Harry heard a soft knock on the door.
Swallowing back, he sat up in anticipation and called, "Come in"
Lily walked in cautiously, shutting the door behind her and standing still by the door.
She didn't look up, maybe couldn't especially after the timing of the accident, she likely blamed herself for his state and he knew.
"Lily" he called in a soft whisper, his head tilted in worry.
She remained mute, bit down on her lower lip before busting into tears.
Harry spread his arms wide and she ran in for a hug. She didn't have to say, He knew.
"Forgive me", "Forgive me", "Forgive me", she pleaded, pressing into his embrace and pushing against his healing wound which hurt him tremendously, he held on tighter. He bit back his tears from the pain and shut his eyes amidst her wailing cries.
A short while past, she had pulled away and held unto the tips of his fingers. Her eyes and cheeks still damp with tears, he watched her as he slowly regained himself from the pain with a small smile.
She looked up at him, sniffling and about to speak before he spoke, interfering.
" It's not your fault" he started, "I was wrong". He paused and sighed, his eyes warm and steady on her.
She bantered her head, looking around unsteadily, raked her fingers through her hair, frustrated, worried and speechless. He watched her, calmed her.
Harry began, "I thought about it", "We should have talked more about marriage, I didn't deem it necessary but you did, I was wrong to not even consider it" he paused, this time, taking hold of her hands.
"I do want to be with you for the rest of my life, I do wish to start a family with you and I'm sorry I neglected your worries but I can't work it out right now" he paused and noticed, she had calmed down, less restless than before.
"There's a situation that needs the attendance of everyone in the family, being one of the direct heirs, I can't be entirely lackadaisical to it "
She nodded. He wiped her tears.
"Let's make each other a promise", "I'll sort out the issue here and we can get a wedding wherever you choose", "In return can you promise to wait for me?"
She cried some more, "I won't be able to see you again?" she said in a soft whimper.
He scoffed, "I'll be distracted if I see you again, I want to focus entirely on the issue so I can solve it" he paused, "Do you trust me?"
She nodded, "Pinky swears?" raising her pinky, he burst into a short laugh.
"Alright" quickly, he raised his pinky and grabbed hers. Folding their fingers tightly, he watched her tears leak even as she smiled. He smiled too.
Jeremy stood at a familiar window pane.
This was the same place, he had conversed with William the evening before the drama and his departure.
There he stood and watched a face he had familiarized himself with. The maid from before. She was charming, a little cheerful and unattractively unkept. Among the whispers, he figured her name to be Sara Allen, maybe, maybe not.
Out of sight, out of mind and vice versa. Sara had caught his attention.
As maids, they were represented with continuous labor befitting their pay and at that moment, by the window, he noticed her in leisure.
Down the hallway, the stairs then outside, he walked up to her and watched her stand uprightly.
He looked at her for a long second and noticed her uneasiness before speaking,
"I need a moment with you"
With a short stare, the few maids that stood around her, dispersed, and as soon as she turned to him fully, he signaled to her and they began on their feet.
A little off from where they were, she walked into a wood shed along with him and shut the door behind her.
Jeremy locked the door and placed a seat just at the center of the room before walking over to lean against the wall the chair faced. She took a seat.
For a long a second, he watched her with folded arms. All that could be heard were the variations in their breathing, distant noise and footsteps from outside.
"Are you authorized to keep me locked here?" she broke the ice in the midst of her confusion and sudden irritation towards his behavior.
He watched for a short while before speaking, "Who are you?"
Her brows furrowed in confusion, "Who am I? or What is your name?"
"Who are you?" he asked again.
She couldn't fathom the young man nevertheless she understood his seriousness.
"I am Sara Allen, I'm 28, Half American half Russian, I live at the Lutman manor because of a little housing issue which had been screened and confirmed by the family head during my interview and evaluation period- "
He raised his index and put her to a halt before pausing as if in deep thought, distracted.
"Lanora" he called, turning his gaze to her and observing, "I will not ask a second time"
She paused in her breath, gritting down the fear that slowly began to build on her insides.
Her nerves stifled for a short minute as she processed the situation. That name, no one knew that name, she made sure. Her organization made sure.
…
"My name is Sara Allen"
Jeremy began on his tracks towards her in a slow and steady gait before leaning down and stretching forward to her face. Their eyes flickered, his in curiosity, hers in paranoia.
The trees danced, the wind whistled and all the while their eyes searched and fought one another, their breathes fused into what seemed like a slow, quiet pacing
Slowly, the young man retreated, stood upright before taking a step back, somewhat calculatedly,
…
"Can you deduce the agenda of my question?"
…
Sara calmed. She was harnessed with and for pressure.
Quickly, she channeled her thoughts towards cognitive reasoning over stimulative panic allowing her body and nerves to relax.
She could tell that she didn't come off scared to the man in front of her, nevertheless, something about the situation felt orchestrated, almost predicted.
…
'Jeremy knows that name'.
This means at most 2 things.
He has managed to piece together an understanding of the relationship between Sara and Lanora and is now placing 'his cards on the table', leaving an ace up his sleeves which will need her to solve quickly. He has knowledge of Lanora, but can't quite 'fit the puzzle pieces' and is now fueled by curiosity thereby staging a scene of 'fear' to plunge the truth out.
…
Jeremy stood, impressed at her calm and poise demeanor. She must have been trained, he smiled for a second.
She finally looked up at him and he noticed her readiness to answer,
"What do you want from me Sir Jeremy Lutman?"
He nodded, "I'll make you an offer"
She listened.
"Work with me on a project"," You will learn, guide me and be my source of inspiration" he paused, "before returning to the activities of your day".
Sara noticed that he had come to the end of his sentence, she spoke,
"What will I stand to gain from this?"
He kept a small smile, "When I said learn", "I believe you walked past the Lutman doors to derive its hidden activities"
…
She sat in hidden shock, one she couldn't seem to hide, one she couldn't help but feel.
'He knew, but how much did he know?'
"How do I guide you, sir?"
"When I call, you come to me and when with me, you will act on my words"
…
"I refuse"
The room sat cold and quiet.
Jeremy stared intently at the young lady before chuckling lightly. She watched speechlessly.
…
"Lanora Volkov" he called softly, throwing his arms into a fold, "I know you're eager to know the extent of my knowledge about you" he paused, his smile still settled.
"You will agree" he said with utmost certainty and confidence.
"You will agree because you wish to run home free", "You will agree because this is the fastest route to achieve your goals"
…
He watched her, amused as he saw the muddle of emotions behind her eyes.
The eyes were always the windows to the soul.
Sara held unto her dress. In as much as she couldn't place her feelings to words, she knew one thing,
'That face'.
He watched her like a spectacle, almost like he had just watched a play he wrote himself and was delighted.
Sara could tell he knew a great many things and could wield it to his will. Deep down, she could sense this deal to be only but a portion of his plan, the start of something far beyond and her hunch was always more than right.
A dangerous man was what he was.
…
Jeremy walked up to her, took up and planted a light kiss on the tips of her fingers, "Our meeting was a pleasure" he let go, unlocked the door to the shed and walked away leaving her in an uncertain state of thought.
Heading through the main door, across hallways and rooms, Jeremy headed up the stairs over to his grandfather's room and bumped into Berry and Belle, along the way.
"Oh hello" Belle greeted
Berry greeted as well and he nodded at them, awaiting their response.
"Actually, we're here to announce the trial for our evaluation as reporter and screener Is about to begin, a voting will commence by tomorrow on the tests to conduct and you all will be judges as well" Berry stood upright, his hands in his pockets and proud.
Jeremy smiled shortly before nodding, "Goodluck" he walked pass.
Quickly, the twins headed over to Harry's room. They needed to start with the members who were temporarily immobile for one reason or the other.
With a firm knock, they overheard a giggle before, "Come in"
Belle stepped in before Berry walked in and shut the door behind him.
"Oh dear, hello!" Belle exclaimed as she waltzed up to Harry's bed corner.
Lily sat atop Harry's left thigh while his right knee crotched up, wedging her weight from behind. From her head on his chest, she sat up, a little cautious of Belle's curious gaze.
"And who might this be Harry?" Belle asked although her eyes remained fixed on Lily.
Lily glanced from Belle to Harry then back, confused and a little shocked.
"Belle" Harry called and her eyes lit with a smile, "This is Lily Martins, my fiancée"
Lily turned to Harry, a soft glimmer in her face causing a hovering pride over him.
"Lily" Harry called, "This is my cousin, Belle and her twin, Berry"
"Your fiancée, how do we know nothing about this?" Berry walked forwards and leaned on the far end of Harry's bed.
"Long story", Harry sighed, " -spare me please" he added after noticing the eagerness on their faces to press on the issue.
"Not to waste your time, we came to tell you about a trial starting on the evaluation of Belle and I as reporter and screener", "Some time tomorrow, voting will be done regarding the tests we need to go through and it will be decided by everyone other than ourselves"
"I can't believe we're exempted" Belle pouted, "Now I can't even vote for us to do something fun"
"Well, it's not a fun job now, is it?" Harry said and returned his gaze back to Lily, patting and tossing the tips of her clustering strands of hair.
"Will, … will you be alright?" Lily asked hesitantly.
"Oh sure" The twins echoed,
Belle grasping unto her palms with a grin "Lily, stay for dinner", "Please?"
"Actually" Harry recollected, "That's a wonderful idea, ~Lily, darling" he turned to her, "Would you mind accompanying me round the house?"
"Are you sure you're in the condition to do that?"
"Darling" Harry smiled mischievously, "Trust me"
Lily retreated, "Now I don't"
In that moment, the twins witnessed a belly laugh from Harry that they were rarely ever opportuned to see. Although, the laugh showed stifling signs due to his injuries, they couldn't help but smile as well.
Harry pressed his bell, instructed the nurses to get his automated wheelchair and together, he and Lily hoped on, she cradled in his thighs, her arm across his shoulders.
Berry and Belle continued on their way to Ruby's office while Harry and Lily journeyed round the house together.