It was soon to be discovered by the housekeeper that Juliette was as bad as Jordan when it came to working endlessly, but at least she kept a predictable schedule and meant every word about getting herself settled in the home as swiftly and efficiently as possible!
Every morning she consistently sat down for a full breakfast, even when Jordan couldn’t, and days she didn’t have lunch meetings, she asked Elisa to make her something to take with her to work. Most often she’d get home too late for a proper dinner time, but she enjoyed sharing a light meal with Elisa in the kitchen and chatting about things until she’d retire for the evening. Sometimes that would be with Theix and a book, but she much preferred the evenings she was able to spend with Jordan whether they were just restful nights reading, or getting up to more lascivious things.
In those few days she’d tracked down a contractor to do demolition and construction on the house, as well as an interior designer to help source any furniture pieces she might be missing and would match the vibe of their gothic little manor home. She’d had the floorplans delivered to make sure there wouldn’t be any issues with the foundation and changing around walls. As well as had all of her things brought out of storage, which left poor Elisa in charge of trying to figure out how to fit all of Juliette’s entire wardrobe of designer clothes, shoes, and jewelry into the master suite.
Today specifically she’d crawled herself out of bed to meet the contractor’s crew at the crack of dawn, with every intention of making sure her office was done start to finish in a single day. At least with the wall work! They were going to have to remove the original door and build a wall of bookshelves in it’s place, and then put a new entrance from the sitting room that adjoined Jordan’s own office.
Juliette rather loved the idea of their offices being the direct opposite of each other and sharing the sitting room as a middle space.
There would need to be bookshelves built in a few other rooms as well, but for now he boxes upon boxes of the things were being tucked away in any corner that was convenient, if they didn’t fit upstairs in one of the guest bedrooms. She hadn’t lied about having a full library’s worth of a collection, as they ranged from very rare antiques simply because they were valuable and old all the way to a more modern selection of topics she simply just loved to read. Most seemed to lean towards mysteries, thrillers, and occasionally a bit of horror, but she did seem to have every book ever written by a romance author named Hannah Lucas, whom she was quite happy to brag to Elisa about being her one true best friend soon to be Maid of Honor.
At the moment, Juliette was set up in the foyer with her iPad, trying to note down every item that came out of the sitting room and the tea room that was soon to be her new office. Keepings notes about them in a spreadsheet so she’d know what they were getting packed into and if they’d need to be returned to the sitting room or simply spread out somewhere else in the home. Leaving the upstairs to be kept under Elisa’s watchful eye.
Of course she froze as still as a statue when she heard her mother’s voice chime at the front door.
“My goodness, it is so much more than I imagined!”
Natalie Byron strode in, patting the arm of the witless construction worker that had apparently been charmed into escorting her into the home. Juliette twisted her mouth to the side, but finally just sighed and shifted around an end table to greet the elder woman,
“Mother, I am quite busy today. I honestly do not have the time for one of your tea parties,” she insisted.
“Well, darling! I can see that! Oh, isn’t it such a glorious thing being able to redecorate a new home? You have been refusing to answer my calls, sweetness, so I thought I might pay you a visit directly and see how the wedding planning and home making has been coming along… He does have quite the dark sinister tastes, doesn’t he,” she remarked curiously, stopping near a piece of artwork leaning up against a storage crate.
“Let mother help! I know my way around a good contractor and mummy deserves a tour after you’d left me waiting for so long.”
Juliette frowned, as there really wasn’t enough time for her mother’s brand of nonsense if she wanted to be sure walls and doors were up by the evening. Though, if she didn’t let her mother have a look now, lord knows when the woman would pop up again!
“…I suppose once we’re through emptying out the rooms and I have these pieces logged down I can have Elisa make us some tea. But you need to sit down over there and behave! Leave the staff alone!” insisted Juliette.
“Honestly, darling, you act as if I will cause a scene!”
This was going to be a long day, Juliette thought.
It had been by his own hand that he welcomed this amount of chaos into the home. Though maybe he had been thinking that the arrangement of the very place was suitable enough to just have some furniture moved. A couple pictures and the likes. Not having expected that a whole demo and reno crew would be wandering into his domain to break gyprock, plaster and floors! Leaving him a little bit –dare he say- nearly territorial to witness that the home that had been his for countless years was going through the extreme version of a material facelift. Balking more than once or twice when his study had been impeded upon! Finding rather quickly he was not a very good sport about having the one area entered and left by strangers with power tools.
Pressing irritation and hackles up that had more than half a mind to start throwing people out!
It was a real talent for him to suppress the urge. Doubly so when it was trying not to express to Juliette that he was not a fan of his singular real space being stepped into or moved about. Regardless of what she was constructing, he was not a fan.
Much like a badger being annoyed in its burrow, he was liable to snap at anyone at this rate!
But he contained it though he might have fled currently down into the basement to the only other sanctuary he possessed. Assuring no one had witnessed his escape into the safety of the underbelly with laptop and a few files on hand to slide inside. Closing the false door tightly behind with a deep sigh of relief once the sound of hammers and pounding materials became a dull ebb. It didn’t particularly feel the greatest to listen too when he did have slightly more sensitive hearing.
With a casting of hand in the direction of old mantle, did flame leap to life. Sconces upon walls similarly leapt to bath the large room in gloomy yellow light while vision took due care to consider the rows and rows of books. Arranged very much like a library with a catalogue system should he need it, there were certainly a large arrangement of very odd and strange trinkets. Putting the ones upstairs to proper shame! Yet he felt a renewed energy strike him within this room, no doubt due to some of the items that possessed what one might best described dark energy. Allowing him to gravitate over to one of the large chairs to plop into. Giving a breath once more to exhale strongly from lungs, as he soon set up his makeshift work environment. He just damn well hoped that his office wasn’t going to be completely gone by the time he slipped back up. Otherwise he might be having a rather strong conversation with the lady of the house. Where boundaries had been overstepped.
Doubting she would, but there was always that stray suggestion it could happen.
He just had to remember to appear sooner due to Dominic liable to appear at the house. Knowing the little servant to Augustus was a dutiful employee. Thankfully one of the very few he didn’t personally dislike.
He at least had an hour or more, surely.
“Do you have any idea how expensive these are – why, they must be originals! True priceless antiques! You know, they don’t even make furniture of this caliber any more?” chirped Natalie Byron, who was presently ignoring Juliette’s instructions to just sit in a corner and behave, instead choosing to put her hands on every single piece of furniture moved out of the study and tea room.
“That’s not true in the slightest,” muttered Juliette, trying to ignore her. Though she was making sure no one dared to enter nor touch Jordan’s actual office, it seemed he shared her habit of leaving books in random places and she’d paused in her cataloguing to flip through the pages of one.
However once the elder Byron started pulling open drawers, Juliette had to intercede.
“Mother!” she admonished quickly!
Natalie didn’t look the least bit incensed, pulling out some old forgotten notebook to immediately inspect.
“Oh, don’t be so prudish, dear. As the woman of the house, it is well within your right to see every little thing the man has to offer. I mean, who knows what sort of evidence of mistresses and misfortune he has stashed about it this lovely house of his.”
The irony was not lost on Juliette. Of course, it wasn’t mistresses to be found hidden in dressers and shelves but Jordan’s mysterious unbelievable secret. …and she certainly doubted the permission to search for it included her nosey mother being involved!
At least so far in her being more observant, Juliette had learned a few things, albeit none fell into the category of ‘unbelievable’ just yet. She’d surmised by now that Jordan had deep roots in the Mediterranean, as evidence by the artifacts and items that seemed to be most collected. Greece or even the Thrace area of Turkey in terms of origin. That wasn’t much of a surprise, as he tended to fall into cursing in Greek whenever he was frustrated.
Juliette was also starting to suspect these silly allusions of nobility, if perhaps in title only were potentially serious – but again! That wasn’t such a farfetched revelation! Plenty of wealthy people could trace their lineage back to royal bloodlines. If he were some manner of actual duke or prince, it would explain some of the strange behaviors and reasonings behind his personal life, but still didn’t quite answer all of her questions.
The last thing she needed was her mother catching wind of that however, she’d gossip it around town whether it were true or not.
“You’re going to visit his secret dungeons, Mother, if you don’t keep your hands to yourself.” warned Juliette with a sighed.
“Where is that handsome fiancé of yours, dearest? He ought to spend time with me as well before the two of you shut yourselves away from the world.” huffed Natalie, when Juliette had finally decided to just forcibly usher her away from anything she could snoop her way into.
“Off regretting letting me have free reign over his dominion, I am sure,” muttered Juliette. It was really quite amusing to have seen his surprise, but she had warned him that she didn’t do things halfway! If she wanted to have a life here, she fully intended to make it as much as her home as it was his. At least he could rest easy in knowing she wouldn’t touch his forbidden office.
“I don’t want you bothering him as he has enough to be concerned about. Honestly, I don’t want you bothering me, either! I have half a mind to send you upstairs with Elisa and let you test the limits of her patience.” threatened Juliette, certain that the elder woman would know how to manage the likes of Natalie Byron if she could survive through Jordan’s mercurial moods!
It was puzzling to see the usually rather kempt and quiet manor so alive. With bodies moving left and right with various tools in hand, while wearing all sorts of PPE, it took him a long muted moment to take it all in. Recalling how Augustus had expressed that the new woman in the life of their king had apparently been taking over the apathetic residence. Although he had thought it to be in a jest, it was revealed now that such things weren’t the case at all!
Through the grapevine had he heard how Emery felt particularly jaded with the meeting of the new lady –naturally encouraging the group under Augustus lead to snicker at her spoiled brat tantrum- he might have to start fretting a little. If this was the type of stuff happening to the king’s house, what sort of power did she possess beyond this. Well acquainted with how Jordan tended to be rather regimented in most of his behaviours. After all, he had heard plenty of stories of the man rising swiftly through the old coven to remove the former king by force, to claim it. Internally taking a strong breath in as he swept inside as to avoid one large round fellow seeming like he needed his own door made for himself to waddle through.
Had to be the foreman.
The smell of dust and drywall certainly wasn’t a pleasant thing! Absently coughing as he promptly slipped in further to quietly dance around the busy bodies, in search of the very king that had been hopefully expecting him. They had some work to complete due to the assignment with this David Gates person. Someone so far that seemed so run of the mill boring that he had to wonder just what sort of trouble had he caused to warrant the king’s glaring eye upon him. Either he man was truly an idiot or he didn’t know how cruel the majesty could be!
With a careful step over some what looked to be toolkits, dark brown eyes lifted. The sound of voices of the feminine nature drew attention, idly reaching up to smooth back the equally chocolate hair. Assuring it had been kempt in a slicked style as not to spring wildly every which way with its messy crop, attention demanded he follow the sounds. Hastily skimming through parts to evade the burly workers that seemed to be redesigning the lower area for some purpose, it wasn’t particularly long before he was peeking inwards to find two women. One older and one younger.
Knuckles shot out to rap quickly upon the nearest surface, loudly at that. “Excuse me?” Mellowed honey sweet was the voice, still appearing as a young man closer to his mid twenties ever since he had been turned almost forty years ago. Smoothing hands down the front of the v-neck worn, angular features were swiftly arranged in a pleasant presentation. “Pardon my intrusion but I was looking for Mr. Harrow…” He dared a moment then considered softly, “You wouldn’t happen to be Ms. Bryon, would you? Affianced to the sir? I was supposed to meet him for a private meeting but with the renovations, I don’t know if he heard me calling his cell phone.” Well that was a lie, he hadn’t even tried. Originally told to just come and find him, it seemed silly just to say that!
It took a great deal of self control not to go deer-frozen the moment the young man made his presence known and asked about Mr. Harrow. Juliette had been waiting with baited breath for another one of Jordan’s associates to eventually make an appearance at some inconvenient moment. A house full of construction works and movers was definitely an inconvenient time, as the gun she’d gotten a license for and purchased was presently tucked away in a purse upstairs so she wouldn’t inadvertently shoot her own staff!
There was a small knife tucked in bra, though. She might even name it after Ms. Emery out of spite.
“I am Juliette,” she introduced herself easily, painting on that brilliant smile she reserved for new people. After all, just because Emery had been a vile presumptuous twat didn’t mean all of Jordan’s mysterious companions would be so rude. This one looked about her own age, and didn’t appear to be a viper in disguise just yet.
“I am so sorry about the state of the house,” she apologized quickly, but with that soft casual air as if it were no big deal. “There’s just a few things that needed to be done quickly before the wedding. I suppose Jordan is ducked into a quiet room somewhere to avoid the noise.”
A very loud clearing of the throat reminded everyone in the room that Natalie Byron was still present.
Despite the internal screaming, dutifully Juliette gestured with a hand towards the elder woman.
“…and this is Natalie Byron.”
“Charmed!” chirped her mother, stepping forward holding out her hand with the expectation of the young man to be a true gentleman. “My, what a handsome young man you are! Goodness, Mister Harrow does keep such attractive company, doesn’t he.”
She didn’t remotely look like a snot nosed brat with poor taste in clothing or bucked tooth hobgoblin, as Emery had detailed in one of her begrudging rants. Actually, she looked perfectly normal. Pretty even which that part he shouldn’t be too surprised about. It wasn’t as though the king would have taken an ugly woman to be his equal partner. Not unless there was something otherworldly remarkable… not to say that the king was shallow!
Rather than allowing his internal thoughts to cross over to his face, a smile pulled winsomely over instead. From tooth to tooth with a easy calm that came naturally. A good practiced thing since he often had to be the far more reasonable one when it came to some of Augustus’ clients. Knowing just how moody they could be and just how much more so his boss was! “Pleasure is all mine, Ms. Juliette.” He continued pleased to put a proper face to the woman while his vision naturally gravitated outwards to the suggested sorry state of home. Chuckling of course to follow her casual suggestion that it wasn’t truly that bothersome.
Sure that the very royal himself was probably not feeling the same about it. If he wasn’t immediately seen, then there was a good guess that Jordan was as far as reasonably possible. It wasn’t nice to listen too with some rather sharp ears. Hunters needed such things otherwise it would be rather difficult to track lunch down, now wouldn’t it. “Ah, I suppose so. He did say that his home was currently being remodelled into the proper century. I just hadn’t thought it would be so expeditious!” He replied, before seemingly looking to the corners. As if the man of the hour would miraculously materialize from one of them.
Actually hoping he wouldn’t. He didn’t want to learn some new skill that the monarch had developed out of the blue! It was bothersome enough to deal with him able to slap you and throw you across the room without ever laying an actual finger!
But of course there was no time to think of such things. Taking an uninvited step forward that seemed to be just enough time for the elder woman to be introduced. As the mother and promptly swept forward so she would be addressed. Looking at the offered hand and meeting it with maybe more flare than necessary. Resting her fingertips over his own and lightly brushing the heat of breath across her knuckles. Not so much kissing them cause what the hell, why would he, but making her feel as though she was truly worthy of a old way of greeting. “Nonsense, it should be my honour to put the faces to both bride and mother in law, to be.” Giving her fingers a softened squeeze before releasing and straightening up properly, hands went behind his back.
“You compliment me too ready, Mrs. Natalie. I could hardly be compared to such a winning beauty such as yourself.” Okay he was going to feel that one later. Bleh! “I am sure there are many a man and woman alike that spend nights envying such ravishing elegance.” Flashing her a full grin with a softened tut of chuckling at the end, his gaze found Juliette once more. “perhaps presumptuous of me, Ms. Juliette, but could you use a bit of help? Until Mr. Harrow is willing to reveal himself, I doubt I would be successful navigating to find him. Nor do I think it would be correct of me to wander your home environment. So perhaps, I could lend my aid in some way to you until the very man comes out from wherever. I wouldn’t wish to spend my time being in the way.”
With a deeper sound of laughter, “And you do not have to worry. I might not look like much but I am a lot stronger than appearances give. I work often for Augustus in his bar to arrange stock and remove unruly guests. So I surely could be of use to you lovely ladies. No one should put such delicate and strong creatures to tedious work.”
This one was particularly good at ‘blowing smoke up one’s ass’ as Jordan would say, leaving Juliette with a broad knowing smile, while her mother practically swooned at all of the platitudes.
Of course, Emery had also been pleasant at first.
“I imagine spending a few moments with a pair of delicate ladies is less dangerous than being caught roaming the halls. I believe Jordan’s favorite way of ousting people is to snatch them by the scruff,” Juliette commented with a breezy laugh.
Mrs. Byron looked completely scandalized by the entire idea.
“Lord, I would hope not! Goodness, dear, you can’t paint such a wicked picture of your own fiancé in front of guests, what on earth shall they think!”
“To be wary of his ire, I would hope,” she answered, quite seriously. With this man belonging to the still unmet Augustus, her mother might actually be of some use today! She was ever so good at trying to steel and dominate conversations, giving Juliette the opportunity to figure him out.
“The crew are handling things well enough, honestly. I am just trying to make sure nothing gets misplaced as things are moved around. You are still more than welcome to spend some time with me and Mother. I’m actually quite curious to hear more about Augustus, especially now that I’ve met Ms. Emery. She was… ah, enlightening in some respects.”
“Darling, you haven’t even asked him his name.” interrupted Mrs. Byron. “Oh, I am so sorry for my dearest girl, she is so focused on business this and business that – she never bothers to think of the necessities of politesse! Please introduce yourself! There is a beautiful lounge room just over there, why, we could all have a sit and a chat without all this plaster and dust.”
The two women could not be more different in demeanor and the way they spoke, despite the soft similarities in facial features. Juliette had her hair neatly pulled up and in a twisted bun, wore a simple but flattery wine colored blouse and a comfortable pair of slacks, while her mother had dressed in a very loud patterned cocktail dress with more jewelry than any person had business wearing at once.
The easy laugh came without any pause or hesitation at the statement from Juliette. Doubling more so when Natalie looked horrified that her daughter would say such things about her the man to be her husband. However, she wasn’t wrong. All the more reason why he had no desire to even attempt that ire! Having seen it release itself at others, he had contently pledged to himself that he would do his best to avoid it at all costs! Eternal life be damned if he pissed the king off! “Please do not worry, Ms. Natalie, I am aware that Mr. Harrow’s irritation for people to wander around unsupervised in his own home would be incredibly ill advised. He is a man of very particular expectations and I do not wish to impede. Plus this is of course his and the lady’s home. It would be rude of me to wander carelessly.”
Plus he was quite attached to his head. Literally.
It was too easy to just seek asylum here inside. Surely knowing that as long as he didn’t offend the lady of the manor, his ruling vampire lord wouldn’t likely try to skin him. “Oh, well I can certainly answer questions about that.” The smile came and almost became plastered with the name of Emery. “You are too kind, Ms. Juliette. Emery is well… a challenge for even the most practiced. To say nicely.” He was not her fan, grateful that it had been Augustus that turned him rather than her. Who wanted to serve a bitching, moaning vampiress all day! Not even immortality was enough to make him want to do so, he’d sooner look for a way to end it if that was the case.
Surprise took him momentarily before he was shortly dismissing the suggestion that Juliette ought to be extending him formalities. “Truly that is not necessary. I did enter unannounced into the home. You’ve been generous already by not tossing me out on my bottom for the impromptu entry but I should have expressed my name properly after your own. My mind has slipped,” he gave a light bow with arm crossing at his midsection. “Dominic Fellows, assistant manager to Augustus Steele and current assistant to Jordan Harrow when Ms. Eleanor cannot be available for his overseas work.” Smiling sweetly as he looked between them, a slight turn was made to indicate that he would be happy to sit with them each away from the dust and crumble. “If you allow it Ms. Juliette, I could go to the kitchen and put together a spot of tea for you both. Allow you a moment to rest and to not have to worry about bothering Elisa. I am sure she is busy with other matters as well.”
This Dominic Fellows had an odd old fashioned way of speaking as well, though not to the extreme extent that Jordan did. This one seemed to speak the way a grandparent would, along with the sort of manners and conversations they’d have some decades ago.
Blast it, she wished she’d have picked out those sorts of details about Emery, but every time Juliette thought about the woman at all she could remember was being infuriated and every rational thought would fly out of her head!
“Elisa is indeed likely regretting being so delighted in having a lady in the house. My wardrobe is quite a bit more extensive than his majesty’s.”
Tapping her chin in thought, Juliette debated the wisdom in letting one of these mysterious strangers run loose in the house. He at least came through the front door and seemed to actually respect Jordan’s space in a way that Ms. Emery clearly had not. For the time being, she also didn’t feel like any of them were a danger to Jordan himself. There was also merit in seeing what they were willing to do for her, whether it was respect for Jordan’s future wife, or attempting to weasel their way into her good graces for more nefarious reasons!
“Hm, that does sound nice to sit a moment. I suppose if you are familiar with the kitchen, it shouldn’t be much trouble?”
“Juliette,” her mother practically hissed and then whispered out of the side of her mouth, “You can’t send a guest to get tea!”
“I most certainly can send an assistant to get tea, especially when he was so kind enough to offer the help and his company. Come along to the lounge, Mother. Mr. Fellows! Join us when you are ready, though if you do run into Jordan along the way, I’ll understand if you can’t. I think Mother needs a moment to sit, regardless.”
He gave her an odd but notable look when she expressed his majesty’s. Did she know then that Jordan was the literal sense of a monarch to the split coven. Having not yet selected a proper side to support but kept them broken into two as to see which one might eventually prove themselves worthy enough to have him settle with a idea of a court. Then annihilating the other. Which obviously neither of the split covens wanted that. Hence why they were either wanting to please Jordan or they were desperate to try and remove him.
Rather than expressing outwardly about the question of whether she knew or not, he instead kept his mouth shut. Offering to be of service whilst expressing openly that Juliette could ask him whatever questions she wished for. Looking to keep good favour with the eventual queen.
Maybe some brownie points too to assure there would be no sudden destruction that resulted in his death!
It wasn’t particularly surprising either when the elder woman seemed horrified that her daughter would allow him to do so. But he did offer and promptly showed with a bobbing head that he had no problem being useful. Especially if Elisa herself was off somewhere doing other duties that required more of an attentive attention. “I shall join you both shortly.” Tipping head to agree to such requests, he merely waited till they left before committing to the action of movement that brought him to the familiar kitchen. Swiftly leaping into action to collect the items and perhaps going a little above when it was able to see there were a few dainties nearby that could be arranged on a platter. Assuring that they could have some treats if they wanted with the offering of drink. Making proper work to arrange it all in a suitable manner before he eventually appeared prepped and ready with a pot of tea, cups with choosing of cream or sugar, and a small tray of delectable’s that varied from what seemed to be buttertart squares, lemon squares and pecan tarts. Seeming suitable if he ever had to guess.
Coming to rest the platter on a suitable surface with a obvious motion to acknowledge them each once more. “I brought a few tea packets so you may chose whichever you wish for your palate.” He then gestured to a open chair, “May I?”
As soon as Dominic was out of earshot, Juliette had to listen to a lecture from her mother about how to treat guests, especially if they were Jordan’s guests as ‘How can you expect to keep this wonderful wealthy man if you insult all of his people!’. To which she might have had something snappy to say in response, if Juliette wasn’t busy deciding on how to best guide the conversation.
When he did join them, he’d put together such a lovely presentation of a tea tray that her mother immediately was delighted. While Juliette motioned a hand for Dominic to have a seat, Mrs. Byron completely took over in hostessing, and preparing the cups of tea.
“What a lovely spread! Well, it’s good to know there is a properly stocked kitchen here, I was a bit worried, seeing as my darling here often spends so much of her time in awful offices and droll business meetings, and of course a young man wouldn’t even think of things a lady needs, such as refreshments for tea! Oh but, YOU dear, what a lovely set this is. She shouldn’t have put you through the trouble, but this is so very lovely, thank you!”
“It is, thank you,” Juliette agreed with a relaxed and friendly smile. While he mother did her best posturing, seeing what cup and tart would best please their guest, Juliette used her distracting nonsense to examine said guest! “You were saying you are assistant to Augustus, yes? I hear he is quite the impressive figure, certainly skilled if Jordan’s trusting him with delicate business.”
Once he was given permission to sit down did he assure that his attire wouldn’t rumple in an uncomplimentary way. Smoothing hands down the front of pants firstly while lending his utmost focus onto the elder Bryon. At this point he pretty much had her pegged down. From the lavish arrangement of attire to the gathering of jewellery draped upon her to declare her love of finer things; it wasn’t difficult to see that mother and daughter were worlds apart. Echoing such thoughts whilst Natalie went into a spiel about how her daughter seemed to spent too much time in an office setting for her own approval before mentioning that it was dubitably un-thoughtful that a man might not know how to serve a lady.
It took a bit of practice but he offered a easy grin. Chuckling like it was no big deal before his vision peeked open from sealed lids to look upon the very woman of the manor. “It is my pleasure.” Easily expressed before he was thanking the elder one for being so kind to host. Taking the tea cup to let it steep to a nice dark colouring before holding his undivided attention onto Juliette.
“In the way that Mr. Harrow works, one has to be impressive otherwise they would be unable to stand up to the man’s high expectations.” Which wasn’t a lie, just sometimes that was hard to do! When said expectations were basically learn how to fly using your own arms without assistance. “I’ve worked with Mr. Steele for the past three years,” Give or take a few decades, “And have worked with Mr. Harrow for the past one. I tend to be a go between when both men are rather busy, but it keeps things properly interesting. Doubly so during the night as my employer run one of the esteemed establishments here within the city. A bar that hosts exclusively for private parties of high caliber sorts.” He smiled again before taking a sip to test the strength of the drink. Seeming suitable.
“Which perhaps this is a bit bold of me, Ms. Juliette, but you are to be a new bride. Do you have a place where you wish to host your stagette party? I’ve come also to offer you the venue with Mr. Steele’s blessing that he would love to host such an event where they can keep any unwanted riff raff from ruining such an event. As a sort of gift to express his congratulations on the engagement.”
“Oh, oh how exquisite,” breathed Mrs. Harrow. “That’d be such an enticing way to celebrate your last days as a single woman! Why you can invite everyone from your school years or from my tea club! For my bachelorette we had dancers.”
Good lord, Juliette couldn’t imagine a greater hell than being in trapped in a bar with a bunch of ladies that she either hadn’t spoken to in years or were randy old married women looking for a good time! A bunch of half naked man dancing around while everyone screamed! Even if Juliette had once upon a time been the sort to drink a little too much, dance on tabletops and sing nonsense to anyone who would listen, that certainly didn’t sound like any fun now!
This was a rather interesting offer, however. Emery’s attempt at meeting Juliette had been simply to cause trouble. Did Augustus share her same intentions? Hopefully he had sense enough not to make a complete ass of himself. If all of Jordan’s associates had intentions of throwing him off the ladder, they could have their ambitions, but Juliette refused to be threatened and bullied in the process!
“I didn’t intend to have a party for myself,” Juliette admitted. Before her mother could give an exaggerated gasp and protest, Juliette held up a hand to still her nonsense, then reached to make herself a tea. “But! It’d be a waste to decline such a kind invitation. My Maid of Honor will be flying into town soon, and it would actually be grand to spend an evening out with her somewhere quiet and private. If Mr. Steele is willing to provide the space, I am happy to be there.”
This woman, good grief! If he wanted an imagine of older women wandering around chasing some poor man’s toned ass, he would have asked for it. Which he did not and had to truly concrete any internal reaction from escaping onto features. Smiling instead though he was suddenly wishing the tea had some bleach in it. So he could throw it into his eyes, burn them out! That would truly solve the problem, now wouldn’t it!
He was going to implore Augustus not to have lose man buns running around the bar, otherwise he was going to flip the entire bar over!
“We had heard about the encounter with Emery, so think of this as our way of expressing that not all of us are as crazed or wild as she is. Wanting to extend a hand of agreement that we work for you and Mr. Harrow. No other. And with the thought that the venue is private already, you would be able to select whom enters and who does not. As an extra measure of security.” Leaving that with a hint of deliberate unspoken commentary. Surely making it clear that they wouldn’t allow the very man they were investigating to enter the property. No matter how much he tried, he might find himself barking up the wrong tree. “As well as I am sure Mr. Harrow would feel as though the place would be best suited to whatever wishes you want, Ms. Juliette.” Once more he lent her a earnest grin, “Especially if your maid of honour is flying in, surely having a private venue will allow you both time to catch up without plenty of strangers bumping around disturbing either of you.”
Of course he wasn’t saying how much Augustus wanted to get a visual of Juliette himself. Surely needing to know what they were potentially dealing with as well, so far he had been impressed by her. Forward and witty. Seemingly a good fit for the king, hopefully one that worked on balancing his quick burning temper.
“We’d naturally set everything up for you. Simply tell us what you would like, the guests and we will assure everything is handled. Being a young bride with a wedding promptly creeping up and now renovating the house, alongside your own work, you must be busy.” He glanced at her mother, “I am sure this would also please your mother to know you aren’t busy working on another side project.”
“Yes, of course! My dear Juliette does so much, I mean honestly if you ignore her little remarks, she’s quite accomplished! More so than her father ever was, I am surprised to say!”
Juliette wished she could have had a moment to be pleased that her mother actually payed her a compliment for once, but the woman had sniffed out something to gossip about, and leaped on it like a dog with a bone.
“You have both mentioned this Emery several times now, and with such a TONE! Sweetheart, you didn’t have another one of those incidents, have you?” exclaimed Mrs. Byron give Juliette such a side eye, that made it seem like Juliette was out and about insulting and angering the entire town!
Juliette ended up laughing, genuinely and loud, having to cover her mouth for a moment and steady her teacup before she let anything spill.
“You make it sound like I’m getting into all kinds of trouble. If you must know, Mother, Emery is one of Jordan’s assistants and she’s not at all impressed by me. I think she was expecting a pampered lap dog and instead got a bitch.”
Despite the way her mother started coughing almost hysterically, Juliette only smile wider and waved a hand to dismiss it and took a leisurely sip of her tea.
“Needless to say, she’s not invited to any parties. If you can give me a number and address, I’d be delighted to forward you a date and information as soon as I know when. It’d be a relief to relax somewhere with a friend and have no worries.”
For a moment he was privy to some internal thoughts. Vocalized between the two that may have attempted to paint Juliette as the one that started something with Emery. When he wouldn’t have believed it should it be true, having plenty of interactions with the holier than thou art vampiress for several lifetimes. “She does have a tendency to behave as though she were a spoiled princess not longed for this world. It probably bruised her ego to be unable to put another under her thumb.” And this was why she got grunt work.
Which worked out perfectly for their side, Emery could be a prat all she wanted. She just made them look that much better.
“Of course Ms. Juliette.” Tipping slightly so he might retrieve wallet from pocket, in turn pulling that of a business card. Simple and white with satinlike wording that declared the place of interest as The Iron Dog pub. An establishment that had more than thirty years of service but was taken over about ten years ago by Augustus. Made to be not such a dingy hole in the wall but something that had been spoken about in higher circles. Though said circles often weren’t invited in as the place was well… far more suitable for those who liked the colour red in their drinks rather than alcohol. But in this case, if they could prove that Juliette was well watched and left with a memorable night without any disturbances? Well it would only give them another advantage to proving they weren’t like the other associates.
“That would be my number on the card,” He offered, “Merely let me know what you would like from decorations to drinks and food, and I will assure that everything is completed. Alongside a guest list. So I might alert the bouncers to keep a tally of names to allow entry and whom to bar. Besides one particularly obvious one.”
It was like a cool breeze that caused him to stiffen for a brief moment. Turning head slightly aside to peer across shoulder, before moving to properly gather up less he insult the being that made a silent appearance. Coming no sooner to present himself leaning shoulder upon the archway of wall entry, “I see you’ve made yourself at home, Dominic.” Jordan expressed coolly though was that truly aimed at him or something else? “I do hope you are playing nice with that of my better half and her mother.”
A chuckle fell forward, “I wouldn’t do any less than that, sir. It is a pleasure to see you.” The other hummed not so convinced but didn’t seem upset either. A good start. “I was merely properly introducing myself to Ms. Juliette and Mrs. Natalie as not to simply wander through your remodelling home.” The sooner he stayed on the man’s good side, the better. “Do forgive me if I have overstepped.”
There was the ringer, watching a slight twitch press at the corner of eye but released just as swiftly. “Not at all. Hello Mrs. Byron, I had not known you were set to arrive here this afternoon.”
Before Mrs. Natalie Byron had a chance to leap to her feet and assault Jordan with her over-perfumed presence Juliette shot her a warning look and a shake of her head. When the woman actually tempered enthusiasm, merely giving Jordan the warmest of smiles instead of forcing him into a familial hug, Juliette was able to relax with a soft sigh of relief.
Not that she was trying to spare her mother. In fact, she enjoyed the thought of Jordan launching the woman into the pool outside, in some sort of instinctive flip. Rather, Jordan was likely being bothered enough with all of the strangers in his home and the dusty, messy work. The least Juliette could do was keep as many annoying things out of his way as possible.
“Mother is a surprise drop in, and actually quite on her way out now! I believe you mentioned something about your tea ladies.” suggested Juliette, setting aside her cup to rise to her own feet. If she could usher the woman out now, that’d be grand! There was so much that needed to be done today.
“Oh, but I haven’t even had a chance to chat with the boy-“
“He has his business meeting with Dominic, and you have plenty of time to see him again,” insisted Juliette, ushering the woman up to her feet as well, even wrapping a few of the tarts in napkins and stuffing them in the woman’s hands. So rushed and flustered by it, Mrs. Byron almost didn’t realize she was near physically being forced past the young guest and Jordan himself!
“I – well yes! That I will! So sorry to miss you, Mr. Harrow!” she called with a wave of her hand. “And it has been an absolute pleasure, my dear Mr. Fellows! Goodness gracious child stop prodding at me, I can only walk so fast in these heels!” fussed the elder woman, making her way to the front door.
Juliette paused long enough to turn back to Jordan, a soft apologetic expression on her face and twisting the palms of her hands together. Probably the first time she had ever actually genuinely looked sorry.
“Dominic has been a perfect gentleman – I didn’t mean to take up his time. Really, I can leave the two of you to discuss your business in peace as there is quite a bit left for me to oversee.”
Had it been anyone else and he might not have been so patient not to wander right in and grab them by the throat for having imparted themselves upon Juliette and her harpy of a mother. But Dominic had earned his favour plenty of times with being astutely aware that there were times he was wise to speak of his thoughts without trying to tarry or tease out little rewards for himself. Although if he was to be pleased that Dominic had been a gracious guest, seeing Natalie was less of a thrilling moment. Not that she was the most revile of the two parents but he had no business listening to a braying donkey that thought they were a first prize mare go on and on. Nor did he want to be accidentally muster gassed by whatever perfume she decided to slather herself in.
Either he was wearing his expression a little more forwardly than he knew or his appearance had been the perfect intrusion for Juliette to shoo away her maternal parent. Out of a sense of politeness rather than giving her an impromptu ride to who knows where on the edge of her foot.
Watching the scene arrange itself in a comical fashion, there was next to little composure when the two women left the room. Snickering slightly into hand as Dominic stopped only temporary, “Return home safely Mrs. Natalie. It was fantastic meeting you as well.”
“You can remove your tongue from her lap, Dominic.” Jordan muttered low enough for him to hear, “You’re making me sick.”
The boy snickered a little bolder then, looking up with a pleasantly bemused composure that simply ruffled his own. Rolling eyes and huffing out a sound that could have been a grunting. Or a chuckle. Who could say. “I am surprised you aren’t frothing at the mouth, sire. So much noise, so many people.” Dominic whispered.
“Why do you think I was hiding?” Rhetorical really. Simply as he turned his attention around to look towards Juliette to see her apologetic glimpse, “Think nothing of it, love. We’ll merely be within that of the kitchen, since my office is a bit too noisy to do anything constructive.” And he didn’t really want a pounding headache. Though he would have preferred the basement once more, it would be too obvious now that he would have disappeared someone not readily available with Dominic should Juliette come looking. “I do hope you made a good impression, Dom.”
“Would I not, sire? She is to be the queen soon enough, I wouldn’t dream of upsetting her. Though I am wondering, does she know of us? She addressed you previously as his majesty.“
Lips pulled into a cheeky rest, “She’s a clever woman. I ahve said nothing but I suspect she’ll figure it out. Mum’s the word, Dominic. I wouldn’t want her to know sooner than she has too. It wouldn’t be as… enjoyable to see her come to the realization by her own discovery.” Straightening shoulders then did he gesture away, “Tell me what you found, Dominic. About David… about Alyssa as well.”
“Oh, of course. At your lead, sir.” Motioning forward as to let him lead the way to the kitchen area, “Things are interesting on both fronts. Perhaps the former less so but still interesting.”
“Unless the half wit fell into a ravine to never be heard of again, I suspect the latter is something more constructive of interest.”
“Perhaps, but maybe not.” Shoulders shrugged, “Oh sire, before I forgot. I’ve invited Ms. Juliette to host her stagette party at the Iron Dog. I thought you ought to know.” Of course he did, for fuck sakes… How many noses were going to be involved in their general existence. You’d think they were celebrities at this rate!
Juliette was finding that her energy had waned, though she shouldn’t have been surprised. Her mother was exhausting even on the best of days, but with having been up since dawn and also being on guard around another one of Jordan’s associates she was very nearly spent.
Unless Dominic had managed to poison the tea. If that were the case, though, she’d have applauded him on such a daring assassination!
She’d learned some interesting things, at least. Dominic had a moment of eying her when she’d call Jordan his majesty – and how intriguing that was! So that wasn’t just a game and play on words, then? To what extend of nobility – the wheres and hows – she still didn’t know, but it did explain a very large amount of things about Jordan. That old fashioned way about him, the way his subordinates treated him… A good secret indeed, yet not quite the one she was looking for.
Juliette checked on the progress of her renovation, pleased to find that everything had been moved into the foyer and the actual construction part of the job was well under way. They’d already put in the beams and drywall for the new wall, and the frame for the new door. There’d be a bit of drying time needed for spackle and paint, but the construction of her book shelves and the door itself would go up next. The rest of the job would be far quieter, and far less people involved.
“Ms. Byron?” the foreman interrupted her thoughts, approaching with a roll of plans in his hands. “We should have everything wrapped up by dinner, though, I would give it an extra day to be sure everything properly dries before moving the furniture back in. Rachel says can be out here tomorrow to handle all that, since she’s got the new furniture and all.”
“Oh, yes. Thank you! I hate having to rush you and your crew through everything, but there’s just so much to get done before the wedding.”
“Not a problem at all, ma’am! We just survived my own daughter’s wedding. It is a stressful ride, I tell ya,” he laughed easily, gesturing with his roll of plans before unravelling them to give her a look. “You said you were thinking of adding a wine cellar down there? There’s this big space right here, more than enough room to add in a cellar.”
Juliette peered at the plans where it showed the stairs down, the hall, and the little laundry room. But there was also a few rooms over to the side that she’d most certainly not seen when she stepped down there!
“Ah, this part right here isn’t. It’s just a stone wall,” she explained.
“Not a surprise, really. These old houses go through so many renovations, a past owner might’ve walled it up. There could even be some renos and additions that weren’t sent in to the city. If you like, I can go down there and take a look?” he offered.
“Hmn,” Juliette hummed but quickly shook her head. “Oh no, that’s alright. I don’t have time to even think about starting that project yet, I just wanted to see if the foundation was sound enough for it.”
After a brief conversation about a potential kitchen update in the future, Juliette left the foreman and his crew to finish their work. Now she too was having enough of all the noise and retreated to a nice quiet corner to plop into a chair and give a heavy sigh. Rubbing her temples and wishing these sorts of things could just be done with the snap of her finger. Had she not needed her own office space so badly, she would’ve just waited until she was long gone on her honeymoon to avoid all of the chaos.
She was right that basement was curiously small, at least! With all of Jordan’s allusions to darkness and wickedry, would he have an actual hidden dungeon down in the basement? It seemed more likely he’d have a stash of stolen items, or a drug den… but with all the insistence that it wasn’t something illegal, that couldn’t be it. What was unbelievable, then? A cult maybe… witchcraft and demons were certainly farfetched enough.
Perhaps she was marrying the very devil himself. The one true King of Hell.
Juliette laughed herself into a fit of giggles!
“I see.” Staring down at the message detailing all that had so far been located about David Gates, there was a slight press of a frown. Nothing too deep but nothing neutral either. Tapping fingers across the thick counter top that made the outer U shape of the cabinetry. Idly reading once more the few things discovered and found himself mostly unsurprised.
The man struck him as the sort of wine and dine and dash sort of being. The mention of a string of disastrous former relationship was practically perfect. But this didn’t really offer a lot of information beside the guy being a complete and utter tool that often was the one who left. Perhaps why he was so hung up on Juliette, from his understanding she had left David. So he didn’t get to do his broody little pampered rich brat thing to bail first. Making him the loser –though he already was.
There was some information about him and Juliette. A vague suggestion about the aforementioned stab wound that Juliette already told him about but maybe she was unaware of the private doctor. Not that it mattered. So far, the man was just a rowdy imbecile that didn’t like being told no. A right tosser.
But the way Dominic seemed to brood even whilst he was reading over it all suggested the lackey had more to do. More to discover and wasn’t convinced this was it. Something Jordan wasn’t going to sway him away from.
For now he simply took in a deep breath and accepted that there was potentially more to be discovered. At this point, would he be shocked if they found out that David was a serial killer with a fascination with red roses? Probably not. But it would give him reason to end the man rather swiftly. For now, the child was just a unwanted gnat that kept escaping the flyswatter. There was a motion to turn off the screen for now, tucking it back into hip pocket while imploring Dominic to express some about Alyssa, the suggested vampire queen of the opposite side of their realm. Knowing their agreement had been founded on forming an collaborative arrangement of what they both possessed. Though her side was greatly less than his own, the measure of taking over the last standing coven on the European side was important. It would allow him to properly control the populace of their damnable kind whilst insuring survival for them. To start blending more into the human race, to function. To control and to eventually if he could plan correct, start lending their own futures to assure forever permanency. He just needed first to have his hands in the measure of transport, since it would be almost impossible to open world trade without it. To encourage the silent growth of a everlasting empire which of course was why he needed Juliette. Though his mind pitched slightly at it. It wasn’t as though he were taking her business over, he just needed her wits and business to do so. And to rebuild it that it had no more troubles through the years even after the Byron family begun to cease. To ensure it was latched onto and kept in the name of Rosendrey.
There were still plenty of details to arrange but so far it seemed that Alyssa had been intrigued that he had finally found a woman to wed. Of course this could play poorly if she found Juliette inferior, but he doubted that.
“Send her some of the things she asked for. If Augustus can gather a few of the things she wants, then we can assure the lines stay open.” Dominic bobbled his head, “Give it about three weeks to send a fully stocked small crate of the finest import.” A code suggestion of the vital red that they needed to live upon. “That’ll keep Alyssa and her crop of misfits soothed.” At least for a little while.
They spoke for a few minutes more before Dominic was being called and expected to leave. Which was fine by him. Certainly needing time to digest all the information given for now. Observing the other departing till he was sure he was gone before migrating temporarily back to the kitchen. Only to take that of a cup of late afternoon coffee before slipping out onto the shaded poolside. Appreciating the soothing call of no pounding, drilling or sawing echoing from inside the house. At least it was shady here so he could sit without being slowly crisped.
Now… what was he going to do with this useless information about sir thorn in one’s ass?
When Juliette put her mind to getting something done in a single day she wasn’t kidding. It was well past dinner time when the work finally ceased and she was bidding the construction crew a round of heartfelt gratitudes and goodbyes. For the most part, they’d cleaned up after themselves, though Juliette suspected Elisa might want to run through everything with her eagle eye once the paint and wood stain finally dried. In fact, that drying time was the only reason the foyer still remained full of furniture and clutter despite the fact her new office was now perfectly finished along with the new doorway in the sitting room.
On inspection of the small sitting room for the offices, Juliette was certain she could put everything back with only a minor rearrangement of the furniture placement to account for the new office door. Whether a guest came to see Jordan or herself, they’d be plenty comfortable. As she stopped by the fireplace to press her fingertip to the nose of a ghoulish looking gargoyle figure, she did briefly wonder if it ever had to some to life and deal with the unwanted sorts like Ms. Emery Hart!
If only gargoyles were Jordan’s impossible secret. Juliette was growing a list of names to feed it.
Now that the house was empty of strangers, she took the chance to step into the fresh remodeled room. Taking in a deep breath of the paint and wood stain, admiring the freshly cleaned floors and how well the new wallpapering matched the warm wood tones of her new bookshelves. She’d kept the original fireplace and now that there was a lovely floor to ceiling bookshelf along one wall, the space would be plenty cozy. The chosen wallpaper was a deep foresty green with gold, done in a style that matched the house itself. The new wainscoting was a lovely dark wood.
Her desk she’d have near the window, leaving enough space for a couple of plush chairs. Maybe even a special bed just for Theix! Though the space was a great deal smaller than Jordan’s office, it would fit her needs perfectly. A space to hold her favorite collection, a space to work at home when necessary… and honestly, if she ever felt cooped up, there was the entire rest of the house! What more could she need?
Well. Perhaps a trap door that dropped someone into a basement dungeon. But a woman could only accomplish so much in a day.
Satisfied with how it turned out, she supposed she’d need to tell Jordan he was now safe to prowl his own home again.
Having thankfully sufficiently hidden himself outside away from the constant battering of noise and people, there was something to say how a bit of fresh air could ebb away the tension drawn into shoulders. At this rate he was more likely to be a routinely based animal that couldn’t handle any real bit of change without potentially clinging to the roof with a nervous rattle chasing up and down one’s spine! Shuddering and spluttering in a wreckage like state, he had hoped after so many centuries alive that there would be nothing else to discover about himself.
Suppose there was always room for one or two more surprises.
Bother…
At some point in the means to avoid all the chaos that was brewing inside like a orchestrated hurricane, he had snatched a book from the closet point of contact. Zipping back outside long before Elisa could find him hiding away like some spooked raccoon, he might have been inclined to somehow scour the outside of the building towards his bedroom balcony. Reacting some shoddy one man Shakespearian show, if he wasn’t worry about laughing himself off the sidling from how stupid of a thought it was. Slightly intrigued by it too.
The book had become merely a useless distracting tool, since he wasn’t really using it. Eventually abandoned to rest in lap. Vision only cresting out amongst the mostly untouched yard till his attention seemed to spring from the safety shelter of the shade of house; glimpsing towards the portal that allowed entry and exit from the deckside. Almost expecting Elisa to have finally come to find him after being absent in the homestead for however long, though colour him slightly surprised that it wasn’t the housekeeper. Although his vision darted towards the door. Half expecting Theix to try his luck with darting out into the poolside area and half expecting some contractor that grew too curious for their own smarts to come out here.
He’d consider Juliette a far better presence than the latter thoughts. “Evening,” He spoke as to break the silence, “All fairing well within the manor of chaos and noise?”
Outside was the last place Juliette expected to find Jordan, but it did draw out an amused sort of smile. As if he’d been chased out of his own home! She couldn’t blame him, though. Despite the fact they construction crew were all long gone, all the rattling and hammering still echoed in her head. Between that and her mother’s unexpected visit, Juliette was well exhausted with the day.
“You didn’t have to stay home with the chaos, Jordan.” she mused out loud, drawing close to pluck the book up off his lap only to boldly take it’s place by sitting on his lap herself.
After a brief curious flip through a few of the pages, she settled it on her own lap choosing to curl up comfortably and rest her head on his shoulder with a long, weary sigh.
“The messy part is finished, thank goodness, so tomorrow I’ll have everything moved in. If I didn’t have such lovely plans, I might never bother with all the noise ever again! I think I will leave it for some far future date… unless I do end up needing a dungeon cell after all. Though, it’d be just as easy to put a shed out in the yard and lock someone there instead.”
“You say that but I had a feeling should I have been actually away from home, I might have come back to the entire place being painted in some horrendous colour.” Blue followed her so easily while she took the book and rested butt in its place. Keeping no secret that Elisa may have ratted her out with the commentary of painting the foyer with some terribly bright splattering that was better suited for a preschool!
If he could play being annoyed at such a prospect, it was swiftly swept aside. Moved as non-important when it as so easily to simply welcome the presence that rested almost neatly in grasp. Lifting hand and posture to accommodate the woman’s being as he felt like the sigh given was enough to be from them each! Daring to let his chin temporarily rest upon her brow no sooner.
Humming firstly and secondly looking out amongst the open abundant space mentioning a shed. “That would be an awful lot of racket to listen too. Too conspicuous.” He offered thinking that putting someone in the shed would surely be enough to draw even wild animals to sniff about. “I feel this is a reoccurring theme, a dungeon. Most women dream of large houses and fancy dishware from my knowledge. Do I need to start worrying what sort of devious unknown schemes you have yet to speak about?”
Juliette laughed easily, tilting her head just enough so she could at least look at him as she spoke, but otherwise being perfectly content with where she sat. She supposed trying to stuff intruders into a shed would prove to be a problem if the walls weren’t insulated well enough for sound. She might as well stick to tossing them in the ocean.
“Most women are not trying to build empires with mysterious husbands that may or may not already have a throne of some sort hidden away in the basement,” she murmured, giving the slightest hint of what she’d managed to uncover so far in her casual hunt. Casual was a apt description – Juliette was curious to be sure, but it was comforting to know it was a secret he wanted her to uncover and there was no urgency to it. Otherwise, she might have went the full distance of hiring a detective to dig out everything there was to be known about Jordan Harrow with the same thoroughness she’d discovered he was doing about David Gates. And it must’ve been thorough if her own people had alerted her to someone’s snooping about her connections to him.
She hoped Jordan didn’t mind her reciprocating the need to hunt a potential enemy. Juliette intended to find out everything she could about Emery Hart, especially now that the Mister Fellows had given her the connection and opportunity to do it. Whatever use the the condescending twit was to Jordan now, Juliette would find someone better, and then Miss Emery Hart was going to discover Jordan’s overt violence was preferable to Juliette’s creative torment!
Devious unknown schemes indeed. Juliette smiled all the wider.
“No need to worry too much. It takes two for an empire to work, yes?”
Brushing palm across hip in a lazy motion, her selecting words were just enough to have him glances conspicuously towards her. Saying possibly more in that mere gesture than words ever could. So she was learning more about the house which he’d have to be slightly dumb not to figure that she had to have gotten the floor plans for this place. “I don’t keep my throne in the basement.” Jordan decided to meet her somewhat half way. “It’s elsewhere. Out for cleaning.” Flicking nothing off the side of the chair in a casual manner, vision returned outwards.
Looking at the yard for all its potential use. “It’s a little garish to keep something like that, and I am sure Elisa would have told me to throw something like that out, if I had one.”
Lips turned no sooner to smirk after the whole wonderment of if she was really needing some torture chamber for her future victims. Watching that mouth pulling to an endearing grin, “It’s easier with two. You run an empire for a few years by yourself and you realize in delay how a second pair of hands,” Jordan tapped the end of her nose for emphasis, “And eyes will help in maintaining such a land with its people. Though I find having a dungeon only encourages to have the wailing damned interrupting your meals with their screams. Puts the mood off.”
Should she consider that an admission? But to which part of her probing? The secret basement hideaway or the royal connections! It could be both or either, leaving Juliette quite amused that the only denial he could make about it was that Elisa wouldn’t appreciate such an ostentatious piece of furniture. As if he’d ever listened to the elder woman at all about her opinions on his bachelor’s den!
“Hmm. Duly noted,” she acquiesced with a soft hum. “No dungeons here at the house. I will keep it reserved to libraries and quiet reclusion.”
Laughing it off, she brushed his hand away from any more nose tapping to resume a more comfortable position of burying her face at his neck. There was something rather nice about lazily lounging outside, with the warm air and the soft breeze rustling through the trees. There weren’t any spaces for such at the hotel or her old studio apartment.
“It seems Ms. Hart hadn’t been kidding about your minions wishing to meet me. Your visitor today invited me to take refuge at the establishment of one Augustus Steele,” she mentioned off-hand – both because she thought he should know, but also from her own curiosity.
“I suppose they mean to take advantage of Ms. Hart’s mistakes – to earn the queen’s favor,” she added with another grin, before shifting to a more serious tone. “I intend to take advantage of it myself, if they think a bit of wine and dining is going to charm me, but should I be wary of something more dangerous? Ms. Hart is a live wire, that is very clear, but what of Mr. Steele?”
With breath tickling across neck as she reasserted herself there, goosebumps collected on upper arms. Prompt to ignore and delving into a grin that may have been mildly more amused about the idea of offsite dungeons than he should have ever been. Meeting the easy sound of laughter though his would continue at her shooing that hand had no business tippy tapping on the nose tip.
Where the means of leisurely comfort could have been within grasp, it was shirked. Nearly punted in a figurative sense by her when she brought up Emery. And he thought he was obsessing about David with the human-size turd living stupidly rent free in his head. It appeared Juliette had Emery on hers. The part of unwanted thoughts successfully taking up space that was never to be theirs in the first place! Exhaling maybe a little harder than he would have originally wanted, “She may be a thorn in one’s ass but she does know the hottest gossip on the street. Certainly knowing that you are the newest topic that everyone wants to get a glimpse of.” Pinching brows together, he did hate it when Emery was right. Granted it was swiftly shooed away when she mentioned how Dominic had invited her to the Iron Dog.
“He told me.” Jordan muttered turning discs upon her, “And yes. They want to be the good children, so you might side with them. If they can earn your trust, then they will most likely want to encourage you to sway my discussions that I have either refused to make or I don’t care enough to.” The man rolled eyes rather lengthily, “A queen’s favour is usually enough to make a King’s decisions turn on a dime.”
If they thought that was going to happen, they were going to find another thing coming!
Yet the way her features altered into the expression that spoke of business, intrigue was all she had returned. Eventually shaking his head. “No, between the two of them, Emery is the one you want to be a little more leery of. She’s more of the style of nice to your face, stab you in the back. Augustus will outright tell you if he doesn’t like you and make it clear he will make you his problem, should he feel like it. But between the two of them, I’d prefer you make friends with neither. Dominic however, is the one that I would say is your best bet to get to know.” Then he had a terrible idea. Producing a sly grin, “Actually… you should use that information to your advantage. Sway him to your side and have someone that is dedicated through and through. Out of all the other hands I have to deal with, that boy is easily the only one I haven’t wanted to tear apart. He’s good at what he does and if you treat him right well… he’ll make your life easy.”
Sorry Augustus, but Dominic was one of the few good lackeys that did their job with no dreams of grandeur.
Good. If Emery was the worst of the lot, Juliette was confident she could manage. While the woman was busy hissing, spitting, and preening about Juliette being nothing more than a yapping lapdog, Juliette would be earning the favor of everyone else in Jordan’s clandestine organization. Regardless of what sort of empire she was being wedded into, if she were meant to be Jordan’s Queen, she would be a Queen. One that made sure there were vicious consequences to anyone bold enough to try and threaten her to her face.
Naturally, despite Jordan’s encouragement for her to win over Dominique Fellows, she was much more amused with the rolling of those cornflower blue eyes at the thought of her swaying his choices. That elicited a soft giggle from her and a shift away from her more anxious thoughts to things that were far more entertaining.
Juliette lift a hand to softly stroke through the dark hair at his temples, at first simply because she could feel his body tense from the conversation of his plotting cohorts, but now it came with that wicked fae smile and a soft soothing hum.
“They are going to be disappointed to find out that I have no sway over you whatsoever. And even more so that I am completely resistant to all of your otherworldly charms. Though, I suspect you quite like that I have somehow stirred the pot and now they don’t know which way is up or down.”
“I wouldn’t go so far and say you have no sway. Maybe not as much as they may think, but I wouldn’t run on the thought that I’d completely disregard things that you might believe have a broader outcome. Or see something I may not.” While he could have expressed that there was in fact very little that he would need her help with, it’d be a lie. Regardless of his years of experience, he wasn’t omniscient. Knowing wisely that there was always another perspective that he might not have seen where she could. It would still be a relationship of give and take. But a controlled one on their decision, not another’s.
Yet if they played it off that Juliette had no influence upon him, it might be in their best favour. To avoid her being bombarded by the duo and their underlings that sought things to change. Acting the role of asking one parent after the first one had already said no.
However she continued and he had to conceal a smirk that threatened to be rather large if he wasn’t careful. With the confidence she suggested she was resistant to all his otherworldly charms, one might have begun to wonder if she figured out the puzzle pieces already. Or had she thought she seen all his tricks?
“Half.” Jordan remarked to the ending comment, “While it certainly isn’t terrible, I could do without their plaintive complaints any chance I need to speak about something that doesn’t revolve around what is being planned within our lives.” At this rate he was going to have to start jingling his keys before their eyes to keep them attentive to what was being spoken about. Rather than going off on a potential tangent in a totally opposite direction.
Smoothing palm along thigh, chin tilted up to consider her temporarily. “Resistant to all my otherworldly charms… does that suggest you’ve learnt something that you may believe you know all the tricks?” If this were a movie perhaps this would be the moment that he bared a fully fanged grin and latched onto her throat to prove a point. Absolutely cliché and overdone in a dramatic element!
Juliette nearly laughed out loud again. He had this need, even when comments were obviously a tease, to make things clear and reassure her to all of his intentions. Even with trying to keep his secret, he was very clearly dying to tell her, that it must’ve truly been something impossibly wild if he couldn’t just say it the way he wanted to!
Yet still, despite his desires to be honest about the entire thing, he’d have those wicked smirks whenever she hinted at something correct. At least he was enjoying this scavenger hunt!
Though, she had to wonder why his subordinates didn’t seem to appreciate a man that was perfectly honest about who he was and his goals. Or maybe that was the problem, after all? They had other things to scheme and Jordan wasn’t headed in the direction they wanted.
They didn’t appreciate it, but she did.
Finally giving way to a soft giggle, she leaned enough to brush a kiss at the corner of that wicked grin.
“Well. I’ve learned something now.” she murmured soft. “That there is indeed more tricks. Something akin to the otherworldly? I thought at first you might be a King of Devils, but I am sorry to say, Mister Harrow, that despite some of your more unruly subjects, you yourself are no devilish fiend. I’ll have to investigate other avenues.”
Mischievous little thing she was. Flirting the bare press at the corner of mouth, enough to beckon him with silence to turn further more. Laying studious lamps across her while she murmured back that she may have learnt something. Just a little something. Lifting a brow in a light agreement that there was something otherworldly as to give a slight nudge. Though leave it to her to suggest that for a moment she may have thought him to be Lucifer himself!
Snorting out a chuckle, pairing with the roll of eyes. “Not so much.” He might be close but he wasn’t on par with the horned devil, nor did he dance in hellish flames with a pitchfork as a plaything.
But he shared mayhap similarities.
“Well let me know what other avenues you wish to explore.” Daringly he sought to continue that flirtation of lips with mirroring a press upon the subtle peak of corner. “I might not tell you what’s happening, but there is a certain amount of fun to be had watching you try to discover it.” Perhaps pathetic he found it that entertaining, but usually someone discovered this sort of truth they were bound to try to flee from it shortly after. Resulting in either an impromptu lunch or a new unwanted minion added to the ranks to keep them silenced. Eternity had a fair way of making those heel swiftly.
“Besides that, now that you are properly finished putting your first touches upon the gloom and doom of a manor, what is it next you have planned? Wondering if I ought to evict myself for the next coming months or not.”
“You will be relieved to know I am done wrecking havoc on your sanctuary for now,” she laughed, greatly encouraged by his reciprocating kiss to stroke her hand against his cheek and tap her thumb lightly to the tip of chin.
“An office was the only dire need,” she admitted. “I’m afraid once the wedding and honeymoon is over, you might soon forget you even have a wife.”
That she confessed with the most regret, as Juliette was growing quite used to these quiet affectionate evenings. Early morning and stressful noisy work days seemed far more tolerable when she knew she could come home to this.
“It will take a few months to settle things here and build the new foundation for Byron International, but then I will move on to creating our west coast offices. And after that it will be off to Hong Kong, and to Barcelona, to Lagos… I am going to be sure to have shipping centers on every continent.”
Perhaps it was only a tiny bit of regret, as the way she talked about her plans there was an obvious excitement and passion to it. As if she’d be out there getting it done right that moment if she could have!
“I suppose I could leave Elisa in charge of handling home projects while I am away. She seems studious enough to follow the directions in my binders. You might miss me less if there is someone left behind to vex you in my stead.”
“Praise whatever god you want.” Breath exhaled with strong relieve that his dank home had received a pardon for any further face-lifting until after they had completed the wedding. Sure that he could handle the modifications if it wasn’t so damn noisy! And people-y.
But colour him momentarily surprised when she suggested that once everything was ceased her entire existence may be shortened to lapse of memory. Beckoning his view to be latched upon her to heed the full undivided attention. As expression of work came to where she would want to set down additional buildings of the shipping company to properly measure up to the international within the name. And truly she had a plan for she was nearly telling him that she would be all across the world. Searching her expression to see if it held the excitement to simply be gone or if there was even a fragment of true or feigned regret to be absent so much. Though he couldn’t actually tell.
“Suppose I will just have to invest in a mistress then to keep me occupied.” Jordan stated rather formally as if he were already in thought. “And to come with me when I must fly to that of Vienna for a week.” Brushing fingers amongst chin with the labour intensive thought, shorted to shoo through the air. “No need, I am sure whomever will fill that vacancy of your place will be happy to take over your plans and alter them.”
Eyes closed, “It looks like I’ll be just as busy.” A short lived expression as a glint of blue was peeking out the corner of eye at her.
“A mistress!” she exclaimed so suddenly as she straightened up in his lap, it even surprised her. Not that Juliette believed in the slightest that he could even be bothered to have someone extra on the side. He seemed bothered enough having his hands full with everything else on his plate that having to deal with yet another person in his life would be just more inconvenience.
Still, even just the thought of it was enough to illicit a sense of jealously. How strange! She’d never been jealous of some other woman in her entire life! Especially a non existent one!
Juliette narrowed her eyes, lifting a hand to poke him square on the tip of his nose.
“Take a mistress anywhere if you dare, Jordan Harrow,” she warned. “Do as you please. But be forewarned should she be bold enough touch anything of mine – my house, my husband – she might find herself without hands.”
“Although,” she paused in her threat to take on a thoughtful expression of her own, retracting her hand to tap her chin as a mimic of his own motions as she gave it a second consideration. “I could get a paramour of my own if you are no where to be found. Perhaps some Parisian beau that’d be delighted to follow me around the world.”
He had expected a reaction but maybe not the one that she had given him. Believing that she would have just grinned like the Cheshire Cat with teeth all abound and eyes glittering with wicked riddle bound mischief. To purr in a way that would feel in a sense free that he could so easily remark on such a miniscule thing that really wouldn’t come to fruition –he didn’t have really enough patience to entertain another that could be opinionated or smart- but how quick she exclaimed the word and straightened like a board; all beckoned he pay attention.
Avoiding smirking too sinisterly at how she managed to catch him off guard. So far everything he had witnessed with her, he actually doubted she’d give the smallest rat’s ass whether he was kidding or not about such a thing.
Rather to tut-tut and shoo him off to go annoy some fop instead.
Which he might have commented on if it weren’t for the way she was tapping him on the end of his nose. Words coming in warning no sooner. Merely missing his middle name attached to send home just how dire of a potential mistake was made. As though he ought to be shaking in his boots. Rather than theatrically amused currently.
“Oh, well I guess I’ll just have to assure that she has somewhere else to hide away in.” Evidently not about to be chased down from this game yet. After all he did tell her previously she had been the first that stayed within the manor out of all his apparently escapades. Yet within seconds of her devious threat to mar some figment woman, she offered the original way he assumed she’d go.
Thoughtful. Representing that very tricky cat as he was left to slot away the methodical composure she gave. And in turn, “I merely assumed that was what you were already planning,” Sloe brows lifted, “To have a different beau—” He may have hated that word, “In each place you went to visit and rest your laurels as you built your shipping business back and above what it had been made into from your father’s clever hands.” So he might not have been lying about this one, he did already previously assume that she’d delight in taking whatever flashy flavour to her bed even if they agreed to this arrangement. Not even thinking that she wouldn’t spend her hours even here within the home city, tossed about in rapscallion twists with whomever she wanted. Knowing that while the agreement was in marital status, she would be housed, fed and neatly secure that for however long they stuck together; she had nothing to worry about him destroying her scandalous fantasies.
So Jordan levelled his gaze upon her. Lingering till he was sure he had gotten the picture, “Whatever tickles your fancy, I suppose. If you want a Parisian or any styling of beau to toddle about your ankles like an eager puppy, I could not stop you.” He offered a all too easy smile. “It is your business, not mine.”
He explained it so deadpan, Juliette had to wonder if he truly did imagine and assume her to have a lover in every city! She supposed it was a reputation she earned herself – after all, did she not jump into bed with him on her own desire and whim without regret or complaint? It was easy enough to assume she’d continue her natural habits! It was both infuriating and hilarious. Juliette couldn’t decide if she wanted laugh out right, or drag him up out of his chair and shove him into his precious pool.
“No, I don’t think I like that idea…” she started slow, narrowing her eyes at him again to give him a quick once over before that imperious expression fell on her features.
“In fact, mistresses are one hundred percent forbidden,” she stated matter-of-fact, dusting his shoulders off as if he needed to be straightened out. “You’re mine now and I expect you to come with me as I am most certainly not building an empire for some halfwit arm candy only good for a tumble in bed! Woman or man!”
For a moment there, she might’ve been legitimately angry about it! Enough that that twist of a frown was sneaking it’s way to the corner’s of her mouth.
“I have half a mind to drag you down into whatever your secret basement room is and lock you in it. Give Elisa the key and leave you there.”
She was damn good at assuring he wasn’t always aware of what sort of response he might get. This one included. Where he might have believed she scoff, snort or even give him that puckish twinkle in eye that spoke its faeish intent, she just seemed to look him up and down. Like it was the first time seeing him. Did she think that he would have forbid her from doing whatever she wanted. Like some sort of gatekeeper that would decide everything in her life? Yes, no. Do this, do that.
Had he been a tyrannical man, maybe. But one could suspect had he behaved as such, she’d likely have rebelled or assured this was as painful as possible. Which would do him no favours if he wanted to accomplish his own goals. Nor did he enjoy the prospect of controlling anyone. Business was one thing, it was expected of him to have answers or denials attached to what he expected.
Relationships, even arranged ones had no business being rigid. It only would trap either participants in a ugly tangled snare. Maybe not immediately but eventually.
Colour him surprised when his words of not telling her what she could or could not do, had her immediately narrowing eyes with a decline that she was not a fan of the idea. And told bluntly that such imaginary ideas of easily manipulated trollops were forbidden. Brows lifting while she dusted his shoulders. Looking at either side just in case he missed something crawling there before looking up at her. Declaring that he was hers.
Well that one was unexpected. So much so he had no witty remark to make back. Too bad too since she was commenting that no halfwit arm candy was worth it –though he wanted to chuckle at that one. Almost able to imagine some doe-eyed airhead standing aside her like one of those weeble wobble toys kids knocked about. Was she actually bothered by this? Surely not! If there was one thing he had learnt about Juliette, it was that she came off well to hold her own. Needing no other unless she asked of it. She didn’t bend or break so easily, so what was her reasoning for potentially teasing him but to error out quickly that it could not be given in return. Or the fact that he was expressing she had whatever free range she wanted.
Now that was the question mark.
“So you figured that out.” He chose the response carefully, looking from honeyed brown to mouth. “There’s no key to such a place, nor do we need Elisa worrying about an additional room.” Jordan sighed at her. Smoothing palms across forearms as though to quell any potential fury. “Juliette, you know as well as I do, I’d not bother with a mistress. Only for tease but not actual purpose. My apologies if it earned your ire.” He did mean that but it just sort of baffled him, “Though I have to admit. I’m a little stunned, I would have assumed you’d prefer your sense of open freedom in a whole entirety. I may know little about whom you are but I do know that your childhood and your previous adult relationship was hardly any more than a gilded cage. You’d have to forgive me, I simply assumed that you’d enjoy whatever liberated pleasures you wanted while knowing things here are contented, yours and have no limitations. I don’t expect you to be loyal to any marital assumptions.” He selected as not to dance around fancy words, “That was never part of the agreement after all.”
“Well! Color me just as surprised as you are!” she exclaimed, perhaps a bit too loud in volume. Perhaps even color as in literally, as she could feel red-blushing warmth in her cheeks enough to reach up and press her palms to her own face. Leave it to Jordan to somehow diffuse her furious temper, before Juliette had even realized she had something to be furious about.
Not that it was any good reason to be mad, the entire situation was made up teasing nonsense! All the more reason to be embarrassed as she was conducting her no better than some jealous angsty teenager, and here he was being not just reasonable, but likely thinking in the back of his mind that she was completely insane.
After a heavy sigh she gently touched her hands to his cheeks and gave a soft brush of her thumb.
“I’m sorry,” she admitted with brown eyes wide and wry grimace before digging her teeth into her bottom lip. “Maybe I am not so resistant to your charms, after all. Freedom is all well and fine, but I hate that you wouldn’t miss me! I want you to miss me. Maybe I have been spoiled now, and rather like the idea of being your wife and only yours.”
“…of course, I don’t expect you to bend to my wishes if that is not what you want. I will adjust,” she muttered out quickly.
Such an unusual feeling to watch her raise up and flutter hands over cheeks like she had been caught doing something particularly naughty and was now having some chastising waggle of finger in her face. Not to mention how strange it was to realize that her commentary was linked to potentially actual ire. Affirming that he may have overstepped a boundary even in an originally playful manner. Considering that a learning experience that he wouldn’t make the same error twice. Thankfully he wasn’t stupid enough to rinse and repeat until someone came in to tell him to give up and get out of the shower! Yet, he didn’t know why she might have been raising hackles at something surely she knew he’d actually never do. The evidence compiled around her that sure, he had his scandalous behaviours prior but so far he made it prudent that he was not interested in doing such things.
Good god to the men who could actually have a wife, a mistress and a side chick all at once. They were either truly insane or they liked to torture themselves. The amount of effort that would go into concealing such things with clever wit would be like a fourth job without the previous additional two!
Also, what the hell did he do with this odd twinge of what he might call intrigue or anticipation when his realization dawned that she might think of him a little more than a passing opportunity for now. Something a little more solid –which he would have to pick at in his own head to decide just what the hell that was. Leaving ample chance for heated palms to select either cheek to hold upon. Dusting thumbs over and his attention to rise to remain positioned upon her own as she apologized. Promptly narrowing in a suspicious manner as she would suggest she wasn’t so resistant to charms. Sure he wasn’t actually doing anything. Thankfully rather than letting him play that mystery game of guess the meaning, she expressed instead.
That she had wanted him to perhaps latch onto the former commentary of her global trot from here to Timbuktu, to utter that he would follow. No… not follow. To accompany? Or at least say that she was going to be a missed radiance within the home with her absence. Suppose that was a missed cue on his part, though he hardly would have thought she’d give a damn about such things!
“Juliette—” he had intended to speak before she promptly added some additional pieces. To point out that she would adjust. “Like what, some sort of trained beast?” Asking abruptly, he took upon each wrist. “I’m not asking you to adjust or to take whatever sort of scrap I decide to throw out. Goodness if I thought that, I’d wouldn’t have bothered with your intelligent mind. It’s easy to find a lapdog, love. It’s hard to find someone with wit and a spine. I do not expect you to adjust, this is your home. Inside and out.”
Gently he squeezed her wrists slowly letting palms slide down forearms. “I came into this very arrangement with the understanding that I would have no qualms or bothers with whatever you did. Not only because it wouldn’t be my prerogative, but because I don’t particularly care to have people constantly kissing my ass. I was looking for a partner who wasn’t afraid to stand up for herself or what she wanted. Which I found, though I also knew that whomever fit that position would need to be able to have their own life. It did not bother me if you wanted to gut my entire home to make it some sort of circus house, if you wished. Within some reason,” Of course his office. “I came into this knowing that the person whom would be my partner, would need their own freedoms. Not a fancy cage or leash. But I didn’t take into consideration that well… you’d give a damn.” Thumbs brushed softly, looking downwards himself at their position.
“I didn’t wish to keep a contracted hostage. I’ve spent too many years knowing the shackles of unusual cruelty, regardless of my slow shedding of humanity, I do not wish to put that sort of demand or expectation on others. Business is business, but personal? That is different. No one deserves to be a slave or a pretty thing to sit on a couch to strike a fantastical pose at my heed. I do not care to rule you Juliette. I just… did not bother myself to think that you’d offer consideration or even care back. It was not expected of course, nor forced. I do not say you need to adjust, live as you wish. That is all I can say.” Jordan paused, before smirking some. A whimsical distant thing, “When you get to my age, you learn things. Stupid things. Smart things. But you learn most of all, that the concept of being wanted is almost that of fairytale. Suppose I am rather caught off guard that you of all people whom have been almost a romantized prisoner of family and partners, would want someone you don’t even truly know to covet you as a wife and only as theirs. It sounds… poetically dastardly. Not unpleasant but… out of my reality.”
A smirk appeared then, “When people want something from me, they want it for their control. I did not know you would care if I’d to miss you… perhaps I ignored it because it’s easier to do so. After all, I am not accustomed to wanting someone either. But… I could tell you I wouldn’t miss your presence yet… something in the back of my mind that is speaking loudly says otherwise.” He continued after a light sigh, “When one is alone, that is comfort. When that one finds another who is not put off by themselves, it becomes oddity. And in turn, melts into symmetry. I know your work is important to you, Juliette. I’d never tell you otherwise, but I’d be foolish to think that you haven’t already impacted parts of me that I would like to say have been long since dead. Do not apologize for being human, nor suggest that I have any sway upon you. You are a young lady that has the world before her very feet and needs no one to hold you chained to it. But… I would miss you from this place, even if it is just to miss how quick you like to tease and make fun of me. The home here as not been this alive for many… many years. And that is your doing.”
“You talk about yourself as if you’re not human,” she muttered softly, and with it came a sudden jolt of fearful understanding that maybe, just maybe that was spot on to the truth. That actual impossible, otherworldy secret… but just as quickly his long winded speech had her frowning for entirely different reasons. Drawing her to brush her fingers through the dark tendrils of hair at his temples.
“…you talk about yourself as you don’t think anyone could care about you. Because of it. Despite it.”
Not once, not ever had Juliette thought Jordan Harrow had his own insecurities or fears. He comported himself with that old world confidence and honesty with things that… well! He simply existed as he was in his truth and the world just had to deal with it! Yet here he was announcing in his ridiculous antiquated way, as if he were some grizzled old man damaged by the centuries, that he couldn’t even imagine someone would care about him. That all anyone ever desired was what they could get from him and not want the man himself. That he had no intentions of ever expecting anything from her – as why would should he bother, he’d already given her everything he thought she would want.
So she kissed him. On a whim, on the absolute need to kiss him, because he was the biggest fool in the world and he deserved it. Just the simple soft pressure of her mouth pressed against his and the soft frustrated sigh that came along with it.
“I don’t think I have ever met someone that was both so intelligent and so stupid all at once,” she muttered, with all genuine affection. “I do give a damn. I give lots of damns! I suppose I never expected I would either, but here I am wondering how I am going to convince you that I couldn’t care less about that blasted contract. We could go toss it in the fire right now, and I will still stay here with you.”
“Risk the fairytale, Jordan. Let me be your wife in every sense, I promise I won’t disappoint you. I’ll conquer the world and give it to you along with myself and everything else you thought was impossible.”
It would be too easy just to pointed out the truth in that very blurb. Thankfully she seemed that she had other things to dissect on his long winded tirade. Or she was really into his hair at the moment, which it was prone to being a disaster on a whim. So who the hell knew.
Still, she suggested in the same tone that he spoke poorly of himself in ways that knew the measure of his appeal came more in the way of what could he do for others rather than anything more. It would be preachy to say it again that when you got to his age, that you learnt some things. And after this long, he was no young star eyed guppy that still thought entirely a lot about the human desire of being wanted. Not like a trinket but as an equal. Perhaps it was ridiculous that he could reach this age and find it almost comical and pathetic all at once that all it took was her to suggest she simply wanted to be acknowledged and missed. It was still an odd thought for him to think about but it wasn’t unpleasant. Which was probably why it was odd! He ought to think it was too peculiar.
If he thought about vocally combating it, there was silence. A press of lips that both were gentle and mildly exasperated by how she sighed in turn. Which, fair enough.
Dragging the corner of lip across teeth as though he was assuring she had been forward in that temporary moment, it turned into a airy laugh. “I’ve been called worse.” Just such things weren’t ever uttered with softened fondness. Still Juliette was something of a phenomena herself. To be so bold enough to suggest she didn’t give two collected damns about the arrangement that had been beckoned at her ancestors hands, but found that she wanted to just simply stay.
A part of him wanted to blurt out if the fumes of the paint inside had gone to her head. Withholding the bumbling knee jerk to blink instead. To be told to risk the fairytale and just accept that she was willing to be a wife. An arranged marriage was one thing but did she actually want to throw herself into that style of commitment with no obvious ease of just departing. He had written in the pre-nups that the marriage at least had to last three years for her to get anything from it. But he hardly expected her to want to have this.
Till he couldn’t stop probably one of the more genuine smiles appearing. Small, crooked and flawed with no practice. “I don’t need the world Juliette. Nor do I think it would be possible for you to disappoint me, I’ve already seen how talented you are in many ways.” An easy truthful compliment given freely, “Perhaps… I will just have to let you prove my inner woes wrong. Rather than blither about how such things could be nigh impossible.” Keying the word she chose last as a point of conjecture. With a renewed boldness that sought chin by thumb and finger. To guide her back down to flirt lips in whispered suggestion without finalizing the seal, “I don’t worry of you disappointing me. I worry of disappointing you, do you think I have this much bravado because I make it look easy? Or do you think I use it as a defense mechanism?” perhaps a rhetorical question for now, “Find out first what I am keeping from you before you suggest I ought to risk the fairytale, peristéri. You may find yourself regretting such things once you do. It is wise to keep a exit in mind, for it’s easy to promise things now without knowing the whole truth. I value you too much to foolishly let you close all means of escape.”
Disappointing her. As if she hadn’t been waiting with baited breath for that shoe to drop somewhere along the line, only for him to do the exact opposite at every turn. To prove himself to be someone she could honestly see herself spending her entire life with. Juliette already knew it wouldn’t matter – whatever it was! She knew it in the way that he spoke to her now, that no secret of his would change her mind, shocking or not.
But if he needed her to know before he could feel wholly safe with her, then damn it all, Juliette could give him that! She was right there on the precipice and there was no going back now.
“Hmm. You underestimate yourself, somehow” she murmured soft, slipping her arms around his neck to lean in and seal the promise with a deliberately chaste kiss. “Challenge accepted. You may wish to lock me in your hidden basement chamber, as I intend to gloat over my victory at every opportunity.”
The means of her escape was not something he would just offer to anyone or lightly. In fact, he wouldn’t actually offer it at all considering if she managed to dig out the secret that was surely better fit for some rogue authors deliberate fantasies; he ought to have a concrete end instead. Rather than risking a senseless tattling.
People could promise whatever they wanted before they knew everything. It was the easy response that he doubted she really considered, regardless of what morals and merit she had.
So call him besmirched in a way. Charmed as she liked to repeat by her that even as a being that was a false ruler ought to know letting her know such information and to live after should she bolt, was something stupid he shouldn’t do. But, it would be a waste to lose another intelligent mind in this world. There was plenty of idiots, not enough common sense sorts.
Once more there was the air of effortless chuckling in throat. “I don’t.” Calm retaliation even as he seemed surprisingly contented to have her lean in and lay claim by innocent press. As though his words were part of the idea that it was a challenge, when in actuality it certainly wasn’t. However, who was he to say otherwise. To ruin her fun if she thought it to be some sort of achievement to prove him wrong. Eventually laughing a bit more. “I await your triumphant victory speech then, Juliette.” Jordan hummed as thoughtful hands roamed up to hips, “Though I don’t think I can sit any longer here. My legs are starting to fall asleep. Plus, I am sure it is time for me to evade Elisa before she tries to shove some hearty meal down my throat.” Giving an affectionate pat to rump to implore to removal, “When do you intend on having your stagette party at the Iron Dog, then? I feel as though I ought to have a heads up so I may casually threaten to flay Augustus alive should he disappoint you.”
With reluctance Juliette slid off his lap and took his book with her. If she hadn’t known Elisa was a delightful chef, sometimes she’d have to wonder if he dodged dinner so often because he hated the elder woman’s cooking! She supposed it was more likely he could only handle the chatter during breakfast, and that was more than enough conversation for his tastes. She fussed like she were his mother – well, how a mother should behave anyway!
“It most certainly won’t be a party,” she responded with a grimace just at the idea! “But I think I shall have my friend accompany me this weekend. We haven’t had the chance to go out together for years and I think she’ll find the whole thing amusing. Pestering Mr. Steele is unnecessary. I might like to see what they’ll get up to without the threat of you breathing down their neck!”
Of course, she didn’t intend to give Miss Hannah any real details about why she’d chosen such a location, but a bit of espionage sounded like a grand bit of fun to Juliette. Far moreso than any drinking or caterwauling about!
Once he was assured he wouldn’t be walking around like a new born deer with leg’s of jelly after her rump had departed his lap, – or to take a spastic tumble into the pool fully clothed because a foot had decided to shoot itself with pin’s and needles- his query upon when she would grace her being to the establishment of a rather particular clientele; he found her expressing it would not be a party. “You say that but now that you’ve given agreement to Dominic, you may find yourself having just that.” Words easily found the strength to remark in such a way. Sure that the younger vampire would have a field day trying to assure things were to the eventual queen’s desires. While simultaneously attempting to keep Augustus please and their little secret hush hush.
Which meant being sure none of their damnable leeches came about for a snack. If he so much found out one rogue fang had been angled at his bride well… he wouldn’t be held responsible for their lack of eternal life.
But Juliette spoke of a friend. “Friend?” he asked suddenly suspicious, lips turning into a pressed frown even as he sought to open the singular door back into the homestead. Greeted by jewelled eyes sitting at the end of the hall as though Theix was the concerned parent having stayed awake while children broke curfew. “No… no I think that is exactly the sort of reasoning why I ought to be breathing down their neck. I vouched for Dominic but truly, Juliette.. the Iron Dog is not the sort of place one goes to just…” Swivelling hand through the air searching for a better word though coming up empty, “Socially drink.” Which was exactly the point of a bar! “Not what I mean.” Jordan promptly buffered though he still had no better way of expressing his thoughts.
It wasn’t as though he’d just come out to blurt that the place was the sort of venue that those who had more than just a biting fetish liked to come. There were people who thought vampires were real and didn’t realize that they were quite liberally volunteering themselves as menu choices when they went to the space that allowed private booths for someone to be bite, chomped and sucked all for a fantasy!
He knew she was being given the freedom to discover the truth but he didn’t think it would do any favours to suddenly have her friend being a potential meal course to those that might not overly care about the kinship between Juliette.
Pressing fingers to his temple, “I do believe… that if you will insist on entertaining this idea that at least I lay ground rules for Augustus. Call me overly cautious.”
All the more reason for Juliette to have Hannah along. Should things take a turn towards some over excited soiree, she could use her friend as a buffer and a shield! The girl would be delighted to be involved in ridiculous shenanigans, and Juliette could contentedly sip wine at the bar unscathed.
Though, by Jordan’s vague and troubled description of the establishment, it sounded like it was more than just the average sit down and drink pub! Which meant it was highly likely to be the sort of place akin to a gentleman’s club, where things often catered to the whims of those with deep pockets and fetished interests. Perhaps not the sort of place her soft and easily scandalized friend might be comfortable, after all. Prompting Juliette to laugh at the thought as they entered the house.
“For Hannah’s sake then,” Juliette agreed, stooping to scoop the waiting cat up into her arms. “I, of course, will be armed in every way possible, if that helps you concerns. But I suppose my lovely Hannah could use the extra care.”
Juliette scritched under Theix’s chin with an amused smile.
“Unlike my furry love and I, she doesn’t have claws of her own.”
A good chunk of him wanted her not to go to this place. Knowing damn well how it behaved and having been witness and patron before himself. But the other half of himself knew that if he tried too hard to keep Juliette from it; the very thing would alert her further more to the strangeness that occurred. Not to mention he would sooner prefer Juliette at some establishment that if he had to get involved, he already had the scare factor built in. People already knew what could happen should he be even moderately displeased, let alone entirely furious. Add in the fact that this would work well to avoiding David from making some magical appearance to badger Juliette because he was a relentless dog.
It was six in one and half a dozen in the other.
With mere moments arms were filled with the agent hued mini felid and he was watching her spoil the already pampered cat. “It’s all I ask. I don’t need to have your friend starting to fear that you have been led down the lane by some deranged madman in disguise.” Fingers massaged at temple, “I may not like the idea of you getting to know the place formally but I also know that it is possibly the best place where you might also be treated as you should and without interruption.”
Hands relented, tucking down to cross upon chest instead. “By how you express she lacks claws, makes me worry that you ought to bring a taser and bear spray alongside.” Forget pepper spray, might as well mace the whole place with some potent grizzly bear quality protection. Not entirely sure if it would work per say but it would smell terrible. So that was enough for him. Would ruin any meal.
“Try not to wear anything too enticing either… I’d hate to have to show a less than hospitable side should I learn that my bride to be was someone’s lunch.”
Juliette immediately scoffed. She was going to protest that she wasn’t a mouse and refused to dress like one, but realized quickly he was simply second guessing and fretting about her being around his people’s without him directly there to flash his disapproving scowl when needed. He’d said earlier that she’d be perfectly safe, so she supposed reality of what he’d agreed to was only now settling in.
“I’m sure I can manage to hide bear spray somewhere, but,” she mumbled, leaning to drop the cat gentle back on four paws before she untucked his book from under her arm and returned it to him. Then with a quick reach down the front of her shirt, she plucked a thin knife out of a well placed sheath in her bra.
It didn’t look any more sinister than a letter opener, but by the way it glinted in the light, it was sharpened well. Juliette presented it with a hand and a raise of her eyebrow.
“If your looming threats are not enough. They’ll get a pointy surprise! You don’t have to worry about me.”
This would be so much easier if she knew. But he was not about to just go about blurting it out either. Simply laying cornflower rims to dust across her once she settled the cat back to his feet. Promptly dancing back and forth to swivel his limber body upon ankles as though to tell her that he was hardly finished with being babied and spoiled. Chirruping deep in throat as nose pointed upwards every so often. Temporarily pulling vision to watch from the peripheral as Juliette mused that she could stuff some of the potent mace somewhere.
Where he might have had a quip of some variety to come back with only that she was slipping to produce a item from her bra. Which comically, it had a few blinks.
Obvious looks towards her chest and back. Processing that such a thing had been lying in wait in there and how the thing had to have been placed in a particularly way to avoid cutting the expressive undergarment or herself.
Eventually landing stare at the shiny pointy thing. So he could too point at it! “I hope that wasn’t intended to for as a surprise.” Making a lengthy note again at bosom since well, if things hadn’t gone potentially askew he might have attempted devious fate. Nothing say surprise like getting stabbed!
“You suggest I don’t have to worry, but you’d be wrong. That would imply I didn’t give a shit.” Jordan hummed gingerly though he made an obtuse effort to lightly tap at the sharpened tip of her mostly unassuming weapon. Looking at fingertip to see if it proceeded any blood like he hadn’t just tapped it rather than pricked himself. Rolling thumb over top whilst contemplating.
Would it be too plain if he told her to stab anyone who was handsy or pushy in the heart. Probably.
“I trust you, dear. I don’t trust others. It’s a curse.” He muttered offhandedly, “Truly though, I hope that wasn’t for me. We both know how I am with blood.” Lies!
Juliette laughed again, bright and loud. Honestly it felt good after having such a serious conversation! In the process, she tucked the knife away back into her bra, before Elisa wandered by looking for her baby chickens and found herself in the middle of something bizarre.
“Yet you don’t seem to mind blood when it is your own,” she mused, giving him that squinting examining look, followed up by her mysteriously suggestive smile. “It’s not for you, Jordan, unless of course you want it to be.”
Laughing again, she turned away taking a few playful steps around the cat as he weaved and bob seeking more attention, and simply waved her hand to dismiss the entire conversation.
“Go terrorize your minions into behaving, before Elisa catches you out in the halls. I’ll distract her with talks of wedding dresses and perhaps she won’t come hunting you down with that wooden spoon of hers.”