“Call me Theo.” He sits in the chair adjacent to her. “Unless you’d prefer that I call you Cordelia?”

“Delia’s fine, thanks.” Yeah, she gets his point. “It’s just that my grandmother addressed you as Theodore and I didn’t want to be rude.”

Theo nods, disinterested in her reasoning. “Have you eaten?”

“No.” Delia’s stomach churns at the mention of food. She was too nervous to eat, minus a few boiled eggs she scarfed down before arriving.

“Shall we dine before discussing our predicament?” His frown deepens.

Predicament? Yeah, that’s what she’d call it. “Sounds good.” Hopefully, she could work up the nerve to converse with him in a populated atmosphere. Being alone with this man intimidates her—she had the feeling his type didn’t smile often. She watches him put on his shoes, realizing at that moment that she didn’t take hers off. He stands up, raising a brow at her presentation.

“Ready?”

“Yes.” She stands up straight, taking a quick deep breath. If she’s this stiff, how is she supposed to survive tonight?

Or dinner?

“I was slated to marry first since I’m the eldest—but I wasn’t interested in the position. Thea offered to take my place, which I was initially relieved by. But as time went on, I realized that it wasn’t fair on her—selfishness booted one family member our of our ranks—I wasn’t going to be the second. It wasn’t fair to ask Thea to marry a man she wasn’t interested in. As the eldest and heir, it’s my responsibility to take the brunt of the burden. You are the eldest of your siblings too, are you not?”

“I am.” Delia nods sharply. She didn’t expect that he’d talk this much—or—at all. The wine sitting next to them really loosened his lips. Delia on the other hand was too nervous to drink. She had ordered an egg platter, but it sat in front of her, untouched. He on the other hand had steak—covered with pepper.

How could her grandmother set her up with a pepper lover?

Disgusting.

“Then we must shoulder the responsibility so our younger siblings won’t have to.” Theo’s blunt words hit. “Admittedly it doesn’t hurt that you’re pretty, but I promise that I won’t slip into your affairs if you don’t bother with mine.”

Was that a compliment? Delia can’t tell, the tone of his voice doesn’t change.

“Does this seem okay with you?” Theo combs his hair with his fingers. “Because since the drink is taking effect, I got to say that I’ve no interest in a wife. I’m only doing this because I saw the error of my ways. I am nothing else but a gentleman however—so you may have the bed. I have no intention of touching you.” He takes a sip.

His suggestions were amicable, but why did she feel insulted? A loveless marriage isn’t what she signed up for, but if she can secure this arrangement—her dream could be achieved. In that respect, this arrangement was perfect—but could she really feel fulfilled in this kind of relationship—if this was even considered one?

“That’s fine with me.” Delia’s stomach settles a bit—just in time for a whiff of the delicious platter before her. She feels Theo’s hot stare on her as she pierces an egg with her fork.

“You’re going to eat it like that?” It’s the first time she's heard any kind of emotion from this man.

She raises a brow. “Yes.” Would he prefer that she uses her fingers to eat the bloody egg?

“It’s…so plain. Here, have some of this.” He picks up the pepper shaker and hands it to Delia—she’s surprised that there’s any left inside.

“I don’t want it, thanks.”

“Why not? A meal isn’t complete without some pepper.”

“You mean void the taste altogether. Pepper assaults your tongue into tasting nothing else, ruining the flavour of your dish.”

Theo tilts his head as he crosses his arms. “You’re not serious…”

“I am very serious. Pepper is vile—although I was trying to hold my tongue when I saw how you dumped the shaker onto your plate. It would have been easier if you opened the lid instead of trying to shake it out.”

“You have no taste.” Theo’s quip makes Delia question him. He sounds grievously offended. Over pepper of all things…

“Eggs are perfect as-is—no reason to ruin perfection.” Delia narrows her eyes at him as she takes a bite. Her appetite returns at full force as she begins to devour her plate—noticing her betrothed’s shoulders stiffening with every bite.

“I think I’ve seen enough,” Theo says with repugnance. “Have the waiter forward the check to me.”

Delia had to laugh. Did eggs really churn this man’s stomach or…whatever, it didn’t matter. What made her the most amused is that he took his steak with him. Clearly, he didn’t have the manners of a high-societal figure, but that suited her fine. She couldn’t handle watching him eat that Satan sprinkled steak anyways.

It didn’t take long for Delia to flag down the waiter for the bill—she debated if she wanted to go back upstairs, or, just duck out undetected. But, with a couple of drinks in her, she knows that it wouldn’t be smart to traverse into the unknown. She reluctantly sighs, making the decision to head back. Theo said she had rights to the bedroom. A suite that nice ought to have comfortable lodgings. She hops into the elevator, her focus on the ornate mirror behind her. Recognizing that her floaty head is tied to the glasses of wine she's had, she laughs to herself. If the worst thing about this man is his pepper fetish, she could swallow this arrangement.

At least she'd have her dream career realized.

The elevator dings, pulling Delia from her thoughts—the door opens leaving her to exit her bubble. Delia complies, taking quick steps out of the elevator and down the hall. Ahead, the suite door has been left open. Did Theo do that on purpose? Did he think that she would lose the key? Her cheeks puff in annoyance—how rude! She stomps in the direction of the suite, slamming the door behind her.

“Hey, I’m not some kind of moron you know, Theodore!” She bellows, hoping the name will irk him. “I know to bring my keys with me when I go out—” Delia should have known something was wrong when she saw the pepper filled steak slumped against the wall—the plate cracked in two around it.

“You cudda said she was downstairs, would'v saved us the trouble.”

Delia can’t believe her eyes. Her blood runs cold when she sees three men dressed in black state at her. Theo is on the ground, his neck pressed up against the sole of the taller man's shoe. He looks just as large—if not larger than Theo. The other two move forward as the man presumably in charge says,

“Gag her—NOW!”