"This is certainly quite something." I shake my head in disbelief at the concrete barriers placed around the penthouse building.

The perimeter of the property is absolutely swarming with guards, all of whom are wearing Wyvern Security Consultancy uniforms. Earlier in the day when Nevil was bringing me back to Paul's pad, the limo needed to pass through two checkpoints just to get to the parking area. Then there was the third checkpoint at the elevator that did a biometric scan of my fingerprints. The building had been transformed into a fortress. Paul wasn't playing around with our personal safety.

"Time to go back up." Nevil drones as he approaches me from behind, "Miss Yvonne says that dinner is ready."

"Thanks. Just wanted to check out all what's going on at ground level." I nod in thanks to Nevil.

"Ah yup." Nevil grunts noncommittally and he guides me back to the elevator with a gesture of his arm, "The master has also finished his, uh, contribution to the meal. So be sure to enjoy it."

"You don't seem to think that Paul is a very good cook." I note as Nevil clasps his hands together in silent prayer. Paul had been busy in the kitchen with Sara ever since I had returned from the hospital. Couldn't even get the chance to talk to him. Not that I would even think of disturbing the boss's bonding time with my best friend.

"I would say that it is the thought that counts," Nevil scratches his cheek, "but Mr Burke once tasted the master's cooking. He was invited to the home as a long serving employee."

"And how was it?" Getting a bad premonition about this.

"Like I said, its the thought that counts." Nevil has a wan look on his face, "Take that however ya want it, Robert."

"Oh." I step into the elevator with a feeling of trepidation, "Is that why you're not coming upstairs?"

"Not even invited to the dinner." Nevil shrugs, "Going home now. Enjoy the rest of your evening, Robert."

The driver gives me a lazy wave goodbye and the elevator doors shut. As the elevator zooms upward to Paul's penthouse suite, I click my tongue in annoyance. I had wanted to ask Nevil about why so much security had been deployed but the driver clearly felt clocking off work was more important than hanging around.

The elevator doors smoothly slide open to reveal the penthouse's private lobby and the first thing I see is Yvonne dressed in a maid uniform bowing deeply to me.

"Welcome back Robert." Yvonne murmurs, "Dinner is ready to be served."

"Uh, hi." I rub the back of my head awkwardly, taken by surprise by Yvonne's getup.

"You don't like seeing me like this, Robert?" Yvonne smiles gently as she leads me back into the penthouse.

"No! No, you look really nice." I shake my head and feel my cheeks growing red hot, "Just wasn't expecting it."

"Sara and I have taken over as servants of the household," Yvonne says with a mock look of innocence, "How else should we be dressed when carrying out our duties?"

"Duties? What do you - oh." I mutter in befuddlement as an incomprehensible scene unfolds in front of me.

Yvonne had brought me to the penthouse's dining room where Paul's sitting at the head of the table, looking as incredibly awkward as I do. Sara is dressed in a maid outfit as well and she stands behind the boss, ready to serve at a moment's notice. The table is loaded with steaming dishes and there's even silverware arranged in their proper positions.

"Hey Robbie." Paul cracks a forced smile and hurriedly motions at me to join him at the table. Sara grins to herself, obviously enjoying Paul's reaction to everything that's going on.

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"I, uh, expected something more casual?" I mumble to no one in particular as Yvonne pulls out my seat for me, "Feel like I need to wear a suit or something."

"Me too!" Paul bursts out before getting his voice under control, "But Sara took charge and I sort of lost track of what's going on?"

"Paul, you've been eating takeout ever since the servants were sent away." Sara states with a grin on her face, "Isn't it nice to eat something cooked at home for a change?"

"Yeah, but this is close to what we could order from a restaurant." Paul points out at the multiple course dinner laid out before us, "I mean, sure the servings might be small but -"

I glance briefly at Yvonne, wondering how much she had to do with this state of affairs. The majordomo notices my curiosity and leans close to whisper in my ear.

"Thank Sara. Like I said, cooking is my weakness. Although I certainly don't mind what she has put together."

"Oh, right." I call out Paul who's looking more flustered by the second, "Why are Sara and Yvonne acting as maids in the first place?"

"You don't like it, Robert?" Yvonne pouts as she lightly pulls at my shoulder.

"Well! Ever since Carl's ambush," Paul claps his hands to get the conversation on track, "my family suspects there might be a mole in this household. That's why I was busy the last few days, rotating everyone out and investigating them."

Huh. That makes sense actually. Yvonne was jumped before she could meet with the knights that Paul's family was sending him. Carl clearly had access to Paul and Yvonne's schedule.

"So from now on, only people who can be trusted are allowed into the penthouse itself," Paul concludes, "That means you Robbie, you fought alongside me that night. As well as Sara and Yvonne, of course."

"Is Nevil included in this list?" I query, remembering the aura of disappointment radiating off him earlier today.

"Ugh, don't mention him." Paul grumbles, "Nevil helped us that night and he can be trusted. But not only does he talk over me, he's so bloody lazy."

"Nevil needed to pick up some of the slack as well since the rotation left us short staffed." Yvonne explains, "He began hinting to me about overtime not long after."

"Nevil's salaried, he's not even entitled to overtime under his contract." Paul raises an eyebrow pointedly.

"Not everyone is of the same caliber as one of our House Knights." Yvonne says in a calm voice to the boss, "Especially someone originally hired as a mere driver."

"Look at this feast prepared by Sara." Paul protests, "She's not a prize winning chef. Sara's someone that goes to school with me and Robbie."

"Sounds like Paul doesn't appreciate my caliber." Sara huffs but I can tell she's not really angry.

"No, I didn't mean that." the boss immediately goes to console Sara and for the first time I realize how whipped he is around her.

Yvonne begins serving me the food, going as far as to cut up the chicken into easy bite sized pieces for me. In the background, Paul and Sara continue to murmur to each other.

"Which one is the dish prepared by Paul?" I whisper to Yvonne.

"None of them." Yvonne's mouth tugs in amusement, "Paul's cooking did not turn out well. Sara decided to let the household rodent have it instead."

I chuckle to myself, wondering what Maus's verdict would be on Paul's cooking. Then I realize that I'm forgetting something.

"Aren't you joining us, Yvonne?"

"That would be a huge faux pas Robert." Yvonne mildly reprimands, "Servants dining on the same table as the master and his knight."

"I don't mind though!" Paul pipes up and gazes expectantly at Sara.

"If the master commands," Yvonne tilts her head, "then I'll bring out additional plates."

"Wait! Wait!" Sara skips after Yvonne and they head into the kitchen, "I'll help!"

"Are we being trolled right now?" I ask Paul with complete seriousness.

"Let them have their fun." Paul grins at me, "It helps everyone forget about the other stuff."

"Other stuff?" I scrunch my brows together while nibbling on some of the chicken. Not bad. Not bad at all.

Paul leans across the table and lowers his voice.

"Sara and Yvonne don't know this," he murmurs to me, "but this building was broken into a few days ago. That's why security has become so tight."

"Shit. Are we in any danger?" I purse my lips while drumming my fingers on the table.

"I don't think so." Paul shakes his head but worry is all over his face, "Someone disabled the building's security system and forced open the roof access door. No one was hurt."

"Why would anyone do something like that though?" I muse to myself.

"No idea. We did a check of the roof, nothing seems to have been tampered with." Paul taps his chin meditatively, "I can't work out the motive for this break in either. And that's what really worries me."

There's the clatter of plates and cutlery being handled in the kitchen and Paul immediately puts a finger to his lips. I get the message and settle back down in my seat. No talking about the break in for tonight. Sara and Yvonne do not need to deal with another crisis so soon after being kidnapped and used as bait by Carl. It wouldn't be fair to them.

Yvonne returns from the kitchen and begins laying out another two sets of plates and cutlery on the table. Sara drops down on the seat next to Paul with a bright smile on her face.

"Thanks for the food!" Sara cheers as Yvonne takes her place by my side.

"You're very welcome." Paul responds kindly.

"Shall we begin then?" Yvonne invites everyone to start the meal.

Fine food and good friends. Whatever the future may hold, tonight I have no regrets.