~ Ch. 6 ~
"Ignis, here's my decision:" Noctis looked at me and then at Ignis, whom was about to rip his scalp raw.
"What Noctis?" Ignis desperately urged.
Arms folded on my chest and still feigning disinterest, I couldn't help but also grow anxious.
"You're not going to make us stand here all day and beg for an answer." I said with a scowl.
"Chill Light… Just chill" Noctis grinned at me (one of his lady-killer smiles by the way that totally make my heart melt to the ground) and then suddenly did the unexpected…
…
I gasped
Ignis groaned
All the while Noctis smirked
~ X ~
"Prompto there's just one more thing I want to tell you." I beckoned Prompto forward as the chauffeur closed the limo door for Stella.
"Yeah Cid"
"Don't get angry with Stella." I explained to him.
"Um, why is all of this your business all of a sudden? Wait, why are you even starting to acknowledge my existence at all?" Prompto eyed me suspiciously.
That's right? Why is this any of my business at all again?
We weren't at all the closes of cousins to begin with, mostly because I just ignored him and Noctis's rowdy ways back in the day, but this time there's something I need for him to do.
"I… I just feel for Stella you know? It's hard being a movie star and a loyal girlfriend at the same time. I have lost a lot of my girlfriends in the path of fame throughout the years but I can't say I blame them or me. Give her time to think through all of this, matter of fact just let her do the movie and you know, kind of see it in way of 'testing her loyalty.'" I suggested.
Prompto contemplated hard, "Sure man… sure. Look, thanks for everything. Tell Noctis I kind of overacted bit towards the whole situation, I'll let Stella off the hook this time."
I smiled at the expected answer, "No problem! And do keep visiting often." I patted his back as he clambered in the limo.
Well that settles that.
Then I saw Stella peer back over me through the black tinted windows, looking all sick and worried.
I smiled again just for her and saluted my farewell off to the distance.
Things are chugging along just fine…
~ X ~
Ignis watched in horror as Noctis ripped the contract into bits and pieces, then scattering it all over the floor confetti-style.
I was simply relieved and speechless.
"Why?" Ignis cried, immediately collecting the torn pieces of the contract from the floor.
Noctis shrugged, casually picking up the TV remote and plopping him self right in the leather couch.
"Lightning, want to stay here for tonight?" Noctis was flipping through their Sony Bravia 3D TV, sipping his lone can of coke that has since lost its bubbly taste.
"So you declined just like that, huh?" I replied instead, sitting next to him.
"My life, my decisions, and it's finally over with. Now Ignis stop whining like a baby and act like a real manager for once." Noctis calmly said, as if the contract he had just disintegrated was mere scratch paper.
"I can't believe you, next thing I know, you lose control and demands for the contract, and then the next moment you shred it into pieces and drink a can of coke like it's no big deal." I almost wanted to laugh, out of the unpredictability of events that had just happened, and partly because I'm just so happy.
"Tell me again why you acted so concerned when I did ask for the contract? Is it because… I worry you too much?" Noctis teased, elbowing my side.
"As if you cocky jerk! I was only doing my job thank you." I stubbornly protested, scooting across the other side of the couch.
"Oh?" Noctis grasped my left arm and pulled me in closer to him, stopping only when our faces were inches apart.
"You're not doing a very good job then, talking to me like that Ms. Farron." Noctis whispered back, his breath warming up my already reddening face.
This was the closest I have ever been with my employer, and it wasn't as comfortable as I had imagined it to be.
I only broke our gaze, my eyes flitting around the vastness of the room, though that didn't help, seeing that Noctis was only pulling me in even closer to him.
"Well?" He continued.
"Mr. Caelum… I… beg… for… you're… forgiveness…" I finally mumbled back after much concentration. I was starting to wonder whether my face had transformed into the color of a tomato right about now.
Noctis inched even closer, and then softly murmured, "Apology accepted...but you haven't answered my question yet…Do you want to stay here for the night?" Noctis repeated. His dark and masculine scent was toying with my sense of smell, driving me to complete overload, and his lips were also dangerously near my ears tinting it red, perfectly complimenting the shade of my face.
"Quit playing with me already!" I shoved him away from me, and then stood up from the couch, looking away to hide my flushed expression.
Noctis only chuckled heartily, "What? Can't take a little bit of fun Light?" He asked, obviously amused by my reactions.
"Humph! And since when did the employer and their employees ever mingle and fool around at work?" I stated haughtily, securing my arms into a fold once again, and still looking away to calm my nerves.
"Well, I'm the employer and you're the employee, and I can say whether to have some fun now and again. Take a break; a week off, it's a paid leave so don't worry your covered. It's my little 'appreciation' gift to you, for you know, being the best assistant I've ever had…"
I dared a glance to my boss, Noctis smiled.
"You're welcome, sir…" I replied uncomfortably, touched by his compliment, the first he had ever given me since working for him.
Well?
Well what?
Well are you going to stay here for tonight?
I shifted uneasily in my current position.
I'm thinking about it!
Come on! It's only an overnight stay! If worse comes to worse you can always just slip off quietly into your car you know.
Worse comes to worse?
"F-fine!" I finally stuttered aloud, "But only for tonight!" I sat back down the sofa in defeat.
What did you just do?
I took your advice!
Well it was only a suggestion…
You bitch! What did you just made me do?
"You're staying here tonight? Great! It'll be just me, Cid, and you having a blast in the mansion then. It was getting quiet lonely here you know and we really do need the company."
"Okay, cool…" I muttered.
Me, Cid, and you? You're not kidding? I'm I the only female guest here?
"Noctis, but you do have like female maids working here right?" I said, emphasizing the word female.
"Hmm, I think we do…"
You think you do?
"Rosalie and Margaret had both quit, Cid fired Gretta, and Jessilyn and Violet are on vacation… Yeah, I think that was all our female maids this past month. Why'd you asked?"
"Nothing, just curious is all…"
Yeah Light, so just calm down and enjoy your host/boss's godly presence for the meantime.
~ Intermission ~
Ignis gathered up the contract fragments hastily and disappeared into the hallway, leaving behind Lightning and Noctis to chit chat.
You think this is over just like that Noctis? You're quiet mistaken then…
Pushing his glasses upwards, Ignis stomped off outside to his awaiting car and clambered in, just when he was about to drive off, Cid hailed for him outside.
"Hey Ignis? Why are you in such a hurry? You literally didn't notice me when you passed by to your car?"
"My apologies look at what your brother just did." Ignis dug around his leather jacket's pockets and presented Cid the remains of the crumpled contract through the rolled-down car window.
"So he did decline…"
"Yep, I already came up with something to make him agree... and this time it's not going to fail."
With that, Ignis drove off, leaving a trail of gray smoke behind, and a devastated Cid.
~ X ~
Noctis began to lead Lightning into her bedroom.
"Wow, I've been in your house a bunch of times before but this really beats all. You have a separate 'Guest wing' of the mansion?" Lightning was gawking around like a giddy schoolgirl, taking in everything she hasn't yet.
"Uh, yeah… Doesn't every mansion supposed to have a guest house or a guest area somewhere?" Noctis nonchalantly replied, as if everyone in the world owns a mansion like this.
"Sheesh, we've passed like 10 rooms already! Which one is my bedroom?"
"Quit complaining will you? Some of those rooms are reserved to certain relatives only, see that room over there? That's Prompto's." Noctis pointed to one door down the enormous hallway.
All the hallways that Lightning and Noctis had walked through so far were all adorned with Victorian windows, crimson velvet curtains, random mahogany bookcases and cabinets that are scattered around to fill the empty spaces, and landscape paintings hanging around in a strategic pattern that compliments the overall theme.
"You said you guys don't have much visitors, why bother to set up a whole other part of the mansion for it then?" Lightning asked.
"Well we used to have this many visitors at a time, you know, before everyone pretty much forgot about family bonds and ties… Especially when somebody important to everybody dies…" Noctis slowed down, pain clear in his eyes as he looked down.
"Oh, I'm sorry Mr. Caelum! I, I didn't mean to… bring this all up…" Lightning looked away again, unable to meet Noctis's eyes.
Idiot! Why are you suddenly interrogating your boss like that all of a sudden?
Walking past several more doors and hallways, Noctis spoke up again, "It's alright, that was many years ago anyways, and now we kind of like the solitude and all… Um, here we are." Noctis finally stopped in front of a door that had looked like any of the others passed.
"Wow, everything feels like a hotel…" Lightning mumbled to herself.
"All necessities are provided inside, towels, soap, toothbrush, bathrobes, umm extra lingerie, spare clothes, and whatnot." Noctis opened the door and Lightning gingerly stepped inside, afraid to dirty up anything that costs more than her monthly salary.
"Come again? Extra clothes? Lingerie? Just whose room I'm I staying in anyways?" Lightning questioned, transfixed on the enormity of it all.
"Yeah… We have all our guests' everyday needs stocked and ready on each room everyday. This one is one of my younger cousin's room, Abigail in particular. I doubt she'll visit anytime soon, considering the last time I made contact with her is more than two years ago. Still, we never know…" Noctis was once again holding that nostalgic look in his expression, his voice also hinting at hidden melancholy.
Lightning suddenly felt pity for Noctis, she can see pain etched from within him, and she almost wanted to hug him!
"I think I can handle by my own at this point. Thank you so much for your invitation Mr. Caelum." Lightning bowed slightly as a sign of her gratitude.
"Please, anytime! And Lightning, please just call me Noctis. Mr. Caelum is something I want to be addressed to when I'm a married man!" Noctis laughed his affectionate laugh, suddenly forgetting about his family problems.
Wow… We're on a first-name basis now, huh?
"And one more thing, this calling button right here will summon anyone of our servants, so if you need any assistance just give this guy a push." Noctis indicated at a white button besides the door frame.
Ha, kind of ironic! Now I have Noctis's maids and butlers to serve under me.
"Got it" I replied.
"Good, dinner's at 8 then." Turning around to leave, Noctis gently closed the door behind him and exited into the hallway, leaving Lightning inside the gigantic bedroom.
"Wait!" Lightning rushed to turn the doorknob again and hollered after him.
"Yeah, Light? I thought you said you got it?" Noctis smirked and looked back at Lightning standing besides the opened door.
"I-I do, but… How will I call for your help? You know… this mansion is so big and all." Lightning immediately regretted herself for bothering Noctis with another stupid question.
"Oh, well we always have these." Noctis showed Lightning his iPhone, waving at her with it.
"Right… I can just call you instead. Sorry…" Lightning muttered.
Stupid!
Stupid!
Stupid!
"No problem" Noctis smiled, turning around to finally leave.
This is going to be a long night… Lightning grumbled as she closed the door.
Making her way to the King size, 4-poster bed, Lightning sank down within its silky sheets and freshly fluffed pillows.
Heaven…
Checking her PDA from her laying position, Lightning checked her business email inbox.
"What's this?"
Lightning opened a mail from Eden Films – Noctis's current film producers – and slowly read the unanticipated message…
Dear Ms. Farron,
Sorry to inform you that all movie rights and production have been bought and transferred to another anonymous group of film makers. Please let us apologize for all inconveniences. All movie progress and filming has been put at temporary halt, inquire your new film producers for further details surrounding the movie.
With all due regards,
Eden Films
End for Now ~
A/N: Well, what can I say? Poor Noctis and his bad-ass Caelum relatives? Jk xD Read and review as always, please if anything was confusing, don't hesitate to ask. :-)