Chapter 19/166: Lords and Challenges

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Sebastian Keith let out an amused, smooth chuckle, as he smirked, raising an eyebrow arrogantly in the president's direction.

"That was some junior level observation, hm?"

From before him, Mr. Ellington flinched not, and yet his gaze intensified, clearly having gotten how Sebastian was referencing his exact statement earlier. 

"Not really, though." Keith mused, keeping his wide smile at the president, "Even your vice-president seemed to have noticed that before you did." 

A clear blink escaped his majesty at that, and his harsh features remained harsh, yet this time, his lips were parted. "Huh?" 

Seeming to have understood that his words managed to capture the attention of his majesty, Sebastian Keith continued, "He invited her to a dance just when he saw me approach to invite her. I would've liked to think of it as a coincidence, had he not looked me straight in the eye before his interruption." He kept his smile at the president, and seeing Rickard Ellington not reciprocating, rather keeping his almost surprised expression, Sebastian arced a brow at him. "Wait, you really don't know."

Pride surged through the president's eyes, and I could see it there for a split second, yet he directly professionally concealed it. 

Oh my, those different angle cameras did really come into use. I bet the surveillance team here stalked the chairman's guests and all the events of the office in HD. What a luxury.

For a second, Rickard Ellington Conway, The Great, looked offended. Offended that he, the president who was never in the dark about anything regarding his employees, had missed such a point about me.

He hid it faster than anyone could ever notice. 

And yet apparently, Sebastian Keith was no anyone.

He kept his carefree smile, "Oh well, this said, then perhaps I should clarify a point we discussed earlier, and let it answer your inquiry." He shrugged, fixing his beauteous jades into the president's.

Mr. Ellington eyed him back silently, with a glare that could split the ocean in half from its intensity.

"You see, when I mentioned earlier that I am not as low as to stoop to cooperating with your father against you, I missed this tiny detail..." He spoke, and his smile disappeared, as his expression darkened, and his handsome orbs remained centered into my employer's conceited ones. 

"Assume I was a dick enough to consider cooperating with your father against you," Keith's voice evolved into another level of danger, and he looked dead serious, contrary to what he mirrors most of the time. And even more than serious, he looked dead-determined, as he voiced out:

"There's no way in a million years I'd ally with the murderer of Charlotte Thorne's father. Ever."

I shuddered and saw my employer's face, for the first time in the night, and since a long time ago, clearly display stun, as his eyes widened and his lips parted.

His eyes did not regain their size back directly, as the blue within them stormed with millions of unspoken words, and the sea waves went insane as they crashed against each other in his gaze.

He had clearly not seen that coming.

And neither did I.

A tear strolled down my cheek, as I sniffed softly.

I had doubted him. 

But I should have known the good side of Sebastian Keith enough to never do. 

As my memories of all the happy moments I had with him, and his sincere and genuine smile as well as his spontaneous self, shot through my memory, I bit my lips. 

So he's still the Sebastian Keith I knew.

Earl or not, he's still the nice stranger who appeared at the lowest point of my life and managed to lighten up my world a little when everything felt like it was crashing down.

I stood up, really wishing to go there at that moment, but my employer's voice through screen grabbed my attention again.

His expression was back to its arrogant and unfazed nature, and it looked a hundred times colder than it was before.

Slowly and carefully he reached for his wristwatch on his right hand, as he gripped. "And how," he spoke deliberately, with a tone colder than that of a warlord's, "Do you know her?" 

Sebastian eyed him carefully at that, keeping his dim expression. 

A moment of silence passed, and the president's look intensified in the gypsy-lord's direction, directing him to speak.

As though he was unfazed by the glare, Keith shrugged at that, as he smiled smoothly. "I just do."  

The president kept fixing him at that, as he neared him a step, his beauteous beads darkening a shade. 

He spoke nothing, but simply arced his head at his lordship, indicating for him that was not an answer that registers under his accepted answers list. 

Clearly getting that, Sebastian's smile wavered, and the carefree-ness left his eyes, as he neared Rickard Ellington a step in return. "I don't understand why I should tell you anything about my relation to the woman." He voiced, his smile still present yet his eyes turning emotionless. 

Nearing the president another step, the distance between them was enough for either of them to touch the other by the extend of his hand. "You tell me, Rickard. Why should I tell you anything about her?" At that Sebastian's smile faded, and he closed the distance with the president, as he reached out for the collar of his shirt and tugged at it very roughly his hand veins were popping out.

"So you can steal her from me as well?"

It was a growl. A muscular, harsh, and spiteful growl that reflected clear anger and a long concealed grudge. Sebastian's teeth clenched, and I eyed his jades glow madly in the dark. 

From before him, the great R.E.C. seemed to have been taken by stun once again, and yet, he did not even flinch. 

It was at that that Sebastian's words sank in for me. 

Steal her?

I let out a shaking breath. 

Just what... what was he pointing at...?

My mouth went dry, and I eyed Mr. Ellington's expression slowly started changing, as he registered the situation even slower than I did.

Sebastian's accusation.

Sebastian's tone.

Sebastian's comparison of me to whoever he was talking off. 

And most importantly, Sebastian's attempted assault.

Not the best combination to lay on Rickard Alexander Ellington Conway's table.

It was among the first time I saw it.

As it stormed in his eyes like a mad, god-made cyclone.

Clear rage and unwavering pride. 

The titan of a president, the first time since I'd known him, looked clearly offended.

Due to his now crooked collar, his VII became clearly visible, as his neck muscles beneath it popped. 

Locking his jaw, his hands came up over either of Sebastian Keith's wrists, and he locked them like heavy metal chains.

Tightening his grip, I eyed as the veins of either his hands popped out, and he clenched. Dead hard. 

Sebastian locked his jaw at that, and I could see he was struggling to maintain a composure before his majesty.

The latter though, seemed not to mind that, as he clenched further, and the clenching sound against Sebastian's metal watch was heard at that. "I am not the most loquacious individual, by habit." His majesty  started, deliberately. "But I have a few reminders to place out for you after your action, Keith."

The addressed person wavered not, as he kept his mad glare at the president. 

Darkening his orbs to core of the seventh hell, my employer parted his lips.

"Remove your hands, for one."

Sebastian clenched his jaw, as I saw Mr. Ellington's grip tighten even more it looked like vice. 

As though he knew this merciless, clearly threatening tone of Rickard Ellington Conway, Sebastian Keith let go of his majesty's collar, directly shaking off the latter's grip on his hands. 

He took a step back at that, enjoying a bit of personal space, as Mr. Ellington's voice came sharp.  

"Now that you know..." He paused, clearly at a loss of words contrary to his usual thoughtless speaking habits, "Someone among my people." He paused, again.

Wait, what is that supposed to mean...?!

"I have had no interest for the past years in how you've tried to sully my reputation in the business world, Evan." He kept his slow pace, as he moved his jaw dangerously, and I saw Keith's expression darken back at him, as he reached out to his right hand's wristwatch, clutching there.

"But there are certain individuals whom you are not permitted to ruin their image of me. And she is among them."

I gasped. Wait... what... is he talking about?! She?!? What she?!

From before him, Sebastian's eyes widened for a second, before he brought them back to their composed size, and clenched his jaw again. "Ah. Are you that concerned I might tell Charlotte that story?" 

I gasped. 

Wait... me? So what he was referencing before about caring to maintain an image for...

He was talking about... me?

It flashed to my mind at that how I made it clear what my image of him was... and my heart ached. Honestly, damn me.

And wait... Story... What story?

Focusing on the screen again, I saw how his majesty's expression was still as merciless and dangerous one might imagine. Slowly, I saw how he clutched harder over his wristwatch, as his body began relaxing. Reaching up for his crooked collar and tie, he slowly ran his long and steeped fingers through them as he fixed them. "Just because I have lost interest in proving to you the invalidity of that story, Keith, does not mean I have validated it. Do not go around spitting out false bullshit, because I shall not tolerate that." 

I gasped. Wow, Mr. Ellington, the courteous gentleman, just swore! And he sounded so hot doing it!

It was a clear threat, and even Sebastian's expression showed it, as he kept his frown for some seconds. 

A few seconds of silence passed, and neither the men took any action.

Letting out a frustrated sigh, Keith finally shook his head, as he prepared to exit the room."You really never change. Never admitting you're at fault, Alexander." He voiced, his tone clearly dark. "And easy on that wristwatch of yours. We don't want it to end like my wrist, do we?" And he raised his left hand up at that, as though to show the president what he's done. 

I gasped at that, as one of the angled camera screens clearly reflected what he was showing.  

His wrist was beat red and it looked like it was definitely going to bruise.

I gasped. Holy...!!! Was that when he was gripping on Sebastian's wrists? 

The president flinched not, and his expression remained as cold.

Keith moved to step out, but Mr. Ellington's voice came again, absolute, and his lordship stopped in his tracks. "My inquiry still stands, Keith." He paused, as Sebastian arced his head in his direction. Fixing his ocean eyes into the gypsy-lord, the president spoke again. "How do you know her?"

Having completely calmed down at that, Sebastian's expression was peaceful again, as he shrugged. "And my reply still stands: I just do.

As he turned again towards the door, his tone came serious, contrary to its smooth nature which I've known. "If you're this curious about knowing, why don't you ask her? She's your private secretary, right?" He pulled out a cigarette at that, lighting it as he stepped out. "She might be obligated to answer you, but I sure as hell am not." He gestured with the cigarette as he waved goodbye, without turning around. "Until we meet again, Rickard."

The president did not move behind him, but rather turned to eye the office quizzically.

I could tell he was evaluating whether Scarlett had left any evidence behind her.

I stood up at that, and headed towards the exit of the room. 

From behind me, Alba gasped, "Charlotte, have you lost your mind? If Master Ellington sees you..." 

I didn't mind her, as I stepped out, breathless. 

The second I stepped out, beauteous, sharp, and bright jades narrowed at me. 

My heart sunk, as I met his gaze.

As soon as he saw me, his expression relaxed, and his carefree, worry-less smile crossed his lips.  

I frowned at him, and pursed my lips.

It was a weird mixture of feelings that hit me.

I had missed him, yet I felt too betrayed by him as he'd lied to me. I was mad he was a liar, and yet his words regarding my father, especially not knowing I was seeing them, made my heart ache.

It was weird how I couldn't fathom the roller coaster of emotions I was going through.

Upon eyeing my face, a throaty loud laugh erupted from him, as he ran his fingers through his beard. "Yep. Still an open book!" 

I bit my lips, and felt tears crawling up my lids.

I was not in the habit of crying anymore after my father's death for some weird reason, and yet tonight has oddly enough brought out many emotions I had long suppressed. 

I had a real urge to slap him, but I was also glad to see him. Ugh! Damn him!

He laughed again, "My, your face screams how much you wanna curse at me!" 

I blinked at that, and my expression softened slightly, yet I kept my frown. "Well, I'm assuming you know you deserve it." 

He kept his smile, as he stepped towards a waste bin in the hall which had an ashtray at its top, and he shook off his cig's ashes. 

Moving towards me again, he returned my frown with seductive orbs as he kept his smile, "Maybe, but I don't seem to hear any curses." 

The devil! He knew I cannot curse at him because I just can't! Ugh! 

I sighed, and my expression mellowed at that, "So, Mr. Keith –or was it your lordship?" I teased, a small smile crossing my lips at that. 

He chuckled, as he reached for my face with his free hand. 

I shuddered softly, honestly not having seen that coming, and yet he'd touched my cheek gently, causing me to not really react, but simply eye him naïvely. Fixing his eyes into mine, he was giving me the same observational look Garett Ellington had given me earlier when he noticed my post-crying tired eyes. He moved his thumb against my cheek, as though to wipe off a non-existent tear. "Still a tough one, huh?" He kept his gentle smile, and it was the same one I'd known Sebastian Keith with months ago. It was not plastic. It was not that of Lord Sebastian Evan Keith the grandson of the 18th Earl of Dartmouth. 

It was that of Sebastian Keith, the kind, free, and limitless soul.

I grinned back at him. "I don't like the lord you." 

He chuckled. "Me neith—" He was starting to pull me into a hug, as his sentence and action were frozen mid-way. 

Sebastian stiffened, and he directly straightened off of me.

"Lord Keith."

I froze, unable to turn directly towards the source

My mouth went dry, and my breath stuck in my throat. 

He was talented, I tell you. I might even say he was gifted.

He was gifted with such a prophetic ability to freeze whoever he was talking with the least possible syllables. 

Dear lord, was he everything but a prophet though.

Sebastian was fast to regain his smooth smile and plastic, composed façade, as he fixed Trevor Ellington Conway from behind me with an unwavering cool look. "Congratulations on the renewal of your reign, Chairman." 

I turned slowly at that, and saw how his gaze snapped to plant shoot holes into me for a split of a second, yet directly moved back to Sebastian, as though to show I did not exist. 

"I see you managed to fill your time while I kept you waiting." Trevor Ellington's comment came, like a grenade thrown yet have not been blown yet, as his eyes raked upon me like those of a predator's.

Goodness, I have a bad feeling that he's not done yet. 

Steps echoed from behind at that, and I directly recognized them.

I knew for a fact, the Chairman and Sebastian did as well, without even the need to look.

They were even, synchronized, and military-like, and they had zero spec of hesitation.

Trevor Ellington's voice echoed again at that, audible enough for Sebastian, myself, and the person approaching us to hear.

"And all thanks to you, Miss Charlotte Thorne, you're skilled at appealing to the muse of lords, no?"

Yep, here's the blow of the grenade.

I shuddered, and my eyes widened. Huh...?

From behind me, Sebastian stiffened as well, clearly having not expected that.

Filling the time of lords... what... what the hell was that supposed to mean?

His tone was as merciless as ever, and his expression remained below zero degrees as his grey orbs snapped to the person who was directly behind us at that, judging from the sound of his even steps.

"Ah, speaking of lords, there you are, son."

Emerging from beside us, Rickard Ellington Conway stood tall, his chin held up, and his beauteous sculpted jaw emphasized by how clenched it was. 

The blue in his eyes was altering between gray and their original color, as they clashed against those of his father's co-dominantly. 

I swallowed and pursed my lips, my mind going back to the chairman's words again.

Was he pointing at what I think he was pointing at? 

What the hell was he? 

Who does he think he is to speak to me like this?! 

How unfair can this get?!

Is that how the business world works?! Is it this dirty? Just because he is in a position of power, he gets to call me a... a muse —to phrase it gently?!

I clenched my fists, really wanting to answer him, as I searched my head for a proper reply where I get to keep my job, and thus my chance to avenge my father, while also shutting off his shithole. 

I saw no answer that satisfied both requirements. 

And I got angrier by that.

And the angrier I got, the more my tears threatened to fall.

A traitor tear finally escaped, and I stiffened, wishing to hide it directly, as I did not want to cry before him. 

That was when a silhouette appeared from before me, and I gasped.

Goodness, I always say how tall I forget he is, right?

His broad shoulders proudly blocked my view, and his drugging, intoxicating thick scent filled my nostrils at that.

My insides clenched yet relaxed at once.

And I realized at that how wrong I had truly been to compare the son to the father.

Because there was no way in hell, at any time or any place or any condition or any life, I would ever feel a safety similar to that which I felt just by having Rickard Ellington Conway stand before me, shielding me. 

"For what it's worth, father, I was accompanying his lordship during his delay. Miss Thorne just arrived. This is regarding your accusation of her keeping him company." He spoke, every word holding a ton, if not more, of clear danger and spite, yet maintaining the arrogance and conceit.  

I gasped, and I could

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