♥ CHAPTER FORTY♥

Elisabeth

Christopher parks the car and soon we go downstairs. I look around and see the huge facade of the restaurant in front of me, then looking at them, with a not good face.

“You guys really like to spend money.

They all give a relaxed laugh.

“There's nothing wrong with that, my love.” Dylan comes over to me. “You need to eat well after days and days of eating hospital food.

I wrinkle my nose. If they get poor, it's not my fault.

'' Well, let's go inside '' Lorenzo puts his hand on my back and guides me into the restaurant.

The place is huge. Decorated with classic furniture, round tables and chairs upholstered in navy blue, the salon is spacious and has a purely French decor. The walls are light with details in gold and there is a beautiful huge crystal chandelier set in the center, giving the room a good light.

We were guided to a table at the back, next to one of the windows, which gives a privileged view of the Eiffel Tower, which I remember not having time to visit when we came for a walk five years ago. The place is practically a VIP area.

It was just what I needed. Men exude money.

As we sat down, the waiter soon appeared, handing out a total of six menus. Dylan orders two bottles of champagne before we can even place our orders. I try to focus on what's cheapest before they order the most expensive dish on the menu.

'' I would like this French lasagna with a Coke. I say, handing the menu to the waiter immediately.

'' Yes ma'am.

The boys place their orders and soon the waiter leaves.

'' You know that piece of lasagna you chose is pretty expensive, don't you?

I shook my head.

“No, it's not, man.

Dylan smiles slyly.

"Did you see the price?" '' Cross the arms.

“I didn't care about the price because I know lasagna is usually cheap, fifteen dollars minimum.

They look at me, mischievous.

'' My love, we are in France, inside a French restaurant that is less than two meters from the Eiffel Tower. Here we are paying in euros, and the piece of lasagna here costs one hundred euros.

My eyes pop out.

“Fucking hell!” I will cancel this order. I stand up and Alex stops me.

“No need to worry about that, my love. “He forces me to sit down again. '' Everything is fine.

Sigh, defeated.

“I'm curious.” Christopher draws my attention to himself. "Why do you care so much about the things we spend?"

'' You know I'm an orphan and I came from the orphanage, right? I haven't had many opportunities in my life because, unlike Jessica, I wasn't adopted. When I turned eighteen and left the orphanage, I went through difficulties, going hungry for a long time. Seeing you spend that much on unnecessary things makes me uncomfortable, I wouldn't want you to spend that much.

'' I look at my still empty plate. 'If I were rich, I'd be very cheap.' I would buy the cheapest things, discarding the most expensive ones.

They all sighed audibly.

“We understand your point, my love. Dylan says. '' You have your base for having been in need, so you know how to value things. But since we've never been through something as terrible as you, we don't know how to control it.

Deep breath.

“Let's just forget about it. I know it bothers me, but you are important men, you have more to enjoy everything.

Everyone laughs.

“Don't worry about it, my love. Thomas says. '' We'll try to cut down on unnecessary and exaggerated spending, okay?

I smile.

'' Thank you very much.

Soon the waiter returns, pushing the cart stocked with our plates, covered with that round silver thing that I don't know the name. I swallow hard at the sight of the steaming lasagna in front of me. The cheese bubbles over the gratin. Hell, if I'd known it was going to be this expensive, I wouldn't have ordered it.

The waiter leaves and I quickly grab the cutlery, as fancy as the rest of the stuff, and as I put the first piece in my mouth, I groan with pleasure.

'' Wow! This is so delicious. I say, enjoying the food. “This is really good, that's why it must be so expensive. It's really delicious.

“We are glad you liked it, my love. Christopher flashes a smile.

I take a sip of soda and sigh. Oh, this is so good. To tell you the truth, if I were rich, the only thing I would overspend would be on food.

“Oh, I have a question. '' I say, as soon as I swallow the piece of lasagna.

'' Yes? Alex stares at me. I mean, the five look at me.

“Am I going to have to live stuck at home?” “I want to know, mostly because it reminds me of what my life was like before the coma.

"No," Dylan tries to answer. '' You will be free to do what you want, you can go out and have fun, see places, but with one simple condition.

There always has to be that “but”.

'' What condition? '' I ask, curious.

“You will have a bodyguard to accompany you everywhere.” Christopher's tone is serious.

“Well, I have nothing to complain about. I'll be in a totally unfamiliar place, so it'll be nice to have someone to help me. '' Short smile.

'' That is good. We'll put someone we trust to protect her. We don't want anything else to happen to you,” Dylan points out and I nod. I also don't want anything to happen to me again.

I look at the five and feel a little shy. I want to be touched, but I don't know how to tell them. My body vibrates with need, longing, yearning for something similar to the way Dylan fucked me. Not to mention I still haven't had sex with Thomas, Alex...

“Thanks for that. I say thank you, pushing my thoughts away and they smile, believing my blush is from the food.

“You don't have to worry about it.

I shake my head and go back to eating in silence, wishing our lives were better than before, so I don't worry so much about complicated things now.

“Does anyone work at your house?” I ask, drawing furtive glances from all of them.

“We have some maids. '' Alex responds.

'' Right.

I hope nothing goes wrong in my new beginning.