CHAPTER TEN

I was still in shock of what could be going through Frederick’s mind or if he already found out what I was trying to hide when he finally broke the cold silence.

“Are you always this careless? You could have cut yourself by picking that up.” Frederick said, moving my hand away from the turner that had the broken pieces of the glass bowl right beside it.

“Huhh,” I said, still out of thoughts.

Frederick stood, grabbed some paper towels and used it to collect the broken glasses from the floor.

“Hey! Are you okay?…. Why are your thoughts all over the place?” Frederick asked, worried.

I finally came back to myself and realized what had happened. Here I was thinking he was trying to get information about my meeting with Marcus when all he was trying to do was keep me out of harm's way.

“I'm sorry, I got lost for a moment there,” I said as I quickly stood as well and pulled off my apron onto the chair.

I adjusted my top and slid my hair to the back of my ears to keep them in place as they were all over my face because my hair scrunchie came off when I bent.

Fredrick picked up the scrunchie from the floor and stretched it out to me when he saw me trying to keep my hair in place.

“Here….. I think this is what you need,” Frederick said.

“Oh, thank you,” I said as I collected it from him and tried to pack my hair into a bun.

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In no short time, Julian drove into the mansion in his ford jeep as he was welcomed by the head security who collected his suitcase from him, they both walked towards the mansion.

“Where’s Frederick?” Julian asked as he pulled off his suit and handed it over to the head security.

“He was seen heading to the painter’s room sir,” he said as he collected the suit from Julian.

They both got into the mansion and walked up the stairs, towards her room.

“Take those to my study,” Julian ordered the head security.

“Okay sir,” the head security turned around instead and headed to Julian’s study with the suitcase and suit while Julian headed to her room alone.

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I finally had my hair in a bun when I and Frederick both heard a soft knock on my door, the door opened and it was Julian.

“Finally, you're here!” Frederick said, eager to get to business with Julain.

Julian stood by the door for a while as he looked at the mess made from the paint splashing and the broken glasses in the paper towel trying to decipher what happened.

I noticed what he was trying to get a hold of and I suddenly felt the need and urge to explain to him.

“Uhh I mistakenly dropped the mixer…hence this mess,” I said pointing to the floor.

“Are you hurt?” Julian asked as he came in gradually, looking at me to see if I was hurt.

“No, I'm not,” I answered without restraint.

“Good,” Julain said.

Frederick picked up the paper towel filled with the broken glasses and went over to Julian’s side.

“Did you get my briefing about Sammy? I think we've truly got ourselves a spy,” Frederick said in a low voice but I could still hear them.

“Let's talk about this in the study,” Julian said as he walked towards the door.

I suddenly became curious the moment I heard the word spy as I took a few steps closer to them.

“There's a spy?” I blurted out.

Julian looked at Frederick with eyes that spelled “why did you have to say that” and then looked at me.

“It's nothing you should be concerned with……. Best you focus more on painting, you haven't got much time,” Julian said as he turned to Frederick.

“Let's go,” Julain said.

Frederick turned to me.

“I’ll throw these out,” Frederick said as he showed me the paper towel of broken glasses and they both left my room.

I still can't explain the kind of hold Julian has on me that makes me do things he says without thinking too deeply about it.

Julian and Frederick made their way to the study and shut the door.

“When was the last time Sammy was seen?” Julian asked.

“He was only seen heading towards the east wing, nowhere particularly…….I think he figured out exactly who the spy was just like you guessed, but now he's gone missing,” Frederick said.

Julian was still pacing, trying to figure out what went wrong and when.

“I knew there was a spy, I just didn't know who. That's why I needed Sammy to find them out secretly…. I just don't fully trust this trade off we would be having with the Carillon gang,” Julain said.

“Do you think Xavier sent the spy? What could he possibly want by sending one of his men in here?” Frederick asked.

Julian and Frederick both looked at each at the same time as they had discovered the answer to a puzzle.

“Lexi!!” they both said at the same time.

A ruffled and static sound came off Julian’s radio and this called their attention as the head security spoke over the radio.

“We found Sammy sir,” the head security said.

“Where are you right now? I'm on my way,” Julian said as he picked up his radio and phone.

“I'm at the empty supply room sir,” the head security said.

“Okay, stay right there,” Julian hurriedly exited the study while Frederick followed as well.

I knew the moment I heard Frederick mention a spy that something was going on. But I couldn't figure that out and Julian wouldn't let me either. I looked down from my window as I heard low dialogues and movement, I saw Julian and Frederick walk past and headed towards the east wing.

I suddenly became worried as I haven't heard from Marcus in a while and seeing everyone frantic and on guard, I feared our plan would soon be discovered by Julian.