I shake my head. “I’m heading out to the café. Prepare my car.”
“Mistress, your guards need to meet you today,” she utters softly.
“No, just tell them I left early for my shift today. I’ll worry about grandmother’s guards later.”
“But—” she starts, though I stop her with a wave of my hand.
“I need to go, please.” I hop into the shower as Eliza proceeds to pick up my pillows from the floor. After showering, I hurry to get dressed. Taking the keys from my desk, I spend a few more minutes getting ready before heading out the door. “But why can’t I remember anything from the uprisings if that was a memory?” I say while driving, trying to rationalize the connection between my dream and my childhood friend from before.
That can’t be Gregory, right? But his story checks out. His mom dying, and his dad being taken away… Was I with him that time?
Questions still swarm my thoughts as I enter the café, distracting me from recognizing the person following me inside.
Chapter Twelve
“I think destiny wants us to be together, princess,” the familiar voice says behind me. I spin around and attempt to punch Gregory in the face.
What a haughty jackass.
He catches my hand easily. “I missed you, Isabela.” He smirks at me, half of his face concealed by a baseball cap. Probably to hide the gash on his forehead from last night.
His scent overtakes my senses almost immediately. “What the hell are you doing here?” I hiss.
“Surprised I’m alive after hitting me with your dagger?”
“Not really. After all, only the good die young.” He drops his smile and I retract my hand right away.
“Isabela! You’re early.” Rie back hugs me out of nowhere. “What’s he doing here? The café isn’t open until ten a.m.” I shrug her off and head behind the counter.
“Relax, he’s actually here for you,” Nina replies, putting cakes on the display trays.
“I’d rather not talk to him.” I slam my hands on top of the tabletop. “Leave.” I stare at the man before me.
“God, why are you so hostile this morning?” Nina puts a hand on my shoulder. “He’s also a paying customer. You can’t force him to leave, we’ll get in trouble,” she continues.
As if on cue, Gregory’s signature smirk is back.I really want to punch him again.
“Please, just hear me out,” he speaks almost sincerely. I eye him up and down, his demeanor seems a little unguarded. But I know better now than to trust someone so easily.
“I’m not comfortable being alone with you.”
“Why not?” Rie chimes in. “Don’t you trust yourself enough around him?” She nudges me. I feel my cheeks heat up at her comment but I shake my head.
“No, I just don’t trust him,” I say, putting on a black mask.
“I’ll wait here until you talk to me. I’ll do this all day if I have to,” he states plainly and leaves to sit in one corner of the café.
“She really woke up today and chose violence,” Rie whispers to Nina.
“Stop that,” I mutter and put my things away in the small closet space beside the kitchen. “Where’s breakfast? I’m starving,” I demand while pouring beans into the coffee grinder.
“Isabela, at least go listen to what he has to say. I found him waiting around in front of the café. He said he was here since six a.m.” Nina breathes into my ear, ignoring my attempts to change the subject. “I asked him why, and he said he needed to talk to you. He says it’s a family matter.” She sneaks a look at Gregory, who’s keeping his eyes trained on a book he’s now reading.
Family matter, my ass. I bite back a snarky reply as I remember my dream from last night. It’s all so overwhelming, from his assassinating me, to relieving painful memories from the past. I’m not quite sure who to trust or believe.
“Fine,” I say curtly. “I’ll go talk to him.” I walk toward Gregory’s table and sit across from him. He lifts his head and puts down his book. “Hello,” I greet. He smiles at me. “Let’s both agree that this café is neutral ground first.” I eye my friends giggling behind the counter.
“What? Afraid I’ll stab them like what you did to my sister?” He deadpans.