"What do we do now?" A group of workers from the Wendover family had gathered together and whispered amongst themselves. They had also heard the news of their employer’s incarceration and were obviously worried about themselves.
The few days that had elapsed since Jas’s arrest had been nerve-racking for them. This was because they all knew that Jas was the sole breadwinner of the Wendover ho, and with him gone, there was no hope for the ho finances and managent.
"We’ve had this conversation already, so why do you ask again?" One snapped.
"Why won’t I ask? I can’t deal with uncertainty!" The majority of the group looked like they wanted to say sothing but refrained. They were sceptical about volunteering any information, lest they were targeted.
This was because there was always that one person amongst them who would convey their conversations to the boss. When Jas had been around, the resulting consequences would have been disastrous!
"It’s all about loyalty."
"What loyalty? Will that feed and my family? All that we have are a mother and son who we don’t even know if they can fend for themselves.... All our madam knows how to do is spend money, and Rocky is just a student, a new one at that. Do you think that I will put my life in the hands of such people?"
"..... but Shelby married rich. Maybe she can help?"
"Who? Her? Pfft!"
"What do you an by that?!" Angela heard those words when she joined the group.
"Sorry to say that she is just a girl with the right looks in the wrong tiline. What can she do? She could not even get herself out of the grasp of her stepfather. Do you think her husband will be any better? Don’t you rember the circumstances of her marriage?"
"Shhhh! Why would you say that?!"
"You lot better shut your mouth on this!" Angela fud. She could not dispute so of the things they said but that did not an that she would tolerate such words.
"Why should I? Did you receive your last salary yet ...? Mr Jas Wendevor was never kind to any of us. I don’t see why I should do anything for this family. Yes, I may like Shelby and her brother, but as I said, that would not put food on my table!"
"So, what is the problem?"
"We need the reassurance that our salaries would be paid and..."
"You go ask them then!"
Just then, Rocky rushed down the stairs, surprising all of them.
"OMG! Did you think that he heard us?"
"Hahahahahah.... Why are you scared about that? I thought that you only cared about your salary and the food that would be put on your table..."
"I-"
This was the scene that Shelby and Rocky ca to et. Even though they had not heard the words, the tense atmosphere between the workers was enough to set off red flags for them.
Rocky’s childish smile lted off his face, making both Ava and Shelby look at him in surprise.
"What is going on here? Don’t you see that we have guests?" Rocky asked in a cold and calm manner. His patience was already stretched thin that day because of the various activities and issues that had been compounding on him.
So of the workers flinched. This was the new Rocky that they had been exposed to after Jas’s issue had started bubbling up.
Even Shelby turned slightly to look at her brother questioningly, feeling that his patience was running thin. This was not like Rocky at all.
Steeling himself, the worker who had been asking the most questions started,
"We have sothing to discuss, young master Rocky,"
"... and this cannot wait? Don’t you see that we have guests?"
"Miss Shelby is not a guest! Sh-"
The man’s voice trailed off as his eyes rested on the huge man who had then entered behind the little team.
He took a step back, as did the rest when Ian walked calmly in and stood behind the trio.
"Why have you stopped talking?" Rocky snapped.
"I—" the man could or would not utter a word. The very sight of Ian sent shivers down his spine. He had thought that Rocky, Shelby, and their mother were nobodies and that he could stand up to them because his salary had been delayed a few days.
The man was the reason why all the workers had gathered that day. After the trial, he had mobilized himself and the others to try and get their money and severance fees to leave the mansion. After all, despite Jas’ attitude, he was generous and on ti with all of their salary paynts. He and all the others gathered had never seen Ian Thornston but had only heard of him.
"Wh-o are you?" He stuttered.
This ti, even Shelby’s frown got heavy. She had lived with these people for as long as she could rember, and they had always had her back. In her mory, they were the most polite and loving family that she had never had. She had been excited to share this part of her family with Ian but what the hell was going on? The small group had done nothing, but she felt intimidated. It was as if they were out to get them.
"Who are you to ask who I am in my wife’s house?"
Ian’s towering fra made the hall appear smaller than it was.
"W-ife?"
It took a small while for the connection to click in place.
’He is Shelby’s new husband?’ The man stumbled back yet again, and the few workers opened up. At that ti, none wanted to associate with him.
Ian stopped behind Shelby and ran a slight caress on her back. Shelby turned and smiled at him.
"I think you should settle this before we do anything else."
Ian said, then gently guided Shelby to a two-seater sofa, leaving Rocky and Ava behind. The two were not surprised, though. Rocky’s irritation at the workers kept heightening until Ava whispered,
"People would always be themselves when an unexpected situation arises. They are just looking out for themselves...."
It was not really about the words and their aning but the fact that Ava had tried to soothe his mood. It worked like magic!
"Let’s sit, Ava!" Rocky said brightly.
This ti, even Shelby felt her brother was acting weird. In the span of minutes, he went from cold and irritated to all smiley.
’Could Rocky be developing a bipolar disorder?’
Ian chuckled, shaking his head at the sa ti. Ian draped his arm at the back of the sofa and on Shelby’s shoulders.
"You handle this," Ian whispered to her.
"?"
Ian smiled and nodded.
"But I’ve never -"
Ian leaned over and hovered his mouth over hers.
"Don’t you dare!" Shelby gritted her teeth as her ears turned bright red, making Ian chuckle softly.
’Later then!’ He communicated the words clearly to Shelby, but no one around them had heard them.
"Rocky? What’s going on here?"
Rocky shook his head. "I’m not sure, sis." Then he turned to Angela.
"What’s going on?"
"Sorry, Miss Shelby and Master Rocky. We are just a bit concerned about the delay in our salary this ti."
"It’s not just that. What guarantee do we have that we will get it when Mr Wendover has been jailed?" After overcoming his initial fear of Ian, the sa man mustered his courage and asked.
Even though those around him had thoughts similar to his, they shrunk back in a slight fear of the newcor, i.e., Shelby’s husband.
Shelby frowned, "I don’t think that should be a proble-"
"Miss Shelby, we really need that money now. It is inhumane to do this to us just because the master of the house has been jailed. It is not our fault that he was-"
"Now, that is overstepping your bounds!" Shelby slightly raised her voice at the man. She did not want to, but his line of words and questioning was irritative.
"It is not! Try to be in our shoes, we-"
"How much are you owed?"
"It’s two months!"
"Why is it two months? I know Jas pays on ti so why?"
"Ermmm- it-s"
"Never mind. How much is that?" Shelby snapped. She was getting irked with the tone of voice the man was using. She was not one who was easily irritated by such but for so reason, this man did.
"It’s a Thousand!"
Upon these words, Shelby widened her eyes.
’That’s a lot!’ She thought.
"Where can I get this much to pay them? How do we even take care of this whole mansion in Jas’ absence?" She bit her lip yet again.
"Why would you think like that when your husband is right here?"
Ian lowered his head and whispered for her ears only. Shelby felt a slight excited tremor pass through her with his breath lightly teasing her ears.
She closed her eyes tightly and asked,
"C-an I really do that?"
Ian chuckled, first thinking, ’She looks so cute with all of this innocence!’
’I know that you do not want to use the money that Rocky sent you because of Jas. But with , you do not need to ask. Just use whatever you want. Rember, I am all yours, and you are mine. This ans everything I have is yours! Enjoy your right, my Elfin!’
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