Etched

Chapter 22

"Hey shorty, do you not know how to walk or something?" came a voice from behind me. My eyes widened at the words and I immediately turned around to face this mean beast who had the audacity to call me short.

I was all prepared to show my dislike to whoever the rude person must be but what I did not expect was a little boy, not more than seven years old looking at me with a raised brow and giving me a reproachful look. My jaw slackened as I hunched down to his level.

Adorning a navy blue overcoat with a dark grey scarf wrapped around his neck he was looking anything but what his height or the babyish softness on his face was giving away. He squinted at me challengingly.

"I guess I heard you wrong sweetie. Did you say something?" I asked genuinely curious, not believing the previously heard words.

"You didn't hear anything?" he asked slipping a hand in his pocket.

I sobered and ignored the look he was giving. "Excuse me- uh forget it. What is your name?" I asked still being as kind as I could.

"Mr. Carlton." he offered me his hand, my eyes were almost popping out of my head, "but my name shouldn't be your concern. What you should be worried about is to know that you can't hear." I shook his hand in a daze, which he retracted almost if interacting in a professional way.

He tugged at my beanie and pulled it off, making me gaze at him surprised.

"No, the size looks fine" he mumbled to himself. Only when I gave him a questioning look did he shrug and say, placing the beanie in my unsuspecting hand, "your ears, they look fine to me. I thought maybe short people had short ears too because of which they aren't able to listen properly. Anyway, now if you excuse me, I have places to be at, unlike you I don't have time to waste"

He nudged me out of his way while I stood there dumbstruck. What had just happened?

Looking backwards, I huffed and continued my way as I glared through the air every step I took until I reached the building. Kids these days should stop making fun of others. How bold was he to call me short despite me being average in the department of  height.

These little mandrakes should learn to not upset someone by calling them something as offensive as short.

The next big surprise awaiting my presence was Gabriel White standing at the entrance. Leaned again the pristine marble pillar with his eyes trained on the building's mail corner, he looked a few notches more intimidating then I've gotten used to him.

He was clad in almost the same shade of navy I saw that mean kid be in. His muscular form handsomely angled with his legs crossed.

While at the topic of mails, I couldn't help but notice how I haven't been receiving anything remotely close to flowers, gifts and partially concealed threats as I did before, on regular basis.

It is a relief but also a topic of question because a couple days back when I interacted with Eric on this -who Gabriel had employed back after my tantrums, an anger fit and incessant glaring (even though I believe he hired him more because he couldn't find someone more compatible for the job)- he looked at me in confusion,

"You're saying that you haven't been receiving the gifts but I -" Eric instantly shut his mouth when I saw him looking behind me, his face turned white and he haphazardly collected the envelopes, mumbled a small 'bye' before rushing out.

When I turned around it was Gabriel glaring at the place where Eric stood, I rolled my eyes facing him "would you stop scaring him?" I asked, my brows furrowed.

His glare mellowed and looked at me, in his smooth voice he muttered "I didn't do it"

"Yeah, sure you didn't" I mumbled sarcastically and walked away.