Neo hated the route he took. It was sloppy and in need of construction. That's what you get when dealing with an unfair aristocrat. He still wished he saw the mayor up close, maybe he'd have poured out his mind. What kind of leader was he? Definitely the one that embezzled. He concluded in his mind. He exhaled when he got to the mansion, sweat creeping down his shirt. He had taken off his suit a while back and dumped it by the roadside. Clearly, there wasn't room for it. The gate keeper opened the small gate and greeted him.
"You left him there? Why? The guy just started working for you." Mr Chordis said softly, staring at his wife. She stared back, her hands behind her like an obedient puppy.
"I panicked." she finally said.
"Does he know his way around? Ezekiel said the young man is new to town."
"I didn't know what to do. He was asking too many questions. It's my money, isn't it?"
"Why did you hire him then?"
"To be my financial advisor." she answered slowly.
"With this attitude? Nah. Find a way to get him back. You know Ezekiel doesn't joke with his people." Mr Chordis said authoritatively. Neo stood by the window and watched them quarrel over him. He deliberated entering at that moment.
" If you don't enter, pops is going to make her feel more guilty." Nadia said behind him. He had been so engrossed that he didn't hear her come in. He turned and smiled, a naked image of her flashed through his head. He shook his head and smiled. That will hunt him for the rest of his life.
"What? Why are you staring at me like that? You know I'm right." she stood beside him and watched them. Her mum was already seated on a side stool.
"Look at her. She panicked."
"Do you know what she did?" he turned to her, then back at the sulking Chordis.
"I can bet it's a bad thing. She left you there? Wait…! She fired you? Nah. She won't sulk if she fired you." she shook her head and clicked her teeth with her tongue.
"She left me at the hall. Does she think I'm an old timer?" he scoffed and folded his hands.
"So, she's wrong, and you're the victim. Get it done with and stop making her sulk like that. Let's go in."
"Nah. I like the view from here."
"That's my mum you know."
"She was your mum when she left me out there." Nadia opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She glared at him then turned towards the entrance.
"Wait for me." he ran to catch up with her. "I'm sorry. I was just pissed."
"Suit yourself. I'm going to my room." she said and took another route. Neo growled, rolled his eyes and walked into the living room.
"Here he is." she said and stood up energetically. "I'm sorry I left you there." she said.
His stony gave shut her up before she could think of a new word to say.
"I'm sorry she did that. I don't know why she needs a financial advisor if she'll still go ahead with her plans."
"By her plans you mean financial mistakes?" Mr Chordis nodded.
"This guy gets it."
"Max!" she called her husband to order and eyed him religiously.
"Listen, she can be a lot but… give her a chance to make up for today."
"I'm his employer!"
"Employers don't leave their employees stranded at galas."
"I panicked. Why is no one taking note of that. Lilian? Lilian?"
"Mrs Chordis? How can I be of assistance?" Lilian scurried in, a little out of breath.
"Arrange a hot bath for me. I'm stressed to my bones. These guys are not making it easy for me." Lilian bowed and ran towards the stairs.
"A little apology does magic honey." Mrs Chordis sighed and shot Neo an apologetic look.
"Fine. What do you want? Money? I've apologized with my eyes."
"That's not an apology silly." Mr Chordis slapped his head with his palm.
"Aren't you supposed to be at work? Why are you here tackling me?"
"May I leave?" Neo asked them bot9h.
"No!" they said together.
"I came because Nadia sent for me. She wants a father daughter hangout."
"Too bad, she said she had a meeting."
"I'm the one she's meeting."
" Can you both stop please!" they turned to look at him. "Please just stop or permit me to leave. I had a really difficult time finding my way back here. I'm really stressed and I can't take this from you."
"Ruth?" Mrs Chordis yelled
"Ma'am?"
"Escort Neo to his room and help him out. He needs to be relaxed." she turned to Neo and said; "I'm sorry for today. Meet me in my office by 9 pm prompt. We'll talk properly." Neo nodded and followed Ruth. He was too tired to speak, let alone answer her with the words trooping into his head. He needed rest. Plenty of it. He resolved the situation in his head. While the Chordis will sleep at night, he'll sneak around and find whatever he could. But first, he needed to sleep.
"How was today?" Ruth asked as they got to his room. She bent over and adjusted the neatly arranged bed.
" Good. Thank you."
"Should I prepare your hot bath?" she asked already heading for the bathroom.
"Whatever. I don't care."
"Okay." she giggled and bit her lower lips.
"Ruth. On a second thought, I'll take a cold shower. You can leave now." she frowned, curtsied and slowly stepped out. Was she trying to seduce him? With her masculinity? Hell no!
~~~
At around 7:30, Neo walked into the library. He hoped, no, prayed Nadia was there. Maybe doing some research or reading a fantasy tale of why tall men fucked rough. That made him laugh.
"What are you doing here?" Nadia looked up from the book she was reading.
"I came to read." he lied and walked up to a shelf by the side.
"That shelf is filled with girly books." she said and turned her head to her book.
"I thought you were supposed to be on a date with your father." he said as he moved to another shelf.
"He bailed on him. Had other pressing things."
"Guess you're stuck with me now."
"On the contrary, Tamera is supposed to be here any moment." she said, her eyes not leaving her book.
"No research today?"
"I'm trying to read, Neo."
"And I see that."
"Good. Shush! Get going."
"I'm sorry about earlier." he said softly. He meant it. He knew she was angry with him. He could sense it even with the way she spoke to him. Nadia slammed her book shut and turned her head to his side.
"What about earlier?" she blinked.
He swallowed the lump in his throat and took deep breaths.
"Fucking me earlier or refusing to go to my mum earlier?"
"Ehm… first, I'm not sorry about fucking you. I could do that right now if I have the chance. I'm sorry about your mum earlier. I was pissed. I know I shouldn't have spoken to you like that."
"You weren't rude."
"Still. You're the lady, I'm supposed to be gentle manly towards you. As it should be." he said and sat a few inches away from her.
"Okay." she shrugged and opened her book again.
"So we're cool?"
"Yeah."
"You sure?"
"Duh…yeah."
"You don't sound like we're cool." he teased and waited for her to look at him. When she did, he held her chin and stared into her eyes.
"I want your eyes to tell me we're cool. I'm really sorry Mama." he said and licked his lips. Nadia's cheek burned red under his embrace.
"Let go of me." she said and blinked.
"Look into my eyes and tell me we're cool." he tightened his grip on her chin in a way that didn't hurt her. She smirked.
"We're cool." she said and looked into his eyes. "Happy?" she beat his hand off her chin and exhaled, fanning herself. She was hot, hot from his embrace, hot everywhere. He shouldn't be doing this to her.
"So what are you reading?" he asked and shifted closer.
"A distracting book."
"I could be your distraction."
"Can you stop. It's getting creepy. What the fuck do you want, I'm not comfortable, you're making me hot everywhere." she blurted out in frustration. Neo was taken aback.
He sighed. He was hot too, he needed her. She was worth being his dangerous distraction, just for a moment.
"I want this with you."
"Sex?" she smirked
"Maybe. I want an interesting stay here."
"You're not sure what you want." she kept the book by her side and made to stand up. Neo grabbed her hands and dragged her to sit on him. She gasped. He was solid underneath.
"Neo!"
"I know what I want and who I want it with. Don't deny me my right, or fun." he pushed her waist up and down his hardness. Nadia closed her eyes and tipped her head.
"Tamera will be here any moment."
"Whatever. We could do it quickly." he whispered and fanned hot breaths on her neck.
"No. We'll wait for her to come and go."
"Come on. I'm having a meeting with your mom in a bit."
"She'll be here in no time."
"Miss Nadia?" the voice
called from outside.
"Be right there Tamera." she shrugged and ran towards the door. Neo groaned.