"Some coffee for m'lady!" Xavier announced, setting a cup of piping hot coffee in front of Raine.
After the amazing date the night before, the two had woken up happier then ever.
It was late afternoon and Raine was nestled in a plush couch, lounging in Xavier's private library, while he finished up some work.
"Looks like the roles have been reversed." Raine replied, smiling at Xavier.
"Well, you're always making me coffee, I think it's due time I do the same for you." Xavier grinned.
Raine giggled, taking the cup into her palms, absorbing its warmth. "That's sweet, but I'll have you know, I'm not a fan of black, no sugar."
"How can I forget?" Xavier winked. "It's got plenty of sugar for a sweet girl like you."
"Mmmm." Raine said taking a sip. "That's good stuff."
"By the way, Jordon's coming over in a couple of hours to discuss some stuff." Xavier notified.
"Did something happen?" Raine asked anxiously. "Did they catch Malin?"
"No, they didn't." Xavier sighed with disappointment. "They will soon though. Don't worry about it Raine."
"Ok..." She mumbled, taking another sip of the coffee.
"You ok?" Xavier asked, a look of concern passing through his cobalt eyes.
"Yeah. It's just..." She sighed. "I don't know."
"I'm gunna sort this out, ok Raine." Xavier assured. "Trust me."
"I do." Raine whispered. "I just want it to be over."
"It will soon enough."
* * *
"Wanna make something?" Raine asked, stretched out on Xavier couch. He had been going through contracts in regards to the company for the last couple of hours, while Raine had drown herself in the world of books.
However, there was only so much a person could read.
"Make something?" Xavier asked, looking up from his papers at the beauty that was brightening up his rather dark library.
"Yeah! To eat!" Raine cheered
"You're hungry?" Xavier inquired. "Just tell me what you'd like to have. I'll have Maria make it right away."
"But I wanna MAKE something." She stressed.
"No." Xavier shook his head. "You need rest."
"I need rest from resting." Raine pouted.
"Ha ha, very funny." Xavier said, rolling his eyes. Although he hadn't ever had a problem saying no to people, Raine's big brown eyes were enough to get him to change his mind at one glance.
"Xavierrrr." Raine whined. "I'm so bored and hungry."
"Why must you be so stubborn?"
"And why must you be so boring?" She retorted.
"Boring?" Xavier smirked. "And me?"
"Yup." Raine pouted.
"Ok fine." Xavier said, getting out his his chair and pulling Raine up. "Let's go."
* * *
"So what is Chef Thorn preparing today " Raine questioned. "Of course with the help of his amazingly awesome Sous Chef Woods."
"Sous Chef, huh?" Xavier said, raising an eyebrow.
"Yup." Raine nodded. "Take it away Chef Thorn!"
Xavier chuckled before turning around and gathering up some ingredients.
"So, since my cute little Sous Chef has quiet the sweet tooth, I shall prepare for her, a secret recipe."
"Ooo." Raine gushed. "And what is this secret recipe?"
Xavier walked up to her, getting extremely close before whispering. "A secret."
"Well, it won't be for long." Raine winked, hopping of the table and grabbing an apron for herself and tossing one towards Xavier who caught it with one hand.
"Whatever you say." Xavier laughed, tying his apron swiftly before making his way over to Raine, tugging the loose strings on her apron so that he could tie them.
Without ado, Xavier jumped into action, walking all around the kitchen as he grabbed different ingredients of the shelves.
"Flour, butter, oil, sugar..." Raine noticed. "Oh, eggs too. If I didn't know better, I'd say someone's making baked goods."
"Keep guessing." Xavier sang.
Taking a large wooden bowl, Xavier poured out some of the flour and mixed in the rest of the ingredients, skillfully cracking the eggs on the side. Raine watched in amusement as he mixed the liquidy batter together and began to fill it up in a plastic piping bag.
"A piping bag?" Raine asked. "Why'd you do that?"
"Let me give you a clue." Xavier winked, taking out a small glass bowl and filling it with sugar.
"Sugar?! What an amazing clue Xav! Like that makes more sense." She rolled her eyes.
"And...." Xavier trailed off, opening a tiny bottle and spooning out some cinnamon, adding it into the sugar.
"Cinnaâ Oh!" Raine said, her eyes growing wide was soon as she understood the hint. "Churros!"
Xavier chuckled, pouring oil into the frying pan. "Right on." He said, turning up the heat and walking back to Raine who was sitting on the countertop with her legs dangling.
He came close to her, bending down as landing his lips gently on the soft skin of her forehead.
"Now, shall we cook?" Xavier whispered deeply into her left ear.
"Y-yeah..." She stuttered, her cheeks flushed pink and her heart pounding against her rib cage, Xavier's proximity driving her wild.
Xavier smirked, grasping onto her hands and helping her off the countertop. The duo walked over to the stove just in time to see the oil heated to the correct frying temperature.
"Ooo!" Raine cheered. "Let me fry those."
"No can do." Xavier said, picking Raine up by the waist and setting her aside like a doll. "You're far too precious to be anywhere near hot oil. I've got another, safer job for you."
"Oh please, I do this all the time."
"Exactly, so allow me to do it this time." Xavier shot back.
"And why should I?"
"Questioning.." He muttered. "I must say I like it."
"No one ever questions you, do they?" Raine asked curiously.
"Mostly likely no, and in my house, never". Xavier answered. "But don't stop." He smiled. "I like this... I like you."
"I like you too." Raine blushed before turning around.
The oil was boiling at this point and by the way Xavier was gazing into her eyes, Raine had figured he'd forgotten all about it.
"So you wanna fry these guys or what?" Raine giggled causing Xavier to break out of his trance.
"Yeah, yeah." Xavier hurried, grabbing the batter and getting to work with his dream audience being his one and only, Raine.
Moments later, the frying had been done and Raine was on coating duty, drenching the pipping hot churros in a bath of sparkling sugar and cinnamon.
"Little Chef, I need your help." Xavier called.
"Reporting for duty." Raine laughed to which Xavier smiled, shaking his head.
"Ok, here's a bowl. I want you to take this, and melt it over the burner."
"Chocolate!" Raine cheered as soon as her eyes fell upon the bars of brown gold.
"Try not to eat it all, Babe." Xavier smirked, watching Raine pop a square of chocolate into her mouth. "We've got to save some for the sauce too."
"No guarantees." She sang, marching across the kitchen, working on her mission as Xavier prepared plates for the duo.
"Done Chef Thorn!" Raine called out a couple of minutes later. The melted chocolate was silky and smooth, whipped up in a crystal serving bowl that Raine set down next to Xavier batch of churros.
"Now it's time for the real test." Xavier smiled, quickly grabbing Raine by the waist, lifting her up onto the countertop.
"I'm excited!" She giggled as Xavier picked up a small piece of the churro, drowning it in a significant amount of Raine's chocolate sauce before gently putting it into Raine's mouth.
"Mmmm." She moaned, her eyes closed as she let the sugar, cinnamon, and chocolate burst into her mouth. "That's amazing!"
"Thank you." Xavier smiled, a satisfied looked appearing on his face, his eyes swirling with blues, showing how happy he was with her reaction.
Xavier stepped towards her, placing himself between her legs, putting his hands behind her back and pulling her closer.
"Why do we always end up in the kitchen together?" Xavier commented softly.
"Well the kitchen is a very romantic place." Raine smiled.
"Is that so?"
"Ah huh." Raine nodded. "I mean, wants more romantic then molten chocolate."
"A chocolate lover, I have here." Xavier chuckled, leaning down and tasting his creation.
"Correction." Raine smirked. "A chocolate addict."
* * *
"Xavier, I think the Thorn Inc CEO position should be made vacant!" Raine pronounce.
After their sweet moment in the kitchen, Raine had insisted they go out by the pond that was in Xavier's backyard. Xavier grabbed two chairs and set them right by the bank of the pond, so that they could enjoy the views of the vast landscape that laid out before them.
"And why is that?" Xavier asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Because you, my friend, need to open up a resturant or something." Raine giggled. "The world must know what a great chef Xavier Thorn is!"
Xavier chuckled. "Well, if I ever get fired, I'll know exactly what to do."
"No, I'm serious!" Raine said. "You'd be an amazing chef!"
"Please, you're just being nice." Xavier waved off.
"Am not!" Raine pouted. "I'm being truthful!"
"Well, you're the only one who's tried my creations so don't blame me." Xavier said, raising his hands in surrender.
"Wait, seriously?" Raine asked quite stunned.
"Yeah..." Xavier nodded.
"Why, though?! You're such a great cook!"
"Just never had the time, I guess." Xavier sighed. "Nor the motivation to impress someone."
A blush coated Raine's cheeks at that remark. "So you're trying to impress me?"
"Maybe." Xavier winked, a smirk playing on his lips.
"If so, then I'll have to admit." Raine began, leaning close to Xavier before whispering. "You're doing quite a good job."
Xavier looked into her eyes that shined back at him just like pools of chocolate. His eyes flickered to her pink lips that looked just as delicate as the petals of a pink rose, covered in the dew of an early morning mist. They were inviting, intoxicating, simply irresistible. And who was he to fight that? Who was he to resist?
And so he gave in.
Their lips moved against each other perfectly, as if the heavens had created the two beings exclusively for their union. Xavier's arms circled the small of Raine's back, bringing her closer, and closer, and closer so that even the smallest of molecules couldn't fit between them.
After moments of being lost amongst themselves, they pulled apart, only for a breath of fresh air.
"Raine..." Xavier gasped, breathless. "I... I reallyâ"
"âMr. Thorn?" A voice interrupted.
Xavier's eyes shut tightly in frustration. Just as he was about to speak about what his heart had been telling him for the longest time, someone had interrupted him, yet again.
Raine pushed herself away from Xavier, her cheeks turning bright red in embarrassment when she found Cole standing in front of the two, avoiding both of their gazes.
"What?!" Xavier gritted out, his lips pressed firmly together in frustration, trying hard to keep his anger controlled in front of Raine.
"I-I..." Cole began nervously, clearly understanding the horrid situation he had put himself in. "I'm extremely sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt anything." He apologized.
Xavier glared at Cole, completely disregarding his apology. "How many times do I have to tell you toâ" He stormed furiously, but quickly getting interrupted by a calming Raine.
"It's alright." Raine interjected. "What's up?"
"I do apologize to you too Ms. Woods." Cole said honestly. "I was just here to inform you that Jordon is waiting in the office."
"I don't give a damn whoâ" Xavier began, but Raine quickly pulled his hand, stopping him from continuing.
"That's great." Raine smiled. "We'll be there in a couple of minutes."
With that being said, Cole hastily left the scene, saving himself from Xavier's wrath.
"Why'd you do that?!" Xavier said, turning to look at Raine.
"What?" She shrugged innocently.
"Why'd you stop me from speaking to Cole?"
"Correction." Raine began. "If I recall correctly, you weren't speaking, you were shouting at the poor guy who was only doing his duty."
Xavier shut his eyes tightly, turning his hands over his face.
"And I was stopping the big bad beast from unleashing on this fine day." She added, laughing to lighten the mood.
"You're driving me insane Little Chef." Xavier chuckled, letting out a breath. "Completely insane."
* * *
"Hello Raine." Jordon greeted.
"Hey Jordon." Raine smiled.
"Ok, let's begin." Xavier said, wrapping an arm around Raine's shoulder and pulling her closer. "What information did you want to discuss."
"Well, after everything we discussed the days prior, I set up an investigation team and did a little research on your family, Raine." Jordon explained. "And I must say, I found out a lot of sensitive information about your parents, possibly a lot of things you don't know yourself."
"I wouldn't be shocked if you did." Raine sighed. "I lost them when I was really young. I can't say I knew them that well."
"Raine, what do you know about your parents?" Jordon asked in a serious manner. "What do you know about Eden and Abby Woods?"
"That they were amazing parents, amazing humans really. They loved me just as much as they loved each other and their work. They were super passionate about their jobs, and that's why they had left that day too. The trip they were on, it was a business trip. Something that they did quite often." Raine went on. "But sadly, that flight never came back. It crashed."
"The plane crash when your parents died. How exactly did it happen?" Jordon inquired.
"I don't remember." Raine answered. "All I remember is that I got a phone call from the police and they told me that my parents had been involved in a plane crash. I remember my aunt snatching the phone from my hands and talking on the phone and that... that's pretty much it. Why?"
"Well I've been diving into your parents' background and I just found out that your parents worked at a security software company. Both had high positions."
"Yeah." Raine nodded. "They were engineers, I think. Always good with computers and everything.
"Good with computers would be an understatement." Jordon remarked.
"What do you mean?" Xavier dived in.
"Eden and Abby Woods, they were some of Silicon Valley's best engineers. Exceptional students, both graduates from Stanford University." Jordon elaborated. "They met in college, right?"
"Yeah, I remember Mom telling me that she met Dad during her last year of college or something." Raine recalled. "I don't really know anything other then that though. I didn't even know they went to Stanford."
"They had quiet the fan following as well. According to records, nine of America's biggest software companies offered jobs to both of your parents right after graduation." Jordon continued.
"Wow." Xavier remarked, looking down at Raine. "That's quiet impressive."
"Indeed." Jordon agreed. "However, they rejected most of the well known companies and instead, chose to work for a cyber security company that was just starting up."
"Ok." Raine said, still in a daze with all of this new information she was learning about her parents. "But how does this relate to anything dealing with Malin?"
"That's a good point." Xavier pointed out. "I mean, Raine, I can get you all of the information on your parents that you wish to seek. However, at the moment, it's imperative that we locate Malin's whereabouts before he decides to strike again."
"Mr. Thorn, Raine, I understand your confusion. However, I think that it is vital I discuss my findings with you, Raine. You have the right to know what happened to your parents."
"They died in a plane crash." Raine said, holding back her tears. "Because of me."
"Never." Xavier refuted. "You did not cause that plane crash Raine. You cannot blame yourself for something that was an accident."
"He's right." Jordon nodded. "It most certainly wasn't your doing Raine. But I won't agree with the latter statement."
"What do you mean?" Xavier asked, taking his fingers through Raine's hair in a comforting manner.
"Your parents were traveling for work, you say?"
"Yeah." Raine nodded.
"And they were flying in a private aircraft?"
"I don't know much about that." Raine said guiltily.
"Raine. The flight that crash, it was a private jet. A private jet that had recently been made." Jordon stated. "The police records state that there was a engine malfunction which resulted in the crash."
"And?"
"I think it was a deliberate attack." Jordon hypothesized causing Raine legs to collapse beneath her feet as she started falling to the ground. Within a fraction of a second, Xavier quickly wrapped his arms around her waist, hoisting her up.
"What on earth are you saying Jordon?!" Xavier immediately raged, pulling Raine into his arms protectively.
He knew it was hard for her to talk about her parents. But to hear it in such detail was such a torturous act that he couldn't bare to put Raine through.
"I apologize Mr. Thorn, but I'm only stating what I've found through this investigation." Jordon said apologetically.
"Well you better think twice before making assumptions aboutâ" Xavier began with anger.
"No." Raine interrupted, pulling her shocked self out of Xavier's embrace. "Go on Jordon. I want to know the truth and I'll never find it out if I keep running from everything."
"I understand completely that this is hard, Raine." Jordon said softly. "I hate putting you through this but I need your help."
"Hmm." Raine muttered, resting her head on Xavier's chest as he drew soothing circles on her back.
"Like I said before, the particular aircraft your parents were flying in, had been through an annual inspection just three months ago. Therefore, an engine malfunction wouldn't make much sense."
"So you're saying someone intentionally crashed the airplane that Raine's parents were traveling in?" Xavier asked to clarify.
"It can be a possibility." Jordon said. "Raine, after they died, or even when they were alive, did anything suspicious ever happen?"
"I don't remember much." Raine said. "But I do know that right before they went on that trip, we had a couple of security guards that Dad insisted to hire. Also, Mom always dropped me off to school. But a couple of months before, she hired a driver who always came with us everywhere we went."
"Interesting." Jordon said. "I think I'm going to go personally and do some more investigating before we draw any conclusions. I can't give you any concrete answers until I've made sure my hypothesis is truly correct."
"Wait, what do you mean?" Raine asked, confused.
"I'm gunna head over to California and see what I can find." Jordon answered. "Mr Thorn, I'll appoint Cole to take over all my duties while I'm gone. You shall face no difficulties due in to my departure."
Xavier nodded. "That will be fine, just keep me upâ"
"Wait." Raine cut in. "I'm coming too."
"What?!" Xavier said, taken aback with Raine's response.
"I want to go home." She insisted.
"Are you out of you mind, Raine?!" Xavier questioned, trying hard to keep his anger in the bay. "There is absolutely no way I'm letting you go back to California! Not with Malin still out on the loose and your Aunt!"
"But I have to go Xavier." Raine pleaded. "I need to know what actually happened to my parents."
"Raine, you have to understand thatâ"
"No Xavier." Raine cut off. "You need to understand that I need to find out the truth about my parents."
"And put your life in danger?!" Xavier asked, running his fingers through his hair in frustration.
"I don't care about my life Xavier!"
"But I do!" Xavier raged. "And I'm not letting a damn thing hurt you, ever again." He stressed.
"I need to do this Xavier." Raine whispered softly, holding both of Xavier's hands in her own and kissing them softly.
"But Baby..." he whispered, fear evident in his voice. Never in his life has he been scared. Not until this point.
He was scared. Terrified even. Scared to lose her. Scared to lose Raine.
"Please." She begged.
"Alright." Xavier gave in. "But I'm coming with you."
______________________
A/N: Hello my Forever Raine readers! I'm back, late, but nevertheless back! Hope all of you enjoyed this chapter and are excited for the next ones to come, of course, in California! A lot more romance and mystery to come up soon! Stay tuned!
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