Chapter 156
Firenze, Florence
Morosini Villa
Kita sat on a stool in the modest, open kitchen in the villa. Absently he dipped pieces of Focaccia bread in garlic infused olive oil before popping it in his mouth and chewed with a smile.
It was easier than he thought it’d be to ignore the looks he was getting from his parents. After the third course Rain had put on the table for them, Kita was able to easily ignore their accusatory looks.
Rain was humming under her breath with a smile on her face as cooked at the stove; she still wore only panties and Kita’s oversized dress shirt, with her hair pulled pack into a sloppy ponytail.
She was beautiful in his eyes.
This time, Rain was making chicken marsala.
It was the fourth entrée she had made since waking from a two-day nap; the dessert was in the fridge setting up.
Evie and Murai were sitting at the dining table, waiting for their son to start.
It was peculiar to them, seeing their eldest child like this.
Never, even when Kita was a young boy, did he look so at ease and content. He almost looked at peace for the first time in his life. The way he watched the young woman cooking, the small smile on his face, it wasn’t normal for him.
“Bite,” Kita offered, holding out a piece of Sottocenere al tartufo and Focaccia.
Rain leaned over and took the food from between his fingers then smiled as she chewed. “Thank you.”
“It is not thankworthy, Seon Rain,” Kita reminded her.
He had been feeding her bites of bread and cheese between his own since she was cooking for him and his parents.
Rain had been cooking and eating for hours, Kita making her pace herself so she didn’t get sick; she was enjoying cooking for him and his parents immensely.
There was something strangely satisfying about taking care of him, even if it was just feeding her bodyguard and his parents. It was a completely normal thing for a woman to do, especially if she had feelings for the man she was taking care of, in a sense. For her anything but normal life, this was the first time she actually felt like a mature woman that had a completely normal existence.
“When will you grow tired of the show?” Kita asked, looking over at his parents.
They had been watching them for hours, eating whatever Rain put down in front of them in silence, trying to figure out what was going on between the two.
“This is a first, so we watch intently,” Murai said. “You cannot expect anything less from us, Son.”
Kita nodded his understanding, noticing the smile that filled Rain’s face from the admittance. He leaned into her. “Do not get a big head over it, Seon Rain,” he sternly warned.
Rain looked over at him and wagged her brows, causing him to chuckle.
“That’s what I thought,” Kita said. “You are talking to me now? I am no longer dead in your eyes and heart?” he asked his father.
Rain wagged a scolding finger at him. “Be nice,” she warned.
“Sorry,” Kita apologized with a bow. “My apologies, Father, for the tone and disrespect. It was not my intention, entirely, and I am merely frustrated with myself that I slept for so long and the vacation I promised Seon Rain is getting ruined and complicated.”
Evie snorted. “Complicated is an understatement,” she said under her breath, getting a warning look from her husband.
“You were never dead in my eyes or heart, Kita,” Murai promised him. “I was disappointed in you, but never were you dead to me. I love you, you are my son, but pride and stubbornness kept the words from my lips.”
Kita gave him a look.
Never had his father talked like that to anyone other than his wife. He was a reserved man that very rarely spoke of emotions or matters of the heart to anyone other than his wife.
“What happened?” Kita demanded.
Evie shook her head. “Speak to your father, Son. Tell him what you have kept from him.”
Rain plated the food then gave two plates to Kita before taking two over to his parents. “You know your son well enough to know he did nothing wrong,” she said, taking a seat after setting the plates in front of his parents.
“Why should we assume that?” Evie asked, curious.
Nowhere in Lula’s dossier did it suggest that their client was talented in the kitchen and could read people like an agent.
“You flew to Italy with the Emperor. That, in itself, would give confirmation that your son did nothing wrong in regards to his last assignment, and retired from it for reasons beyond the scope of the job,” Rain said between bites.
Kita put his fork down, his eyes wide. “That is not possible-”
“Do you not smell the kyara on your mother’s purse?” Rain rhetorically asked with her mouth full. “It is very rare and expensive, and solely used in the most ancient and revered of temples in Japan,” she said. “Since your parents live in France, there would only be one reason as to why your parents would be in Japan before showing up here.”
Kita looked from her to his parents. “Is she correct?” he asked.
They nodded, impressed that she figured that out before their son had.
“The Emperor joined us on the flight and told me what he knew,” Murai said. “Which was not much. Pertaining to the discussion the two of you had when you resigned, which was insultingly kept to three words, I am not completely understanding.”
Evie chuckled. “I found much amusement in simply three words,” she applauded. “There is a bit of defiance in you after all.”
Kita looked from them to Rain; she was stuffing her face with food, bouncing with excitement to be eating fresh, authentic Italian food and enjoying the company.
‘Oh to be so carefree and innocent,’ he thought.
Kita looked from Rain to this parents then out the windows; the sun had come up a few hours ago.
This wasn’t a conversation he wanted to have now, or ever for that matter, especially with his parents and his client.
But it was time, Kita knew.
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