Page 23 of Pervade London
We stepped into an open-plan design—the place was fully furnished.
Masculine tones dominated his abode. A large brown leather couch was accompanied by matching dark wood furniture. Sprawling floor-to-ceiling windows let in the street light. I counted ten chessboards placed around the room, their chess pieces scattered across squares as though he were mid-game in all of them.
“Are you playing these at the same time?” I asked.
He looked surprised at the question. “Yes.”
“Doesn’t it strain your brain?”
Instead of answering me, he eased my violin case out of my hand and set it on the dining room table.
“You play chess with people online?”
His eyes met mine. “My opponent is online, yes.”
That made me pause. “Do you live alone?”
“No, my wife’s taking a bath. She can’t wait to meet you.”
“What?”
Xander rolled his eyes. “Yes, I live alone,” he said. “You’ve already asked me if I was in a relationship.”
“You could have a roommate.”
“That’s not what you insinuated.”
I shrugged, and then said, “The chessboards are a little unusual.”
“So am I.”
“Well, I like that about you.”
His frown softened and he flashed a disarming smile.
“This place came furnished?” I asked, looking around.
“The stuff’s all mine.”
The furniture was arranged neatly around us, his taste classic and warm with dark brown and cream fabrics and antique leather chairs that had an “old boys’ club” charm. There was a print of the world on the back wall, opposite a fireplace. A smart TV sat above it to round out the well-traveled and techy feel.
“This is lovely.”
“What are you really thinking?”
“Excuse me?” Then I got his meaning. “You’re wealthy.”
“Does that offend you?”
“Why would it?”But why were you sleeping in the Underground?
“You don’t come from money. There’s bound to be pre-conceived ideas.”
“You say exactly what you think, don’t you?”
“Money means power. That can intimidate.”
I smiled. “Everyone is equal as far as I’m concerned.”
