CHAPTER TWELVE

" Get out," Mabel said.
"Are you talking to me?" Karen asked with disbelief.
"Who else?" Mabel snapped.
"Hmph" Karen stumped her foot and left.
"What do you want now Mabel, haven't you had enough already?"
"I'm just getting started, besides this is just a little warning, to stay away from jack." Mabel paused, then continued,
"You shamelessly went to our home this morning. Did you think I wouldn't find out? The next time, I wouldn't be so lenient with you"
" I guess one of your many minions told you what happened this morning, but did they tell you it was he who ran up to me while I was minding my own business"
" Shut your mouth, why would he come to meet a filthy beggar like you. Don't even think of denying it"
" It's the truth"
" If you didn't come to beg, then why were you at the front of the mansion?"
Mansion that word didn't quite sit right in Lia's head. Compared to her new home the Griffon's residence was nothing.
" I was just minding my business and it just so happens that I was passing through"
" Surely, you think I'm stupid, unless you are whoring around with a big shot you have no reason to be there"
"you..."
" That's enough. I'm not going to waste any more of my precious time here with you. You're not worth it. I just came here, simply to warm you for the last time, and if there is a next time, I'll speed up the death of that geezer"
It was clear that Mabel knew nothing about Mr. Anderson's new condition. He wasn't even in a hospital where he could easily be reached.
"I'll love to see you try, and instead of bullying the weak, why don't you go confront that fiance of yours?"
Mabel frowned at the comment Lia made, but decided not to press the matter forward and leave. Shortly after Mary and Chris came back in.
"What did the snake want?" Mary asked.
"Nothing of importance"
Lia noticed a light bruise under the left eye of Mary.
" What happened to your face?" Lia touched the bruised part.
Mary flinched a little.
"Oh nothing" Mary replied.
"Yeah, nothing only that she taught Karen a lesson for you," Chris said.
"Dude" Mary elbowed him on his side.
"I appreciate you guys trying to help me and all, but I don't want you guys to lose your jobs because of me"
"Don't worry about it" Chris said while hugging Lia.
The trio chatted a little while longer before saying their goodbyes.
Lia left that place with a heavy heart. Although she didn't get along with her colleagues for almost all her stay there and she also didn't want to work there, the place had kind of become a part of her.
...
"Mrs. King is that you?" Mr. Black asked, while squinting his eyes. He didn't have his glasses on.
"Hmm, yes"
"Where have you been? we have been searching everywhere for you"
" Why?"
" Just go upstairs and meet your husband before he rips everything apart"
" Unhm, ok "
Lia could hear Rustling and growls accompanied by the sound of things crashing in the room that she shared with her darling husband.
It looked like he was angry. As Lia opened the door Leo was about to throw something in that direction but dropped it immediately after he saw it was Lia. Thankfully, he saw her just in time, if not God knows what's next.
He walked slowly towards Lia. He held her captive with his intense gaze.
"Where have you been?" Leo asked while giving out a dominating aura, It made Lia shriek in her spot.
"I ... I went out"
"Why didn't you inform anyone or take the driver with you?" Leo asked with gritted teeth.
"I didn't want to bother him," Lia said while looking down and playing with her fingers.
"That's his fucking job, Lia, what if you got kidnapped hmmm? Then what?" Of course if Lia got kidnapped, it wouldn't be hard for Leo to find her, but still, he would never want that to happen to her.
By now Leo had his hands on each side of Lia's head trapping her between him and the door.
He buried his head in the crook of her neck, Taking in her addictive scent.
"No one will kidnap me, i...it's not the first time I went out alone and look I'm here now" Lia said nervously.
Leo let out a sigh. It seemed like he had finally calm down.
"I know, but please, before you go anywhere, inform me or anyone else where you're going, don't ever go alone" Leo sounded as if he were begging her.
"Ok"
"Where did you go?" Leo burried his head deeper.
"I went to work"
"Why do you still go to work when you have me? I can give you everything you want" Leo said not liking the idea that Lia was working.
" I don't want to depend on your money, I want to work and earn my own money" Lia said.
Leo fisted his hands, allowing his fingernails to dig into his palms.
"Allow me to spoil my wife, Lia. Everything I have belongs to you"
"I...I don't want it"
Hearing that made Leo's heart clench.
"You are not going back to that work place of yours," Leo said with a dead-serious tone.
"Well, I don't have to go anywhere in the meantime. I would be sitting home doing nothing".
" Good, I like that"
"You can't keep me in th..this house for long though, as soon as I get back on my feet, I'll continue working"
"Then I will make sure you can never get back on your feet"
***gulp***. Was that a threat?, Lia asked herself.
"Please excuse me" It never occurred to Leo the position he and Lia were in.
" Sorry," Leo said while retreating his large form.
"Do you always come home this early?"
"No, I made an exception for today. I felt bad for leaving you alone" Lia blushed.
"You don't have to do things like this, I'm fine. I don't want you to miss out on work for my sake"
"You are more important than some useless documents"
Lia just lightly smiled at him.
"Are you hungry?" Lia asked.
Leo nodded, he wasn't hungry but if Lia was going to prepare food for him, then he would gladly eat.
"I'll go prepare food for both of us"
"Tell Gideon to come to me" Leo said.
"who?"
"Black"
" Oh"
...
" You called for me sir"
" My Lia didn't look happy, find out what's bothering her"
" I already did that sir, it looks like Mrs. King got fired today"
" Shut it down"
" What should be shut down?" Mr. Black asked.
" Her workplace, no one has the right to fire a king"
" Don't you at least, want to hear the reason why she was fired?"
" Go on"
" Apparently Mrs. King was bullied today, by the young mistress of Griffon's Group"
Leo clenched his jaw.
" Her again"