Mock Me Not

Chapter 13
"My goddess? My goddess?"
"Hmm..." I groaned and sided my head when someone poked my cheek. I shut my eyes more and laid on the other side.
"Sweetheart, wake up now."
"Later..." I sounded groggy, not wanting to wake up for a while.
"Sweetheart..." That manly voice sounded like a lullaby was making me at ease. Even how my cheek was being caressed created little shivers but I ignored it and fell back to sleep. "Sweetheart, they are already looking for you."
"Let them be..." I sighed and laid, going back to sleep. Right there, I received a soft chuckle from that manly voice and caressed my hair.
"Alright. You can take a rest, Novalie, my goddess."
And the atmosphere became silent. It wasn't deadly but it was a peaceful one. It took me a long moment before I realized why I was feeling solace and tried to remember where I was.
I shut my eyes open when I remembered that I was still at Argerich Consulting when I looked at the ceiling. My heart jumped when I came to see the familiar olive orbs and alluring musky scent of a man who was towering over me and was meeting my eyes.
Then he smiled tenderly. "You're awake, my goddess."
I immediately got up which made me feel dizzy at the moment. "What..." I paused and sat properly while massaging my temple. I cleared my throat. "What time is it?" I blinked, feeling a little distorted.
"It is already noon, my goddess. Lady Ouncy asks me to wake you up so you can have your noon meal." Frederick stood up and reached the dagger that was already in the coffee table to bestow it for me by kneeling on one knee. "For you, my goddess..."
I creased my forehead, hesitating to take the dagger from him. Frederick helped me to raise my skirt. He inhaled sharply when he saw my porcelain leg and thigh revealed to him. I smirked but then I remembered something when I put my dagger inside the thigh holster.
"Did you address me in a different endearment?" I accepted his hand when he offered it to me.
Both of us shivered at the contact of our skin to each other. I ignored it so I could focus on him.
Frederick blinked, tilting his head. He had bewilderment registered on his face. "Different endearment?" He hummed and shrugged. "I am only addressing you as my goddess."
"Or on my name, if you want to disrespect me," I added bitterly. He had a mischievous grin when I uttered that. I squinted my eyes. "Are you sure you are not lying? I really heard a different endearment..."
Frederick shrugged. "You must have misheard me."
"Huh... Right..." I said, unconvinced. Frederick only smiled as an answer.
We went out and went to the second floor where the lunchroom was located after staying on the third floor to see that everyone was having their noon meal already. I eavesdropped together with Frederick seeing how happy my employees were.
"Lady Novalie!"
I stiffened and turned around, smiling wryly to see Ouncy. "Ouncy..." Shit... I was really planning to leave right after this but it looked like I was caught already by my secretary.
Scratch that.
She knew that I was planning to leave based on how she was staring at us.
She approached us. "Come, my lady. Your employees have been longing to see you," she said in a bright smile.
I was left with no choice and followed her. I even looked at Frederick to ask for some help but he only shrugged. I frowned at this good-for-nothing slave.
"Lady Novalie Argerich, Viscountess of Erast has arrived," Ouncy announced.
I kept my head high as soon as my employees looked to the doorway and saw me having a stoic expression. They immediately stood up and bowed their heads before me.
"Greetings, Lady Novalie," they greeted me politely in unison.
I plastered a small smile on my lips and nodded my head. I ushered them to sit down and continued to eat. They were feasting on the food I had ordered from the nearby restaurant with the help of Basil who already ordered them yesterday.
"I believed you already heard about the news that we received an unqualified opinion from Elite Tax Advisors." They all nodded their heads. All ears were on me as they waited for what I was going to say next. "Since that is a piece of good news we received for three consecutive years, this coming lean season this year, you are welcome to have a vacation at Crescent Moon Oceanfront for three days and two nights. Then the remaining days for a week, you can use them as your rest days for yourselves," I announced.
They gasped at my words.
Julia stepped forward. "My lady, isn't Crescent Moon Oceanfront your private island? A-Are you sure you are allowing us to have a vacation there?"
Ah, yes. I almost forgot that Crescent Moon Oceanfront was an island gifted by my father when I celebrated my coming of age ceremony. When I debuted to the aristocratic society and had a grandiose birthday celebration, Father announced to our guests about the private island he bought just for me.
Because I am only his child and Father never dared to look for another woman to get married with, all of his possessions and wealth were lavished on me. To atone for the time he didn't spend with me, he always brought me some material gifts as compensation when I was a kid.
He never dared to fall in love with another werewolf woman because until now, Father has remained loyal to my mother, his mate, whom I never met.
I never even had a portrait of my mother because until now, she remained a mystery to me but every time I would ask Father about her, he was melting like a melted candle and he would be smiling like an idiot.
I somehow envied my mother because Father always thought of her while he didn't spend most of his time with his precious daughter.
"My goddess."
I snapped back when I felt Frederick's breath fanning in my ear. I glanced at him and turned my head at Julia who had a look of bewilderment. I secretly pinched myself and realized how dumb I was to daze while announcing something crucial for my employees.
I cleared my throat. "You are all welcome. Coral Paradise can accommodate all of you. My beach house can accommodate more than fifty people so all of you need not worry."
Coral Paradise was the name I bestowed at my beach house. Since that beach house was near the beach and when you dive there, you can easily see the corals and other marine creatures down the sea. It was a perfect vacation to relax.
"If you are still worrying about who must assist you, I have a hundred butlers who shall help you about your luggage," I added, indicating about my male servants. "Are they enough for all of you to enjoy there for three days and two nights?" I tilted my head a little, waiting for their answers.
There was a deafening silence covering the whole lunchroom. Then I forgot to add.
"Vacation leave for a week is an incentive so aside from the human resource department who shall pay for that compensation, I will add twenty gold pieces for each employee who shall take that vacation leave as an opportunity to relax."
Their jaws dropped. Who would even have been shocked at my offer? Twenty gold pieces were enough to buy some luxury goods if they wanted to spend on them. Moreover, they wouldn't need to worry about the food for the whole year if they were bestowed that kind of amount of compensation.
When they didn't speak about it, I turned my head at Julia. "Julia, deal with this matter. Inform the accounting department and the human resource department to track this. Do you understand?"
Julia nodded. "Y-Yes, Lady Novalie. Your wish is my command."
"Good." I nodded my head and ushered her to go as I went straight to an empty table to settle there. I realized that I was already famished and was not in the mood to go out to eat in a nearby restaurant.
I sat there, gently tapping my fingers together as I stared at the table to contemplate. I was recalling the words I uttered.
I already had thought of this matter beforehand to have my fifty employees have their vacation at the Crescent Moon Oceanfront. I even set a budget for what I made last year. Now, I just needed to send a letter to the Head Butler there at the Coral Paradise to take care of everything from accommodating my employees so they would feel pampered.
I already had thought of coming with them. I just wanted to stay there for a week which was why I could only allow them for three days and two nights.
I glanced up when a plate of food was in front of me, seeing Frederick who just sat across from me. "What's this?" I asked, keeping on tapping my fingers on the table.
"Food? For my goddess?" he replied like he was stating an obvious statement.
I rolled my eyes, ignoring how my heart reacted to what he called me. "What I mean is why did you bring me this when I didn't order you to take one? And why did you not bring something for yourself?"
Frederick looked surprised. "I am just a mere escort. Also, according to Sir Heimon's lesson, we mustn't dine with our master at the same table. The master always comes first to eat before us. That is my role," he explained, shrugging. "Another thing, you look like you are famished already so I thought I should have brought you some food to eat," he added.
I arched my eyebrow, unsure what to say next because he has a point. However... "Get your food for yourself. That is an order, darling." I didn't want my slave to get hungry unless I want to.
He didn't disobey and nodded. "As you wish, my goddess." He stood up and left me.
I watched him going to the buffet table, trying to call the one Frederick thought I *misheard*. I couldn't recall the endearment I heard a while ago but I was sure that it was enchanting and it felt so right.
Sighing, I gently pinched myself. "Since when did you feel like daydreaming, Novalie?" I murmured to myself and focused my eyes on the food Frederick brought.
Why did I find it thoughtful somehow?
I knew I shouldn't feel this way because I was used to being served by the people who were working for me. However, with Frederick, it felt so different...
It felt special...
It was annoying that my wolf was feeling animated.
"Sir Frederick, what are your workout routines, and do you have a muscular body?"
Blood rushed to my ears in annoyance when I glanced at Frederick. I furrowed my eyebrows seeing him with several ladies surrounding him while he was holding a plate of food.
Frederick stretched out a charming melted smile that could swoon all the unmated female werewolves here. "I do not have a workout routine. I was only bringing some sacks of wheat to our storage rooms."
I arched my eyebrow. Bringing a sack of wheat? Was that a fabricated statement or a genuine statement?
I knew back in the cabin, I had no sacks of wheat there in the storage room. Perhaps some gardening tools to plow certain plots that they needed to survive from hunger even though I have given them some budget so they could find ways to live.
If it wasn't from the Lone Crow pack, was he referring to his former pack?
"Really? You have very muscular arms, Sir Frederick. You can even squeeze or hold someone," one of the ladies said as she dared to touch Frederick's biceps.
I gripped the stainless spoon when others did the same thing touching my possession without my permission. Why on earth did they need to touch his arm?! Even his firm shoulders?! Did he seriously allow them?
"That bastard..." My wolf was urging me to skin those ladies who touched my Frederick.
I would be glad to. I would skin Frederick alive so they wouldn't find him attractive at all. My eyes should be the only one who must appreciate how handsome and delicious he was.
My wolf castigated me not to tell a joke of skinning Frederick. I snorted as a response and almost rolled my eyes.
Frederick chuckled in a pleasing charming manner. "Believe it or not, dear ladies, that is the only work I do," he said politely.
"Have you already met your mate, Sir Frederick?"
"Um..." He looked hesitant but his eyes simply looked at me. "I haven't yet. Why?" he said while still looking at me.
I took the dinner knife to play and roll it in my hand, looking at him grimly. He hasn't met his mate yet? What was this man trying to play and he wanted to endanger himself in the fire?
I am his mate!
Is he an idiot?!
"If you haven't then, are you interested to have some coffee with us, Sir Frederick?"
"There is a nearby cafe here, Sir Frederick. We can see each other later."
"We want to speak with you more."
I slammed the table by stabbing it with the knife I was holding. The chitter-chatter hastily subdued as they all looked on my way. Frederick and the other ladies looked on my way as well.
My eyes darted to that man who had a delinquent smile when he heard my short, mirthless laugh, irritated how he behaved right now.
I stood up and removed the knife from stabbing the table. Then I hid it under my sleeve. I walked towards them causing the ladies who were surrounding Frederick to suddenly leave him alone.
I approached the buffet table and took a saucer plate to grab some desserts when I passed by Frederick. I glanced at my employees who were watching me. I squinted my eyes at them. They immediately looked away and continued having a chit-chat.
"Is there something wrong, my goddess?"
I halted when my shoulder brushed against his sturdy, firm chest. Frederick was already behind me. His body was so close to me when I was picking the pudding and custards.
I looked at him with a frigid gaze. "It seems that you are enjoying yourself speaking with them, huh?" I couldn't hide the bitterness in my voice. "It is an opportunity for you since you *haven't* found your mate yet."
There was a furtive smile extended on Frederick's lips. "My goddess, are you feeling jealous?" he asked in a low teasing tone.
I smiled bitterly, growling slowly. "Why must I feel that?"
He drew his face closer. My body reacted wanting to be touched by this man immediately. I do not mind if Frederick would fuck me here at the buffet table.
If he could do that, then I wouldn't mind being the talk of the town again.
Frederick smiled sweetly and placed his other that wasn't visible to the other employees that he was touching my flank. "Your face says it all, my goddess."
I smirked and placed the saucer on the buffet table to face him. This man... He was so unbelievable that he was talking back like this to me.
"You grew to be an arrogant bastard that I want to tear you apart, darling," I said lovingly but perilously.
Frederick tilted his head a little, looking innocently at me but still retaining his annoying smile on his lips. "Because I do believe my goddess saying before that there is no room for jealousy here which is why I want to say it back to her. Is it that bad?"
That was the last straw of patience I had for this man. I grabbed the collar of his suit to draw him closer to me. "Are you mocking me?" I asked dangerously but Frederick only smiled as a response.
At that moment, I caught his eyes dancing in delight and victory.
Then I realized now what he really was doing.
He was testing my patience... by mocking me.
His smile meant yes. He was really mocking me.
I secretly gnashed my teeth before I smiled back. "Keep up the good work, darling. Do it again and I will make sure that you will no longer have the capability to retort sardonically at your goddess," I threatened him and released his collar.