The dinner table was set as Camile was done pouring the Bordeaux from the bottle into a glass pitcher and placed it at the middle of the table which had food all over it.
"You've outdone yourself." Katherine commented on the huge spread Camile made.
She reached for a pickled onion and had a taste. "Mm… These are amazing."
"I know I'm an excellent cook but you're gonna have to restrain yourself tiger." She stopped Katherine from taking another item from the dinner table.
Katherine whined in frustration. "Why do I have to?"
"Because your brother isn't here yet." Camile said and looked at her watch. Landon was known for his tardiness so she wasn't worried about him not showing up, not yet at least.
She had spent most of the day preparing for this dinner, this perfect dinner.
Katherine had finally seen the funeral announcement which put her in a somewhat somber mood, she had to do something to help her feel better so she went all out with the dinner, plus Landon was coming so that's an added bonus.
Katherine was really excited when Camile broke the news about the plans she had made with Landon. It meant they were actually making an effort to reconcile for her sake.
There was a time they couldn't be in the same room together, when Camile lived at the mansion and their father was still alive.
"I think you should call him." Camile said as her impatience grew.
Katherine agreed and started to call Landon.
His phone rang and without hesitation, he answered.
"Hi Landon." She had a curious expression on her face as she spoke. She heard noises through the phone which she couldn't quite pick out.
"Hey Katherine." His voice pierced through the indistinct noise.
"Where are you?" She asked, letting her curiousity get the best of her.
"Chinatown." He stated simply, he was walking down a busy street as he had just exited a tiny corner shop. "I might be a little late to dinner."
"You're already late." She exclaimed in a humorous tone, amused by his tendency to never be on time.
"I had a few fires to put out, I'm sorry." He explained vaguely and Katherine knew better than to press any further, not wanting to know what he gets up to.
"Just get here soon or I'll chain you to a gigantic clock for all of eternity." Katherine threatened with a terrifying voice.
"That seems counterproductive." He said with a lingering smile. His eyes glistened as the night lights reflected on it, he was grateful to have these moments.
He didn't like being late, he really did have fires to put out – a crisis in Hong Kong had kicked off, the local gangs were preparing to go to war which would be detrimental to his interests.
So he was forced to intervene by bringing them to a negotiation table but seeing as he couldn't just fly to China because his dinner plans, he had to meet with their representatives in China Town.
The meeting took an unexpected turn however, when a third party sent an assassin to take them all out but thankfully the situation was promptly diffused.
He ended the call, hopped on his motorcycle and set course for Camile's home, a building in the heart of the city – she was situated on the third floor.
The doorbell rang and Camile answered, opening her double doors to a casually dressed Landon. He held a shopping bag and a leather jacket on one hand and his other hand was in his pocket. His hair was dishevelled and messy from riding without a helmet.
"Gonna let me in?" His questioned as they quietly stood there eyeing each other. She wondered what version of Landon she had drawn tonight – the one who came to the gallery or the usual intolerable Landon?
"Yes, please come in." She responded instantly and beckoned him inside her home. The place looked fabulous and even Landon was impressed by her design. The whole place had an artistic feel that was expressed further by the numerous paintings hung across the walls.
He handed her the shopping bag which she curtly inspected and thanked him for, she led him towards the dining room where Katherine was waiting.
He pulled her in for a quick hug before they all got settled on the dinning table. Camile sat across from Landon while Katherine sat beside him and dinner quickly went underway.
Little was said at the start of the three course dinner, not until Katherine broke a spell of awkward silence during the main. Landon was absentmindedly slicing the sirloin steak on his plate when she asked…
"So Landon, when are you leaving the city?" Her eyes were pinned on him, watching his every movement in search of what could be on his mind.
Landon's movements halted, he spoke gently as he looked into her eye. "Soon, my business here is almost concluded."
Camile's attention honed on the conversation immediately while she fiddled with her glass of red wine. Katherine held a look of discontent on her face, she tried but couldn't hide the disappointment she felt. Landon saw it clear.
He and Camile shared a brief but lingering look, she had lots on her mind to say to him right now but restrained herself. The Landon she invited to dinner was a contrast to the one sitting across from her in attendance.
The earlier events of the night had occupied much more of his mind than he had anticipated, trouble was never far away from him, a walking magnet – he thought of himself. Even when he was home.
However, his business was nowhere as close to concluded as he purported. The whereabouts of his watch was still a mystery and the supposedly dead thief was yet to be found.
The information provided by Gisele proved what he had since suspected, the woman was no small time operator but rather a resourceful strategist and a master of clairvoyance.
He ran into her likes ever so often in the ordinary course of his business, he sent word to any of them who might recognise her description and methods, no stroke of luck yet.
"You've had a graceful stay I hope? Minus the unfortunate circumstances of course." Camile's inquiry is met with displeasure from Landon but he remained without expression.
Katherine on the other hand couldn't, and the mention of unfortunate circumstances caused her to grip harder on the silverware, both of them noticed the reaction and Camile instantly regretted her choice of words.
"I can't exactly say that I have." He speaks bluntly in spite of Camile's nudge for him to lie for the sake of his sister. She rolls her eyes in exasperation.
"I would suggest a night out, I could show you the city from my lenses but I'm sure you'd much rather pass." Camile subtly offered.
"You're not wrong about that." He replied as expected and Camile let out a sigh. He was starting to get on her nerves, she was convinced he was being an asshole on purpose.
"I'll be skipping dessert, I've lost my appetite." Katherine got up from her seat, her plate barely eaten and her disheartenment evident. She was letdown by both of their behaviours as they couldn't bury their hostility for one dinner, so she left them alone in the dinning room.
"You shouldn't have accepted the invitation if you planned to be a brooding asshole throughout the dinner." Camile fired at him immediately Katherine was out of the room.
"You're right again, I overestimated the tolerance I have for your presence, an honest mistake." His voice was sharp and piercing but he had a dull and uninterested look on his face.
"You're unbelievable Landon, after all this time you still can't let go of this nonsense?" She shook her head in disbelief, her patience grew thinner and her eyes brimmed with feelings of annoyance.
Landon snorted in disbelief. "You slept with my father."
"When exactly did who I sleep with or not sleep become your business?" She questioned as they faced each other, the table the only thing between them.
He drank from the rest of the wine in his glass before he replied… "You broke my family apart, drove a wedge between my parents that could never be mended."
"You've done more damage to your family than I ever have and you know it." She struck a nerve in him and he gritted his teeth in response, she didn't stop though, she went on… "You and I know that's not the real reason why you hate me, you're still that silly little boy who can't fathom not getting everything he wants."
"Thank you for dinner Camile, and for reminding me just how much I hate you." He got up and removed the napkin from his shirt, placing it on the table.