The afternoon went along calmly after the little disruption caused by the tension accumulated through hard work. Everyone did their work afterwards, Dimitrio mostly staying away from Lorelei but all along studying her from afar his gaze never leaving her.
It was not even substil, he could still not understand why she was the general manager and not the Alister's representative.
A slight slap on his back had him looking at his left only to be met by his best friend warning stare.
"Man, just saying, if you don't want to be targeted as a real thread or potentially to be, to the immediate surrounding of professor Kamali. I kindly suggest you with the love of a besty to tone it down. From my amateur point of view it does not please her details."
Looking amused at his friend, the slender italian shook his head taking it for a joke, his overconfident mind shadowing his perception, you would think she was speaking about the president or someone like that.
"Reality is not movie." He wanted to retort to her But the prickling sensation he had pushed away earlier that made him feel like he was being watched started again.
A slow glance at his right where the sensation was the most accurately coming from, had him almost jumping out his skin the moment he was met with the man's responding to the name of Sloan, expectant gaze focused on him void of all emotion. Impressive he was, even without the clothes that come with his kind. Casual clothing he always has on.
The bodyguard gaze never left the Italian man, he knew perfectly what in that precise moment, Miss Delrey was telling her associate and friend based on what was found on them. All the warning he could conveyed through his gaze was presented in that instance. His kind he knew, the harm he already did before were registered in the brain of the Poris guard.
They all took form from his self-centered persona, only him no one else, the amount of new talents he crunched was a record. Really these days you could difficultly find people a the top without skeletons buried somewhere.
For Sloan there exist two side of humankind, those like him, opportunists who do no hesitate to destroy to lead, destroying alll in their way to that limitation they set for themselves without second thought, without wondering if things could not be done otherwise, without adapting themselves or considerate each situations. They just consider themselves.
The second were those who was born to lead, who gave their one hundred percent to get there, whose only focus was that aim in the grand scheme but who knows that before honour there is humility.
Professor Kamali was all of that and moreshe, was someone he respected greatly for who she was, she never fought for things, never mistreated any of those she knew fully well she had the power to terminate, but with humility and a great love for the humankind she would always do her best to push people forward to be the best of themselves.
More than the princesses, she knew how long Queen Alister arm could reach to give her the world, but she conducted herself so simply it was astonishing. Since the very beginning she was that person untill the instant in this Museum. The men knew as did Sloan what was really going on between her and the Queen. Not for a word said or a misplaced behavior.
No, they were too careful, but to someone in the immediate surrounding of the Queen certain things out the ordinary displayed that even she could not hide, her shining and vivid eyes all days for instance, how glowing she started to appear.
The last cue was her politeness with all of them! Yeah, years of experience working with her had made them insensitive to her coldness. She would treated all of them like mere decorations only acknowledging Norman.
Some had cried over the matter, even himself had been through a lower phase asking his brother what he did wrong, why the Queen was so cold to him. Did she not know that it was an honor to work for her? It took him a a while to accept he was invisible for her, he taught that to the young men he formed.
All of that had changed after ten years at her service, the Queen has broken her golden rule! As soon as professor Kamali appeared, seeing them as the humans they were, treating them fairly with that edge of iron she knew how to frighten the unruly ones with. For that all theirs lips were graves, theirs eyes blinds to her life, that they had pledged to protect with their own.
The interior designer still under his watch, Sloan refrain from shaking his soul with the fear of a life time.
Professor Kamali was too kind with him. If it had depended on him the man would have been gone long before. Remembering his orders and to whom he own his loyalty now, he knew he had to respect the woman that was his boss for as long as she would have no reason to complain.
Dimitrio knowing he was being watched, took his time to really looked at the man with defiance. Impersonal in the vibe coming from him. He was like a modern statue by the way he stood not moving. It quite remind him of the one in front of Buckingham palace minus the attire.
The only thing that invalidated the thought was the intensity of his black orbs anchored in Dimitrio's for a moment telling him to back off, untill they were averted to professor kamali whose voice brought him back to his duties.
Staring her way too, the designer could see that she was pointing at something a step away from the man, who, with a quick but controlled movement was in front of her holding what she wanted to touch turning it on all angles for her. Seriously!
Now that he witnessed it with more clarity, he remembered that she never touch anything herself, he was always there moving them for her. It reminded him of that particular day at the beginning of the restoration project when they had bought pizza for everyone like they usually do, the security made them refrained from giving it to everyone right away, until one of the same was brought to be served to the two women that was working with them.
The name of the company was the same. The two certainly never knew what had happened. Who was he kidding? Those men were paid to think about those things beforehand.
Feeling chills ran up and down his spine, his gaze scanned the place, he remarked that most of the men there were too build up to simply be doing maneuvering for life. He remembered Mrs Blake telling him those would be hired by the Queen details.
Now he could see the army that was at her orders as it was reminded to him so kindly early. Most of the men around, that carried the things were certainly militaries under the orders of the man that did all for her, he just had to look at one to make them react instantly. Himself was like her shadow it was almost impossible to see her without seeing his urge presence.
How he did not understood it earlier was unbelievable. To say he like to praise himself to have a perfect hold of his emotions. Looking down at the framework he was doing to hang hidden light in a corner of the janitor closet they were transforming, he felt dejected.
Michaela nodded knowing that look on him. She did not like to be the bad messenger for him, never did, but to save him of himself she would never hesitate to put some sense in his self-centered mind.
"Ah! Now you see, beware. We are in the presence of royalty. You can tell it yourself base on Blake attitude. You know the woman is a dragon that fear no one. But here she is surrendering herself to a situation like this one. Miss kamali not only is the prodigy of the kingdom but more importantly represents it personally.
Even the princess herself does not have someone flanks as her shadow. That said showing an open interest on her could be more of a diplomatic incident. For once in your life hear Blake advise and mine. Back off. It is not worth it."
Nodding his head, the Italian man not saying a word moved to the next thing to do that was completely at the other side of the building far away from troubles, leaving the inside to his associate. While he turned the corner a movement at it angle caught his attention.
Staring up at it, he saw a camera moving with all the steps he took. Looking back he could see the man that was the chief or not? Nodding at something Kamali was saying. Glancing back at the cameras around he could see them all pointed at him. It was an open warning that they were watching him.
Clenching his jaws he kept walking not minding them. He had not signed to be some secret service target, Michaela was right it was really not worth the nuisance, whatever ensuing she could directs it by herself. The first time in his life he gave up.
"Mr plazza? Oh, hmmm Miss Delrey can you come please? Blake? "
Looking Blake way after she did to the interior designer, Lorelei turned her back to them re-entering the section were she was working directly in front of the janitor closet. The red stop turban on its entry was removed.
Her gaze back on the scenery infront of her. It was the open area between two sides. It had already being covered but apparently something was missing mostly not fitting, Lorelei thought biting her lower lip absentmindedly. She had tried to find it but there was no point in doing it alone when people could help.
"What do you think of all the changes? Now that we added this new asset. I feel like there is totally something missing here I do not know what it is, but it does not seems right."
Still feeling pretty weird, giddy sort of, by the way she had called her name. The simple fact that she knew it to begin with was an amazing experience. The new appointated designer walked totally in the section immediately feeling like she had been transported in another realm and time.
Looking seriously at the way the pieces were arranged in the back of the museum, the art in which all was placed, Michaela shook her head impressed. It was not everyday one could do such work while not having work in that path before, she had to admit it was unsettling.
If she was honest with heself even a little bit insulting of her brain limitations. Base on Blake informations about her and this, all the woman touched was transformed to perfection. What a turn on ! Who in their right mind would not want someone like her?
The section was the one in between the artifacts reserved only to small pieces used in the house before, in front of it was pieces and tools used in the living room in those far times. How it managed to be still so untouched by time was wonderful. If it was not of the carbon dating performed on them she would have thought of fraud.
Put together it all gave the vibe of an actual house open space recreated by someone who was there knowing each items place. Looking around she understood why the need to have the mask protected, or the choice of the janitor closet. It was really intense, already an Ali Baba place. She could not stopped marveling on the scenery.
This section from the beginning was forbidden to all of them. She would entered it, stay there for hours in the beginning then limited access was given to Mrs Blake, Miss Fendrik and the security men that carried the box. Professor Kamali had decided she would take charge of everything herself.
The fact that she was calling for help was surprising Delrey who was left speechless. She was even waiting for their answers! Blake just looked around impressed too by the way her face was showing motherly pride, staring Delrey way she put her hands in her pockets.
Oblivious of what the others women was thinking, Lorelei eyes were focused on a point in the far corner of the large place unable to decide if it was really the source of her trouble feeling about the place. Pointing at it with her index, she started moving her hands as she spoke not looking at them anymore.
"There is a leak here. I feel like the pieces that should cover the surface are not working at all"
Moving her way the older woman gaze followed the direction of Lorelei previous pointed finger searching what to do to reassure her. She was a bit worry by the way she was head buried under all the work fussy about it all. That she knew we as not healthy.
"Did you try to inverse the process with another set? No. Okay, it could be that the light do not reflect on them correctly because they are too dense or create shadow."
Michela could only marveled at the way Blake talked to the young woman with so much respect and patience like she was trying to access a somber part of her brain to enlighten it without causing any discomfort.
Just like she handled her work with artifacts all her life. What was astonishing was the fact that she was known to be only gentle with her kids, even her husband often complain to them about her insensitivity to anything and anyone else.
Frowning in a blur way her face going back to neutral in a heartbeat, Lorelei tilted her head, eyes focused on the placement Blake was suggesting almost arranging them in her mind. The associate designer was so enthralled by her beauty it was difficult to withdraw her eyes from the sight.
"A light could be add from the top, see like this to play with the colors and remove the shadow around. It will be warmer that way, more simplistic."
At Delrey words both Blake and Lorelei nodded the young woman visibly relaxing to Michaela delighted heart, easing her was surprisingly feeling wonderful in her chest.
"That can do. Thanks you Delrey. Blake could you follow me a moment please? There is this..."
Briefly meeting her limpid but captivating gray eyes like a stolen connection that was only designed to fortify what she had thanked her for, Delrey wanted to tell her to use her other name but as she was freezed by the warmness that stole her breath away, it slowed her, when she shook herself out of it they were already walking away discussing others matters.
From afar Alicia did her must to not rolled her eyes at the foreign woman dream, she was trying so hard to hit on Lorelei it was painful to witness. She almost felt sympathy for her.
Like a fortune teller she could without a risk tell the woman fate. A lot of pain, unrequited love did that. By the way she was already deeply in it, would be a lifetime of long destructive pattern that could only be soothe by a friendship, which again was in all universes she could think about improbable.
Not in one Katiandra Fendrik would be living in, neither in her normal form or in another embodiment. Alicia was sure the woman was possessive in all her possible lifetimes that was just how she thought of and knew her mother to be. She had heard about her from people mouths, not always praises.
Most of them exposed then how coldly calculative she was in destroying any obstacles on her way. She had seen her doing the same with their father many time to save her and her siblings to one of his evil plot. Yes, she was aware of the latent conflict between her parents.
She could convince someone by using their own brain to cut their hand because it does not fit their body and they would do it smiling and never think ill of her. They said she was insensitive. But Alicia knew better, she knew her motherly side, she knew how love looked on her face.
Everything else was irrelevant. One day she confided in Lorelei about what people said, it really was a weight on her heart for it was not the mother she knew. At that she had told her something that was engraved in her brain and heart forever.
She said that all thing in the world was just a representation of a game, which means all those attributes of her mother was costumes she had to wear in order to be who she was, a Queen, someone with power. Someone many would destroy if given any chance.
She said power was like the radiance of the sun, it attracts many but few have the ability to look straight at it and sustain it because of who they are not what the sun is.
"Just like the only one that could look at the sun without shades are components of the sun. No one should lie to you. Like attracts like.That is a rule in this universe.The reverse is impossible. When you know who you are, never mind the background noises they are not your reality. "
Those words like always calm her nerves down, it made no sense to fight someone else battles when she knew who Lorelei was, like her mom's she was a radiance.
As true as she had 'THE' Queen at her feet for it was really that. Thanks to the Universe God of Love, she did not used it the wrong way.
She could make a well respected man like Dimitrio Plazza to freak, afraid of her light or an overconfident beautiful woman like Delrey to act all stupid.
To be in the surrounding of Lorelei had taught Alicia many things that made her brain mature despite her acting most of the time like a spoil baby. She had made peace with herself in that regard, it was just a way for her to be blind at everything. Reality sometime was too ugly to face when there were people around to shade it from her. Maybe one day she would but baby steps was her motto.
Sighing as Delrey hopeful and dreamy face was the representation of how human was fragile. Not knowing what make them fall or consciously choosing to bllind themselves to the painful reality. No way could she hold anything against the woman, she was already doing all the hurting herself by looking too much in a way that will caused her more pain.
Letting it go she averted her gaze to Boyer with whom she was working only to meet his eyes, full with something she refused to entertain keeping hers cold face unmoved. It was clear he saw Delrey behavior. Dismissing it she lowered her gaze to the files she held in her hand after closing it she handed it to him.
"Please, make sure to run it by Mrs Blake for her signature, then fax it to Poris Museum this afternoon, I want the approved final decision on my desk this evening."
Turning her back to them she left the room soon followed by four men at a respectable distance. Breathing out in relief Boyer took some time for himself. Like always whenever he was around professor Kamali or princess Alister, the presence of the bodyguards that was so normal to them was stressful for him.
He felt watched from all part, he could sometimes forget to breathe. Only when they disappeared in the elevator did he moved out feeling himself again.
Those blue bloods! He thought.
"At least they know how to treat people, unlike some others."
Shaking his head a small smile on he mumbled under his breath after his eyes caught a glimpse of Mr Plazza working alone far away in the garden.
"What a waste! Those who should boost themselves do not even try to be see, they are so humble. Just for wanna be to shake his tail. See me! See me! " Puffing the air out of his cheeks he dramatically said while the folder in his hand was slapped on his thigh emphasizing his astonishment.
The way professor Kamali had single-handed him back in Poris still fresh in his mind. She could have terminated him that day, he knew the Queen would have. But she chose not to, just like she did Mr Plazza in the morning. That he knew was greatness