“What, pray tell, did you do now, Ms. Nill?” Mrs. Steams iced out, addressing Theodore’s mate with so much disdain and contempt, he couldn’t help the glare he sent his housekeeper.
But she understood his glare the wrong way for her disdain seemed to have evolved into something more sinister – fury. He could almost taste her ire in the air.
“She didn’t leave the estate yet,” he said matter-of-factly. “Why is that?”
“Well,” his housekeeper blinked her eyes at him, understanding at long last it would seem. “She broke a precious family heirloom. I thought it only fitting that she stayed overtime to compensate for the loss. I understood from your dismissing the issue that you were generous enough not to want monetary compensation for it. Was I wrong in my assumptions, Mr. King?”
Theodore didn’t bother with her, and turned to his mate, trying to appease his beast by the sight of the innocent girl who shall be his soon enough. “Have you read the contract?”
She nodded at him but didn’t speak.
Must she unnerve him so by not addressing him unnecessary words? He wanted her to tear his ear off with whiny complaints. He’d listen to them all and then soothe her worries away with a kiss.
He started to harden at the thought of what he could do to her, many scenarios playing in his head.
Bad Theos. Bad, he chided himself.
“The contract says that should you stay overtime, you’ll be compensated, does it not?” He went on, bent on having her talk to him.
“Yes, sir,” she nodded.
Theos 1 – Emily 0, he thought to himself, feeling jubilantly victorious.
He had never been a childish or a petty person. But it seemed like his mate was bringing about many sides of him he had never thought possible.
“That is to say that you will be paid for any overtime work,” he announced flatly.
“It’s okay,” she told him in a soft protest.
“It’s not,” he countered immediately, not missing a beat. “I won’t be filed against for something like this.”
“I would never,” she was quick to say, blushing to the roots of her hair.
What an adorable blush, he mentally observed.
Oh, how he wished he could make her blush that way, in his bed, as she creamed for him and screamed his name.
Focus, he gave himself a mental slap.
“I’m not saying you would, Emily,” he said, forgoing all manners that told him to address her by her family name. “I just wouldn’t want to be put in a compromising position.”
He was breaking out of character and he knew it. He never once cared about any compromising position, whether inside or outside of bed.
He could almost feel his housekeeper’s suspicions.
“Yes, sir, I understand,” she said in a docile tone.
He wanted to tell her to kindly call him by his given name, but he couldn’t – not in front of his housekeeper anyway.
He shall wait for the right time. And the right time shall come, he had no doubt about that.
“Shouldn’t you be thanking Mr. King?” Mrs. Steams observed in a gravelly tone.
He had to squash down the urge to roll his eyes at her, and her old habits. But then again, he wasn’t a young man himself. He had close to no right calling the woman old. Appearances could be deceiving after all.
He was close to 300 years old, but didn’t look a day over 28 years old.
His mate, however, did roll her eyes – discreetly so. “Thank you, sir.”
Oh, so she had some spunk to her. She wasn’t totally docile and innocent. That would be boring for sure. And yet, he was sure that no matter what her character traits were like, he’d appreciate her still just the way she was.
“It’s close to 6 pm now,” she then stated as she looked at her wrist watch.
He guessed she was asking for permission to leave in a roundabout way.
Almost as if he was a carefree teenager, he found himself telling her, “I’ll drive you home.”
Two gasps followed his statement.
Oh, he had forgotten all about Mrs. Steams.
“Mr… Mr… Mr… King,” she stammered in her outrage, “Please don’t feel obliged to accompany her. She can surely find her way home on her own. Isn’t that right, Emily?”
“Yes,” was her immediate answer.
She looked like a deer caught in headlight. Was the idea of being with him in the same car so repulsive?
Well, tough, Ems, he inwardly smirked. You aren’t going home alone tonight.
“I insist,” he even went as far as to use his dazzling smile to convince her.
Her resolve faltered. He could almost see the wheels turning in her head.
She looked outside. It was still quite sunny. She’d have no problem getting home safely. But he wanted – no, needed – to spend more time in her presence.
“I don’t want to be a burden,” she tried to justify her refusal.
“You’re not,” he assured her in a soft tone that was unlike him.
“You’re not even dressed,” she pointed out coolly, an adorable pout adorning her face.
“I’ll change,” he shrugged.
He could see when she decided to give in to him… it was not quite a request, not exactly a demand.
She nodded at him.
He basically beamed at her, and then left in the direction of the second floor.
So, he broke every August rule he had set out for himself almost a century ago.
But it was so damn worth it. And he didn’t regret it one bit.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
Emily waited for the owner of the estate to get changed in the first floor. She realized she wouldn’t live the embarrassment if Cecilia were to find out about this.
Mrs. Steams glared at her all through the five-minute wait.
And she could feel the woman’s glare on her even as she was leaving out of the door, with Mr. King trailing behind her.
“I need to change my outfit,” she announced as she took a few steps towards the direction of the staff quarters.
“Take your time,” he told her agreeably. “You’ll find me by the gates.”
She nodded.
As she was changing into her usual clothes, she couldn’t help but wonder how it came down to this – to the owner of the estate driving her home.
When she emerged from the staff quarters, feeling more comfortable in her baggy attire, she walked towards the gates.
Paul, who was walking in the opposite direction, looked at her with a bit of a frown. “Hey you,” he greeted her amiably, and she smiled at him and nodded as she greeted him back. “Aren’t you leaving a bit late today?” He asked.
“I am,” she confirmed.
He raised an eyebrow in question, and she felt compelled to add, “I broke something. I was told I wouldn’t need to pay up if I could stay behind.”
He let out a stunned “Oh, lucky!” at that.
Lucky? She wanted to scream at him. I’m not lucky. If looks could kill, I’d be beyond dead right now. Mrs. Steams hates me for some reason.
He must have sensed her protest for he added, “Believe me, many found themselves jobless after such incidents.”
The gravity of what had occurred finally downed on her.
She could have been fired. She could have lost the only job that enabled her to live decently and entertain her dreams of going to college.
Tears stung her eyes at that.
Paul started to fret, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. I’m just stating the facts here. I’m sorry. Please don’t cry. Okay?”
She tilted her head back to keep the traitorous tears at bay.
“I’m okay,” she told him stiffly, and then was on her way out.
Oh, how surprised she was to find a flashy sports car, that was probably too costly for someone like her to even dream of, waiting by the gates.
What did you expect, you silly girl? She admonished herself. He owns a humongous estate. Why would he drive a beat-up car?
She must have zoned out for, soon enough, the car door opened almost as if on its own.
“Are you getting in some time today?”
She blushed a deep crimson at that, mutter an apology, and got in.
He was already going out of his way for her. She didn’t need to annoy him further. She made a mental note not to annoy him with mindless-slash-useless talking.