Alexander PoV
I yawned as I awakened. The morning sun hit my eyes, making me wince. Sitting up, I ran a hand through my hair, smoothing it back. Mornings were tough, but they marked the beginning of another day full of potential. I swung my legs over the side of the bed and took a moment to gather myself, letting the stillness of the room anchor me before the day's demands took hold.
I stood and made my way to the window, pulling back the curtains to let in more of the morning light. The view of the gardens, still lush with morning dew, offered a moment of calm before the hectic pace of business took over.
Letting out another yawn, I made my way to the bathroom. As I stepped into the bathroom, the cool tiles underfoot helped to wake me up further. I glanced at my reflection in the mirror. My figure wasn't as muscular as Damien's. I wondered how he found time to workout and play. Everyday was full of demands in this family. Yet, he still seemed as free as a bird.
Turning on the shower, I let the water run until it was comfortably warm. The steam began to fill the room, curling around the edges of the mirror. I stepped under the stream, letting the warmth envelop me and chase away the last remnants of sleepiness.
The water cascaded over my shoulders, and I closed my eyes, allowing myself a rare moment of peace. This was my time to prepare for the day ahead, to mentally run through the tasks and meetings that awaited me. The shower was one of the few places where I could let my guard down, if only for a few moments.
I lathered shampoo into my hair, the scent fresh and invigorating. As I rinsed, I thought about the meetings planned for the day, the people I needed to see, and the decisions that needed to be made. The family's business affairs were as demanding as ever, requiring my full attention and careful maneuvering.
Shaking my head, I pushed those thoughts away. For just a moment, I wanted to focus on something other than the endless demands and expectations. For just a moment, I wanted to consider the possibility of change—of doing things differently, perhaps more like Damien. His ability to balance responsibility with a carefree spirit was something I both admired and envied.
As I let the cold water wash over me, I contemplated what that might look like for me. How could I carve out moments of freedom amidst the structured rigidity of my life? The idea was tempting, yet elusive, and I wasn't quite sure how to bridge the gap between my current reality and something more fulfilling.
Damien had art to express himself and destress. Perhaps that was part of his secret. I thought about what my version of that could be. Something that wasn't tied to the family business, something that was purely for me.
Finishing my shower, I turned off the water and stepped out, the cool air hitting my skin in a refreshing contrast. As I dried off, I found myself wondering if there was something I had neglected, some interest or hobby I could rekindle. I... couldn't think of anything. Since childhood, numbers and business matters were all I knew.
I dressed quickly, choosing a clean shirt and a pair of trousers. As I buttoned up, I considered checking in with Damien later. Maybe he had some ideas or could point me in the right direction. Despite his aloof attitude, he always seemed to have his finger on the pulse of what was happening, both within the family and outside it.
Heading to the kitchen, I poured myself a cup of coffee, the rich aroma invigorating my senses. The house was beginning to stir, the quiet of the early morning giving way to the gentle hum of activity. I watched the steam rise from my cup. It reminded of clouds of water vapor rising into the sky after a rain, especially in more tropical places.
Suddenly, I was snapped out of my thoughts. I turned around and blinked as I saw a kid looking around. It was Toren, Shelly's kid brother. He looked better now. Grandma had gone too far with having the guards get rid of them with brute force.
"Hey, you're that glasses Dino! Rawr!" he said, grinning.
I blinked. Glasses dino?
"Uh, yes?" I said, not sure what else to say.
He stared at my drink. "Is that good? Sis made it a lot before going to work, but never gave me a taste."
"It's coffee," I explained, lifting my mug a little. "Adults drink it to help wake up in the morning. But it can be a little bitter, which is why some people add milk or sugar."
Toren tilted his head, processing the information. "Bitter means not sweet, right? Like... dark chocolate?"
"Exactly," I replied, impressed by his comparison. "Have you tried dark chocolate before?"
He nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! Sis let me have some once. It was yucky! Me like milk chocolate!"
I chuckled at Toren's candidness, finding his straightforwardness refreshing. "Milk chocolate is a solid choice," I agreed, setting my mug down on the counter. "So, what brings you to the kitchen this early, Toren?"
He looked up at me, his expression earnest. "My tummy started grumbling. I was gonna wake Sis up, but she was sleeping, and I didn't wanna bother her."
I nodded, impressed by his thoughtfulness. "That was very considerate of you," I said, glancing around the kitchen. "Do you know what you'd like for breakfast?"
His eyes lit up with excitement. "Mac and cheese! It's my favorite!"
I chuckled, trying to recall the last time I'd had mac and cheese for breakfast. It seemed like a perfectly reasonable request for a seven-year-old. But, I couldn't help but marvel at how Toren had managed to navigate the large house on his own. The estate was sprawling, and even I sometimes found its labyrinthine corridors confusing.
"You didn't get lost on your way here?" I asked, genuinely curious.
Toren shook his head, clearly proud of himself. "I used my dino senses to find other dinos! Rawr!"
I blinked. "Come again?"
Toren grinned, clearly pleased with his unorthodox explanation. "Dino senses! It's like how dinosaurs find their friends. I just think about where I want to go, and I find it!"
I couldn't help but smile at his imaginative reasoning. "That's quite the talent. Can you find even Damien?"
"Rawr! I did! Me king dino! Me find anyone!"
Wow, that was impressive. As kids, Cassian and I always struggled finding Damien. Granted, I was the one always discovered. Hiding wasn't my forte.
"That's a pretty amazing talent," I said, genuinely impressed. "Sounds like we might need your help the next time Damien decides to disappear."
He nodded vigorously, clearly taking pride in his abilities. "I can find him! And you too, Glasses Dino!"
As we chatted, one of our chefs entered the kitchen, ready to start preparing breakfast for the household.
"Morning, Sir Alexander." She looked down at Toren and tilted her head. "And who might this be?"
"Ya don't know the Dino King? Rawr!"
She blinked. "I'm afraid not. Wait, that title... are you the one who has been asking for dino shaped macaroni and cheese sculptures to eat?"
"Rawr! Me eat dino mac! Very yummy!"
The chef laughed, clearly amused by Toren's enthusiasm. "Well, it's nice to meet the Dino King in person," she said with a warm smile.
"He came her to personally get some," I said.
"I see. In that case, I'll get started on that."
Toren smiled and patted his belly. "Rawr! Yes, please! Thank you!"
I watched as the chef began gathering ingredients, her movements practiced and efficient. It was comforting to know that even in the midst of our hectic lives, the kitchen remained a place of warmth and hospitality.
Suddenly, the kitchen door swung open. Damien, Zara, and Shelly walked in, panting as if they had been running.
"There you are! I got scared when I woke up and you weren't there. Zara said you snuck past her while she was in the toilet."
Toren giggled. "Rawr!"
Zara crossed her arms and smiled slightly. "Maybe you would make a good spy one day, Sir Toren."
The kid beamed and patted his stomach again. "Rawr! Dino spy! Rawr!"
Shelly chuckled and brought him in for a hug. "At least you're okay."
"Yeah. You really worried us there for a sec, Dino King," Damien said, grinning.
"Rawr! Me used dino senses to find kitchen!"
Zara gasped. "That thing you used when playing hide and seek?"
Shelly looked at her. "Toren has a good sense for finding people. He probably locked into whoever was awake at the time."
"Glasses Dino!" Toren said, pointing at me.
"Oh, hey, Alex!" Damien said, waving. "Already up and about, huh?"
I nodded before taking a sip of my coffee.
Shelly smiled. "Thanks for keeping my brother company."
My cheeks warmed up a little. "It was nothing. It's more like he kept me company than the other way around."
Damien smiled and patted Toren's head. "Such a friendly Dino, even getting Alex to talk."
I frowned, feeling a bit self-conscious at Damien's comment. It wasn't that I didn't enjoy talking—it's just that I often found myself more comfortable observing from the background, especially in our bustling household.