I let Julia take a long shower and get dressed while I do the same, though my shower is much shorter than hers. I have the feeling that she doesn’t get a lot of time to pamper herself. I hope that she will find some soaps and shampoos in the bathroom that she enjoys. When she joins me in the dining room, the table is spread with all sorts of wonderful things to eat which I have had my cooks prepare. I’m not sure what she likes and what she doesn’t like, but I want her to have anything and everything she wants, even if it’s just a taste of each.
Julia’s eyes are wide as I stand and pull out a chair for her next to me. "All of this food just for us?" she asks as her gaze covers the table. Platters of fruit and pastries are set before us, as well as an assortment of meats--bacon, sausage, and ham. A large bowl of scrambled eggs looks light and fluffy. Pancakes, waffles, and biscuits are also available, as well as fresh orange juice, a choice of coffees, milk, and water. There are also pitchers full of various syrups for the pancakes.
I shrug as we both sit down. "I wanted to make sure you had anything you might like."
She smiles at me. "Thank you. Although… if you’d have asked, I could’ve told you my favorites."
She’s on to me. Not only am I aiming to please her. I also want to impress her. I want her to know that, if she chooses to spend more time with me, beyond the contract, she’ll have anything she wants, whenever she wants it. I don’t say that to her, though, only ask her, "What would you like?"
She looks at the spread and then asks, "May I have some pancakes, please?"
"Of course," I say, reaching for the fork to drop them on her plate.
"I can do that," she says, blushing slightly.
"I don’t mind serving you," I tell her, but seeing she is uncomfortable, I add, "but feel free to help yourself."
Julia thanks me for the pancakes and then pours some maple syrup over the top of them. She takes a few pieces of bacon and a scoop of the eggs before pouring some orange juice and picking up her fork. I decide to try the waffles and sausage, but I don’t eat much. I am too busy watching her.
"This is delicious," she says after a few bites. "Your cook is amazing."
"Thank you," I say. "I have two. Helen has been with my family for years. She is like a grandmother to me. She came with me from my parents estate. I will introduce you later. The other is a young man named Richard who recently graduated from one of Europe’s finest culinary schools. We always eat well here."
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