A NIGHT OF TRUCE

David stiffened noticeably beside his father, his hands tightening around his fork. Sylvia frowned at the movement and then looked back at his father who gazed at her expectantly. 

"Sure thing sir," Sylvia mumbled and turned on her heels. 

"Sure thing?" Shane scoffed as soon as they were in the kitchen. "You don't say "sure thing" to the Master. That's rude and obnoxious!" 

Sylvia ignored her. "Luna, Mr. Wells says some June Castello is coming over-" 

"By God, you need to work on your filthy manners!" Shane spat. 

"Shane, quiet down and go join Anabelle in doing the dishes or something!" Luna chastened. 

Shane turned red in the face. "She has the manners of a cow! June Castello isn't some random person. She's the queen of Hollywood!" The young girl faced Sylvia, a vicious look on her face. "And you had better address her as Mistress Castello when she gets here!" 

Astounded, Sylvia watched the girl stomp out of the kitchen. What the hell was her problem? Was it because she had seen Shane with David the night before? Or... She bit her lip as a thought dropped into her mind. Shane must have known that David had come to her last night. They hadn't exactly been quiet. That would explain why she was being incredibly hostile that morning. 

"Don't worry about her. She's a firecracker." Luna said with a sigh. "But she's right about manners. You lack them. I'll have Mrs. Morris draw up an etiquette manual for you."

Sylvia nodded meekly. If she wanted to last long in the Wells Mansion, she needed to blend in. She glanced down at her assistant chef's uniform. A simple white gown with buttons down the neckline. Her hair was tucked away in a hairnet and her hands were gloved. She had to make sure she blended in. To be unnoticeable. Only then could she dig around for the information she needed. 

"Come on, you know how to make pies right? Miss Castello likes apple pies and we need to start prepping them right away." Luna said, tossing her an apple. 

"Who's June Castello by the way?" She asked, reaching for a knife to dice the apple with. 

"The young master's girlfriend," Luna replied and the knife slipped from Sylvia's hands with a clunk. 

His girlfriend?! 

"They've been together for a while now I suppose. There's a rumor that they'll be getting engaged soon." Luna rambled on with a wide grin. "It's been a long since these walls ever had a woman's touch. And a beautiful one at that."

David Wells had a girlfriend. And yet the night before he had shoved a maid up a railing. Even worse, she had allowed him into her bed!  How could he be such a... A pig?! Stung, she picked up the knife limply, fighting the tears that threatened to pour. 

Dammit, what had come over her last night? Was it because she hadn't had sex in a while? She'd done it once with her ex-boyfriend and decided it wasn't really for her. And yet, she had allowed a total stranger to touch her the night before. 

And had enjoyed it thoroughly. That seemed to be the worst of it all- the fact that she had enjoyed it. 

"We'll need more butter. We've used up the one here." Luna announced. "Go to the store to get some will you?" 

Grateful for the chance to leave the kitchen, Sylvia nodded, mumbled something she could not remember, and all but ran out of the kitchen. She had no idea where the store was, but she was grateful to be alone, walking the empty hallways while sour tears flowed freely down her cheek.

"Sylvia, was it?" 

The hairs on her neck stood at the sound of his voice. She had heard him groan her name several times. Heard him whisper it. His voice, deep and husky, was burned in her mind and Sylvia could bet she would recognize it anywhere, anytime. 

Turning to face him, she tried to quell the excitement that fluttered in her belly. He looked dashingly handsome. His hair was gelled back artfully and her heart tugged at the sight. Her fingers clenched and unclenched as she relived the feel of his hair in her hands. He wore a black Italian suit that melded to his tall muscular frame. A memory of him naked and tangled with her in bed simmered in her mind and she took in a deep breath to steady her nerves. 

"Y-yes. Hi," she stuttered. 

What the hell was she supposed to do? He had completely ignored her at dinner. Him suddenly approaching her was completely unexpected.  

And so was last night, her mind quipped. 

For a minute they stood still, staring at each other. Sylvia felt her face burn under the intensity of his gaze and cleared her throat awkwardly. 

"You... You look good-" 

"We didn't use a condom last night," He cut her off. The intense look on his face was gone, replaced with a blank look that Sylvia had seen before. The very same blank look that she had seen on his father's face when he told her her father drowned to death. 

"Ah, yes?" She was unsure of what to say. It wasn't like that was her fault. She hadn't asked him to come to her room. 

"I'm certain you'll take the morning-after pill then. I don't need a maid trying to foist off some baby on me." He said flatly and arched a brow when she gasped at the underlying accusation in his words. "Don't act so fucking surprised. Women are quite easy to read." 

With that, he walked away briskly, as if her presence irritated him to no end. 

"Bastard," she muttered. He had just insulted her. As if she would want to bear his child. He was the son of the enemy. The last thing she wanted was to be involved with him at all! With her hatred for the Wells renewed, she marched back to the kitchen. She was here on a mission. David Wells was nobody to her.

Nobody!

****

"She's here!" Shane squealed, running into the kitchen.  "She's here Luna!" 

Everyone, including Sylvia, gathered by the door that connected the kitchen to the dining. Sylvia swallowed at the sight of a tall elegant woman led by David to a chair. She was ethereal. Her copper brown hair fell in curls over her silky smooth skin. Sylvia couldn't make out the color of her eyes, but the rest of her was quite bold and beautiful. Her slender figure was quite curvy and toned wrapped in a red dress. Sylvia glanced at her "not flat" stomach and the bitter taste of jealousy filled her mouth. 

June Castello was beautiful. And there was no way she could compete with that. Anabelle, one of the maids approached June after she had sat down on a chair. Sylvia watched the actress recoil visibly from her when Ana tried to adjust her dress. 

"Keep your filthy hands off me!" June snapped. 

Here we go again, David thought, tucking his napkin in his collar. He threw a look at his father. This was what he wanted, wasn't it? A fucking prissy prima Donna who was spoilt through and through. His father threw him a withering look in return and he sighed mentally. 

Taking his eyes off his father, he directed his attention to the maids entering the dining with dishes and the assistant chef who followed behind them

Sylvia. 

She was enchanting as her name. He had worked all day at his father's company and yet, nothing had succeeded in helping him forget her. He felt a light squeeze in his chest as he recalled how her sweet hazel eyes glistened with tears that morning. Somehow, he felt guilty. 

Guilty of what? He hadn't done anything wrong. The night before had been fun for both of them and that was all it would ever be. He wasn't about to change his morals for some woman from nowhere.  

Her hazel eyes met his as the maids served dinner. Holding her gaze, he leaned towards June and placed a kiss on her lips. It was swift, but it did the job.

The hope he had seen, shining in Sylvia's hazel eyes, died. Her eyes shuttered and she looked away from him so fast he feared her neck would snap. Beside him, June giggled and he gave her a vague smile in return. 

After ensuring that all was in order, Sylvia bowed to the trio at the table and walked away as fast as her legs could carry her. She would not cry. Not over him. Not anymore. She was here for her father, nothing more, nothing less. 

And with that thought constantly in her head, she made it through the entire dinner. 

That night, as she stepped out of the shower, and got ready for bed, a knock resounded on her door. Apprehensively, she reached for the doorknob and turned it. 

Outside her room, in the dim light of the hallway stood David Wells.