Chapter 2

2. Emma.

I bowed my head as soon as I realised I was in the presence of the Alpha. I almost went down on my knees, but he stopped me.

"Whoa, relax. You don't need to do that. You will blow my cover!" Lord Mason—I had just learnt his name, grabbed my shoulder gently.

At that moment, I felt a jolt of electricity on the point of contact between his fingertips and my shoulder.

Lord Mason released me immediately as if he had felt it too.

He frowned and stared at me again. "Have we met before?" He towered over me, his voice laced with curiosity. He spoke gently, as if any harder might harm me but yet his voice was so clear. Something on my chest seemed to have gotten his attention because he stared.

Very hard.

"I—no, I don't think so my Lord." I stuttered.

He was too close! It was the first time in my life any man had gotten that close to me.

Mr Erik groaned on the floor as the guards stood over him.

"Is that so?" Lord Mason stepped back and rubbed his chin inquisitively. His eyes slowly glanced at the floor, back to my face, and then to my chest. For a moment, I thought my clothes had torn but he was just curiously observing my pendant

Whatever he said next went over my ears because I was taken by the fullness of his lashes.

"Hello?"

I blinked twice. "I'm sorry, you were saying something, my Lord?"

"You didn't hear—" he paused and chuckled. He seemed casual and very relaxed. "I was saying, you might not be able to work here again because I just broke your boss." He stared wryly at the anguished man on the ground.

"My Lord, I will forever be grateful for your help today, I think it was about time I left." I paused, realising he was listening to me with a lot of interest.

"You—you didn't do anything wrong here my Lord, I should have left earlier." My cheeks felt warm as blood rushed there. "Thank you for saving me!" I bowed.

Lord Mason appeared surprised and then laughed heartily. "You are a very interesting lady."

"I am?" I blurted out.

"Well, what will happen? I will have to pay for the damages." He ignored my words. "And you too, it's my responsibility to compensate you—"

"No, you can't, my lord!" I cut him off, which was rude by the way but I was ahead of myself. "I can't accept money from you."

A guard stepped forward. "How dare you interrupt our lord and refuse his help, commoner?!" He removed his mask, revealing a ginger-haired man.

"It's alright, Damien. Stand back." Lord Mason held up his hand and looked at me. "At least, there has to be something I can do for you."

It dawned on me that I might have spoken too fast. It was true I was short on money, and I was definitely out of a job. How would I pay my rent for the following month? What about food?

I swallowed and looked at Lord Mason. He cocked his head, waiting for my reply with a half smile on his face. He didn't seem like the typical Alpha that had to be a strong ruler or person, who never had time for little matters like this.

But why did he care so much?

"I... I want a job." I kept my head down and held my hands together on my stomach. It was a butterfly farm inside.

"I'm sorry, I didn't get that. Can you repeat it?"

"Can you give me a job, my Lord?" I looked at him, half pleading and hoping he would be nice enough to consider it.

"Hunh?! The guts of this woman to step out of her lane!" Damien protested.

"No! I swear! I can cook, clean or do any menial work! I can—"

"Done," Lord Mason said. He brought out a small notepad and a stamp from his pocket and scribbled something into it.

"Wait, seriously?" I was surprised he agreed just like that.

"She's just trying to use you to her advantage!" Damien tried to reason with his lord.

"Damien, shut up and hold this," He said sternly. Damien clenched his jaws and held his tongue. He took the piece of paper from his lord and Lord Damien stamped it.

"Here, come up to the royal resident tomorrow—let's say in the afternoon." He sounded as if he had plans in the morning. "Hand it to the guards at the gate and they will let you in after seeing the stamp."

I took the piece of paper from him and folded it into my pocket.

" You know the way to the Royal residence right?"

"Yes, my Lord!" I bowed my head. " Thank you very much!"

"Ha, I see. You are welcome." He glanced at his watch. "We are running late, see you around." He wriggled his fingers and turned away.

He was outside the door in an instant and disappeared into a waiting van. It was over very quickly. I looked around the shop and it seemed like a fleeting dream. The only thing proving it was real was the piece of paper in my pocket.

That electric feeling when he touched my shoulder, I wouldn't forget that for a while.

In a way, I felt like I knew him somewhere.

I turned around and brought out the piece of paper. It bore a large red seal—the royal seal like he had promised, which seemed to ignite the butterflies in my belly.

"I...own...you..." Mr Erik groaned on the floor. I had forgotten he was even there. "Where are you going?" He looked up as I crossed over him, packed my things and removed the apron that covered my stomach downwards.

"What does it look like, Mr Erik?" I threw the apron in his face. "I quit."

As I left the shop, I felt my mood lighten. My shoulder felt lighter and a real smile formed on my lips.

It was the first time I felt happy in a while.