The Death of a Bachelor

Chapter Twenty nine

That evening, Kieran was at his study desk, looking over some reports when Debra slinked in, and keeping her eyes on his busy form, pushed back against the door with her hands as carefully and quietly as possible, so it wouldn't make a sound when it shut.

She was successful. Well, she thought she was successful.

"Good evening, Debra," Kieran greeted, opening up a scroll.

Debra tossed her head back and groaned. "You and your blasted senses, Kieran."

He let out a low chuckle, his eyes skimming over the inked words. "I have big ears," he muttered.

"What was that?" Debra asked, walking towards his desk.

"Nothing." He shook his head, clearing away thoughts of Elena. "Why are you in my study?"

Debra stopped infront of his desk and sighed. "I came to apologise."

Kieran stopped reading at the sound of those four words. He looked up from his scroll, and analysed the woman infront of him. "Are you serious?"

Debra rolled her eyes. "Yes." She slipped into the sofa chair and crossed one leg over the other. "I hate it when we're on bad terms with each other, and eventhough most times it's your fault, this time it wasn't."

"When's the apology coming? Because I'm not hearing it."

"Hold your horses," Debra said, and sighed again. "My tongue can be a bit too much for people, I know. Sometimes I wish I could cut it off, but I can't. As for my actions, well...I didn't mean to cause a scene. Yes, I like it when you get angry, but not that angry. I wasn't at my best and you snapped at me, and I feel bad that you did that."

Kieran rubbed his temple. "You're terrible at apologies, Debra."

"Well, we both know touchy-feely wording isn't my forte." Debra shrugged. "Look. I admit that I'm not completely over you...belonging," she said the word so low through gritted teeth, Kieran nearly didn't catch it, "to someone else. But I've learned my lesson, and I'll do better. I'll behave and try to control my tongue. I shouldn't have done that this morning."

"That's almost sweet and all, but I'm not the one who needs to hear that."

Debra didn't reply. Instead, her eyes flicked to a painting on the wall to her right.

Kieran placed the scroll on the table. "I know you're pretending not to hear me."

Still silence.

"I'm not going to get any more from you, am I?" Kieran asked, and she finally looked at him.

"But unless you say, 'I'm sorry for calling the Rivera tradition stupid', I will still be angry with you."

Debra's jaw dropped. Her mouth opened and closed, seemingly speechless.

"Say it," Kieran said in a firm tone, his eyes spearing her.

Debra huffed, blowing at a stray strand of hair over her face. "I'm sorry for calling the Rivera tradition stupid."

He wore a ghost of a smile. "Well I already apologised on your behalf, so that's that."

Debra smiled back. "Of course you did. You are the amicable one."

"Sometimes I wonder why you and I are friends."

"Oh, you know." Debra pretended to think, then gushed, "I'm smart, witty, I like the same things as you, I keep slaughtering you in duels and you keep coming back for more, I always always save your arse when you're in a pinch - oh and that one time, I sliced a man's finger for you. Did I mention I'm pretty and my body's always had you hot and bothered-"