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“How is it?” Neil asked.
“Delicious.”
After the main course came dessert. Crème brûlée for me and an espresso for Neil. By then, our conversation had drifted into personal territory.
“How are your travel plans coming along?” Neil asked, putting his cup down.
The question felt like a lead weight dropping in my stomach, but I forced a tight smile. “I’ve got my visa all sorted for the UK, and my friend Hannah said I can crash at her place in London until I get settled.” I paused, pushing the crème brûlée around in its dish with my spoon. “Then I plan to do some backpacking around Europe for a few months before trying to find a more permanent job and living situation over there.”
“Looking forward to it?” Neil’s voice was carefully neutral, giving no hint of his own feelings on the matter.
I hesitated, my growing doubts taking root. Did I really want to leave this all behind—my job, my home, him? Mucking around in Europe seemed hollow now compared to the path my life was taking here.
“To be honest…” I dragged my spoon across the caramelised sugar topping, watching it splinter and crack. “I’ve been having some second thoughts lately. I’m not as excited as I used to be.”
Neil raised an eyebrow. “Oh? Why is that?”
“I booked the trip because I wanted to escape my life, but now…” I met Neil’s eyes in the flickering candlelight. “I no longer have such a strong desire to escape.”
Neil held my gaze for a heated moment before asking carefully, “I hope you’re not reconsidering because of me?”
I broke eye contact, my face warming at his presumption. But he wasn’t entirely wrong. “I suppose you’re one factor,” I admitted, twisting the spoon between my fingers.
“You should still go. I wouldn’t want you to miss out on your trip for my sake. You can always come back if it doesn’t work out.”
“Will I still have a job when I get back?”
“Yes, provided I’m still CEO.”
“Then what about the apartment?”
“It’s yours, Milly. I might rent it out in your absence, but you can have it back when you return.”
I gawped, stunned. I hadn’t expected Neil to let me stay in the lavish apartment long-term, since we had always framed it as a temporary measure. “Are you sure?”
“Yes.”
“But it’s worth so much more than I’m paying you?—”
“It’s not a selfless act by any means. I want you to live somewhere I know is secure, and I want you close by so I can keep an eye on you.”
“Keep an eye on me?” I questioned, though his possessiveness secretly thrilled me.
“I got you involved in dangerous business. It’s my responsibility to keep you safe. I don’t think I could live with myself if I let something happen to you.”
His solemn declaration struck me deeply. Throughout my life, I had always fended for myself. But with Neil, I felt protected and cared for in a way I never had before. “Nothing is going to happen to me,” I assured him.
He nodded. “I’ll make sure of it.”
He brought his coffee cup to his lips, reminding me of the neglected crème brûlée in the china ramekin on my plate. The custard was smooth and rich, eliciting a little whimper from me.
Neil watched on with a look of amusement. I paused, wondering if I had got some on my face. I dabbed at my mouth with a serviette.
“You’re clearly enjoying that,” he said.
“It’s divine. Want to try some?”
“No, thank you. I don’t care much for sweet things.”
