His Little Maid

Chapter 8

It’s been a few days since the time when Lark and John went to do something about their ‘work’. Litch had been so worried when she saw him came back with such a dark expression on his face. Whatever happened about his job, it definitely wasn’t good.

He surprised her by asking for her presence that day, she was reluctant at first, fear lacing through her spine as she took in his mood. Nevertheless, she went with him inside his room. She’s never really went there unless it’s to clean. The first time she’d been there was still at the back of her mind.

She saw him sit down on his bed and he motioned for her to his side. Litch had no idea what he wanted but her heart started to run a mile. Silently she went near him, standing in front of him short of a step. He gazed up to her from the bed and the fatigue and tiredness was clear in his eyes.

It was so painful to look at that she can’t help but hug him close to her. It was improper but it was what she think he needed at the moment. She could feel his steep breath as she stood so close to him. She was thankful that he didn’t lash out at her or get out of her hold.

Slowly, the tension dissipitated from his body, his shoulder relaxing as he wound his arms across her side to place it on the low of her back. They stayed like that for a few minutes before Licht took a step back, red marring her face. It was clear that he doesn’t want to let go yet but did so when she leaned away.

“Uhm,” Licht started embarrassed. Did she really just hugged her employer to comfort him? Sure he was spoiling her a bit by giving her the garden but it was still rude of her to be too comfortable of him.

“I’m so sorry, I just...uhm..wanted to..uhmm.” She mumbled out unsure, why did she even did that? She just, when he looked at her like that it was as if she wanted to take away the burden that he was clearly carrying. As absurd as it sounds, she wanted to share his pain.

Lark smiled at her albeit it didn’t reach his eyes. It made her want to cage him in her arms again but decided against it, she gripped her hands at her back to stop herself from hugging him again.

“It’s okay, thank you for what you did.” The gratitude was sincere and she could only nod in acceptance.

Licht looked at her worriedly. “Is, is everything alright Lark?” she dared to question but he simply shook his head.

“Everything’s alright.” Again with that sad smile. She doesn’t appreciate him lying to her but who was she to meddle with what he was doing. She hardly knows what the man’s work is, nor does she have any right to know.

Thinking back on that day almost cause a frown to marr Licht’s lips. From that day on, Lark and John had been busy talking about their work. They even missed their lunch sometimes or they don’t even eat a single thing at all.

The three of them are so worried about their health. The times to go out of the villa to ‘work’ has also increased, and every time they went home, the darker their eyes get. If she could, Licht will strap Lark to his bed, force feed him and lock him away to rest. Whatever this job was, it’s eating away at them.

She has no clue why she cared so much. But just chalked it up to her being a nagging person. She's used to take care of her workaholic mom and sister. Her frown deepened, she just can't take it that he's burning himself away from whatever problem he was facing.

Her musing was cut short when she heard voices on one of the rooms on the upper floors. She had been on her way back from cleaning Larks room, but it was clear that he wasn’t sleeping there given the untouched bed. Due to her sharp hearing, she could hear voices but it was too garbled to understand.

She decided to stay clear from where the sound came from but when she recognized those voices, curiosity won out and she tiptoed closer to the room where she was hearing the voices.

The door was ajar, that’s why she could hear them. A few more steps and she was plastered on the wall beside the partially opened door. Now that she was this close, she could make out a few words.

“They’ve been seen to this part and the opposite. They’ve been all over the territory.”

“Derek and a few of his men were able to catch a few of them but they always get away.”

"Where did they put those fiends?"

“I made sure they’re placed nowhere near him.”

Licht sucked in a breath as she listened in on the conversation. It was clear that those voices really belonged to Lark and John and they were talking about very alarming things, like intruders and territory.

She tried very hard to even out her breathing so they wouldn’t be alerted of her presence and eavedropping. Then they started to quiet down and she feared that they have heard her.

Taking courage, she tried to take a peek of what the two are doing. They are now talking in hushed whispers, that even her sharp ears can’t detect. They are hunched over a table, a large map sprawled across it, with a few red marks. It was too far to actually see what map it was.

Lark suddenly punched at the table, causing splinters and the poor wood to break. John was quick in trying to calm his friend but she could see that even he was tensed.

What is happening?

When it was clear that they were close to finishing their meeting, Licht decided that it was the time she highlighted it out of there.

She was breathing heavily when she ran downstairs, straight to the kitchen where she saw Clara making a steaming pot of tea. She almost scared the living daylights out of the poor lady but she simply took a seat to calm her raising heart.

Clara was clearly worried, she immediately went to her side with a cup of tea and honey on her hands. “Are you alright?” She questioned her, placing the things on her hands on the table. Licht took deep breaths before answering the girl.

“I'm fine, just a mild case of hyperventilation. Always had those.” She lied through her teeth. Clara slumped down on the seat beside her, releasing a relieved sigh as she put a hand on her chest.

“Oh, you scared me there, I thought you saw a ghost with how pale you looked.” Clara mumbled out, laughing at the thought.

Licht tried to smile but it didn’t reach her eyes. “That smell good Clara.” She tried trying to change topic, it worked.

“Oh this? I was just trying out the new tea Maris bought, it had a nice scent to it, right?” Clara said enthusiastically.

“Here have a sip, it taste best with honey. It might help you calm down.” Licht gratefully took the offered drink so it could calm her frazzled mind. What was that thing she heard back there? Is Lark some kind of a criminal or something?

Is he in the Mafia?

Is that why he was so rich?

Is he taking lives that's why he always appeared darker everytime he went home?

Is she actually working under a criminal syndicate?

Many thoughts ran pass her mind making it hurt. Licht sipped a mouthful of the calming tea, not minding the burns it caused. She was somewhat coherent now that she had time to breath.

‘Think logically about this Licht, he can’t be a dangerous criminal, right?’ Her mind was desperately trying to cover up the facts that she heard.

‘Maybe Lark is actually into real estate that’s why he was talking about territories.’ She tried desperately to pacify her mind but her logic shoot at her. ‘Isn’t it supposed to be called properties? Not a bloody territory like in some gangster movie. And what about those people they ‘caught’ what are those?’ Sometimes Licht hates the logical side of her mind but she could see the point she wants to avoid.

She was taken out of her reverie when Maris walked in on the kitchen. She smiled at them warmly before taking a seat next to them.

“So you did try the tea. It was delicious and fragrant, isn’t it.” the older woman spoke to Clara, Licht simply watched them. Still sipping the tea that's fogging up her confused mind.

“Does it taste good Licht?” She was taken aback when Maris talked to her but she regained composure. “Uhm, Yes. It has a very relaxing quality to it.” She answered absentmindedly. The ever perceptive Maris took notice and of course, asked her about it.

“Something going on in your mind?” She asked slyly, although a worried tone could be detected. Licht looked up at the older woman. Maris had known Lark since he was a baby, so surely she knows what job her employers are doing. Licht hesistated at first but relented.

“Well it’s nothing, just wandering what our boss’ work is for him to go home all tired.” She tried to make it sound as sincere and she was glad that she didn’t took notice that she was prying. Maris is a great woman. Surely she wouldn't let those two guys fall into the wrong path.

"Hmm." Maris crossed her hands on her chest and looked like she was thinking. A mischievous twinkle appeared in her eyes. She laughed loudly when she saw their curious faces.

"Are you worried that you're actually working with some criminal?" Maris laughed, guessing the worst thoughts in her head.

Licht heart rate picked up but she laughed along her. 'Yes! It's all I'm thinking about. Bloody hell.' She thought in her mind but the smile was still etched in her face. She willed her heart to slow down before the older woman answered seriously.

"Well office work can be a killer you know. And managing a lot of business and almost a whole village can be taxing." Maris laughed again at the pun she made. She and Clara can't help but chuckle at the older woman's antics. Until what she said settled on their mind.

"What a whole village? He's taking care of a whole village. What is he a mayor or something?" Licht shot up from her seat and leaned so close to the older woman. Even Clara was agitated beside her.

"A whole village." Licht can hear Clara whisper in wonder. Again, Maris just answered with a laugh. "Well he's not a mayor, per se. But more like a leader, yeah that's it. Most of the people on that village is working directly or indirectly to his company and well he treats him more of a family than workers." Maris explained.

"I see." Licht slumped down on her seat. That sounded logical, but mind blowing. Just how freaking rich is this guy. Why isn't he in some top 100 or something list. He got both ten money and looks to clinch a spot on those kind of magazines.

"If you're wondering how he stayed undetected. Well he just doesn't want those things shoved down his throat." Maris answered her thoughts. Licht thought about it carefully.

"Then why do they look like that everytime they get home. Is something the matter with their company or something?" She asked and she noted Maris drastic change of mood. She looked angry instantly.

"That's because of some little rugrats that are trying to intrude on his business and cause havoc. You know those kind of leeching small companies that tries to spy or tresspas on a larger one." She supplied, Licht absorbed all of this. It didn't sound unbelievable but she felt like something's off. As if there was something she wasn't telling them.

She decided to drop the subject and instead just investigate further in the future. She changed the subject again, Maris appreciated the deviation from such sore topic. They were merrily talking about simple things like a new bloom or tea leaves when the two men barged in.

Licht saw Lark sought her out with his eyes. The dark circle on his eyes are becoming prominent each passing day and she worried how much stress he's under right now.

As if both of them thought the same, Licht and Clara went to their respective partners and forcibly made them sit. The latter poured them tea, and the former placed a plate full of food.

"You will finish those..." Licht said sternly.

"And you will rest!" Clara said, having a momentary burst of bravery.

Maris almost spit out her tea at the way the two handled both her alpha and beta.

My, to think the day she would see those two brats be taken over by two human girls would ever come. Miracles do exist! Maris quitely snickered as they both relented and obeyed their mates.