In Harm's Reach

Part IV

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For the first time, in dear I say, all that I have known Karim, I have never been so happy to see him burst through a door. He however, did not seem so ecstatic to see me in the position I was in, and hell, I do not blame him.

Before Dalgiesh could react, Karim had signaled more men to appear, completely surrounding him, and me, in the most painstakingly unforgettable moment of perhaps my entire life.

Not forgetting about Mr. Ambrose, Karim personally made sure that Mr. Ambrose was untied. No Sooner than the ropes left Mr. Ambrose, he was next to me. Taking off the chains that bound my bare body. After he did so, he draped his suit on top of me, all the while displaying one of the most hateful looks I had ever seen a man portray. But his anger was not directed toward me, no, it was all for Dalgleish, who was set to a corner with four men's watchful eyes on him.

Mr. Ambrose wasted no time getting to him. Once close enough, he let his fist fly across Dalgliesh's face, drawing blood from his nose, then he repeated his action, this time drawing blood from his mouth.

I too, would have tried to land a few punches myself, but my legs wouldn't budge from their position. Noticing this, Mr. Ambrose made his way towards me once more, than ever so gently, he carried me, making sure the suit covered my body well enough to hide my torso and parts of my thighs.

'Do you have the letter?'

'Yes Sahib, I did exactly as you said, I waited until an hour passed by, and since you were not coming out, I dispatched my men while I looked for the letter myself, then started searching for you and the Ifrit.'

My whole body felt numb, not only due to the earlier events, but due to having on little to no garments on in a cold dungeon, while wearing nothing but cold hard chains for warmth. I hadn't cried, nor had I yelled in protest, as any femenist would have done in my previous situation. I wanted to be trusted, to show my strength, not only as an employee, but as a woman. I wanted Mr. Ambrose to trust me and depend on me, as his confidant, and maybe as something more than a crossdressing Damsel he happened upon one day. Perhaps even as a lover...

Bitter-sweet memories of Egypt start to flash in the depths of my mind. Sleep was starting to take over me, the distance between my eyelids began to dwindle, and Mr. Ambrose was starting to sound muffled, until I saw darkness and did not hear him at all.

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Rikkard Ambrose P.O.V.

I was giving directions to Karim about what he was to do next, when I felt something relax on my arms. There, laid Lillian Linton, sleeping soundly. Panic started to rush through my body, thinking that she might have acquired more injuries while I was unconscious.

I wanted to make sure she was okay, but now was not the time, as there were too many people around. I instructed Karim to assemble the men in a way that surrounded us, as we exited the place, so as not to draw attention to the person in my arms. As we got to Empire House, I walked as fast as I could throught the stairs, until I was at the last floor. Not sparing a glance at the receptionist, I marched straight to my office and into the back room where I had a bathroom and a small bed. There I placed Lillian, as she was still asleep, even after being carried up seven flights of stairs. I thought it might have been a good idea to find some garments, for her and my sake alike.

Thirty long minutes of worry later, Lillian finally awoke, chocolate brown curls lined her face, making her look quite disheveled, yet a bit arousing. But I pushed all those thoughts away from my mind, as they all were accompanied with the events that happened earlier.

'Did we get the letter?'

Even after all she had been through, she still thought of Empire House before her own safety? I couldn't decide if that was either loyalty or plain disregardment to her own well being.

'Well? Did we?'

'Yes.'

She let out a long sigh and something I hadn't known I never wished to see appeared before me. A single tear was cascading down her beautiful face, as others prepared to come after it. Something came over me and I couldn't stand to see it anymore, so I went to her, and embraced her.

'I wanted to be strong... I really did.'

With a shaky breath, and the quitest of sobs, she held on to me, and I on to her, fearing that if I let go she might disappear from my life altogether. Lillian was one of the strongest Women I had met in my life, perhaps the strongest, willing to sacrifice herself at a moment's notice, and today, out of selfish reasons, I had put that Woman in danger. If I had known that this was going to happen, I would have locked her in a room with fifty guards. But what good would that have done. Knowing her, she would have probably found some way to escape. This Ifrit of mine.

'Why didn't you tell me what was in the letter?' She was returning to the firey inquisitive person I had employed some time ago.

I stayed silent.

' You don't trust me? After all this time? After all we have been through?'

She looked hurt, as if I had negated her of a hobby which only she had privileges of. But she was right, after all we had been through, I trusted her, but she was better off not knowing the contents of the letter, for her own conscience.

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Lillian's P.O.V.

I couldn't believe this. To think that a ship wreck and an exploding wall couldn't get Mr. Ambrose to open up a little wasn't far fetched, but the fact that after all the after work hours of employee and Boss bonding we had he still didn't consider the possibility of me being worthy of his secrets. Was I just an employee with female parts, or was I his secret Harlott whom he could wrile up when he pleased. I had enough thinking. I decided I had had enough humiliation. I ripped myself from his arms, not even dating to look at his face, for fear of lashing my anger and hurt on its cold hearted stoneness.

I was almost at the door when Mr. Ambrose called to me.

'Wait.'

I spun on my feet, trying to figure out whether I had imagined the words that could not have come from Mr. Ambrose's mouth.

'Well?'

'On the desk.' And as soon as the words escaped his mouth, I made my way to his desk. There on top of his desk I saw the letter. I didn't hesitate to open it.

"L.L.S.R.

Lillian Linton suitor removal.

1st suitor: Removed by Karim in the morning of Tuesday, 4th of May. Now resides in the colonies.

2nd suitor: Removed by Karim in the evening of Friday, 10th of June. Parished by falling off bridge.

3rd suitor: Personally removed by Mr. Ambrose in the night of Wednesday, 23rd of March. Parished by unknown causes. "

Words could not escape my mouth. Confusion and amazement swirled in my head, like a piece of chocolate on my tongue. Mr. Ambrose was the reason that all those preposterous men, with delusions of marriage had suddenly dissapeared. Well, not so suddenly anymore.

'You?'

Mr. Ambrose now had his back towards me, I don't quite know if it was in shame, or another of the feelings he always succeeded in masking.

'It interfered with your work, so I took care of it.'

'How does my personal life interfere with my work?! You're lying!'

'I'm not.'

' Then why?! Answer me!'

Silence engulfed the room, for at least some seconds, until I heard the words I never knew I wanted to hear in my femenist life.

'Becuase... I love you.'