Alard, Daniel swiftly stepped in front of Tessy, blocking her path and forcing her to halt her determined advance toward the staircase. His movent was deliberate, his expression a mix of concern and caution.
At the sa ti, Cody, who had been standing by the door, shifted his position as well. Unlike Daniel, he didn’t position himself directly in front of Tessy but instead lingered behind her, waiting for the right mont to speak. His intention was clear—he wanted to apologize properly, to smooth over the tension that had arisen.
Cody had known Roman for as long as he could rember, having worked for him for many years without a single issue. He prided himself on his loyalty and reliability, and the last thing he wanted was to be accused of negligence or, worse, of aiding Tessy in another escape attempt.
The thought of Roman’s wrath sent a chill down his spine. Roman was no ordinary werewolf; he was a powerful lycan, a being of imnse strength and ferocity. Cody had witnessed firsthand the lengths Roman would go to when provoked, especially when it ca to matters involving his mate. The mory of Roman’s past actions, driven by grief and rage, was enough to make Cody tread carefully. He didn’t want to be caught in the crossfire of Roman’s emotions, especially not now.
"What is this?" Tessy demanded, her voice sharp as she frowned at Daniel. Her arms were crossed tightly over her chest, her body language radiating defiance. "Are you also going to stop from climbing the stairs?"
Daniel shook his head quickly, his brows knitting together. "I dare not," he replied, his tone respectful but firm. "I thought you initially wanted to go outside."
"I changed my mind," Tessy stated flatly, her gaze unwavering.
"So you want to return to your room now?" Daniel asked again, his voice softening slightly as he tried to gauge her intentions.
"Yes, but only after demanding and getting an explanation from Roman as to why an order to restrict my movent exists in the first place."
Cody’s heart sank the mont he heard her words. He knew he had overstepped, and the consequences of his actions were now staring him in the face. Without wasting another second, he hurried to stand beside Daniel, positioning himself in front of Tessy. He fell to his knees and bowed his head deeply, his posture one of genuine regret.
"There is no such order, ma’am," he said, his voice trembling slightly. "I’m very sorry for what I did. It was foolish of to question you the way I did. I plead for your forgiveness. It will never happen again."
Daniel, ever the peacemaker, added his own plea. "Please forgive him. He won’t do it again," he said, his expression softening into sothing almost endearing. He pouted his lips ever so slightly, a gesture so subtle it was barely noticeable, but it was enough to convey his sincerity.
Tessy opened her mouth to respond, but Daniel quickly continued, cutting her off before she could speak. "You may not know it yet, but the weather is so lovely this evening. It’s just perfect for a walk in the garden or to relax by the poolside. I could show you around if you like. There are horses too, if you fancy horse riding."
At the ntion of horses, Tessy’s eyes lit up with a spark of interest. It wasn’t because she had any experience with riding—she had never even been near a horse in real life. But horses had always fascinated her, ever since she was a child. The idea of seeing one up close was enough to soften her resolve. Combined with the earnest look on Daniel’s face, she found herself relenting.
She glanced at Cody, who still had his head lowered, his eyes fixed on the floor. Tessy wasn’t used to being in a position of authority, nor was she comfortable with people kneeling or bowing to her, or fearing her displeasure. Seeing a man of Cody’s stature apologize so humbly felt strange, almost unsettling. She had never been one to lord over others, and the sight of him in such a submissive position made her uneasy.
"I forgive you, Cody," she said finally, her tone softer now. "Now can you open the door?"
Cody raised his head, relief washing over his features. "Of course, ma’am," he replied, his voice steady but tinged with gratitude. He moved quickly to the door, his hand resting on the handle as he prepared to open it for her.
Tessy turned her attention to Daniel, a small smile playing on her lips. "Over to you, my tour guide. Show around."
Daniel responded with a playful curtsey, his deanor lightening as he sensed the tension easing. "It’s my pleasure, madam. Please co with ."
As he began to move toward the door, Tessy’s voice stopped him in his tracks. "I haven’t forgotten how you lied against earlier. Rest assured, I am going to pay that gesture back."
Daniel froze, his eyes widening in surprise. He turned around, ready to protest, but Tessy cut him off before he could speak. "Don’t worry, I won’t get you in trouble, and there’s nothing you can do to change my mind. I’m only informing you so that it will not co as a surprise. Let’s go."
With that, she walked to the door, her steps confident and purposeful. Cody moved to open it for her, but Tessy hesitated, her curiosity getting the better of her. She wondered if the door was as heavy as it looked. She reached out and tried to open it herself, only to find that it didn’t budge. The door was indeed a solid, heavy mass, and the realization made her even more determined to try again with both hands. But knowing there were two n behind her who may or may not be giving her funny looks, she gave up that desire.
"You can open it now," she said, stepping aside to let Cody do his job. She watched in mild surprise as he effortlessly swung the door open, revealing the cool evening air outside. Tessy made no comnt as she stepped out, the refreshing breeze wrapping around her like a gentle embrace.
***
Hours later, Trevor’s attention was pulled away from the television by the buzzing of his cellphone. He glanced at the screen and saw that the caller was Freya. Without a mont’s hesitation, he answered the call.
"Miss Stanford," he greeted her, his tone polite but tinged with curiosity. He suspected she was calling to inform him that she had arrived at Apex Dominica.
"Good evening, Mr. Baliante," Freya’s voice ca through the phone, urgent and slightly breathless. "I am outside the gate, and the guards won’t let in. I need to see Tessy. It’s urgent."
Trevor’s brow furrowed as he sprang to his feet, a small frown settling on his face. He couldn’t help but wonder if Freya didn’t believe him when he had assured her that Tessy was safe. Was that why she had co all this way, so late at night, instead of going ho after her long flight? The thought had him letting out a tired sigh, but he pushed it aside as he made his way to the gate.
When he arrived, he ordered the security personnel to let Freya in. As soon as the gates opened, she rushed inside, her eyes scanning the area with a sense of urgency. She paid no attention to anyone else, her focus solely on finding Tessy. Her presence was commanding, her deanor fierce, and Trevor couldn’t help but be struck by her intensity.
For a brief mont, his mind wandered, distracted by the way her thick figure, her voice, and her bold approach seed to ignite sothing in him. His thoughts grew wilder the closer she got, and he found himself anticipating the mont she would stand before him, fearless and unyielding.
But his expectations were abruptly cut short when Freya’s gaze shifted toward the garden. Her eyes landed on Tessy, who was walking out with a man Freya didn’t recognize. Without a second thought, Freya diverted her path, heading straight for Tessy and snapping Trevor out of his daydream.
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