Chapter Four

Lawson Estate

Acadia frowned as she looks at a strand of her black hair. "I can't believe I have a strand of gray," she pouted as she waved the offensive string towards the table.

Joshua stared thoughtfully at his wife, "That's a piece of string."

Jacob looked away at his mother pulled on the string as it detangled from her hair, "Oh! I was checking to make sure that you were paying attention."

Joshua chuckled as he turned to look at Jacob, "I understand you hired a new assistant. I reviewed her data and wondered why you were paying her so little in comparison to your other workers."

Jacob shrugged as he cut into a Lamb chop "She needs to be trained."

Acadia and Joshua both stared at him with varying looks of shock. After several minutes Acadia took a sip of her mulled wine, "You need to train her?"

Jacob cocked an eyebrow at his mother, Yes. She is not fluent in all of her duties so I will train her".

"You will train her," Acadia asked again in disbelief. "Why? don't you have Saia or Anton train her?"

Glancing toward Acadia he smirked, "Mother, do not interfere in my fun."

When she cocked her eyebrows he continued, I was thinking of getting my own residence like Lucas and Kaelen."

Joshua chuckled as he watched Acadia's look of disbelief, "That is out of the question"

Jacob sat his fork and knife down and smoothly changed the conversation, "I believe I'm a little too old to still be staying in my family's residence." Waving for Jonathan he continued, "I had no idea we were paupers and needed for me to live here."

Joshua rolled his eyes as he watched Acadia, "He is a grown man Acadia and you have been complaining for months about a lot of his habits."

"I wanted him to fix them not move out," Acadia said in her own defense.

Jacob waited while Jonathan removed his plate, "I don't need permission to leave." Narrowing his light brown eyes at her he purred, "Why do you want me here so bad?"

Shifting Acadia pouted toward Joshua who hadn't really taken either one of their sides, He asks why I want him to be here." Smiling sweetly at Joshua she batted her eyes, "Tell him he can't leave."

Jacob smirked at his mother's new ploy, "I'll wait two weeks before I make up my mind about leaving."

Acadia picked up her fork and knife, "No you will wait two months before you decide."

Jacob chuckled, "You were just asking dad to make me stay."

Flicking her hair over her shoulder she smiled, "Jacob I can make you stay with my own two hands." As she said this she cut into her lamb chop, when she saw Jacob's smile harden she giggled. "Now we have moved past that conversation–"

Standing up Jacob stared at his mother, "You are mistaken. We are not finished with the conversation." Glancing at his father who'd remained neutral he continued, I've just postponed it for two weeks."

"Two months," Acadia called after him. Turning to Joshua she whined, "Why does he want to move out? Lucas still stays at the palace with his Celeste and Isaiah."

Joshua stopped eating and stared blankly at his beautiful wife, "Lucas visits the palace with his family. He has multiple residences all over the universe while Jacob only has here." Sighing he continued gently, "Stop trying to keep him close to home. Your smothering is only pushing him away."

Waving at Jonathan, Acadia sulked on what he'd just said, " Fine he can have new residences but–"

"Thank you Mother," Was heard from the hallway as the sound of Jacob walking away could be heard.

Acadia glared at Joshua before she yelled after Jacob, "But you can't move more than 1700 yards away from the Lawson property."

Joshua sighed as he listened to Acadia place stipulations on Jacob new residence. "Dear you have to let him grow up."

Acadia pouted, But He's rarely here anymore. If I don't catch him in the mornings I'd never see him."

Joshua chuckled, Well the morning lines would always let you know if he was still lazing around in his rooms. But I think you are about to find out that line will no longer be a bother."

Waving a hand dismissing his last statement she frowned, "Of course not in 2 weeks he Will no longer be here."

Joshua pulled out his handheld and placed it on the table with flourish. "Dear, I believe you should review her job details."

Acadia stared at her husband's smug face then looked down at the device, "Oh!" Looking up at her husband she pursed her lips, "Didn't he say she wasn't trained for her position?"

Joshua tapped his chin with his index finger, "I believe he said he'd be training her."

"Jonathan!" Acadia called as she turned to stare at him while he pressed buttons on his device for their dessert, "Have you seen the young lady that will be Jacob's assistant?"

Nodding Jonathan frowned,"Yes I have."

Pausing to recall his brief meeting with Ebony he shrugged, "She seemed to be a very timid young woman that seems to be afraid of her own shadow."

Acadia turned and cocked an arch eyebrow at Joshua, "He obviously got that from your side of the family."

Joshua placed an innocent look on his face as he replied, No I'm going to say that streak is definitely from your side of the family." When she wanted to argue he shook his head slowly and said, "Abram Fitzgerald."

"In my own defense," Acadia began, "Why would a person terrified of Ah'Tarians come to Ah'Taria?" When she heard Jonathan chuckled she looked at him, "Do you know the answer?"

Placing her chocolate mousse in front of her he nodded. My lady I had Anton run a very thorough check on Jacob's new assistant and can assure you that she'd have the answer you seek."

Dipping her spoon in her mousse she smiled in delight, Jonathan tell us what you've found out about her."

Placing a brownie a la mode in front of Joshua he replied, "Her mannerisms led me to believe she may have been abused but after an in–depth check into her history for childhood abuse nothing was located. She did however have a very traumatic episode when she was younger but those details were locked by king's order."

Joshua and Acadia turned to stare at him in surprise.

"By Isaiah's order?" Repeated Joshua as he took a bite of his desert. "I find that very interesting." Gazing up at Acadia he smiled, "Do you think we should ask him about it?"

Acadia nodded as she stared toward Jonathan with the spoon still in her mouth. Pulling the spoon from her mouth she swallowed, "What else did you learn?"

Jonathan moved back to his place by the serving table, "She was married up until four hours ago but the council seals were used to complete a secret divorce. So secret in fact the ex-husband has no idea it was done."

Acadia smiled as she realized what this information could mean. Turning to Joshua she said excitedly, "Jacob has hired himself a paramour."

Joshua had already came to the conclusion after reading the job description but asked anyway. "Muffin, when you read the job description what did you think morning routine meant."

Frowning she looked at the handheld again before her cheeks turned a very becoming shade of pink. Waving her hand at him she said excitedly, "He wanted her to give him his morning relief."

Staring at her dumbstruck he said, "And you thought that fell under a normal assistant's job detail?"

Waving her spoon she smiled, "Of course I didn't. But for him to do that, means he seriously wants her by his side."

Joshua twisted his lips, "Even though she's afraid of her own shadow?"

Acadia laughed and waved his valid point away, "I don't know why he chose her and to be honest I don't care."

Joshua leaned back in his chair, "I hope you aren't trying to plan his wedding now."

Acadia's mirth completely vanished when she looked at her husband, I have no intention of being placed on the list of suicides or accidentally death.

Joshua chuckled at her as he nodded, I was sure one day Celeste was going to make that list."

Acadia scrapped her bowl as she smiled, I'm sure Lucas had to remind Jacob to take her name off several times."

********

Jacob entered his room and immediately heard the sobs coming from the other room and sighed as he walked toward the door. He stopped short when he realized she was on her hand held speaking to someone:

"Art give me permission to speak with Kayo, I assure you!"

He couldn't hear what the other party was saying but he assumed it wasn't something she wanted to hear because she started to plea with the person. Sighing he opened the door to see her sitting on the chair with the moon light shine down on her.

Walking over to her he snatched the device and drawled, "If I even need to tell you who I am you're dead!"

Ebony gasped and reached for the device, "Jacob don't."

Smirking Jacob heard whispers and movement in the background before a little girl's voice spoke, "Momma, when will you be back?"

"You must be Kayo," Jacob said pleasantly. "Do you know who I am?"

He waited patiently as he listened to her breath before she responded softly, "Yes. My momma used to say If I didn't eat all my vegetables You'd get me in the dark."

Jacob sent a cutting look toward Ebony and chuckled, " I'm what goes bump in the night?"

The soft voice hesitated before she responded, "Yes."

Chuckling he handed the device to Ebony as she took it he smirked at her, "So I'm a cucuy."

Shaking her head Ebony looked at the floor and thought, you are far worse than anything that goes bump in the night. Looking up she met his gaze and lied, No she is mistaken Lord Jacob."

Cocking an eyebrow at her brazen lie he played with the wayward curl before pulling a little too hard. When she winced in pain he smirked, "I'm sure she's not." Turning on his heel he walked to the door that separated their rooms, "Tomorrow at 07:00!" Slamming the door behind him he leaned his head against the door to cool his ire and inadvertently listened while she spoke quietly to her daughter.

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