Chapter- 70: Morning before the event

The sun had just begun to peek through the windows of Ric's lavish kitchen as he sat at his breakfast table, savoring the comforting aroma of his morning tea. The room was bathed in a soft golden light, casting a warm glow over the elegant décor that filled the space. Ric took a slow sip of his tea, the delicate flavors dancing on his palate as he closed his eyes, briefly losing himself in the tranquil moment.

Just as he was about to take another sip, the sound of the kitchen door opening caught his attention, and he looked up to see Sofie standing before him, a bright smile on her face. Ric was taken aback by her unexpected presence; after all, she was supposed to be on vacation for two more days. 

"Sofie, what brings you here so early? I thought you were off enjoying your well-deserved break," Ric exclaimed, setting down his cup of tea.

Sofie chuckled softly, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I couldn't resist stopping by to see how things were going, Ric. Plus, I missed the hustle and bustle that comes following you," she replied, taking a seat across from him at the table.

"I hope you haven't done anything reckless while I was gone," she chided lightly, a playful glint in her green eyes.

Richard smirked, taking a light sip from his cup. "Reckless? If you think, Austin ticking me into doing a book signing event as an example, then, yes."

Sofie softly chuckled at that. Richard shook his head and continued

"Other than that, it's hard to be reckless while ironing out this household's tangled strings."

Sofie arched an eyebrow. "You mean to tell me you've actually been here keeping the house in line?"

His chuckle rumbled deep, masking a tremor of unease. "Just until Drew gets back. You know how she manages the staff like a maestro conducting a symphony—head maid runs the daily act, and Winona oversees everything else."

His chuckle rumbled deep, masking a tremor of unease. "Just until Drew gets back. You know how she manages the staff like a maestro conducting a symphony—head maid runs the daily act, and Winona oversees everything else."

"Winona? Isn't she busy with her films and playing the house with you know who?" Sofie inquired, crossing her arms; the sunlight framed her silhouette in golden hues.

Richard leaned forward, sincerity imbibing his voice. "True, she has a passion for films and another type of steamy passion that I am not willing to talk about." 

Richard had a faraway look and shuddered a bit. He then gave Sofie a weary chuckle and continued, "Anyway." Then says,

 "---But somehow she balances it all. That woman has a fire in her that can manage this whole community. And when I mean the whole community, I mean the whole community." 

"Woah!!!" She whistled.

Richard nodded, agreeing with her, "She often keeps the heart of the estate beating smoothly while Drew adds the rhythm."

His mention of his girlfriend brought a gleaming warmth to his demeanor. "It's only temporary, really. My part is just a fraction of what they do. I'm mostly the numbers man—bills, finances—a necessary evil to keep these grand walls from caving in."

Sofie let out a bemused laugh. "And I had thought rich folks like you just rolled around in gold coins while overseers took care of the mundane. But here you are, standing at the front line, so to speak. And what about me? I've returned just in time to leave you to your newfound responsibilities until Drew comes back."

"Ah, yes." Richard smiled slyly. "That's exactly it. Now that you're back, I'll be sure to delegate just enough so you don't forget what hard work looks like."

"Hard work? Ha! When you have servants at your beck and call?" Sofie countered with mock indignation.

Richard sighed dramatically, "You know what they say: heavy is the head that wears the crown—even if it's a metaphorical one. The true weight of this place only shows when there are no skilled hands to guide it. You'll get a taste of that soon enough."

"Not if I can help it!" she retorted with glee, knowing full well the cheerful battles that lay ahead in the mansion's sprawling corridors.

They soon delved into discussing Sofie's vacation, where she shared tales of her adventures in exotic locations and the delicious cuisines she had sampled. However, as she recounted her stories, Sofie couldn't help but lament the excessive amount of vacation time she had taken. 

"I feel like I've been away forever, Richy. My work isn't even that stressful, especially with Ari and his team handling most of the matters," Sofie remarked, a hint of guilt tingeing her voice.

She takes a small gulp of her latte with that thought. One drink and instantly she cheered up. 

'Ah! Hazelnut Latte my favorite.' she thought

The maids in this household are still as amazing as ever. They already know what type of drink I like.

"Then you should be happy with the work I am delegating to you" He replied cheekly.

"Hey!!!" she had a mocked outrage.

Richard chuckled, understanding her dilemma. He too relied heavily on his dedicated team to ensure that everything ran smoothly, allowing him the luxury of focusing on his passion projects. 

Drinking her latte that the maid brought,

Looking at the tea in front of Richard, her curiosity piqued, Sofie placed her cup aside. "Tea? I thought coffee was your thing."

A smile spread across Richard's face, a glimmer of nostalgia in his eyes. "It's both now, actually. Ever since my travels through Europe, I've found something comforting about a good cup of tea in the morning. It reminds me of the little cafés I visited—the cheerful chatter, the smell of fresh pastries, the warmth of the ceramic cups."

The conversation shifted to Ric's tea-drinking habit, a ritual he had picked up during his travels in Europe. He explained the comfort he found in a hot beverage in the morning, whether it be tea or coffee, to kick-start his day on a soothing note.

"Sofie, you know me well. I can't start my day without my cup of tea. It's a little piece of Europe right here in my kitchen," Ric mused, a fond smile playing on his lips.

"Did you find any teas that changed your life?" she asked, leaning in.

"Not quite a life-changer," Richard replied, thinking back to his adventures in Paris and Vienna, "but it's a ritual I've come to appreciate. There's a simplicity to it. The routine of boiling water, waiting for the leaves to steep, the anticipation of that first sip… It makes the chaotic mornings feel a little more anchored."

Sofie smiled, her eyes lighting up. "Sounds like you've turned into a philosopher in the mornings, Rich."

He chuckled, the sound genuine now. "Maybe. But seriously, it sets the tone for my day. When I drink tea, I can pause for a moment, breathe deeply, and clear my head. Coffee is for when I need a jolt of energy to conquer the day. But the tea... it soothes me."

"Ah yes, the liquid wisdom encased in a china cup. Okay, Mr. Tea Philosopher, let's not digress," Sofie said, pulling out a folder from her bag. "Let's talk business. You've got that book signing thing at eleven, organized by Austin, followed by the meeting with the production head of your new TV series."

Ric listened attentively, nodding as he absorbed the details of his hectic schedule. "Well look at that, the afternoon was free," he mused, a hint of surprise in his voice. 

"Will you add anything?" Sofie raised an eyebrow, a knowing glint in her eyes.

 "Let's keep it open for now, who knows what might take my time." Ric chuckled at her response, knowing full well that Sofie was a master organizer, always prepared for any surprises that might pop up during the day.

She nodded, noting down, "You have an evening talk show to promote your upcoming movie release in two days." Sofie closed her folder as though sealing a pact. 

After finalizing the plans for the day, she looks up, a soft smile gracing her lips. "You're all set, Ric. Everything is in order," she said, her voice a soothing melody in the tranquil space.

"Perfect," he said, then paused, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes. "Let's take a moment to appreciate the urgency of my free afternoon. What should I do? Bungee jump? Attend a synchronized swim class? Paint a mural of my cat?"

"Do you even have a cat?" she quipped.

"Hey great idea, why not adopt one." he replied feeling inspired.

Sofie laughed, shaking her head. "How about you just take a nap? Considering this busy day, it might be the wisest choice!"

"Now that's a liquid wisdom I can get behind," Ric replied, raising his cup in a toast.