Total pages in book: 92
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 90852 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 454(@200wpm)___ 363(@250wpm)___ 303(@300wpm)
“I did. He said seven.”
“So who are the seven people? You know them all.” Lei guided me toward the second floor. “And I’m assuming that since you passed the tests he brought you up here?”
“Yeah.” I began thinking about the people at the table. “I would be there and Leo too.”
“Yes. That’s two people. Who are the other five?”
“Song?”
“Of course. That’s the Grand Deputy Mountain Master.”
“And. . .your aunts.”
“That’s five. Who are the other two that my father knew would be at the tea ceremony early this morning when he made the call to the chef.” Lei got us to the second floor and then led me down the hallway. “Remember. He’s always three steps ahead.”
“Hold on.” I stopped us in the center of the hallway. “So. . .your father knew the ceremony wouldn’t be today but he told me all day it would. Why?”
“Because you needed to understand the importance of why the tea ceremony should happen.”
“Couldn’t he just tell me?”
“You still think my father is normal and straight to the point.”
“Alright. Alright.” I let go of his hand. “Hold on. We went up to the master bedroom and he told me all about our mothers—”
“Which was smart. He knew that you would have questions and knew the exact questions it would be.”
“Okay.”
“And he had to give you true answers so you would trust him. Because once you trusted him on that side, he could really put his plan into action—”
“Which was the tea ceremony?”
“Yes.”
“But why not just have the tea ceremony today?”
“Who are the other two people that are supposed to be at the ceremony tomorrow? Did you guess?” Lei put up seven fingers. “We already know the five—you, my father, Uncle Song, and my aunts. Who else?”
I widened my eyes. “You.”
Lei nodded. “And Chen, the current Deputy Mountain Master.”
Things were suddenly starting to make more sense.
Lei walked off to the next set of stairs, heading to the third floor.
I followed. “But there would be no way you would even consider doing a tea ceremony today.”
“Not at all. I would have tried to kill him like I planned to do the moment I saw him today.”
“But by the time you saw him, he had already convinced me on how important the tea ceremony would be.”
“Exactly.”
We headed up the stairs.
More puzzle pieces started coming together.
Lei continued, “And if you’re convinced that the tea ceremony is the right thing to do, then guess who you will convince to do it?”
I frowned. “I would convince you.”
“There’s always more to things with him.” Lei ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not about what he wants in a straightforward sense. It’s about control and setting the stage for something bigger.”
When we got to the master bedroom, Lei let out a small gasp and took in the space. “Wow. He changed this too.”
“He did.”
“It’s all new and. . .different. Modern. Chic.” Lei nodded. “Not bad, Father. Not bad at all.”
“Why did he change everything?”
“He wanted to impress you as well as make you happy.” Lei put his attention on me. “Are you happy?”
“Yes. . .at least. . .I think so.” I gazed around the room. “I don’t like that I was being toyed with today.”
“Welcome to the family. That is the way of the East. Nothing is exactly how it seems.”
“I don’t like that.”
He got in front of me. “Then, we’ll change it.”
“We will.” I looked up at him. “So. . .no to the tea ceremony tomorrow?”
Lei laughed. “Oh no. We are definitely doing the tea ceremony.”
I blinked. “We are?”
“Of course. It’s important.”
“Okay. Hold on.” I shook my head and stepped back. “Why are you cool with it now?”
Chuckling, he went over to my bed, and he didn’t just sit down, he collapsed onto it, pressing his back onto the soft mattress and gazing up at the ceiling.
I walked over there, got on the bed, and lay at his side. “Are you going to tell me why you’re all about the tea ceremony now?”
“First, today was a set of tests for me too, not just you.” He turned his face to me and those sexy eyes gleamed with affection. “I shouldn’t say yes to the tea ceremony because it would be playing completely into his plan. But how could I say no? Every move he made today played into my love and possessiveness over you.”
“How?”
“First, you should understand the true symbolism of a tea ceremony.”
I quirked my brows. “Okay. . .Tell me.”
Chapter twenty-two
The Sensual Art of Tea
Monique
Lei turned his body to me, raised his hands to my head, and touched the soft hair. “Your hair is growing back.”
“It is.”
A mischievous glint appeared in his eyes. “Do you want me to shave your head for you?”
I chuckled. “Why did that question sound nasty as hell?”
“Because the mere thought of shaving your head made my cock begin to grow.”