Page 32 of Even Robots Die (Even Ever After #3)

Florentine

I sleep like the dead.

When I finally wake up, the sun is high in the sky and it’s a miracle it didn’t wake me up earlier than that because the blinds are completely open.

For the first time in days, I feel rested.

I brush my teeth, put some deodorant on, change my shirt, add overalls on top of it, and then I’m on my way to the kitchens.

I don’t think there will be anyone there, because it’s too late for breakfast and yet too early for brunch.

When I arrive there, it’s empty—no surprise here—and I go to the pantry at the back of the kitchen.

This is my first time at the back of the kitchen and I’m surprised by the size of it, but also by the quantity of pre-made food boxes there.

I knew that they had some kind of meal preparation duty and that it wasn’t someone doing all the cooking, but I realize now that most of what I’ve eaten here so far wasn’t homemade.

No wonder I liked the pizza so much yesterday. It was probably the first homemade meal I had since I arrived.

I take a look at what’s at the back and I’m surprised to see a pile of pains au chocolat and croissants under a glass bell. On top of the bell, there’s a sticky note that says “take one at your own risk”.

Well, okay. I guess someone—and I definitely know that someone is Brice—is very cranky about their pastries.

I move along and find some bread and jam to go with my coffee.

I eat slowly, appreciating the silence. The first day in Blois I couldn’t stand the silence because it was so at odds with what I was used to, but now I’ve come to relish it.

I don’t know how I’ll survive the hectic and noisy way of life when I’m back home now, though.

Because I tasted silence and I can’t say that I hate it.

I finish my coffee, pass the mug and spoon I used for the jam in the instant cleaner, and put them back where I found them.

I walk to the lab with a pep in my step but I stop short, because waiting for me on my desk is a coffee and a pain au chocolat.

I chuckle at the pastry. I guess the cranky person that didn’t want people to take their pastries was none other than Brice.

Weirdly, I think it suits him very well.

I bite into the pain au chocolat, even though I’m not hungry anymore. Who needs to be hungry for sweet treats, anyway?

I turn on the holo-puter as I sip on my second coffee—I might not sleep tonight with all this caffeine—and munch on my chocolate treat.

It’s when the second coffee of the day arrives with a croissant that something registers in my mind.

The pastries aren’t Brice’s, they’re mine.

Or to be exact, they’re made for me, because I don’t think I can see Brice eating pastries.

He looks so stern and I think eating at Franck’s was already more than he’s used to on a normal day.

All I can see him eating is healthy food and black coffee without sugar.

So I doubt he’s even sampling the pastries—even though the fact he ate half of my tiramisu yesterday raises some questions—but all I know is that from the little note on the bell, I believe Brice had to enforce some kind of rule so that they don’t get devoured before they reach my office.

That makes me laugh lightly.

Who would believe the dark, brooding vampire would have to chastise his men because they ate all my pastries? There is probably a story there, and I promise myself to pry it from him later.

I go back to work and I’m only stopped when a sandwich arrives, followed by another coffee and some chocolate.

I guess he decided I need to have something that looks more like a meal for lunch this time.

The rest of the day passes the same way as all the others, but when the sun starts to set, there is a knock at my door.

“That’s enough for today,” Brice says as he appears near my desk before I even have the time to tell him to enter.

I always forget how fast bats can move, but this is a perfect example of it.

“I still have some work to do,” I answer him.

It’s not completely true, though. I finished coding today—well, for what I know I can do.

I thought I still had a couple of days of coding, but it turns out I managed to work way faster now that I’m rested.

The only thing I really have left to do is re-read everything so I’m sure I didn’t mess anything up.

I don’t know what Brice has in mind, but if it’s something like yesterday and he plans to ask me personal questions again, I don’t think I want to be part of it.

His eyes light up though when he hears what I just said.

“You’re done?” He asks.

For fucking sake. Can’t he let me lie in peace for once?

“No, I’m not done,” I answer him with a bit more verve than necessary.

“I still have to double check everything to be sure I’m not going to turn your brain into porridge.

And even when that will be done, it’s only part of the problem.

I found how to remove that block they put in your brain that triggers rage when you see or hear Elhyor.

I still need to write more code for your emotions, but for your sensations, I’ll have to do more.

” I take a breath and then add. “But if you want to try it now, suit yourself. I’ll call for someone to wipe the floor once your brain goes splash on the ground. ”

I cross my arms at my middle while I look up at him with a vicious smile.

You wanted to know. There, hear how not ready I am.