Chapter 48: Dinner with Chloe

Chloe invited herself to dinner on Thursday. More accurately, she announced that if Freya was genuinely cooking now, she needed proof. Freya agreed, partly because she enjoyed Chloe's company and partly because she wanted to rebuild a friendship the original owner had allowed to fade.

"Louis will probably be home," Freya warned over the phone. Chloe went silent. "Is that a problem?" "No. I've just never had dinner with him."

That surprised Freya until she remembered how separate the marriage had once been. Louis's acquaintances and Freya's friends had rarely overlapped.

Chloe arrived carrying flowers and wine for cooking. She stopped just inside the apartment and looked around. "This is... cozy." Freya laughed. "You were going to say small." "I was being polite."

Louis emerged from his room and greeted Chloe with effortless courtesy. Chloe responded more formally than usual, clearly intimidated by him despite his supposed bankruptcy.

Dinner became easier once Freya started telling an embarrassing university story about herself. Chloe immediately contributed several more. According to her, Freya had once spent an entire night rebuilding a scale model after someone accidentally sat on it, then presented it the next morning without sleeping.

"You were terrifying during project deadlines," Chloe said. "Anyone who touched your desk risked death."

Louis glanced at Freya. "That part hasn't changed." "I don't threaten people." "You threatened me over material samples last week." "I said don't touch them. Different thing."

Chloe looked between them with visible surprise. The Louis and Freya she remembered barely interacted at social events. Now they argued casually over dinner like people accustomed to sharing space.

When Louis went to answer a call, Chloe leaned toward Freya. "What happened between you two?" "Bankruptcy." "Apparently bankruptcy improved your marriage."

Freya nearly laughed. "We're just getting along better." "He looks at you differently." "You're imagining things."

Chloe didn't argue, but her expression said otherwise.

After dinner, Louis offered to clean the table while Freya showed Chloe her workspace. Chloe examined the shrinking collection of luxury goods and the new desk setup. "You really are serious about this whole new-life thing."

"Very." Freya showed her the signed audio agreement. Chloe hugged her immediately. "This is huge!"

The reaction made Freya smile. Chloe's excitement contained no calculation, no connection to Louis, and no concern about social status. It reminded her why genuine friendship mattered.

Before leaving, Chloe quietly said, "Whatever happened after Louis lost everything, I think it brought the old you back. Not exactly the old you, but the part that actually cared about doing things."

Freya's smile softened. "Maybe."

Louis drove Chloe home because it was late. During the ride, Chloe surprised him by saying, "I don't know what you're planning with Freya, but don't hurt her."

Louis glanced toward her. Chloe continued, "She acts tougher now, but she already lost enough people."

He answered simply, "I won't."

When he returned to the apartment, Freya had fallen asleep at her desk with her laptop still open. Louis quietly closed it, placed a blanket over her shoulders, and remembered his promise to Chloe. The troubling part was how little it had felt like a promise made out of obligation.

Freya woke when the blanket slipped from her shoulder and found Louis reading quietly on the sofa. She looked at the blanket, then at him, but chose not to comment. "You came back." "I live here," he reminded her. Freya smiled sleepily and went to her room. Louis watched the door close, realizing the apartment had begun to feel like home for reasons that had nothing to do with the lease.

The situation was far from resolved, but neither Freya nor Louis had reached this point by rushing blindly into the next move. For now, they would keep working, watching, and gathering what they needed. The larger game could wait another day.