Chapter 44 My Little Troublemaker
Clio
The sound of soft snickering sent shivers down my spine and I shot my head up to look at the dark silhouette standing in the doorframe, blocking the view to the other side.
My heart trembled as I awkwardly sat on the last step of the staircase while the tall dark figure leaned in towards me as he crouched down. I felt my soul leave my body when he came down towards me and my body shook in horror.
"Oh?" The voice was familiar, "Who do we have here?" I felt the air get caught up in my throat as I stared at him wide-eyed, "Isn't it our cute little intern?"
My heart skipped a beat, but a realization came to me.
"D-director?" As my eyes focused on him, with the little bit of light in the area, I recognized his features.
"Bingo~" He booped my nose and chuckled but after that, I felt myself calm down a little, "Now, what are you doing down here?" He asked and I panicked a little.
Ah, shit! I had no idea he'd be here too! It didn't even cross my mind that there'd be a third person in the house!
I gulped, "Um," I glanced at the door behind him, "I was just curious,"
He leaned to the side and blocked my view, "Curious?" He glanced back at the door, "Ah," He looked back at me, "About the cold air?"
"Yes..." I nodded and I think he smiled, I couldn't be sure since it was dark.
"Oh, there are chillers down here," He moved his hands towards me which confused me, "I turned them on because I was working here and it was too hot in the basement." And out of the blue, he picked me up in his arms.
?!?!?!
"Sir!?!?" I was baffled at his action while he remained unaffected. He shifted my weight on one arm and gave me a sly look.
"Let's get you out of here." He looked up at the door, "Your boss is looking for you, and he isn't very happy."
I was still in a state of confusion when I turned to look up the stairs after listening to his words.
!?!??!
I saw Matthew there, the front half of his body that was facing us was dark and the first sight of him was horrifying. It was like looking at a dark figure whose dark pupils in white eyes were the only thing visible.
I felt my heart skip a beat out of fear.
"Clio," He said my name, and my brain affirmed that it was indeed Matthew, "What are you doing down there?" He asked calmly but there was something fierce in his voice.
Oh, God... Is he mad at me?
"The cutie was just curious." Azef replied for me as he began to ascend the stairs with me in his arms, "No need to get worried Matt," The director's voice held a sort of playfulness, "He's safe."
???
I didn't know what to make out of those words. But I wondered if my disappearance made Matthew panic.
I pursed my lips as I felt guilty all over again and this time, it was enough to make me not think about the basement.
Shit,
I didn't think this through. With how Rameen just died, it's reasonable to think that he'd get worried if a guest of his disappeared out of the blue and didn't even answer.
Oh dammit...
And,
I looked back at Azef as he casually carried me all the way up with just one arm.
"Sir, I can walk by myself," I said
"It's fine, we've already reached the top." He replied and I looked back at the top with my brain in awe.
Damn, how strong is he?!
Matthew moved from the doorframe and Azef crossed the door, closing it behind us.
"Clio," Matthew called my name again and I flinched.
"Sorry boss," I couldn't meet his eyes, "You were busy on the call so I went around to see the house..." I fiddled with my fingers, "Didn't mean to be a snoopy person." I pouted my lips and kept looking down in shame.
"Now, now," Azef brought his other hand to my waist, confusing me again, "You both can make up after I leave." And he handed me over to Matthew
!?!?!?!?
Wait, what?!? What just happened?!
Matthew casually took me from the director and I was flabbergasted.
"Uh-um, excuse me?!" Why am I being carried again!? It didn't even make sense that I was carried up the stairs! "I can walk on my own."
"Stay still," Matthew ordered in a stern tone and I did exactly that
!?!?
And he then took me back to the lounge while Azef waved at me, "Have fun!" He didn't move from his place when we turned the corner and went back to the lounge.
It made me wonder if Azef was going to go back down again but I didn't get the time to dwell on it as Matthew sat me down on the couch and crouched on the floor next to me.
!!
He then looked into my eyes, making me nervous.
"Are you angry?" I asked softly as I nervously looked at me.
"..." He stared at me without a word, then stood up, "I'll get you some water." And then he walked away
"Okay..." I held my hands nervously.
Damn, he's definitely mad...
I tapped my feet anxiously on the floor.
Well, I knew this would happen. I glanced back at him and noticed him filling a glass of water from the water dispenser. After he filled the black glass up, he turned to glance at me
!!!
I shot my head straight again and continued to sit there nervously.
I came here to be a support but instead, I just scared him by disappearing...
After a few moments, Matthew came and sat down next to me, "Here," He handed me the glass filled with water and I stared at it. Because the glass was pitch black, I couldn't see anything inside.
But it was pretty with gold delicate embossed patterns.
"So," He asked, "What made you go down there?"
"Um," I gulped, "Nothing really," I nervously took a large gulp of water, "I was intrigued by the cold air..." He watched me as I drank
"I see,"
I stopped and parted my lips from the cup, "You're not angry, are you?"
He shook his head, "I'm not,"
I felt my heart calm down, "You're really nice boss," I brought the cup down to my lap, "I keep doing these awkward things to you and keep letting them slide."
"Hmm," He nodded, not giving me a specific answer, and that got me feeling things and I had to ask the reason for it, "Why?" I asked, "Why are you so nice to me?"
"You think I'm nice to you?" His stern expression finally changed and a subtle smirk came across his face.
"Yes," I nodded
"It's good that you noticed that." There was a mischievous look in his eyes, "Because you're the only one I'm this nice to."
!?!?!
His answer shocked me. I wasn't expecting him to say something like that, especially because words like those have a deeper meaning. I looked away for a moment and drank some more water.
The room seemed to sway slightly as I took a final sip of the water. It was a refreshing gulp, or so it seemed, but a heaviness began to creep over me like a thick, velvety blanket.
Hmm?
At first, I thought it was simply the fatigue from the long day catching up to me, but a growing drowsiness washed over me, rendering my limbs heavy and uncooperative.
What is happening?
My head grew foggy, and coherent thoughts slipped through my grasp like grains of sand. I tried to speak, to voice my distress, but my tongue felt thick and unresponsive. Helplessness set in as I fought against the encroaching darkness, desperately trying to understand what was happening.
"You look like you're really tired." Matthew didn't move, he quietly watched me.
"Huh?" I shook my head, "I was fine, until a moment ago,"
"You should sleep," He said calmly, "We have a spare room upstairs, you can use that."
Something felt odd, "Um," I tried to stand up, "I'll get going," I blinked, trying to shake off the strange sensation, but it was as if my eyelids were weighted with lead. The world around me blurred, the edges of my vision turning hazy and indistinct. Panic flickered briefly within me as I realized something was terribly wrong, but it was swiftly smothered by the relentless pull of sleep, "I should go home," I tried to walk but my world suddenly spun, throwing me off balance and I found myself falling to the ground.
OH NO!!!
I closed my eyes in shock but somehow the hard impact on the floor never came.
Instead, I felt his strong arms envelop me, lifting me with a tenderness that belied his strength.
???
I felt myself get lifted up from the ground, like being cradled in a protective embrace.
My head rested against his chest, and I could hear the steady rhythm of Matthew's heartbeat. The world seemed to blur around me but I knew I was in his arms. I mean, who else could magically appear out of nowhere and pick me up?
"See," He said softly, "You're not okay."
"But," I gulped as I found myself unable to think much
"It's alright," He said as he carried me, "I'll take you to the room."
The sensation of being in his arms, of being carried up the stairs with such effortless power, filled me with a strange sense of security for some reason, although this whole situation was a little bizarre.
WOW
Both the bosses are so strong!
My eyelids felt heavy and I couldn't think straight but still, it made me wonder.
What is wrong with me? Why do I suddenly feel so drowsy?
....
The sound of his footsteps with the rain in the background was soothing, it further drifted me to sleep. If I was a little more sober, I would have thought that it was like I had been drugged or something but I didn't get the time to think about it at all and drifted away.
>>Matthew
Gently, I lowered him onto the bed, the softness of the sheets cradling his form. After laying him down, I sat down at the lower edge of the bed, staring at him as he slept quietly.
"Is he an idiot?" I whispered, "Or is it that he's started to trust me?" I wondered as my fingers traced a slow, delicate path along his bare leg, savoring the silken texture of his skin. It was a caress born of affection, one that I never thought I'd have for anyone.
I leaned in closer, my lips brushing against his ankle, placing a gentle kiss that carried all the ardor of my desire.
To think that the Moon Goddess would give me a mate. I can't tell if she intends to torture me or not because the mate bond doesn't just focus on this feeling of attraction.
I kept my eyes on Clio, and the more I look at him, the more I wish he was a female but maybe this was better. If he was a woman, I would crave a family with her.
Moving upwards, I placed feather-light kisses along the curve of his calf. His skin tasted sweet, like the most delicate of confections, and I couldn't resist the urge to savor every inch of him.
In the quiet of that room, with the soft rustle of sheets and the intoxicating scent of his skin, I slid my finger on his lower leg, "You're the type of person that can't be left unattended." I smirked, "My little troublemaker."
I sighed.
I took my eyes off him for a moment and he went into that one place he shouldn't set foot into.
Aside from Harou, Clio looks like he could be formidable as well. Especially because I can't bring myself to get mad at him.
I watched my mate sleep and I was very much tempted to slip into the sheets next to him. I stared at his lips and the desire grew
But unfortunately, I had to look at the body in the basement.