chapter 16: A sip of deception

Jiri pulled away from the hug, his voice trembling. "Do you know how worried I was, Sister?"

Kenan let out a subtle sigh of relief. 'Oh… sister.'

"I’m fine, Jiri, don't worry." Charlotte gently patted his head, offering him a reassuring smile.

"But where were you?" His brows knitted together, eyes glassy with unshed tears. "I searched everywhere! I was about to go to the police station to file a complaint."

"I'm really fine, trust me." She held his shoulders, squeezing lightly to calm him.

Jiri's gaze shifted to Kenan, his expression turning wary. 'Who's this man?"

Kenan instinctively looked at her.

Charlotte hesitated for a brief moment before speaking. "He's my… guest."

Kenan arched a brow at her choice of words but remained silent.

"Oh," Jiri nodded, though his suspicion lingered.

"He helped me a lot." Her lips curled into a small smile, gratitude was lacing her words.

Jiri's shoulders eased slightly. "Come inside, please." He stepped aside, allowing Kenan to enter.

Kenan nodded, stepping through the doorway. "Thank you."

The moment he crossed the threshold, his sharp gaze swept across the space. Flowers. Everywhere. Their soft fragrance filled the air, blending with the warm, earthy scent of the wooden flooring. It was serene—almost surreal.

Jiri glanced at his watch. "Sister, it's time to water the plants. You keep your guest company, I'll do it."

Charlotte ruffled his hair playfully. "My responsible little brother."

Jiri pouted, swatting her hand away before grabbing the watering can and heading outside.

Kenan turned back to Charlotte, who gestured toward the seating area. "Why are you just standing there? Make yourself comfortable."

He nodded, but his attention remained fixed on his surroundings. The sheer number of plants fascinated him. He had seen extravagant flower arrangements in luxury hotels, but this—this felt different. Alive.

"I'll prepare some tea." Charlotte smiled and disappeared into the kitchen.

Kenan sat down, leaning forward slightly, his elbow resting on his thigh, chin supported by his fingers. His sharp eyes scanned the place, not out of habit, but curiosity.

His sharp ocean-grey eyes analyzed every detail, but all he could see were flowers and plants—no hidden clues, no suspicious items. It was peaceful. Too peaceful for someone like him, who was used to the chaos of his world.

A sudden, soothing aroma drifted through the air. His gaze instinctively followed the source.

He found himself walking toward the kitchen. Stepping inside, his eyes landed on her.

Charlotte stood near the stove, a soft glow from the afternoon light highlighting her features. The kettle in her hand let out a faint hiss, signaling the tea was almost ready.

He took a step closer, lowering his voice just near her ear. "Smells so good."

She flinched, nearly dropping the kettle. "You scared me!"

Kenan chuckled. "Sorry. Didn't mean to."

She placed the kettle down and turned back toward the stove. "It's almost done."

His eyes wandered around the kitchen. It was the same as the rest of the house—filled with flowers. Just like the veranda, it was filled with flowers, a lot of beautiful pink and white flowers.

He let out a small laugh.

Charlotte turned her head slightly. "What's funny?"

He leaned against the counter, arms crossed. "I think you have more plants in your home than my entire family has seen in their lifetime."

She tilted her head, a hint of amusement in her eyes. "Is that… a bad thing?"

He bent slightly, lowering his face to her level. "It’s divine here."

She looked away, suddenly feeling self-conscious under his gaze.

'Was that too cheesy?' He rubbed his forehead awkwardly with his index finger.

To distract herself, she picked up a tray of baked goods. "I baked these snacks yesterday. They'll go well with the tea."

Kenan's brows lifted slightly. "You can bake, too?"

She nodded, holding the tray toward him. "Yes. Want to try?"

He inspected the cookies and small cakes before selecting one. "They look good."

"You can have all of them if you want."

He chuckled. "I would… if I wasn't watching my diet."

Charlotte rolled her eyes. "Don't worry, they're healthy. No processed sugar."

He took a bite, chewing slowly, his expression unreadable.

She studied his face, a nervous knot forming in her stomach. "Is it… that bad?"

A slow, satisfied smile spread across his lips. "No, I was just savoring the taste. It’s really good."

Relief washed over her.

Her eyes flickered to his lips. "Oh, you have crumbs… here." She touched her own lips to show him.

Kenan rubbed at his mouth but missed the spot.

"Not there." She shook her head, pointing again. "Here."

He lowered his face slightly. "I can't see. Can you help me out?"

Her breath hitched.

And she looked in his eyes with her Brown sunnier eyes.

Their eyes locked—

his stormy grey meeting her warm autumn brown.

Slowly, she reached out, her thumb brushing against his chin, wiping the crumbs away.

The moment her skin touched his, he closed his eyes briefly. Her touch was feather-light, but it sent an unexplainable sensation through him. 'her touch... It's Divine.'

And her heart pounded as she inhaled his scent—warm, rich, and utterly intoxicating.

For a brief second, the world around them faded.

Then—

The kettle whistled loudly, shattering the moment.

Charlotte placed the cup in front of him. Here, your chamomile tea."

Kenan glanced at the cup, steam curling softly in the air, carrying the delicate scent of chamomile. A small smile tugged at his lips.

"I swear, I feel like I'm either in heaven or some kind of fantasy world," he murmured, admiring the golden hue of the tea.

She chuckled. "Try it."

He took a sip, pausing as the warmth spread through him.

"How is it?" she asked, watching him keenly.

Kenan took another slow sip before answering. "Hmm… it's… it's so refreshing and calming." He took yet another sip, as if he couldn't get enough.

Charlotte smiled, satisfied. "Glad you like it." She picked up a plate and pushed it toward him. "Try it with this cupcake."

He raised an eyebrow but complied, taking a bite. A moment later, his eyes flickered with surprise.

"This is really good." He took another bite, savoring the flavors.

Charlotte smirked. "Mr. Dragomir, you're easy to please."

Kenan leaned back slightly, shaking his head. "Ms. Aldrich, you're spoiling my habits."

She shrugged. "I'm not forcing you."

Before he could reply, Jiri walked in, rubbing his eyes. "Sister, where's my tea?"

Just then, Kenan's phone buzzed.

"Excuse me." he took out his mobile from his pocket.

"Excused." She nodded, taking a sip of her tea with a smirk.

Kenan, suppressing a small smile at her timing, simply nodded and picked his call.

He sat there silently for a moment holding the phone to his ear listening to the voice on the other end of the call, his expression unreadable.

Charlotte, holding the cup, studied him. 'What happened? Why am I unable to read his face?'

After a few seconds,"Okay, I'll be there in a while." Saying this, Kenan ended the call and slipped his phone into his pocket. His face remained composed, yet something in his demeanor had shifted.

He stood up. "Ms. Aldrich, thank you for the tea and your hospitality."

Charlotte rose to her feet as well. "You're welcome."

"I need to leave now."

She nodded. "Sure."

There was a brief pause before she added, "And I'm really sorry for all the trouble we caused you."

Kenan shook his head slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips. "It's fine."

With that, he turned and made his way outside. Charlotte followed him with her gaze, stepping toward the window as he reached his car. She watched as he got in, started the engine, and drove away.

A cold glint flashed in her autumn eyes. "Jiri."

"Yes, Chief."

Her cold gaze remained fixed on the disappearing car. "Tell our men to keep an eye on his every move."

Jiri gave a sharp nod, his expression turning serious. "Understood."

Charlotte exhaled slowly, her fingers grazing the windowsill.

Kenan Dragomir… a guest today. A target tomorrow.

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