Chapter 25: Did I disturb your rest, Miss?
April slept deeply, the heavy velvet curtains blocking out the shifting sun as the afternoon bled into evening.
It was the first time in years she hadn’t been jolted awake by the screaming commands of the Morgan maids or the distant, terrifying roars of the alarmed survivors in the apocalypse.
Her body practically soaked into the expensive mattress, recovering from a decade of sheer exhaustion.
Then a quiet knock at the door broke the silence and gently pulled her from her comfort.
"Miss April?" Samuel’s voice drifted through from the hallway. "Excuse the interruption, but the staff is preparing the evening meal. What would you like to have for dinner?"
April’s lashes fluttered open. She blinked a few times, staring up at the dim room where the faint amber glow of the mountain sunset peeked through a gap in the curtains, glinting softly over the crystal chandelier on the ceiling.
Dinner? Has the day gone dark already?
She lifted her head, feeling slightly light-headed but incredibly well-rested. She couldn’t remember the last time she had slept this profoundly, let alone with a completely full belly. She rubbed her eyes, trying to clear the sleep from her brain.
"Miss?" Samuel called again from outside, his tone polite and cautious. "If you’re not ready, I can return at a later time."
Realizing she could easily sink right back into the cloud-like mattress if she stayed down, April quickly swung her legs over the edge of the bed and stood up.
"I’m coming," she called out.
She walked over to the door and pulled it open. Samuel was standing there, tablet in hand, his suit as pristine as it had been that morning.
"Did I disturb your rest, Miss?" he asked.
April shook her head, leaning lightly against the doorframe. "No, I had to wake up eventually."
Because she was still half-asleep, the sharp edge of her ’elite corporate shark’ persona hadn’t fully slid back into place.
Her guard was completely down. Her brown hair was slightly messy, her eyes were soft, and she lacked that terrifying, mysterious aura she had carried into Xavier’s study.
She simply looked like a young woman who had just woken up from a sweet, peaceful sleep.
Samuel stepped back slightly, momentarily taken aback. Seeing her like this completely shattered the mysterious, dangerous image he had built of her throughout the day. For a split second, she didn’t look like a woman who could make five hundred tons of cargo vanish into thin air; she just looked normal.
He cleared his throat quickly, adjusting his glasses to regain his professional footing.
"The chefs have prepared a variety of options for tonight, but if you have a specific preference, we can have it made for you right away."
April shook her head. "No, anything is fine."
She knew the food would be spectacular regardless if it was being made by a billionaire’s exclusive private chef.
Besides, she didn’t actually know the names of dishes to request them. All she knew was rice, pasta, chicken broth and bread.
She had never been assigned to kitchen duty at the Morgan estate, so whenever they prepared lavish banquet meals and intricate desserts, she was kept far away, locked in the attic or cleaning the corridors.
"Understood," Samuel said, bowing slightly as he prepared to turn back toward the kitchen. "I will have the staff set your table."
"Samuel, wait," April called out just before he could walk away. "I’m sorry to trouble you, but could you drive me somewhere real quick?"
Samuel paused, turning back. "Now, Miss?"
"Yes." April ran a hand through her hair, her practical survival instincts fully waking up now.
She had been so exhausted earlier that she just collapsed into sleep and hadn’t processed a major detail: she had absolutely nothing to wear to sleep, no change of clothes for tomorrow, and no personal care items.
She couldn’t exactly lounge around a billionaire’s mansion in a single blazer dress every single day.
Furthermore, she desperately needed to buy a mobile phone. Even if she only had Samuel and Xavier’s numbers to save for now, she was planning to pull more wealthy clients into her trap in the near future. She needed a direct line.
Samuel bowed lightly, his compliance absolute under Xavier’s orders. "It’s not a problem, Miss. I’ll be ready at the grand entryway whenever you are."
"Great. Let’s go now."
April walked back into the room, slid her feet back into her sneakers, grabbed her small shopping bag so it looked like she was retrieving her precious multi-million dollar check and black card, and followed him down to the waiting luxury sedan.
The mountain air was crisp and dark now, the city below glowing like a sea of fallen stars. It was an amazing sight. This was what the rich people enjoyed on a normal day.
"I assume Mr. Reed has gone for his dinner arrangements?" She asked, and Samuel nodded.
"Yes," he simply answered, and April nodded.
As they slid into the comfortable leather seats and the engine came to life with one press of a button, Samuel looked at her through the rearview mirror.
"Where to, Miss?"
April thought about it for a second. She needed a place where she could get high-quality clothing, electronics, and overnight essentials all in one trip without wasting time running across the city.
"Let’s visit a luxury department store," April said. "One of those high-end shopping malls with everything under one roof."
"Ah, the Grand Galleria in the commercial center should do it," Samuel nodded smoothly, navigating the sedan down the winding mountain gates. "It features dedicated luxury floors—designer apparel and sleepwear on the upper levels, premium personal care boutiques, and a high-end electronics wing on the concourse. Everything is top-tier and entirely self-contained. It should still be open for another two hours."
"Perfect," April murmured, a satisfied smirk returning to her face as she leaned back. "Take me there."
It seemed like Samuel had already figured she was planning to buy these things since she had come here without anything.
April had her precious check stored in her spatial dimension, but she held on to the black card, staring at it as its sleek surface glinted in the dark.
Then, her eyes traveled to Samuel who was minding the road cautiously. She had thought about how it would be best to read Samuel’s fortune so she could tell if he would get into an accident or not.
He was her driver now, and her assigned assistant for the time being. So whatever happened to him would definitely affect her too.
Besides, she had two more insights that she might not end up using once the day came to an end so there was no loss here.
