She snaps her head up, eyes widening in surprise aimed at him. He continues with finality. "..and you need not concern yourself with why nor demur on my decisions."
"Yes." She complies with gaze downcast again. "I apologize for any rudeness."
His eyes soften the slightest bit while he stares down at her, but yet his overall facial expression remains cryptic. He leans his cane against the kitchen island. Then he takes a step closer to her, reaches down and cups her face with both of his hands.
"Never.." His tone grave as he leans down and plants a soft kiss swiftly on her forehead before completing. "..ever apologize, for you have been like a mother figure to me all these years."
Mrs.Agnelli's smile reappears. "Alright, Vladimir"
Right then, something furry brushes against my sandalled feet. And before I know it, a yelp of fright escapes my lips as thoughts flash of whatever it was, could possibly be a rat.
Involuntarily, I jump and end up pressing against the half open door. Right before my terrible fall, within those seconds I catch a glimpse of Haruki the cat near my feet licking at the egg droplets.
I should have wiped my feet clean...
The door gives away, opening fully and I collide unceremoniously to the floor, the potatoes flying out of the basket.
Horrified, I stare at the tiles momentarily. I was sprawled over in an awkward position, right infront of the two other current occupants of the kitchen.
Right infront of him!
Biting my bottom lip in utter embarrassment, I slowly crawl onto my knees. In the process, I dare to look in his direction.
Those haunting eyes of his sent a cold chill of dread sweeping across my body. Immediately averting my gaze, I hasten to pick up the scattered potatoes and place them into the basket.
"Cara mia!" Mrs.Agnelli's concerned voice drifts over. "Are you alright?"
Her skirts ruffling as she rushes over and kneels down while touching my elbow gently. I merely nod a yes, my voice was having a difficult time flowing out of an ever constricting throat.
Why can't you find your words?
He can't be effecting you this much. He shouldn't be!
But how could I quit being afraid now, after seeing what he's capable of doing and the power he holds?
Right about then, he decides to speak. "I see the rodent has found its way here in less then 24 hours." His voice overshadows malignancy.
My lips press into a thin line of ire as I place the remaining potato into the basket. At the corner of my eyes, Mrs.Agnelli gives him a questioning look while replying. "Rodent? There are no rodents here, as a precaution the exterminators arrive once every month and they have always found the kitchen clean."
She is oblivious to his indirect insult towards me. It seems she isn't aware yet of the hostility he harbors for me. And now I was awaiting him to point out that he was labelling me the rodent.
Instead, he chooses to evade her statement by a brisk departure.
His cane clicked against the floor with a force that wasn't there when he had arrived.
As soon as he was gone and out of earshot, I exhale in relief.
"Well that was strange!" Mrs.Agnelli remarks in confusion. Then she looks at me with concern. "Why did you fall? Was there a rodent you saw ?"
"No.." I answer glumly. "Your cat scared me again."
She lets out a chuckle. "Haruki likes you! He never interacts close enough with anyone here except for me and this is a first!"
As if knowing he was being mentioned, the black cat materializes from out of the open pantry door and scurries towards me.
He lets out a meow and makes him self comfortable inside the basket full of potatoes. This little act of his lightens my glumness and I chuckle. "Aww you're so adorable."
I stroke it's glossy raven fur and he instantly begins to purr, causing me to laugh more.
Mrs.Agnelli wiggles her brows as she reiterates. "See that! My baby likes you!"
◆◆◆
I was back in my room, contemplating whether I should try my luck at calling Huntingon Hall Academy since I missed Bilal terribly, when a soft knock ensues at my door.
"Who is it?" I query.
"It's me, Anya." Comes a swift reply. "Miss Rachael summons you to dine downstairs with the rest of the family."
Opening the door, I offer her a kind smile and object. "Thanks but I'll be dining with Mrs.Agnelli for breakfast."
It was true, an hour ago after helping Mrs.Agnelli set the dining table with the porcelain China dish-ware, I had insisted on having breakfast with her in the servants quarter.
She had obliged without reluctance and said she would summon me as soon as the breakfast was delivered to the manor.
"But you can't have breakfast with us!" Anya exclaims, wide eyed.
"Miss Rachael will not allow it!"
"Don't worry.." I assure with a nod. "Tell her I insist."
I felt the urge to admit to Anya the sole reason for my avoidance of dining with the Nielsens was that jerk face.
Anya departs with an uncertainty while shaking her head and I close the door.
No later than five minutes, another knock ensues at the door and i wonder why Mrs.Agnelli hasn't rung my phone yet. Opening the door I'm accosted by none other than Rachael, Katie and Bev.
"Good morning sunshine!!" Katie and Bev greet in cheerful unison as they throw their slender arms around me. I nearly topple backwards from their weights combined while I glimpse Rachael smiling at us.
"What's this we hear !?" Bev begins in a stern voice as she pulls back. "That you refuse to dine with us?!"
"Are we that unbearable?" Inquires Katie, failing to keep a serious expression.
"No! Uh.." My words falter. " I..um-"
"We won't take no for an answer, dear!" Rachael interjects and reaches to clasp my hand into hers. "After all you've done for me, I can't allow you to dine in the servants quarter when your my honoured guest!"
The other two girls sound their agreements with emphatic nods.
Before I can voice a protest, I'm being shoved and pulled out of my room.
Great! Sarcastic thoughts fill my mind. Just great ! So much for Mrs.Agnelli to call me.
My lips set into a grim line as the women lead me through the corridors.
◆◆◆
As soon as we arrive at the foyer stairwells, I spot Grigori in a black suit and a tie standing below a few paces away next to Duffield the chauffeur and Arielle.
From a fancy box, Grigori holds out a cigar towards Duffield who examines and briefly sniffs it before handing it back.
Arielle is tugging at Duffield's watch from his wrist, her red Shirley temple curls bouncing in the process. When suddenly she bites his hand and he yelps, snatching his hand away.
She giggles at his reaction, hopping up and down before her eyes land on me descending the steps. She screams happily. "Princess Jasmiiiiiine!!"
And then darts forward, I can only do one thing but smile and hold out my arms towards her. She jumps into my embrace and nearly tugs off my hijab in the process.
"Quit hollering so much, child." Bev comments as she walks past towards Grigori. "You'll cause us to go deaf."
"Shut up Bev!" snaps the red head in my arms.
"Arielle!" Rachael shoots a warning glare at her daughter who in turn promptly sticks her little tongue out in defiance.
Someone's phone starts vibrating.
"Excuse me," Katie begins without meeting anyones gaze as she clutches her phone tightly. " I have to take this call. I'll be right back."
She starts walking away when Rachael halts her by asking. "Who's calling you this early?"
Katie's face flushes red and nervously she states. "It's um just one of the girls from school um needed some umm last minute help with a-an assignment."
Rachael nods in understanding and swiftly her younger sister departs out through the manors entrance doors.
Bev and Grigori are in a lip-lock, while a blushing Duffield turns his
attention away from them to greet me with a good morning.
Right then Bev and Grigori pull apart and Grigori eyes me with a pitiful expression. He only nods his silent greeting.
Why is he looking at me like that ?
"Shall we head in for breakfast?" Rachael reminds.
Duffield departs our company and we make our way through the double swinging doors of the dining hall.
In the vast and opulent dining hall, I spot Serge holding a lively Charlie and happily he waves at me with his free hand while rocking the child in the other.
Seated at the far end of the long table, without his top hat and overcoat yet looking impeccable as he did hours ago, is the cold faced jerk.
He doesn't look up from his newspaper as we enter.
On his left, sits Huxley who lays aside his own newspaper. Huxley beams us a genial smile while getting up and making the long trek over to greet me.
Thankfully he takes Arielle from my arms and has her sit next to him, otherwise the little girl wouldn't quit trying to peek under my hijab.
Everyone takes their seats, I cautiously take mine next to Rachael. Since it was only nine of us at this long table fit for around 200 people, we had to sit at the far end with the jerk seated in the center of the far end.
And he stoutly reclines there as if he is of a Royal bloodline, as if he's the king of this manor. As if that's his rightful place to sit and dictate.
Well in a way he does own this place. The snob looks the part very well, that arrogant aristocratic type.
In a matter of minutes Anya, Mrs.Agnelli and another young maid arrive, carrying platters of food covered by sterling silver lids.
Mrs.Agnelli's gaze flits over me guiltily before she sets her platter down before us.
With one final apologetic look, she departs along with the other two maids in tow. Within seconds they return again with a second sets of platter and then finally a third.
"Katherine is missing.." Vladimir's cool and collected voice states the obvious. "..Why?"
Everyone's attention is drawn towards him. Rachael informs. "Well she said one of her classmates needed help with an assignment so she's on call with her."
Silently, he turns a page in the newspaper while declining her a response or looking her way.
Right then a flushed Katie bursts into the dining hall and hastens to take a seat across from me. It takes her a few seconds to calm her heaving breaths from dashing over.
"Katherine..I find it interesting.." Vladimir begins without looking up from the newspaper. "..you've started taking your studies serious enough to qualify assisting others."
Katie stares at him blankly and the atmosphere of the room grows awkward. Without answering, she casts her gaze down on her lap.
So he continues. "Enlighten me little sister, what base is this assignment upon?"
Katie shifts in her seat with discomfort as her face grows a brighter shade of red.
"Go on" Vladimir insists with an eerie calm from behind the newspaper. "Do tell."
Without meeting any of our gazes, Katie's eyes flit around the room frantically and suddenly resettle on something behind me. She blurts. "Global History!"
Curiously, I take a quick peek behind myself and spot an antique globe propped next to the wall between one of the floor to length windows.
Turning back , I meet her distressed gaze and she averts her attention onto the empty plate infront of her.
"Impressive.." Vladimir remarks while still absorbed in the newspaper. "You must really enjoy it enough that others seek out your help..am I right?"
"Thank you." Katie chuckles nervously. " Well, what can I say? Um I love this subject and it's fun to help others in need of help and um yeah..." She trails off while shooting him furtive glances.
Besides her, Bev snorts and rolls her eyes. Katie elbows her in the ribs to keep quiet.
"Indeed?" Ensues Vladimir's voice in a mild sarcasm.
Unsure of his tone, Katie hesitates for two seconds before affirming. "Yes."
"Fascinating..." He drawls, finally folding the newspaper in half and places it on the corner of the table.
Those calculating sapphire eyes level with the nervous emerald ones and he proceeds. "..for I recall, your semester schedule consists of nothing remotely related to Global History..nor do you have any class today."
She stares at him dumbfounded with her mouth slightly agape for a few seconds. Then her brows furrow in irritation and she questions. "You've looked through my uni schedule ?!"
He evades her question while easing back casually against his chair and regarding her coolly. He replies. "These were exact initial reasons why I would not permit you to attend public academic institutions."
"What reasons!? You don't even know what you're talking about.Why can't you just let me be ?" Katie grits her teeth in anger.
Then she directs her gaze towards Serge and accuses bitterly. "It was you, wasn't it !? You always spy for him and then act all innocent! How much did he provide you to bribe the Uni faculty ?!"
Serge stares with complete guilt down at his plate but Vladimir continues. "Lying is not very becoming of you Katherine. Does fail to shock me the slightest, for that's all they teach you young and impressionable girls at such liberal left wing institutions. To rebel against tradition and family."
Before Katie opens her mouth to protest, Rachael warns sternly. "Vladimir, let it rest."
His demeanor shifts in slight agitation but he keeps his calm as he replies. "Her safety is in question here."
Rachael shakes her head in denial. "No need to look through Katie's Uni schedule. She's perfectly safe there with me as headmistress and besides I've appointed her bodyguards while she's there."
"You most certainly did an excellent job of securing yourself yesterday." He remarks with arid sarcasm. "Excellent enough only to have the bratva fix it for you in the end, dear sister."
Rachael shoots him a death glare. "Don't make a habit of throwing that mistake in my face everytime."
"Tsk tsk..an erroneous decision out of many.." He corrects her smugly, his lips tugging into a slight knowing smirk. "..women and their nonexistent, barely there logic.."
"Don't test my patience." Rachael seethes. "Or I will dine out with the children."
"Stay Rachael, my apologies.." He remarks dryly and then levels his piercing eyes on Katie.
His faint smirk vanishes and an ever austere expression replaces his features as he orders. "Katherine..I'm not done with you, hand over that phone now."
She glares at her older brother incredulously. "No! It's my phone! Why can't you have the decency to respect privacy?!"
"Hand it over, Katherine." His tone growing firmer. "Now."
Deviant Fixation Page 22
