of anything...'

Her eyes suddenly widened as an idea struck her. "Do you happen to know his hobbies?"

Clarissa paused, her expression thoughtful as she considered the question. "Hobbies?" she murmured, tapping her chin. "Well, the young master does love hunting."

Evelina's eyes widened in shock. "H-hunting?" she stammered.

"But that's a common pastime in the family, so I wouldn't count it as anything unique," Clarissa added, mumbling almost to herself.

Evelina sighed in relief. Thank goodness.

Clarissa continued, "But there are a few other things I've noticed over time. He spends a lot of time in his study, surrounded by books."

Evelina's eyes lit up with interest. "Reading?"

Now that's something I can work with, she thought, a small smile forming on her lips.

Clarissa nodded. "Yes, and he also seems to enjoy spending time in the garden. He likes the quiet there."

Evelina's mind whirred. "The times he visits his study to read and when he goes to the garden—I need to know."

Clarissa shook her head. "I don't remember exactly, I'm afraid."

"Alright, thank you, Clarissa."

A wide, determined smile spread across Evelina's face as she nodded to herself, her eyes sparkling. I know what to do.