Chapter 9

On these words, Mousse and Sophia began sipping their tea in silence, each lost in their own thoughts.

The next morning...

Very early in the morning, as usual, Sophia woke up with the intention of preparing breakfast for herself and her older brother, Jacob. Every morning, he would drop her off at university before heading to work. However, thinking about the difficult night they had just passed, she wondered if Jacob would be in any condition to accompany her today. Her concern grew at the thought of leaving him alone at home, knowing he still needed rest.

Sophia got out of bed with a sigh, her feet touching the cold floor. She stretched long, feeling the fatigue from the previous day weighing on her shoulders. After spending a moment in front of the mirror, she slowly made her way to the bathroom. The cold water she splashed on her face gave her a semblance of wakefulness. She brushed her teeth, quickly washed up, and then dressed in something comfortable.

She left her room to go prepare breakfast. However, as she passed Jacob's room, she felt the need to check on him. Entering, she found him deeply asleep, snoring softly, a sign that he was finally recovering. Approaching him with maternal tenderness, she checked that he had no fever and tucked him back in before leaving the room.

Sophia then headed to the living room, where she found Mousse lying on the sofa, wrapped in a sheet. She was surprised to see him there, as she had prepared the guest room for him. A small smile passed across her lips, grateful to have had him by her side to handle the difficult night. However, she couldn’t help but wonder why he had chosen to sleep there rather than in the guest room.

Shaking her head to dismiss her thoughts, she made her way to the kitchen. Sophia took a deep breath before getting to the stove, determined to prepare a breakfast that, she hoped, would lift everyone's spirits a bit. She boiled water for tea while starting to toast slices of bread. She took out some eggs and fresh vegetables for an omelette. The familiar motions of preparation reassured her a little, even though her mind kept turning over the events of the previous day.

Meanwhile, at Gloria's...

Gloria, already awake, was carefully preparing for her day. But it wasn't just for work. Samson, her new boyfriend, had offered to pick her up and drop her off at work. It was a routine that Jacob had taken up, but now it was Samson who occupied her thoughts. She took her time to make herself look beautiful, carefully choosing an outfit that would highlight her curves and applying light but seductive makeup. She couldn't help but smile, eager to see the man who made her heart race.

In the living room, Charlotte was engrossed in her creations. Pencils and papers were spread out in front of her as she intensely sketched dresses that she intended to propose to one of her prestigious clients. A half-eaten croissant and a cup of coffee sat beside her, signs of her quick breakfast. She didn't even look up when Gloria entered the living room, beaming, to greet her.

— Good morning, whispered Gloria.

Charlotte barely responded, absorbed in her work.

Gloria then headed to the dining room to have breakfast, but was surprised to find the table empty. Puzzled, she went into the kitchen, where she found nothing either. Frustrated, she returned to the living room to ask Charlotte for an explanation.

— Charlotte, why didn’t you make breakfast? asked Gloria, irritated.

Charlotte, still absorbed in her sketches, finally looked up, exasperated by her sister's insistence.

— Gloria, I don’t remember being your cook or your maid. If you want breakfast, you better go to the kitchen and make something yourself. If you're counting on me, you’ll leave hungry.

Gloria stood there for a moment, speechless.

— What? Charlotte, are you really going to play this game this morning?

— A game? retorted Charlotte, looking up at her with a piercing gaze. Who told you we’re playing a game? Are we in a game room here? If you want to play, go elsewhere. Me, I’m working.

Finding nothing to reply, Gloria was about to respond when she heard a car horn outside. Her phone began to vibrate, and leaning out of the window, she saw Samson, already there to pick her up. With a sigh of relief, she abandoned the discussion and rushed outside, ignoring her sister's boiling anger.

Charlotte, offended by Gloria’s nonchalant attitude, clenched her fists, wondering what was wrong with her sister. She got up suddenly from the sofa, dropping her sketches on the coffee table, and went to the window to observe what was happening outside. Through the curtains, she saw Gloria getting into a large luxury car, a radiant smile on her face.

"So, this is him, the new boyfriend, the one she made Jacob suffer for. A man she’s just met, surely," murmured Charlotte, her gaze hardening.

She shook her head, her heart tight with indignation and worry. "I’ll be here to see where all this is going," she added, her voice tinged with bitterness.

Suddenly, a flash of memory crossed her mind. "Oh, I even forgot..." She rushed to the sofa, grabbed her phone, and without wasting a second, searched for Jacob’s number in her contacts. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to call him, hoping desperately that he would answer this time.

Jacob's residence...

Jacob was deeply asleep when the persistent ringing of his phone jerked him out of his sleep. Groaning slightly, he fumbled blindly for the device on the bedside table, his eyes barely open and his head pounding with a hangover that hammered at his temples. After finally grabbing his phone, he squinted to identify the caller. Charlotte. A sigh escaped his lips as he brought the phone to his ear.

— Hello Charlotte... How are you this morning?

Charlotte’s voice, though worried, was filled with relief on the other end of the line.

— Good morning, Jacob. Finally, you picked up! It’s me who should be asking you, how are you? Are you okay? I hope you didn’t do anything stupid?

Jacob gave a sad smile, recognizing the concern in Charlotte’s voice.

— Oh no, don’t worry about me. I’m fine… well, as fine as can be. I just woke up, though, honestly, I don’t really remember how I got home…

Charlotte couldn’t hold back a sigh of exasperation mixed with tenderness.

— You got drunk, didn’t you?

Jacob, avoiding answering directly, quickly glanced at his phone screen to check the time. He sat up abruptly, a wave of anxiety adding to his headache.

— Charlotte, I’m sorry, but I really have to call you back later. I have a very important meeting this morning and if I don’t hurry, I’ll be late.

Charlotte, though relieved to have reached him, felt a slight tinge of annoyance.

— Oh, good thing I called then. Looks like I woke you up.

Jacob let out a small laugh, despite himself.

— That’s exactly what happened. Thank you very much, Charlotte. We’ll talk later, I promise.

— Okay, but don’t forget to call me back. And most importantly, take care of yourself.

— Thanks, take care too.

Charlotte hung up, leaving Jacob alone to face the reality of his morning, which had just begun in chaos. He slowly got up, fighting the sharp pain in his head, and made his way heavily toward the bathroom to prepare himself quickly. The day was bound to be long, but he couldn’t afford to dwell on the events of the previous day, no matter how painful they were.

On the other side, On the road...

The car was gliding smoothly, accompanied by soft music in the background, creating a cozy atmosphere perfect for intimacy. Gloria, seated in the passenger seat, kept throwing tender and enchanting glances at Samson, who drove with a slightly divided attention between the road and the radiant beauty beside him. Samson had quickly noticed that something was troubling Gloria. He turned to her, his voice tinged with concern.

— Gloria, you seem worried... Is everything okay?

Gloria, gently playing with a strand of her hair, looked at him with a fragile smile.

— It's my sister, Charlotte. She didn’t make breakfast for me this morning. It's silly, I know, but it really upset me.

Samson furrowed his brows slightly, surprised and somewhat irritated by this story.

— She didn’t make you breakfast? That's a bit harsh, don’t you think? We can't let you start the day like this. Come on, we'll stop by a café-bakery before work. I won’t let you leave on an empty stomach.

Gloria, touched by his attention, gave him a bright smile, her eyes sparkling with gratitude. She straightened slightly in her seat, adjusting her dress so the fabric slid gently over her thighs, revealing just enough skin to catch Samson's attention. Her fingers began to graze her legs, making subtle caresses while continuing to gaze at him with an entrancing look.

Samson, though focused on driving, couldn’t help but glance at Gloria, his gaze captivated by the elegance and sensuality she exuded. The silence between them was filled with a soft, almost palpable tension, as she played with her charms with natural mastery.

They finally arrived in front of the café-bakery. Samson parked the car smoothly before turning to Gloria, a knowing smile on his lips.

— Here we are, mademoiselle. Ready for a proper breakfast?

Gloria responded with a soft look and a slight laugh, delighted by the attention he was giving her. They got out of the car, Gloria gently brushing Samson's arm as they made their way to the café entrance.