Chapter 64: The Debt is Not Even Mine
"I have a chef," Zachary said.
"You already have a chef?" Sienna repeated as she turned toward him. "Then why did you offer me this job?"
There was no accusation in her tone, just genuine curiosity. And maybe a little suspicion, the kind that came from someone who had learned not to trust convenient luck too easily.
Zachary didn’t seem offended. Instead, he looked as if he expected that question.
"He couldn’t come this time," he explained simply. "His father was admitted to the hospital."
"Oh..." Sienna’s expression softened immediately, the earlier teasing fading without a trace. "That’s awful. I hope he’s okay."
"His father is stable, from what I heard," Zachary replied. "So I told him to stay with him until he’s much better. Oh, and he is on paid leave, too."
"That was the right thing to do, and a noble thing to do, too," she said without hesitation.
He nodded once, but his gaze drifted slightly, as if the situation still lingered in his thoughts. "But it left me in a difficult position. I couldn’t cancel the trip."
"Because you don’t want to disappoint Sky," she said quietly.
Zachary glanced toward the stairs, and for just a second, something in his expression shifted; something softer, something almost unguarded.
"Yes. My son has been looking forward to this for weeks."
Sienna immediately felt that small, quiet click in her mind, as if a missing piece had finally slid into place.
Everything made sense now.
"So that’s why you offered me the job," she said, her tone lighter, her earlier doubts dissolving into understanding.
"You were available," he said. Then, after a brief pause, he added, "And you needed it."
Sienna was surprised by his directness. It should have been uncomfortable, but strangely, it wasn’t. Not entirely.
She held his gaze for a second longer than usual, then smiled.
"Well... I’m glad I was available," Sienna admitted. "Thank you for offering me the job, because I do need a side job..." She meant it more than she let on.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
They both looked down at their lattes, as if the cups suddenly held something worth studying.
The silence stretched, but it wasn’t empty. It felt... thoughtful. Like both of them were sorting through things they hadn’t planned to share.
Then Zachary shifted slightly, turning toward her again. He stared at her for a moment, long enough to make her aware of it.
"Do they underpay you at Imperial?"
The question caught Sienna off guard, causing her to curl her fingers tightly around her mug.
Slowly, she turned her head to look at him, trying to read his expression.
’Huh!? Why would he ask that?’
A small, unpleasant thought slipped into her mind before she could stop it.
’Is he trying to make fun of me?’
Sienna’s chest tightened slightly at the idea, her grip on the cup firming just a little more.
But when she met his calm eyes, she could clearly see that nothing in his gaze hinted that he was mocking. That gaze shows no amusement. No judgment, either. Just quiet curiosity, concern... and something else she couldn’t guess.
Her shoulders eased. ’My god, Sienna... you are too far to think like that,’ she reminded herself, almost scolding.
A faint, bitter smile appeared on her lips as she lowered her gaze to her cup again, watching the faint ripple of coffee as she shifted it slightly in her hands.
Sienna wanted to openly tell him about her financial struggles and her family drama.
But a thought stopped her, ’What if he runs away after hearing about my messy life?’
She let out a long, deep sigh before once more reminding herself, ’Come on, girl... Stop being presumptuous!’
A faint smile returned to her lips as she lifted her gaze again to meet his.
"To be honest with you," Sienna began, her voice calm but sincere, "Imperial Hotel, they pay me well. And I like working there because I have an incredible team, and the place isn’t far from my house..."
She paused, her eyes drifting for just a moment.
Then she looked back at him as she continued, "But I need money to pay my debt to the bank. The debt is not even mine, but my family’s..."
The words came out steady at first. But something inside her tightened as she spoke.
There were details she couldn’t say. Memories she didn’t want to open—Her father’s habits. The endless cycle of fixing problems that were never hers to begin with. And her father’s plan was to sell her to the gangster’s boss. The stress at her office, especially with Benjamin.
Sienna swallowed lightly, her voice faltering just enough to reveal that there was more beneath the surface.
"I’m sorry, Zach," she said softly. "I can’t tell you the specific reason about my family matter. The story won’t be pleasant to hear... but just so you know, my life is full of drama."
She let out a small, awkward breath at the end, as if trying to lighten the weight of her own words.
Silence settled again between them.
Zachary didn’t say anything.
And strangely, that made her feel a little better because he wasn’t rushing to respond. He also wasn’t asking any more questions or trying to fix it.
He just... listened.
But then, he said, "Thank you, Sienna."
Her head lifted quickly, surprise clear in her expression. "Thank you for what?" she asked, genuinely confused. Of all the responses she expected, that was not one of them.
"Because you’re honest with me," he said. "I know this is something you don’t want to share with others, especially someone you just met."
She blinked. Then, without her knowing, a small laugh slipped out.
"How do you know what I’m thinking?" Her tone is playful.
Zachary’s lips curved slightly. "Well," he said, "it’s all clear from your expression."
She narrowed her eyes at him for a second, as if trying to decide whether to be impressed or offended. "...That’s a little unfair, Sir," she muttered, though there was no real complaint in her voice.
"It’s true," he corrected calmly.
She shook her head, but the smile stayed.