“Where are we going?” Emily asked Theodore almost breathlessly after a while. He wasn’t driving her to her place, it seemed.
“To the estate,” he told her simply.
She couldn’t help but grimace at that. “Why?”
“Because Mrs. Steams’ punishment awaits,” he told her sardonically. There was a hint of menace in his words.
And for some reason, she reveled in his dominant nature, loving it more than she should.
Within minutes, they were in front of the main residence.
Theodore got out of the car first whereas Emily remained rooted to her place. She didn’t know what to do. And it was only when he opened the door for her that she regained some semblance of composure.
He ushered her forward with a hand on her lower back. She wanted to lean in to him, to seek his strength and protection, but she held back. They had an audience.
“I stand with you,” he told reassuringly. “Always.”
She nodded in understanding as a small smile came to adorn her face.
It wasn’t long before she and Mrs. Steams were reunited in a face-to-face that wasn’t meant to be the most pleasing.
Emily was surprised with the change in demeanor of the elderly woman. She was much too polite. Deference had become her second name.
“Ms. Nill,” she began politely, looking at her pleadingly, from where she was standing in front of desk in Theodore’s office. “Please forgive my earlier behavior. I didn’t know.”
Emily, who was sitting awkwardly in Theodore’s lap – she was meant to sit there, he had told her – and blushing slightly, couldn’t help but say, “You shouldn’t have jumped to conclusions.”
“I realize my mistake now,” the woman said, tears of regret no doubt appearing in her eyes. “I am sorry. I am so sorry. Please do not have me fired.”
Fired? Emily’s eyes widened. She had never wanted to get her fired. She just wanted the woman to apologize and let her resume working at the estate – nothing more, nothing less.
She looked at Theodore for help, and found him smiling at her fondly. He nodded at her, urging her to do with his housekeeper as she pleased. He hadn’t breathed a word since the housekeeper had entered the office too, letting her deal with her.
“Well, rest at ease, Mrs. Steams, you are not fired,” she told her softly.
The tears the woman had been holding in betrayed her and she was soon crying in relief.
“Thank you,” she said despite her tears. “Thank you. I have spent my life as a housekeeper for so long that I wouldn’t know what to do if I wasn’t.”
“You’re most welcome,” she smiled at her. “Just kindly do not jump to conclusions that way the next time.”
“There won’t be a next time, Ms. Nill,” she shook her head negatively, almost frightened, all traces of her haughty and cold attitude gone.
“Good,” Theodore spoke at long last. “You’re dismissed, Mrs. Steams.”
The housekeeper nodded and was on her way out within seconds, almost as if she couldn’t get away soon enough.
Emily tried to wiggle out of his lap, only for him to whisper huskily in his ear, “Do you really wish to awaken the beast in me, dorogaya?”
She stilled at once, almost as if she had just realized the position she was in.
“Sorry?” She asked rather than stated.
He nuzzled her neck lovingly, and then placed a soft kiss in the hollow place between her neck and shoulder.
“You have no idea what you do to me, do you, dorgoy?”
The spell was cast on them at that. Nothing mattered to her. And she turned in his lap and captured his lips with hers in a fleeting kiss.
No sooner had her lips left his did he command her huskily, “Again.”
She obliged, all too happy and eager to do so, but the second kiss was just as short. He growled deep in his throat, the sound primal, animalistic, and oh so arousing…
She moaned his name in the the next kiss.
When they parted for air. He placed his forehead against hers, eyes closed still, “I’d love to take things further but I don’t believe you’re ready just yet.”
“I’m not,” she nodded timidly. “I have so much to do,” she then exclaimed. “I haven’t cleaned your room…”
“You don’t need to,” he told her softly.
She glared at him. “How many times must I tell you that I won’t be a kept woman? I need to work and earn my living.”
He pursed his lips and said, “Suit yourself. I’ll stay here. I need time to recollect my thoughts.”
He probably meant he needed time to get rid of his raging hard-on, but she didn’t call his bluff.
She merely got off his lap and was about to leave the office when he said, “Kindly send Cecilia over. I need to have a word with her.”
“Why? What’s wrong?” She fretted for her. “Did she do something wrong?”
“No, quite the contrary,” he smirked at her.
She released a sigh of relief and then left.
Cecilia was undoubtedly glad to see her if the hug Emily received was any indication.
“You’re crushing me,” she complained but only half heartedly.
“I was so worried about you,” the woman said.
“Don’t be. I’m okay,” Emily smiled brightly at her since conveying her reassurance through words alone was not enough. “By the way, Mr. King is calling for you.”
“Oh, okay,” the woman paled.
“Go. I’m sure it’ll be fine,” Emily told her despite the fact that she didn’t know what her old coworker had been called for.
Cecilia nodded and was, soon enough, descending the stairs.
When she was out of sight, the girl who now worked alongside Cecilia spoke up. “She stood up for you and told Mr. King that you were fired because you didn’t come yesterday.”
That moved Emily almost to tears. How was she ever going to repay her friend for her kindness?
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
When Cecilia entered Theodore’s office, and after exchanging greetings – proper ones this time around – he asked her matter-of-factly, “What do you want, Cecilia? Money? A house? A trust fund for your kids? Name your price.”
He watched her face as it was painted with shock. “Sir, I can’t possibly accept…”
“I don’t believe I was asking whether you could or not,” he stated calmly, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth.
“I just said the truth,” she protested, blushing to the roots of her hair.
“Information is key to everything in this world. It is invaluable,” he shrugged. “You can’t go to war unprepared after all.”
“War?” She muttered under her breath, before saying, “Why is Emily still working then?”
“Because I couldn’t convince her to stop already,” he explained although he wasn’t used to justifying himself.
“Then, don’t give me anything, sir. I am glad I could help out a friend.”
He could appreciate her integrity.
“Her, I can’t force,” he told her almost distractedly, admitting that he had no control over his mate.
“Sir…”
“You have till 5:30 pm to decide or I’ll take the choice out of your hands.” She pouted at him, eyes wide. “You are dismissed, Cecilia.”
Despite the slightly dejected expression on her face, she left without objecting some more.
He wasn’t one to like stubbornness. If anything, he enjoyed having the upper hand and always having the last word. But when it came down to Emily, he just couldn’t help but want to dote on her, to cherish her, and give her the world on a platter.
Despite the fact that their relationship was only just starting, he was positively ecstatic about it, and undoubtedly hopeful for the future.
He just hoped no more competition would come to annoy him.
Theodore needn’t have worried about competition. The only problem that arose later on was of a different kind – and much harder to deal with than it was to take care of a boy crushing on his mate.