Angel's Intrigue

chapter 7

       "Apologize."

     "But I didn't do it!" Despite my sounding like a whiny child I was adamant that I shouldn't have to apologize for something I didn't do.

     Landen, Miles and Nixon, who I still couldn't bring myself to look at for fear I would start to laugh and make the situation worse, currently stood in front of me in the second level kitchen. Landen goes to speak, most likely to tell me to apologize once again, but I cut him off.

      "Technically if we are playing the blame game your at fault too." My eyes don't leave Landen's. It isn't until he raises a single eyebrow in my direction that I realize I just accused the boss of one of the strongest mafias.

     In the silence the light plop has me turning my head to look at an oatmeal covered Nixon. The clumpy morning breakfast still sticking to-and occasionally dropping from- his clothing. I couldn't stop the laughter that came tumbling out. The anger in Nixon's eyes intensifies and he marches towards me with unwarranted anger.

      A quick breath to calm my laughter I try to defend myself, "I swear. It wasn't me." His steps slows ever so slightly as he considers my words. I should have stopped while I was ahead but the belly-wrenching laughter was coming back and if I was going to get in trouble, I intended to deserve it, "Maybe you shouldn't have gotten in the path of oatmeal."

      As if anticipating what his friends reaction might be Landen called out, "Nico!" Nixon freezes a step or two from me, not turning to look at Landen but clearly listening. "Go change." There was something different about the way he said his next words, as if he too, was amused, "and take a shower. Its in your hair as well."

      No one says a word as Nixon stomps his way to the elevator, once out of view Landen's burning gaze turns to the twenty-something maid. She stumbles over her words in a failed attempt to explain her side, "Well, she, I-"

      "Natalie. Leave." The maid didn't wait for a second command as she high tailed it to the stairs. Taking a deep breath Landen turns to Miles next, "go wake Mason."

     His eyes don't soften when we are alone but he also doesn't stop the amused smile from taking over his face, "I'm going to make pancakes and you're going to explain why Nico was covered in oatmeal."

     With a laugh I tell him about the five minutes he left me alone with one of his staff.

      The maid from yesterday, who's name I learned was Natalie. Nat, as she didn't like being called, was making me what I could only assume was oatmeal. Landen had called the girl in to make breakfast, despite my protest, while he went to go "check on something".

       But for the sake of not needing anymore people hating me and wanting to keep as low a profile as possible while I stayed here, I kept my mouth shut. Even when the food she slammed down in front of me looked inedible and coming from someone who works with poisons for a living, quite an interesting color. A tight-lipped smile in thanks, I waited for her to leave. A few awkward seconds later where neither of us moved I broke the silence telling her that would be all I needed. To her that was an invitation to tell me I should have been, and I quote, "killed in the most brutal way, like, with a bat or something." The girl is a walking stereotype.

     It was hard not to laugh at her obvious inexperience but I managed, instead opting to say, "your opinion has been taken into consideration. You may leave now."

     A second later I was dodging my bowl of oatmeal, I didn't take my eyes off her but I could practically hear it making its way down the wall behind me. I simply raised an eyebrow at her from my seat across the island counter top.