♥ Chapter 17 ♥

Yara Blake.

Monday.

16:30 '' Darkmore brothers' mansion. '' Eldoria.

After that disturbing meeting with Mr. Damien, I decided to concentrate on my work to get rid of the thoughts that were bothering me. I went straight to the library, where I spent every minute meticulously cleaning every surface. The repetitive, physical task helped clear my mind, but the memory of his intense gaze still lingered.

After finishing cleaning the library, I headed to the office. Mrs. Thompson had warned me not to touch the drawers and documents, and I followed her instructions to the letter. I cleaned everything carefully, making sure that every detail was spotless. I tried not to think about anything other than work, but it was hard not to feel the weight of the situation I was in.

With the office finally clean, I went to the bedrooms. I felt immense relief when I didn't find any of them there. I cleaned as quickly as possible, anxious to finish the job before any of them showed up again.

Now I'm in the kitchen, where Mrs. Elizabeth calls me with a warm smile.

''Here, dear,'' she says, placing a tray in front of me. On it are a cup of black coffee and some cookies.

I look at the tray, not understanding what she expects me to do.

'' Can you take it to Mr. Kael? He's in his office. Normally, it's Mrs. Thompson who does this, but she's out shopping, and I'm busy at the moment.

I swallow dry, feeling the nervousness growing inside me, but I nod in agreement.

“Thank you, dear,” she says with a kind smile.

With my tray in hand, I walk down the corridor to Mr. Kael's office. Each step makes me more tense, and my heart beats fast. I try to calm down, reminding myself that it's just a simple task. Knock on the door, deliver the coffee, and leave.

I reach the office door and take a deep breath before knocking softly.

'' Come in. '' I hear Mr. Kael's voice on the other side. I take a deep breath and open the door to find him immersed in reading some documents. Next to him is a pile of files, and it seems that the office is not as clean as I left it.

He raises his eyes and stares at me with that intense look that reminds me of my dream about him. I feel my face heat up when he smiles at me.

''It's good to see you, Yara. '' he says, his tone soft. ''I hope you're adjusting well to the mansion.

'' Yes, sir... '' I stutter a little. ''Mrs. Elizabeth has prepared something for you.

He gestures with his hand for me to come closer. I walk slowly towards him, carefully placing the tray beside him.

'' Thank you, Yara. You're a kind woman.'' He thanks me, and the way he says these words seems to carry a deeper tone.

I feel a little uncomfortable with the closeness, but the way he looks at me makes my heart race. His eyes remain fixed on me, and there is something in the air that makes me feel a palpable tension.

''It's a pleasure to help... '' I reply, trying to keep my voice steady, but I feel that my expression must give away my nervousness.

He reaches out and, with an unexpected gesture, touches my fingertips as he picks up a cup of coffee. The contact is brief, but electrifying. My fingers tremble, and I can't help the blush that takes over my face.

“Yara, can you help me organize some files?” he asks, handing me a stack of documents. You can put them on the shelf next to me.

I agree, trying to hide my nervousness. Taking the documents, I walk over to the shelf and start organizing them.

''As a judge, the work never stops,'' Kael says suddenly, his voice carrying a tone that mixes tiredness and authority. ''I have many cases to manage and many decisions to make.

I just listen to him, trying to focus on the task at hand while I listen to the soft sound of his voice. The conversation flows naturally, and I find myself paying attention to what he says.

''There was even a case that was quite tiring. '' he continues, in a softer, more reflective tone. ''It was an arranged marriage, and the husband didn't want to sign the divorce. But I sorted it out quickly. Today, they are divorced.

As he speaks, I can't help but wonder if he could help me in any way. I look at him, who is now reading some files. My heart races at the thought. If he solves divorce cases so efficiently, maybe he could help me escape from Ronan.

The idea forms in my mind, and I feel a mixture of hope and fear. The prospect of getting help from someone with Kael's power and influence is tempting. But I also feel unsure about how to broach the subject with him.

''Mr. Kael... '' I begin, hesitating a little. ''I-Is there a procedure for requesting a divorce? I mean.... If someone were in a situation where they needed to get out of a marriage, how would that be possible?

He looks up from the documents and gives me a curious look.

''Well, the process can vary depending on the situation. '' He says, with a measured tone. ''But generally, you have to submit a formal request and prove that separation is necessary.

I feel a little relieved by his answer, but I'm still not sure if I should be more direct.

'' E.... If someone was in a difficult situation... Perhaps with some kind of threat, how would that affect the process?

Kael seems to consider the question for a moment, his gaze becoming more serious.

''If there are threats involved, the situation could get complicated,'' he says slowly. ''But there are legal measures that can be taken to protect the person involved.

My hope rises, and I feel an urge to open up more, but Kael's presence, his gaze, and the way he speaks still make me nervous.

''I understand,'' I reply, trying to remain calm. ''Thank you for the information, Mr. Kael.

He smiles, and the sparkle in his eyes makes me feel a mixture of comfort and unease.

As I organize the files, I feel a wave of unease wash over me. The thought of asking my boss for help at the very beginning of my work makes me wonder if I'm acting recklessly. What will he think of me? I've barely started working here, and I'm already implying that I need help with something so personal. My thoughts turn negative, and the weight of the situation becomes more and more evident.

Suddenly, Mr. Kael's hand reaches out and grabs a file from beside me. I quickly turn around, and, seeing that he is right behind me, my eyes widen in surprise. Our faces are just a few centimeters apart, and I feel my heart speed up instantly. His breath is close to mine, and his perfume is intoxicating. I feel my own breathing quicken, and, as his eyes descend to my lips, a chill in my stomach makes me gasp. His closeness is so intense that I can almost feel the heat of his body, and the situation leaves me completely disoriented.

He moves even closer, causing my breasts to lightly touch his chest. An involuntary sigh escapes my lips as I feel his hand slide down my arm until it reaches my waist. The sensation of his touch is so intense.

'' S-s-sir... '' I stutter, feeling my legs wobble.

He doesn't say anything, but his face leans towards mine, and I feel that the kiss is about to happen. My heart is pounding in my chest, and my mind is filled with a mixture of desire and panic. Before I can react, I slip under his arm, desperately trying to pull back.

''I have to go,'' I manage to mutter before pulling away and hurrying out of the office.

My face is on fire, I can hardly believe what almost happened. I almost let him kiss me. My God, what was I thinking?

As I run through the corridors, my heart is still racing, and my mind is swirling with tumultuous thoughts. I can't get involved with anyone. Ronan will kill me if he finds out that something like this has happened. And besides, he's my boss. My boss. I can't let him think that I'm just any old girl who gives herself easily to any man.

These thoughts terrify me even more. What almost happened in the office was a mistake. I need to keep my distance so as not to give him the wrong impression. I need to remember how dangerous and reckless it is to let myself be carried away by these impulses. Keeping my distance is the only way to protect myself and my integrity.

That's what I'll do from now on, I'll keep my distance from them.