Turning Tides

Chapter 2: Trust Again

It was a sight like no other.

Mr. Ambrose, asleep at his desk!

His head was tilted back in his chair, eyes closed and mouth slightly open. The only sign of life was the minuscule rise and fall of his chest. As I crept closer, I noticed something... different about him.

There were dark circles beneath his eyes, indicating lack of sleep. Large stacks of business contracts and files were scattered across his desk, most of them untouched. His normally pale skin was tinted a sickly pallor color, and the area surrounding his nose was red. His usual plump lips were now cracked and swollen with dryness. He's sick?

"Mr. Ambrose?" Nothing.

"Mr. Ambrose, Sir! Are you there?" I called again. Nothing! Not even a twitch. Taking a deep breath, I decided to take my actions a step further. Raising my hand cautiously, I placed it on his shoulder and tried to shake him.

Big mistake.

The moment my hand touched him his eyes shot open, strong arms grabbing me by the waist and twisting me around so my back was to him and his hand squeezing at my throat. Bloody hell! Although this position is a little nice, don't you think? Now is not the time!

"Hey! Let go, will you?" I said, twisting my head around to glare at him.

"Mr. Linton! What did I say about disturbing me," he growled, letting me go. I stood up, scowling whilst brushing the dust off of my tailcoat and rearranging my hat.

"Um... to not do it? Hey, why does your voice sound like that?" I had just noticed his voice sounded groggy and scratchy as he spoke. Typically, his voice was as smooth as the ice, and just as cold. But now it was quite the opposite.

"It is nothing." However, my eyes spied his little finger give a twitch. Ha! Liar, liar, 10-year old trousers on fire!

"Are you ill, Sir?" I asked suspiciously, crossing my arms and raising an eyebrow.

"No! I refuse to acknowl--" he was cut off as his body was racked with a series of coughs. I noticed his eyes were rimmed with red, as if he hadn't slept the previous night.

I felt my heart clench at the sight.

"Sir, you realize the only way to get better is to rest," I advised, rolling my eyes while glaring at him. What a bloody idiot!

"I have work to do!" he rasped, his little finger giving another twitch.

"Why are you being so difficult!" I said, my temper skyrocketing. Fire coursed through my veins as I took one step closer to him. Angrily poking a finger into his chest, I fired him with a barrage of insults that would make a rogue pirate proud. "Your stupid miserly ass is going to get yourself killed!"

"Language, Mr. Linton!"

"I don't care!" I retorted. Taking another step towards him, I tried to make a grab for him and knock some sense into his stupid brain!

It was then that I realized he had been holding back until now. Swiftly raising his arms, he grabbed me by the wrists and pushed me up into the nearest wall. I could feel his little finger tapping a staccato onto my wrist. He towered over me as I sent my most fiery glare in his direction. His chest pressed into mine and I could feel his hot breath on my neck. Wriggling my body, I tried to break free of his hold.

"Let go of me!"

"No," he hissed into my ear. "You will listen to me. I have an empire to run. As I have said, knowledge is power is time is money. I will not waste my time "resting" while Lord Dalgliesh surpasses my wealth!" He turned his head to the side as he sneezed.

"I'm sure your empire will not crumble to the ground because you didn't work for one day."

"That logic, Mr. Linton, is the kind of logic that have made businesses crumble to their graves."

"Mr. Ambrose," I said sternly. "I cannot let you do this to yourself. If you die, who will pay my salary? I highly doubt anyone else would hire me... except, maybe Lord Dalgliesh..." I trailed off, biting my lips and hoping he would take the bait.

And he did. His grip on my wrists tightened almost painfully when he heard my suggestion.

"Do not mention his name!" he growled. "And indeed, there is no one else in the country who would hire you. The only reason you are my secretary is because I do not have the time to find a replacement," he stated simply.

But his eyes, however, told a different story. I met his gaze head-on, as if asking 'Is that really the reason?' There was a stormy sea whirling in his eyes, waves crashing as they traveled slowly over my figure.

It felt as if time was standing still as his face slowly leaned in, millimeter by millimeter towards mine. I stopped breathing as his chest pressed even further into mine and his face was dangerously close to my own. Just a little bit closer...

However, he caught himself, and immediately his back went ramrod straight and his demeanor went back to normal.

"I must get back to work! I mus-" his body was once again thrown into a fit of coughs, this time loud enough to wake a polar bear from hibernation.

My eyes softened at seeing him like this. For some unfathomable reason, I raised one of my arms, still clutched in his grip, and moved it to touch his cheek. What are you doing? Earth to Lilly!

The strong hand gripping my arm moved so that it was enveloping my own hand, pressing it further into his cheek, while his face slightly leaned in towards my touch. Swallowing, I opened my mouth to speak.

"Sir," I whispered, trying to communicate with my eyes what I was too afraid to say aloud.

His piercing blue eyes met my gaze, a storm beginning to swirl in their depths.

"You can deduct my wages. Hell, don't even pay me for today! Just let me help you," I pleaded.

He took a step back, letting my hand fall back to my side. I suddenly felt cold and bare without his body close to mine.

I suppose Rikkard Ambrose wasn't used to people trying to help him out of the goodness of their hearts. I wasn't completely sure of the history between him and his family, but I knew for a fact that he had left his home at a young age. Whatever happened, it made him lose trust in everyone. He had carefully built up bricks walls to protect himself, even if it meant never getting close to anyone.

"You've mentioned you keep a bed here. Where is it?" I inquired.

"That's none of your business," he said coldly. Well, that didn't work. Perhaps I could try a different tactic?

"Like hell it is! Now, show me where it is or I'll strip myself naked and run down the halls of this building," I threatened.

"You wouldn't," he said, but eyed me suspiciously. I shrugged, and started unbuttoning my tailcoat. "Stop that!" he hissed.

"Not unless you show me where your living quarters are," I said sweetly, continuing to pop buttons. Before I reached the last button, he swiftly stood up from his chair and grabbed my arms, pinning them down so I couldn't move. The muscle in his jaw moved as he struggled to think of a solution. After what felt like hours, he finally spoke.

"Fine," he said through clenched teeth.

"Lead the way," I grinned.