" Greeting Father," Norman greeted as he stood by Cordelia's side with a slight smile on his face.
Clearing his throat, " Have a seat Mr Black." He gestured with his hands.
Lady Cecily had regained herself and gracefully sat down, as she opened a bottle of water and poured it into a class, taking a sip, she asked " So… when did you get married…how did this even happen."
" Well we got married a week ago and as for how we got married… you'll know I'm due time… Lady Cecily, today we are here to ask for your blessings," she smiled at Lady Cecily as she picked a glass of wine to drink taking her sit.
Fists clenched tightly under the table, Lady Cecily gave her a tight lipped smile.
"Well then Cordelia," nodding at her.
Then she reached out to take a glass of water.
" I'd like to ask though, where my lovely sister is."
The glass of water in her hands trembled in her hands for a second, before she cleared her throat and answered her.
" Matilda went on a vacation with a few friends of hers."
" Okay then," she saw the slight shaking of the glass when.
' Hmm it was either she was lying to me or trying to hide something from me, well either way it's alright, whatever it is Matilda was up to can't be hidden from me.'
Mr Norman just sat down quietly with a slight smile that played on his lips, his presence was quite impossible to ignore, her dad on the other hand had been trying to engage Mr Black in a conversation.
Her dad later went to his study with Norman tailing behind him, he told her he wanted to speak a few words to Norman in private.
Cordelia decided to use her time here to do something useful, by this time, her stepmother usually clocked out of the house every 6pm to see her friend who was a distant neighbour. She was going to do a little search in Lady Cecily's personal room to see what she could find.
As she got into the room she left the door slightly ajar so she could hear when someone was approaching, she was going to try and find anything suspicious she could get her hands on. The first thing she did was head to the drawer and pull them open, to see if she could find any bag or package or even a bottle where just maybe the poison she fed her was. She searched the drawers on her vanity table and the one close to her bedside and tried to see if she could find any hidden compartments but she couldn't find anything.
As she continued her search, she felt the wood on the floor that was close to the bed cabinet was a little weird, she knelt down and knocked on it and it sounded empty then she proceeded to pull on the wood, which she succeeded in, it was quite easy the wood could be removed and put back in place with ease, well she saw a small box. There was a bit of noise coming from the hallway, she quickly picked the box and put the piece of wood back where it was and then quickly put something under the desk and in some other inconspicuous places before quickly heading out.
" Honey what are you doing up there."
She almost let out a scream, her heart leaped in her chest because she was startled by the voice, it was Lady Cecily.
" I just came up to check if there was anything I forgot in my room, and I missed it too," she paused " and why are you asking me that question? The last time i checked this is my father's house."
" I was just asking, I meant no harm, ever since your departure everyone seemed to have carried on well without you, it was like you were never here and of course it is your father's house," she said with her never leaving plastic smile.
" Well I'll take my leave now Lady Cecily." And walked past her and quickly headed to the dinning room and put the box in her bag and headed to the living room.
After an entire hour her dad and Norman finally came out. Then she went up to Norman and grabbed his arms. He looked a little bit startled by her action but the smile on his face didn't leave.
" Dad we need to start heading back now, it's getting quite late."
Her father beamed a smile at her, " Well then daughter, we'll see some other time, you see yourself out, you pops is tired."
As they headed outside and got to her car, Cordelia realized that Norman was tailing behind her and she couldn't find an extra car anywhere.
" Where is your car?"
" Well isn't it obvious? It isn't with me here, you my wife will be dropping me off at North Wings, take it as your payment for tonight."
She knew where North Wings was located, it's was pretty popular, it was the parking lot of his company. And she didn't mind taking him there, this would be her way of saying thank you, although she was beginning to feel a little light headed.
" Hop on in husband. ahhh," she wobbled a little bit and almost stumbled but she didn't fall, she found herself in his arms for the second time in a week.
She struggled out of his arms and stood back on her feet, " Thanks for the catch."
She opened the car door and sat down and waited for him to get in before zooming off.
As the car glided through the busy road, she could feel her eyes blur slightly then an awful migraine hit her, " Tssh," she hissed and her gripe tightened on the steering wheel.
The ride was painfully awkward, the sound of car honks was the only thing that could be heard.
He sat beside her, one hand casually against the door tapping on his phone, like this was a regular evening for him.
As she pulled up to the parking lot she released a quiet breath of relief, then turned off the engine. Then he stepped out of the car and out of courtesy she came down too, smoothing her dress as she approached him.
" Thank you for tonight," she began, stretching her hands to shake his. " I really-"
Her words caught in her throat as the world seemed to be swaying around her. Her vision swirled into a blur of black with intense ringing in her ears, and before she could finish her sentence her knees gave away.
Norman surprised, quickly caught her before she hit the ground. Her body stopped in his hands, then became wobbly. " Cordelia?" he called out tapping her cheeks lightly but her head rolled against his arms, " C'mon... Cordelia." Then he used his free hand to check her pulse, it was really weak against his fingers.
With a low curse, he shifted her weight and hoisted her onto his shoulders but not with so much ease, she was a little heavy but it was nothing he couldn't handle. He reached into his pocket with his free hands and brought out his phone and dialed a number. " Get down here now, Austin," he ordered when his assistant answered. Bring the keys to my car and contact James to head to the villa, right now."
Within a few minutes, a handsome man rushed out of the building, it was the guy who was with him during the bid project. His eyes widened when he saw the sight in front of him but he did say a word. They headed to his car and he opened the car door for Norman, then assisted him in putting her in the back of the car.
" I called him sir, he said he was already on his way down the house." Norman nodded at him and opened the driver's seat and slid into it and reversed out of the parking lot.
As he reversed out of the lot, his sharp eyes caught movement in the rear view mirror. A black car that looked suspicious. His jaw tightened. He made another call. " I've got company, help me handle it."
The line went dead.
He glanced towards Cordelia, her head rested against the chair of the car. There was visible sweat on her face and her face was scrunched up, looking very uncomfortable. For a brief moment his hardened expression softened.
" She is quite the beauty," he murmured under his breath, his eyes lingering on her before turning them back to the road.