NIRELLE - Chapter 32: Chapter 32

I had not expected Lucien to agree to help me with my list so easily, and I had not expected him to agree to go drinking with me, especially. Was it because of Cassian? Was that the reason he agreed?
"Let's meet at the bar downstairs," he announced as he left my room. I had thought we would go to a club or a bar downtown, but I know it's too much of me to ask him to go out on the first day he is working with me. If I were learning to heal and get out of what I thought was my comfort zone, then maybe I could help him get out as well.
I had stepped out, but I still feel out of place, like I shouldn't be there. I know it's my mind playing tricks on me, yet I can't help but agree with it. I change into a black t-shirt and some leggings before I move from my room.
I stood at the base of the stairs, wondering where I was supposed to go. Do I go kicking down every door until I find which one is the bar? Luckily, before I could decide on what to do, a staff member approached me.
"Mrs. Vexley, do you need me to help you with something?" Her tone is soft, and I like it.
"Oh yes, if you can, then I would be glad," she nods as if urging me to go on. "I am meeting Lucien at the bar, and I do not know my way."
"Oh yes, right this way, ma'am," she said, leading the way. She stopped at a double door and knocked lightly before opening one for me to walk in. I stand in the door, taking in the sight before me. I am more convinced now than before that I am not even ready for the beauty of this house. With everything I discover, the more I am aware of how different a level we are from Vexley.
"Come on in." Lucien's voice carries in the air and stops me from gawking at his house.
"You have such a beautiful house," I say before I can stop myself. "I don't know why you hide it," I add. I try to caution myself because I am not even drunk yet, and I am already hiding out of character.
"Should I open it up to the public? Commercialise it?" He sounds like he is joking, and I frown as I stop at the main bar. I slid into one of the stools and swivelled from left to right with a smile.
"It's your house; you can do whatever you like," I murmur. For a moment, it felt like I had overstepped, and even though his reaction did not seem to tell me that I had, I just wanted to make sure I was careful enough.
"So why did you want to drink?"
"I am twenty-one," I announce, and he looks at me as if I had not even said anything yet. "If we were in Europe, I would be way past the legal drinking age," I say, and he shakes his head.
"But we are not, and you are just on the right track."
I know that if I had gone to the university, I would have probably snuck around to get some drinks with friends, but I never got the opportunity to do so, and as if I were a good child, I ended up waiting till it was the right time.
"I know, I know, but I want to see what all the big deal is," I say. Drinking alcohol has been so romanticised that I have to know what it tastes like and why people like drinking it so much.
"Do you know that many alcoholic drinks have a tangy taste, right?"
"And I am sure I can handle all of that, but why don't I start with something sweet?" I ask, and he nods. He begins to work his way behind the counter, separating us. It was almost as if he were giving me the experience of being at a real bar. "Why don't you let one of the staff do this?" My thoughts silently spill out of my mouth.
My hands go up and press against my mouth as I realise my mistake. "Don't get me wrong," the sound comes out all muffled, behind my hand as I blink rapidly.
"I don't know; it's quite difficult not to misunderstand what you mean. I thought you wanted me here." I don't know if I am supposed to respond to his question, so I just sit still and stare at him. "Do you want the drink, or do you want me to get a servant to serve it for you?"
I feel like his calling the servants was a jab at them, so I shake my head. "You can give me the drink," I say, and he slides a cup in front of me. "What is this?" I ask, staring at the orange liquid in the cup.
"It's a mixture of vodka, peach schnapps, cranberry juice, and orange juice," he explains as I stare at it.
"What is this called?" I ask, and he looks down at his feet like a kid caught doing something. He cleared his throat and then looked up, his eyes meeting mine. "Well?" I ask by taking up the call and shaking it gently.
"Sex on the beach," he says, and I feel my hand freeze midway. "The name of the drink," he quickly clarifies, and I nod.
I don't know what else to say, so I take it up and have a sip of it. He watches me sip, then turns away, shaking his head but not in disapproval. Something else, what can it be? "Huh! That tastes nice," I murmur as I drink off everything at a go. He looks at me as if I am crazy as I wave the cup at him.
"You can still get drunk."
"That is my goal," I announce to him as I giggle slightly. Why was I giggling when I had only had one cup? I could not get drunk on one cup; I need at least ten to get drunk. Without a word, he pours me more from the blender, and I swing at it at once. "You need to get yourself drunk too," I announce, and he shakes his head.
"I have to stay sober," he says as if he had to protect me from danger.
"Okay then, just have two drinks," I say, raising my finger in the air. He looks at my hand and shakes his head. I pout at him as I shake the cup in his face again. He takes it and fills it in for me. "You need to let loose; you are safe here," I blurt out and shrug. I can feel the alcohol kicking in my system. Was it because I had never drunk before, or was I just a lightweight?
I sip on the cup gently, and from the corner of my eye, I see him take a glass and pour a glass for himself. I smile to myself and nod at his actions. I almost get on the counter and do a little dance for my victor, but I manage to stop myself.