Chapter 16
As the evening sun dipped below the horizon, casting a warm, golden glow over the city, Leo found himself in an unfamiliar yet oddly comforting setting. He stepped into his penthouse, only to be greeted by the rich aroma of sizzling garlic and herbs wafting from the kitchen. It was a scent he never expected to associate with Kai, who now stood behind the marble counter, sleeves rolled up, and a faint smile playing on his lips.
"What on earth are you doing?" Leo questioned, his tone sharp but laced with curiosity.
Kai turned to face him, holding a wooden spoon in one hand and a pan in the other. "Cooking, obviously," he replied nonchalantly. "You looked like you needed a decent meal after today's...adventures."
Leo raised an eyebrow, his gaze shifting between Kai and the meticulously laid-out ingredients on the counter. "You? Cook? Are you sure you're not just trying to poison me?" he quipped, a sharp smile curling on his lips.
Kai chuckled, the sound deep and warm. "Poison? If I wanted to kill you, Leo, there are far more effective ways than ruining perfectly good pasta."
Leo crossed his arms and leaned against the doorway, watching as Kai expertly stirred the sauce. The sight was so disarming, so unexpected, that he found himself momentarily lost in thought. This man, who exuded mystery and danger at every turn, seemed almost...normal in this domestic scene.
"Don't just stand there," Kai said, breaking Leo's reverie. "Set the table. Or are you planning to eat straight from the pot?"
Leo scoffed but complied, grabbing plates and silverware. As he moved about the dining area, he couldn't help but steal glances at Kai. The ease with which he moved in the kitchen, the way he hummed a tune under his breath—it was infuriatingly endearing.
When dinner was finally ready, Kai placed a steaming plate of pasta in front of Leo with a flourish. "Bon appétit," he said, taking a seat across from him.
Leo twirled a forkful of pasta, eyeing it suspiciously before taking a cautious bite. The flavors exploded on his tongue, and despite himself, he let out a small sound of approval.
Kai smirked. "Good, isn't it?"
Leo scowled, unwilling to give him the satisfaction. "It's...acceptable," he muttered, taking another bite.
They ate in relative silence, the tension between them a palpable undercurrent. Yet, there was something unspoken in the air, a fragile truce that neither dared to break.
As the meal came to an end, Kai leaned back in his chair, his gaze fixed on Leo. "See? No poison," he said, his tone teasing.
Leo rolled his eyes but couldn't suppress the faint smile tugging at his lips. "Fine. You win this round. But don't think this means I trust you."
Kai's expression softened, a flicker of something unreadable passing through his eyes. "I wouldn't dream of it," he said quietly, standing to clear the table.
Leo watched him go, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting thoughts. This man was an enigma, a puzzle he couldn't quite piece together. And yet, for reasons he couldn't fully unders
tand, he didn't want to look away.