Chapter 244: Light Me Up Again
(SASHA)
The next morning, I feel so much better than I have for the last few days that I sweet-talk Tyler into letting me go downstairs for breakfast.
He really doesn’t like the idea, but I compromise by agreeing to the wheelchair after he points out that I should preserve as much strength as I can for sex. I kiss him breathless to show him just how much I agree with him.
After that, he’s even prepared to plead my case to Darla, who is disinclined to let me get out of bed for more than bathroom and shower needs. But then I suggest she go back to bed herself for a while, have breakfast sent up, relax for a while...and I win her over.
Miles left yesterday, but Giulio and Vicente are downstairs in the breakfast room, at the lounging area in one corner. They’re talking with Conor, Gloria’s guard and his sidekick, Rory Byrne, about security protocols. Byrne has his arm casually slung along the back of the small sofa they’re sharing, and I suspect his finger is tracing circles on Conor’s shoulder.
At the large round table in the main part of the room, Gloria is reading something on a propped-up iPad, sipping tea while she waits for the staff to serve up. She looks up with a smile when Tyler wheels me into the room, her eyes going first to him. "Good morning," she says, and then adds, "Good morning, Sasha. I hope you slept well."
But I don’t like how much of an afterthought I appear to be, just because I’m not walking on my own two feet. Still, I’m not going to let something like that spoil my mood. I hold up my hand for Tyler to stop the chair, and reply, "We both slept very well," before I kick the footpads aside and get out of the chair.
"You promised," Tyler says, throwing up his hands.
"I am perfectly capable of walking to a table and sitting at it."
The chatter at the other end of the room pauses. Gloria sets her teacup back in its saucer and waves a hand to the table. "Please," she says graciously, "join me."
The security crew start talking again as I take a place at the round table. "Tyler has been talking about taking on staff," I say, as he noisily clatters himself into the seat next to mine. "Perhaps you can give us some hiring tips."