Chapter 20: Scarlet

20

SCARLET

T he dining room hummed with an unsettling stillness, empty save for our presence. Cristian and Julian stood at my sides, both men looking sharp in their fitted suits. Cristian had said they'd paid to have the restaurant empty tonight, the service focused entirely on us.

I felt a flutter in my stomach as Cristian's gaze swept over me, his eyes dark with appreciation. "You clean up nice, kitten," he purred, his voice low and husky. The intensity of his stare sent a shiver down my spine, and I couldn't help but feel a twinge of satisfaction. He'd been practically devouring me with his eyes ever since he'd shown up at the apartment to escort me here, and I'd caught Julian stealing glances too. Their attention made me feel powerful, desirable, and just a little bit dangerous. I smoothed my hands over the dress again, reveling in the way the fabric clung to my curves. For a moment, I allowed myself to bask in their admiration, pushing aside the nagging voice in my head that warned me to stay on guard .

Julian nodded in agreement, but his gaze was moving around the dining hall carefully, assessing the environment. "The dress suits you."

My heels clicked softly against the polished marble floor as we moved to the podium, where a waiter in a fitted black suit nodded and beckoned for us to follow him. The restaurant was a masterpiece of elegance and opulence. Crystal chandeliers hung from the high, ornate ceiling, casting a warm, golden glow over the room. The walls were adorned with intricate moldings and framed by rich, velvet curtains in deep burgundy.

White linen tablecloths were draped over each table, perfectly pressed and adorned with gleaming silverware and delicate china. Fresh flowers in crystal vases served as centerpieces, their subtle fragrance mingling with the aroma of gourmet cuisine wafting from the kitchen.

I couldn't help but marvel at the sheer luxury surrounding us. My fingers trailed over the back of a high-backed chair, feeling the smooth, expensive fabric. A wave of gratitude washed over me as I realized how out of place I would have been in my usual attire. Tyrone's insistence on dressing me for the occasion suddenly made perfect sense.

"This place is... incredible," I breathed, taking in the grandeur.

Cristian smirked, clearly pleased by my reaction. "Only the best for you, kitten."

I caught sight of my reflection in a nearby mirror and barely recognized myself. I looked the part beside the brothers—my entire appearance, from my hair and makeup to the elegant dress and heels, screamed wealth and power. For a moment, I felt like I truly belonged in their world by their sides.

As we were led to our table, I noticed the attentive staff, dressed impeccably in crisp black and white uniforms. They moved with practiced grace, anticipating our every need before we could even voice it. The waiter pulled out my chair, and I sank into it, feeling like royalty.

Another waiter materialized, pouring champagne into crystal flutes.

"To new beginnings," Cristian toasted, clinking his glass against mine, and I frowned.

"What do you mean by that?" I asked, and he just shook his head.

"After the fiasco you both survived, I think it's fitting that you celebrate life anew. Enjoy every moment forward," Cristian said, his dark eyes never leaving mine, I found myself unable to look away. There was something in those deep brown depths that both thrilled and terrified me, a hint of the chaos that lurked beneath his polished exterior. I suppressed a shiver, feeling as though he could see right through me, past all my carefully constructed walls. He'd gotten past them yesterday, and now, I felt vulnerable around him, like he knew the deepest, darkest parts of me. They all did.

The weight of his words settled over me, a reminder of how close we'd come to disaster. I took a sip of champagne, letting the bubbles dance on my tongue, and wondered what other surprises he had in store. He was unpredictable, and I found it oddly exciting.

I just hoped it didn't kill me.

"This place looks expensive," I noted as our first waiter returned, pushing a cart with several meals on it.

"Don't overthink it. The food is amazing," Julian stated as he watched the waiter pull up by the table.

As the waiter placed the appetizers before us, my eyes widened at the array of exquisite dishes. Each plate was a work of art, meticulously arranged with vibrant colors and delicate garnishes. I leaned in, inhaling the tantalizing aromas that wafted up from the plates.

The first dish caught my eye immediately - a small, perfectly round sphere that seemed to shimmer under the soft lighting. It sat atop a swirl of deep green sauce, garnished with what looked like edible flowers. I squinted, trying to decipher what it could be.

"What's this one?" I asked, gesturing to the mysterious orb.

"That, my dear, is a molecular gastronomy creation. It's a liquid-filled sphere that bursts in your mouth. It's filled with a truffle-infused consommé," the waiter explained as he clasped his hands before him.

I blinked, both impressed and slightly intimidated by what he'd just said. It felt like a jumble of words thrown together. Next to… whatever it was, sat a tower of something that looked like it might be seafood, but I couldn't be sure. Thin, translucent slices were stacked atop each other, separated by what appeared to be dollops of caviar and microgreens.

"And this?" I pointed, my curiosity getting the better of me.

"Hamachi crudo with yuzu foam and tobiko."

I nodded, pretending I knew exactly what that meant. I could feel both the brothers watching me with amusement, and I was glad for the softer lighting in here hiding my likely flushed features.

My eyes drifted to the next plate, which held something that looked like miniature works of abstract art. Tiny cubes of various colors were arranged in a precise pattern, topped with wisps of what could have been smoke but was probably some sort of culinary magic .

"I'm almost afraid to ask about that one," I murmured, half to myself.

"That's a deconstructed caprese salad," the waiter explained. "Those cubes are compressed watermelon, tomato gel, and mozzarella spheres. The 'smoke' is actually a balsamic reduction foam."

I nodded, trying to wrap my head around the concept. It was a far cry from the simple caprese salads I'd had before.

The final dish on the table was equally perplexing. It looked like a small garden had sprouted on the plate, complete with what appeared to be edible soil.

"And this... garden?" I asked, gesturing to the last plate.

The waiter chuckled, amused at my unfamiliarity with fine-dining dishes. "That's a vegetable terrine with herb 'soil'. Those little sprouts are actually microgreens, and the 'rocks' are potato croquettes."

I took in the array of dishes before us, feeling both excited and overwhelmed. It was a feast for the eyes as much as for the palate, and I found myself eager to taste each creation.

"I've never seen food like this before," I admitted, my voice tinged with awe. "It's like edible art."

Julian raised an eyebrow. "That's precisely the point. These chefs are artists in their own right."

"I wanted to treat you, kitten, show you something you've never seen before, I imagine," Cristian said, her mouth curling at the edge, taking delight in my innocence. "We'll share them all before the main course. Then there's dessert as well."

I nodded, reaching for my fork with a mix of anticipation and uncertainty as the brothers did the same. The waiter rolled the cart away, and I took my first bite of the liquid-filled sphere, and my eyes widened in surprise as it burst in my mouth. The rich, earthy flavor of truffle flooded my senses, accompanied by the delicate consommé, whatever that was. It was unlike anything I'd ever tasted before.

"Oh, wow," I murmured, savoring the complex flavors.

Cristian chuckled, clearly pleased by my reaction. "Try this one next," he said, spearing a piece of the hamachi crudo and holding it out to me.

I hesitated for a moment, frowning slightly at the gesture. It felt oddly intimate, and I wasn't sure how to react to this sudden show of kindness from him. But the aroma wafting from the morsel was too tempting to resist, and I leaned forward, accepting the offering.

The delicate fish melted on my tongue, its subtle flavor enhanced by the bright citrus notes of the yuzu foam. The tobiko added a delightful pop of texture and brininess.

"It's incredible," I admitted, unable to hide my amazement.

We made our way through the appetizers, each dish more surprising than the last.

As we ate, I couldn't help but steal glances at Cristian. His behavior tonight was so different from what I'd come to expect. He was attentive, almost... caring? Part of me wanted to question this sudden change, to understand what had brought it on. Was it because we'd shared our darkest parts of one another? Because we'd connected, and he'd broken before me? Had that fostered some trust between us now? A larger part of me was afraid to shatter this moment of peace.

I'd rather enjoy this kinder version of Cristian while it lasted. Who knew how long it would last. For now, I decided to savor not just the exquisite food, but also this unexpected reprieve from the tension and fear that had defined so much of my time with him, but I'd make sure to remain careful .

As Cristian offered me another bite from his fork, I accepted without hesitation this time. My emotions were a tangled mess, but I pushed my confusion aside. Whatever his reasons, I was determined to make the most of this momentary kindness.

As the last of the appetizers disappeared from our plates, the waiters swooped in, whisking away the empty dishes. Before I could even catch my breath, another cart rolled up to our table.

The waiter lifted silver domes to reveal our main courses, and my mouth watered despite the array of food I'd just polished off. A perfectly cooked lobster, its shell a vibrant red, sat nestled on a bed of herbs. Beside it, a thick, juicy steak sizzled invitingly, its surface glistening with a rich glaze. The third dish was something I couldn't quite identify, but it looked equally exquisite - a colorful array of vegetables and what appeared to be some kind of fish, artfully arranged on the plate.

"We'll share these," Cristian stated as the waiter set the dishes out before us, placing the third dish before me.

As we began to sample each dish, I noticed Cristian's demeanor had shifted even further. His smile seemed almost permanent now, a stark contrast to the brooding, dangerous man I'd come to know. He cut a piece of the steak, holding it out to me on his fork.

"Try this, kitten. It's Wagyu beef, melts in your mouth," he urged.

I accepted it and, as promised, the meat was incredibly tender, seeming to dissolve on my tongue. I nodded my delight with it, and his grin widened. He continued to offer me bites from his own plate, and I found myself accepting each time, along with Julian, who at least offered me the pieces onto my plate rather than my mouth. The lobster was sweet and succulent, and the mystery fish dish burst with flavors.

As Cristian held out another forkful, I smirked. "You know, I can feed myself," I said with a hint of playful sarcasm, even as I accepted the bite.

He chuckled, his eyes dancing with amusement. "I know, sweetheart. But where's the fun in that?"

I frowned, knowing it was pointless to delve into the subject any further. I sat back, the three of us slowing down on our meals as we began to fill up.

I took a sip of the champagne, the waiter rushing over to top up our glasses as soon as I set it down.

Julian cleared his throat after downing a mouthful of his own. "We did some digging on your parents, Scarlet."

I frowned at him, wondering why he was bringing this up right now. Was this the purpose of tonight? Where was he going with this?

"Your father," Julian continued, studying me carefully. "He died of an overdose two years ago."

I blinked, processing the information. A cocktail of emotions swirled within me - relief, anger, a twinge of sadness, although I stifled that instantly. He deserved no sadness from me, even if he was my father. The prick could rot in hell for everything he'd done.

"My mother?" I asked, morbid curiosity winning out. What had they uncovered about the people who'd put me through hell and set me on the path that had found me here?

"She's in prison. Breaking and entering, stabbing someone for drug money. Seems her drinking problem evolved into something nastier." Cristian's dark eyes watched me, waiting for me to react in some way to this news.

I laughed, a hollow sound that echoed in the empty restaurant. "Well, I'll be damned. This is news you thought I'd want over dinner?"

Julian's eyes met mine, unwavering. "They hurt you, didn't they? Sold you for drug money. We saw your records from past hospital visits and your therapist. They hurt you as a kid, beat you."

"Right, reminding me I have no privacy either, no secrets from you guys," I muttered bitterly.

"We didn't know about Brent, or Lily," Cristian pointed out. "You told us that."

I shook my head, pushing my plate away. "Here I was thinking this was going to be a nice dinner," I mumbled.

"It is, pyro," Julian said, flicking his gaze to his brother.

Cristian reached into his jacket pocket and pulled out a small, velvet box. He offered it to me, and I hesitated before taking it. This had better not be what I thought it was, but from him, I wouldn't be all that surprised.

Thankfully, my thoughts were wrong, and inside was a stunning diamond necklace with a heart pendant and matching teardrop earrings.

"Looks expensive," I said, eyeing the jewelry warily.

Cristian's lips curled into a smile. "You deserve some jewelry to match your nice dresses now. Besides, I want what's mine to be looking like the prize she is."

His words made me pause. "I'm yours, huh?" I arched a brow at him.

His face flickered, a mix of emotions crossing his features. "I told you I'd make you mine, Scarlet."

I stared at him, my jaw clenching. "I'm not a thing, Cristian, not an object to be claimed. I'm a person," I said, my voice tight as I tried to maintain my composure.

His eyes darkened, a possessive glint flashing in them. " Yes, but you're my person. I want you. You're mine," Cristian stated, like it was something that couldn't be argued.

I scoffed, the words sounding familiar. "Really? Cause Tyrone said the same thing earlier," I retorted, knowing he meant it differently. At least, I thought he did.

A smirk spread across Cristian's face, surprising me.

"My brothers and I are blood, we're family, and we share everything. I don't mind sharing you with them," he said casually as he leaned back in his seat.

I blinked, taken aback. "Really, no one will get jealous?" I asked, incredulous at the thought.

Cristian's smirk widened. "Why would we get jealous, kitten?" He turned to Julian. "Jules, put her jewelry on."

Julian complied without hesitation, plucking the box from my hand, his fingers brushing against my skin as he fastened the necklace. The cool metal settled against my collarbone, sending a shiver down my spine. "You do look ravishing tonight," he murmured, his hand lingering on my neck. I could feel the warmth of his touch, a stark contrast to the chill of the jewelry. My breath caught in my throat as his fingertips traced a lazy pattern along my skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake. He removed my sleeper earrings, replacing them with the teardrop earrings instead and putting my old ones in the box, which he handed back. He sat back down, smiling at me, his eyes flashing in a way that made me quiver.

I swallowed, unsure how to feel about this turn of events. "How's it look?" I asked with a resigned sigh.

Cristian's eyes locked onto mine, intense and unwavering. "Kitten, you look like my future," he said, his voice low and full of promise.