#nahi

“That smells delicious,” Jes’champe said as he walked into his kitchen and smirked at Nahi who was in short shorts, a tank top and an apron with no shoes. He had gotten to play hero when her stove went out while she was cooking brunch for her and Irenthalas. While she was trying to figure out what was wrong Irenthalas had reached out to him to come and help figure out what was wrong. Which was clearly an attempt at matchmaking as the two men had known each other long enough for Iren to know that he didn’t know how to fix anything, that is what repairmen were for. 

The horrified look on her face as he stepped through a portal on her patio was amusing and he didn’t hide that fact in the least. Her step-father had explained why he was there but the look on her face turned into a scowl and turned it on Iren instead of him at least. As it was clear Nahi had been working hard on the dishes so he suggested that they just move everything to his estate. Her beautiful violet eyes rolled but she capitulated when Iren started picking up ingredients, and that it would be a shame to waste everything. 

She had been practical and agreed, even if she wasn’t happy about it, so they all ferried the brunch makings to his kitchen, and a pitcher of sangria had somehow ended up on his white shirt, the fact that she bumped into it as they came through the portal was a poorly veiled way of letting him know she was unhappy with him for interfering. The excuse that she must have tripped coming through the portal was a blatant lie, Nahi was too graceful to trip over nothing, plus she managed to move away just enough to get nothing on herself. 

Nahi looked at Jes’champe, she had mostly forgiven him for his interference, it wasn’t his fault Iren still hoped that the two of them would begin to see each other, felt it was the perfect mix as he cared for them both. She loved her step-father but they were going to have words when alone again, because she wasn’t looking to become involved with anyone, let alone Jes who she knew was not opposed to them deepening their connection. 

The bacon on the stove was rendering out, she had to start it again as it was what was on the stove when it went out, luckily nothing else was started when it happened. “Thank you, and tell your chef that I am grateful for the use of his kitchen.” Yes, she ignored the fact that it was Jes’s house, she was well aware that the kitchen was the chef’s domain and Jes was afraid to overstep as his chef was a treasure. Nahi spent a lot of time in the kitchen when she stayed, she adored the chef and he would teach her things he was working on. 

She thought to apologize to him for the sangria that she had absolutely spilled on him on person, but she really wasn’t sorry for it and, even though she hated lying, it had made her feel better. The new stove was an expense she hadn’t been ready for so maybe she would call Key and see if he could fix it, if anyone could it was him, and she knew he would not gouge her on the price. Was it childish to take her frustration out on him? Most definitely, but he could take it, he was a big boy. 

Moving behind her, he made a cup of coffee just the way she liked it, and set it next to the stove for her, then followed with a melon mimosa. “Do not worry about it, you know he likes you enough that he won’t mind you being here cooking.” Leaning against the counter far enough away from her so that he wouldn’t end up with more food on his clothes, intentionally or not. “You should come by and tell him yourself, or just stay over. We could order dinner later.” 

She already had tension in her shoulders and his suggestion made that worse. “I can call my massage therapist in, let you relax a bit after what happened.” They had known each other long enough that he knew the things that would convince her to stay. 

Then the other thing that would help was Iren and he decided to do so, “Yes Nahi, you should. If I had an extra room in the pool house I would roll out the red carpet, but as Jes already has, it is covered.” He smiled winningly at her, “We can make sticky caramel brownies later.” 

After HoT Fest Nahi had planned on taking a few days to just relax, but her mind wouldn’t settle, so she had gone up to the Tasty Pastry to work on Fire Fest plans, and her performance. This brunch with Iren was supposed to be her time to decompress and then the stove, nothing at all was coming together enough for her to find some peace. She on,y had to make it through Fire Fest, then she had nothing to do until the Gala, unless the sky fell again, which was possible. 

At the appearance of the coffee and mimosa next to her, she smiled up at Jes and offered a heartfelt smile, “Thanks.” He looked good, really good, the light blue shirt she had spilled the sangria on had been replaced by a black one, and he knew she liked how he looked in black. There wasn’t anything in his closet she didn’t like him in, the man had exceptional taste.

Her first instinct was to turn him down, even when Iren spoke, he was on her list for this whole situation, but one of the things Nahi loved about when Jes would ask her to go with him for an event, was getting to spend time on his estate. In trying to put distance between them, she had to admit she missed some of the benefits, the way he took care of her was one of them. 

“Sure, I can stay until tomorrow.”

Maybe one day of doing nothing wouldn’t hurt.

(@daily-writing-challenge )

Hoovanil sat across the table from a man in a dark blue, perfectly tailored suit, the kind that fit like a second skin. Nothing off the rack; this one was made for him. His golden eyes were cold as he regarded the older Summerhold.

“You keep spending money you do not have, Lord Summerhold.”

The way he said Lord made it sound like an insult, a mockery of a title that had long since lost its weight.

“I know, I know, but I’m good for it, I promise,” Hoovanil said, almost bowing his head. He knew it wasn’t true. His niece, if she truly was his niece, had thrown him and his family out of their home and seized everything, including the family finances.

They had sold almost everything of value, and what little remained, Hoovanil had gambled on a few “sure things” that were supposed to yield a handsome return. They hadn’t. And now here he was.

“I have something coming in soon,” he said quickly. “I have a plan. Everything will be repaid.”

“How long will you need?” the man asked.

“No more than two months, sir.” The sir came out soft and cautious. Once, Hoovanil might never have spoken so deferentially to a man like this, but that was before. Before the exile, before the debts, before her. Now he had no choice.

The golden-eyed man simply stared, unblinking, until a sheen of sweat glistened on Hoovanil’s brow.

“Two months,” the man said at last. “But it will be with interest.”

The words caught in Hoovanil’s throat. Interest. Even if things went right, that would stretch him to the breaking point.

“With interest. Yes, of course,” he managed.

A short nod ended the meeting. Hoovanil rose and left the secluded office off Murder Row, his pulse hammering in his ears.

He needed to move soon. The Diva, as they called her, wouldn’t live much longer. Her doctor had said as much when Hoovanil had reached out under the guise of a concerned brother-in-law. A month, maybe two at best.

He would have to bet on a month.

But even he could not rush that process, not with how well protected she was out at the Dowager’s house.

Soon, he told himself. He could wait for soon.

Unless, of course, his creditor had other plans.