Chapter Nine
Missing Buttons
Roxton paced back and forth in their bedroom, gathering up his belongings that he would need for the day. He slipped on his freshly washed shirt and went to button it up when he noticed something that boiled the blood in his veins. "Marguerite!" He barked. "Get in here! Now!"
Marguerite, who was in the kitchen helping Veronica with breakfast, tossed her friend an apology before trudging into the bedroom. "What is it, your Lordship?" she snapped, disdain dripping from her words. "I'm not a servant you can just order around you know."
"Forget that." He held up the sides of his shirt. "Do you notice something unusual, darling?" he said with feigned sweetness. "Let me point it out for you." He leaned into her space and shouted: "There are no bloody buttons!"
"You don't have to yell, Roxton. I am right here!"
"Where are they, Marguerite? Just tell me where they are and I'll forget the whole thing."
"I would love to tell you if I knew where they are!"
"Fine. If that's the way you want it. But don't think you can just…"
"I have better things to do," she interjected, "than stand here and be scolded!" She stomped away.
"Like what?" he yelled after her. "Complaining? Thinking up another prank? Trying to find another way to drive me crazy!"
"Helping Veronica with breakfast!"
"Ha! If you really want to help: don't help! I for one don't want to eat another piece of burnt mystery food! Breakfast shouldn't be a game of guess-what-it-is!"
"That's enough," Veronica screamed. "Will you two knock it off? I don't know what's going on here, but it's disrupting the entire household!"
Roxton left the bedroom and entered the kitchen. "I'm sorry, Veronica. You're right." He narrowed his eyes at Marguerite. "Me and my darling wife will keep our arguments to ourselves. Right, darling?"
She just glared at him.
Malone came bounding off the elevator, his smile quickly vanishing when he caught site of the trio standing around the kitchen. He inched forward cautiously. "Is everything all right?" He pointed to Roxton's shirt. "Where are your buttons?"
All three threw eye-daggers at Malone.
Roxton snapped, "Who knows? The Button Fairy must've snuck in and stolen them!" He flashed an evil glare at Marguerite before marching back into his room. He yanked the shirt off him and threw it. He stormed to his chest and pulled out another one, inspecting it before putting it on. She'll be the death of me.
End Chapter Nine
Don't fret, people. I'm pretty sure there will be a happy ending.