gettin’ silly

"Tonight's dinner is pan seared chicken with mushroom sauce, paired with seasoned asparagus," the Butler proudly proclaimed as he set the dishes in front of the couple.

Mark sat at the head of the table, while Celine sat across from him. The Butler served Mark a glass of wine. He went around the table to serve Celine a glass as well. She put up her hand.

"I'll be drinking water tonight," she said curtly.

"Of course." The Butler retreated, talking the rolling cart with him. "Enjoy your meal, Masters."

Mark waved him off. He started to cut into his meal, scarfing it down. He loudly chewed, his gulps audible across the table.

Celine cringed. She took a sip of her water.

Mark glanced up and paused. He finished chewing his food and asked, "Are you not going to eat?"

"I'm not hungry."

Mark clinked his silverware against the plate and grimaced at her. "Come on, now. The chef worked hard on cooking this food. And this is the thanks he gets? You don't want to seem ungrateful, do you? Go on, eat." He motioned at her. He stared her down.

She stared back at him, but after a few beats she relented. She picked up her silverware and started cutting into her food.

"See? That wasn't so hard now was it?"

Celine felt her left eye twitch. She bit back a retort, taking a small bite. It tasted rancid.

"So, what did you do today? Besides lounging around and doing nothing?" He chewed with his mouth open. Celine could see the ground up food in his mouth.

Her eye twitched again. She took another small bite. "I tended to the garden. And I had a few clients come in today." Another bite.

Mark gulped down a bit of his wine. "Is that so." He forked up an asparagus and snapped it between his teeth. "What were their fortunes?"

"One will lose a loved one soon. One will find true love. One will—"

"Ha!" Mark cut in. "You really said that? And they believed you? Did you tell them to be careful with who they'll fall in love with? Wish someone had told me!"

Celine set her silverware down harshly. "And what do you mean by that?" Her eye twitched again.

Marked smirked at her. "You know what I mean, Celine." He pointed his knife at her. "One should always be careful with who they trust, especially if they end up in your bed."

Celine felt her face contort with rage. "You know what, Mark? I don't have time for your fucking attitude." The chair screeched as she stood up. She threw her napkin at the table. She started to make her way toward the stairs but suddenly turned toward Mark. "I'm going to sleep in the guest room tonight. Have fun by yourself." She stormed off.

Mark sat there.

And he sat there.