The silence was loud.
Too loud.
When she was in the kindergarten during lunch breaks, the room was always filled with laughter. Gabriel would talk nonstop, sharing stories about the other classes.
I can't talk to my boss during dinner, can I? she thought nervously. What if he thinks I'm rude? What if I choke on meat and die in his castle?!
Lucien, meanwhile, ate quietly like this was perfectly normal.
How can small baby survive this tension?
Alina opened her mouth to say something. Anything.
Maybe a comment about the food?
"Th–"
Dante raised his eyes, looking at her briefly.
She shut her mouth immediately and stuffed it with meat.
Nope. Better to eat in silence than die of awkwardness.
So she did.
Fork. Bite. Chew. Sip.
Smile politely.
Repeat.
Her only goal: survive this formal meat-only silent dinner with her boss and his miniature version without losing her sanity.
***
Drake peeked around the stone hallway corner, eyes squinting as he listened carefully.
