5. Mason.
"Tss—ow! You d—don't need to do that." Emma protested. It was amazing how her voice sounded so soothing despite the pain she was going through.
"Do what?" I blinked slowly. She seemed to follow my every movement with those eyes of hers.
We were back in my office, on the other side of the mansion. She sat in a chair while I applied some first aid treatment to her hand.
"You don't....you don't need to clean my bruise," she spoke shyly. She looked away, her face a pink patch of red.
I adjusted my position in front of her and held her knuckles. She scraped her hands badly when the guards wanted to throw her out. It was the second time this week I had come just in time to save her.
I gently doused the back of her left palm with alcohol and generously placed two small bandage plasters there. "Well, I think it is my responsibility because I had you come here, and you met with my brother, Damon, who could have ended much worse." I went back to the table and placed the bottle of spirit there.
She smiled nervously. "No, I think you've got it wrong—"
The door flew open, and Damien appeared with Amelia, the maid in charge of cleaning my room and the general living area. She sort of took care of my belongings in a way, even though she was still very young.
"Lord Mason." She bowed her head briefly and threw a cautious glance in Emma's direction.
"Ah, it's good that you are here, Amelia." I wiped my hands clean with a cloth. "The other day, you were telling me there was a brief shortage in staff. Did you have that addressed? Can you make room for more?"
"Yes, my lord." Amelia agreed reluctantly. She must have realised Emma was the one I referred to.
I clapped my hands together. "That's really great. I think I have found the solution to that." I turned to Emma and she jumped to her feet. "You said you can clean or cook—what did you say again?"
"I can do most chores. Cook, clean and many others." She held her tongue immediately. I could send her nervousness all the way from here.
"Is that good enough?"
"Certainly, my lord." Amelia agreed. Damien threw wary glances my way, as if he didn't like the look of things.
"Then it's done. Emma, you follow Amelia as she shows you around. If you need anything, don't hesitate to let me know, alright?" I raised my brows.
"Ah—thank you, my lord." She fidgeted.
"Follow me," Amelia said to Emma as she walked to the door. Emma threw me a last look, probably out of gratitude, before following Emma silently.
I stared at her long enough as I rested against the table and rubbed my chin. I couldn't help but think I knew her somewhere. That electric sensation from earlier didn't happen again when I cleaned her bruises. It made me more curious about her.
"Oh, hell no my lord!" Damien approached me after they had left. "You are hiring her to clean your own room with Amelia?"
I briefly shut my eyes and turned around the table. "Not now Damien. What's wrong with that?"
"A lot is wrong with that, my lord. As your personal guards and a man you can trust—"
"My right hand," I interrupted him. "My right-hand man."
"And that—" he wasn't pleased I had cut him short. "It means I'm worried about your safety. You brought in an outsider, a girl from the markets to work in your living area? What if she's a spy from our enemies?!"
"It's impossible. Have you seen her? She can't even look me in the eye, she could barely even fight back the man who tried to assault her in the market!"
"I know my lord, but please look at it this way. You could have her assigned to the fields away from you. I haven't even vetted her, my lord. It's your safety I'm concerned about."
I sighed and turned to Damien, and shrugged. "I can't even do that. You heard Damon, he is out for her and I promised her an opening here."
"Then place her far away. Let her work on one of your businesses." He pointed at the window.
"I can't do that." I shook my head and grabbed the documents on the table.
Damien squinted his eyes at me. "Hold on, why do I get the feeling you hired her for another reason?"
"I don't know what you are talking about." I stacked the papers together.
"Oh no. You are interested in this lady, my lord."
I pursed my lips and stared at Damien. "Fine, I'm interested in her but it's for a far more different reason. It's not because I like her."
Damien cocked his brows. "I never said anything about liking her."
"Shut up, let me finish. It's her pendant. I remember seeing something like that a long time ago. It's from a distant memory I have forgotten about," I explained.
"So, you want to know about the pendant or her?"
"You ask too many questions, Damien. Don't you have work to do? I have work to do here. Why don't you help me deliver the tax bills to the council?"
Damien smirked and backed away. "I will see that the bill is delivered, my lord." He turned his back to me and stopped at the door. "And I will also be keeping an eye on her for your safety," he concluded and walked away.
I dropped the paper documents on the table and walked to the window. Amelia and Emma stood on the balcony, a floor above me, and I could see them.
Emma was a very interesting woman. Yes, she was beautiful, I couldn't keep my eyes off her, but my main focus was on the pendant.
I slowly shut the curtains "Where are you from, Amelia?" I mumbled to myself.