I Owe the Tyrant Four Little Heirs novel Chapter 181

Niamh had the driver, Wilbur, take Jareth home, planning to take the subway herself. While waiting for the train, she ran into an old college classmate, Jacob. He had pursued her back in their sophomore year, but she had been in love with Cormac at the time and turned him down. Five years had transformed the once shy young man into a mature and charming director at an investment firm. She had lost touch with all her old friends, so it was a pleasant surprise to see him. At his invitation, they went to a nearby café to catch up.

...

The next morning at six, Niamh was in the kitchen making breakfast when the doorbell rang. She wondered who could be visiting so early. She had already arranged with her father that she would handle breakfast and take the kids to their first day at Cliffhaven International Preschool.

When she opened the door, she found Jareth waiting outside. For a moment, she thought she was seeing things.

"What's wrong? Not going to let me in?" he asked, noticing her bewildered expression. His voice was a little hoarse.

Niamh quickly stepped aside, and he rolled his wheelchair into her apartment.

"Ms. Lynn, could you get me a glass of honey water? I drank too much yesterday, and my stomach feels a bit off," he said, already giving orders.

“What is he doing here so early?” Niamh wondered, annoyed. “Doesn't he have honey water at his own house?”

"Ms. Lynn, did you hear me?" he asked impatiently.

Shaking herself from her thoughts, Niamh rushed to get him the water, washing the glass several times, knowing how particular he was.

Jareth drank it all in one go. As he handed the glass back, he remarked, "Are you making breakfast?"

"Yes," she answered without thinking.

"Don't worry, I won't eat for free," he added. "Breakfast and dinner can go toward paying off your debt. Let's say, fifty a day."

Paying off the debt? That made her pause and reconsider. Still, she couldn't understand why he would want to live next door to her. It was bizarre.

"Niamh, don't get the wrong idea. I have no ulterior motives concerning you," he said, as if reading her mind. "I'm interested in a girl who lives in this complex. I want to be closer to her. You know what they say, proximity is key."

Niamh let out a sigh of relief. As long as it wasn't about her, she didn't care. What were two extra meals, anyway? It just meant setting out another fork.

"Mr. Bragg," she said, wanting to set some ground rules, "if you're going to eat here, you'll have to eat whatever we're having. Is that okay?"