"I’m sorry, Master Ian!" Suzie screamed out in fear, her very being trembling so hard that it was a wonder that she was still able to hold herself up on her feet.
Ian’s hand stopped wandering, and he leaned his forehead against Shelby’s. One hand securely anchored his little girl’s bum close to almost his chest while she was sandwiched between him and the wall, her legs still wrapped around him. His fingers brushed against her breasts one last time, and he pulled his hand out from underneath her bra, clearly irritated at the interruption.
He pecked her lips and set her down on her feet, catching her before she slumped all the way down. Her legs were like jelly, and he knew. He helped straighten her clothes and chuckled, dropping a kiss on her hair.
Ian flicked his hands in annoyance at Suzie, indicating that she should scram.
"Sorry, Master Ian, and thank you!" She screamed out to them, went down on her knees and started putting together the contents of the scattered tray. She picked it up as quickly as she could but kept glancing at the couple in excitement, curiosity and, of course, a bit of fear. She was up in no time and turned to run, only to pause.
"Sorry, Miss Shelby! You can continue...."
Shelby blushed, and Ian let out a loud laugh.
"I love that maid of yours!"
Shelby buried her face in his chest, not willing to look up at him as he continued to tease her.
The question came so sudden that she was caught off guard. She noticed that the amusement had dropped from his voice, and a hint of uncertainty had creeped in. His voice was so low that Shelby doubted she would have heard anything he said.
She was quiet for a little too long as the thoughts ran through her head once again. She looked to be losing herself in her thoughts too much.
He flicked her forehead.
"Ouch Ian! Now, I hate you!"
He chuckled as the tension in his body fell away from her statement.
’My little girl does not hate me!’
He hugged her tight and placed his chin on her head, having to bend a little to do that.
"Shhh! You don’t need to explain yourself to me Ian."
With all the thoughts and inner turmoil that Shelby had pushed herself through from that short walk, she had decided one thing.
’I have to trust someone or something. I know with a certainty that the person will never be James, not in this lifetime nor the next one. I might as well trust in the one that I am bonded with for life!’
At that thought, something seemed to click into place. Ian’s eyes widened slightly but he did not say anything to her, he just held her closer and tighter.
"Let me get you that meal I promised." Shelby nodded vigorously, already looking forward to that and they entered his room.
He wasted no time in getting her a quick plate of salad mixed nuts that had her salivating.
"I don’t know how you do these, but they are great!" She said between mouthfuls.
"I think that you will give Ava a run for her money, and she is considered an expert in cuisines."
"I’m glad you like it, little girl."
He watched her closely as she pouted and grew increasingly upset, as if he had been anticipating that reaction from her.
"Can you not call me little girl? I am no little girl!"
"Yeah, yeah. That cute pout and your whole demeanor makes it look like you are throwing a tantrum. Last I checked, only little girls do that!" He teased.
He leaned on the counter by her like he had done before. She was still on the island and that was where she was having her meal. He liked her at a height he could easily reach and that was the best out of the lot.
"Ok, if you don’t like that name, then I will call you a ’button’!" It was the seriousness with which he said this like he was inputting a dire statement at a business meeting or something.
"You are small as a button!" He shrugged.
She did not look happy at all, and there was no joke about that.
"Ok, how about this one? Elfin?"
"Elfin? Is that a name from your race? What does that mean?"
Ian brought out his phone’s search engine and typed it for her to read it for herself.
"Elfin – when made in reference to a person, it refers to a small and delicate person, typically with an attractively mischievous or strange charm."
She put the phone down, dumbfounded. In as much as she wanted to get upset or refute it, the explanation was as if it was describing her as whole; ’smallish -check, attractive -check, strange charm- another check!’ She mentally checked off an invisible list.
Ian leaned closer, "Since, you did not refute this nor get upset, you’ll be my elfin from now on."
"...but I have a name," she said weakly,
"I know, but I prefer to call you by something that is solely mine. A name that no one else can use. Everyone else can call you by your equally sweet name Shelby," She looked up at him and met his eyes.
’Even the way he says my name makes me gooey!’
"...but I prefer this pet name. You can call me by something similar if you like," he said, chuckling at her eye roll.
Just then, there was an urgent knock on the main door.
Ian kissed her temple and went out to answer it,
"Master Ian, I think you should come,"
In the north wing of the estate...
"Are we going to pretend that this did not happen?"
"I don’t know whether to consider this a nightmare or not. Besides, which one are you referring to: James Wendover’s treatment, the contract or ..."
"Don’t get me started on this Alex. I can’t believe my son killed someone in front of us."
"So, what are you going to do? Do you want to report him to the authorities?"
Geneva paused and looked intently at her husband,
"Why? Are you going to do that?"
Alex lifted one part of his mouth in a sly smile. "Don’t get me wrong, Geneva. Why would I want to turn my son in? He is a Trimshaw and our first son. Ian should be able to do whatever he wants to do...."
Geneva narrowed her eyes at her husband,
"Don’t get me wrong, Geneva. I am equally reeling from the fact that Ian did that, but he is our son, and I am sure whatever he did was warranted. Besides my son can never do wrong in my eyes. If he needs the people as fertilizer for our fields of fruits, then so be it!"
Geneva started at Alex in surprise, wondering if she had heard right.
"Don’t look surprised, my ear. The only thing that I was worried about was the audience and not the act."
Geneva chose her next words very carefully as she was the one who had started the conversation in this direction.
"I understand you, but that is not how I raised my boys, and I do not want them going about killing people just because they leaked some information!"
"I know Geneva. On the bright side, he was trying to protect us. Also, it’s not like anyone can command Ian to do anything. He is our son, a grown one who can shoulder the whole business and empire we have. If we trust him in that, we should trust his judgement in anything."
Alex held his wife by the arm, "Look at me, Geneva. We cannot be playing the moral game here. Our son has already left the nest. Let him spread his wings and fly."
"What of the contract?"
"Was it even important? Ian is determined to keep Shelby, so contract or not, it will be for the best. I also get a feeling that Shelby is in better hands without that contract. Besides, I don’t think that we lost anything from this. Ian bore the penalty for it. You know the conditions that were stipulated. We only wanted the girl and made sure to get her, so the annulation even favours us in a way."
Geneva nodded but was still clearly worried. It was understandable from all that had gone on that morning. It was just too many incidents in one morning. She lay down and placed her arms over her head to block out the light as she started feeling a headache form. Just then,
"Chairman Alex and Madam Geneva. I think you should come and see this."
The two exchanged glances as a groan left Geneva.
’There goes the one chance I have had to relax from all the hullaballoo from this morning.’
She sat back up, disregarding the thought of getting rest and headed out with Alex. Her mind ran through all the possible scenarios of what may be wrong, but none prepared her for what she saw.
Just as the two entered the receiving area, they heard,
"I am Detective Leon from the T-Vino Island Local Police Station. Are you Ian Thornston?"
Ian nodded and asked in his deep cold voice,
"What is this about?"
"We have a report that you attempted to murder Mr James Wendover and have another confirmed report of your murder of one of your workers..."
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