27. The Gentleman

Oh, nothing, sir," she replied. "I was just trying to check my memory if they have returned. Thanks for the soup," she answered courteously and ladled some of the food to her plate.
Lucien was convinced she was fine seeing her having the food he suggested she take for breakfast.
"I see. When you feel better, we will have something more nourishing for you to eat at lunch," he tried to console her as if she might feel she was being denied to eat the other delicious food on the table.
Brianna nodded politely to let him know she was okay with anything.
Since she was only able to eat the soft food for the morning meal, Brianna was already done, while Lucien was only halfway through his meal. He did not want to be watched, so he ate lightly and decided to have snacks in the office later.
"Let's go," Lucien wiped his lips before standing from his seat.
"Boss, you said you will brief me of today's itinerary during breakfast," Brianna quickly stood up to follow him.
"I figured we can do it in the car on the way to the office," replied the young Michaelson.
Nana Freya was just at a distance while the two, Lucien and Brianna, were having breakfast. The old lady could not help smiling inwardly as her mind was creating pictures of this scenario seeing more in the future. She was happy even just to think that her dearly cared-for Lucien was having a lady by his side. Although the lady was in full bodyguard aura the whole time ever since she woke up this morning, knowing she was suffering from a memory loss, the old nanny was still happy to see them both sit at the table, and leave for work after. Her imagination was creating a big family already. The house will be filled with laughter and chatters of young Lucien or young Madame. She was excited already.
But no one can blame her. She had been witness to Lucien's coldness towards women involving romantic issues. She can bet her life, every elder in the Michaelson family will feel the same way she does if they ever find out about this. More if they ever see what she can see inside Lucien's very own home. She will call Vicky in the evening to ask her about what happened in the office the whole day to get herself updated. By doing so, she can go with the flow and react accordingly to the moods of the two youngsters in the house under her care.
She walked behind them as they headed out of the house. She watched them get in their car with Tatum driving for them.
She gave a half bow, almost like a nod, to express her bid of goodbye for her employers every time they would head out. And today, just like every day, she was standing by the door respectfully as her master of the house left for work. Although Lucien does not look back to see her bidding her courteous greetings, she would always do the same thing. An act everyone in the house takes as an example. When they know the Master is leaving and they are within the radius he can see them, they would stop whatever they are doing to wait for him to leave courteously. Just like Freya, they would bow as he passes by them. Lucien did not correct them. He feels his people respect him as to why they are doing so because he is sure he did not demand such things from them. And so, they won't do such things if they don't feel like doing so. It is their freedom to express themselves. It is for him to be satisfied with their performance and return their diligence with bonuses or gifts when the time comes.
They arrived at the car, and Tatum opened the door for Lucien, but Lucien led Brianna to sit ahead of him in the backseat. A view that looked like a husband was being a gentleman to let her, the wife, get into the car before him. Anyone could see that the young Michaelson is quite polite to her. A character no one in the Villa has ever seen of him doing before. Not even Freya, who had been in the place ever since Lucien has moved in. But to everyone's surprise, the lady declined.
"Boss, I am your bodyguard," she sounded like she was reminding Lucien. "You should get in first. I will look out for you," she added.
Tatum was startled. Unknown to Lucien, Leandro Michaelson has supported Tatum in his education ever since junior high. The Mafia King seemed to have figured everything for Lucien's future. He paved the way for Lucien to walk through without much hindrance and difficulties, but without his knowledge. The patriarch was quite sure Lucien would never allow him to do so, as for the reasons why he made his moves behind Lucien. Tatum was sent to the Army to train and be equipped with combat knowledge in preparations for his present occupation. Lucien thought his old driver pleaded for his son to take his place as his personal driver to have a job. He wasn't aware that Leandro Michaelson literally put him there to be his side-by-side protection. So hearing the lady say so, Tatum felt he was in crisis. Did the old Michaelson find out he was not with Lucien yesterday morning when the accident on the road happened? But he was relieved to hear his boss' response to the lady.
"I know, but we are not supposed to let it show obviously, remember?" Lucien argued. "Besides, I am always a gentleman," he added with a faint smile.
Tatum felt goosebumps all over him. His boss' words are too unfamiliar for him. Considering he had been working for Lucien Michaelson for more than two years now, this is not a very usual scenario to witness. What shocked him more was when he noticed Lucien glared at him before getting inside the car.
"Shall I drive myself?" Lucien spoke with pursed lips. He did not want Brianna to notice his driver was acting weird, even though he could understand why he was looking like an idiot after seeing how he treated Brianna. He is feeling awkward himself, so Tatum's reaction was like teasing him, and he definitely did not like it.
"Ahhhh!" Tatum was startled, but when he saw his boss, gleeful face turned dark, he hurriedly ran to the driver's side. Then as he was about to buckle his belt, he noticed Lucien did not close the door to his side. Tatum quickly got off the car and briskly walked, almost run to the boss' side door and gently, ever so carefully, closed it. Then ran back to sit behind the wheel. He pulled the partition window up as soon as he got seated. Not to give them privacy, but to escape his boss' deadly gazes darting from behind his head. Making him almost stop breathing in cautiousness. He released his held breath as soon as he was sure the partition was pulled up tight to the roof.