Fiona put the phone down without responding. After a while, she felt like she should respond to the text.
"I'm at Furry Canines."
The driver came down from the front seat and opened the back door for both of them to come down from the car. The text message she got was from Ashley. Fiona had almost forgotten that Ashley offered to follow her to Furry Canines. Ashley just texted her asking where she was.
As Fiona looked at the phone a second time, there was another reply from Ashley: "I'll be right there."
She took a deep breath as she stood in front of the mansion.
"That device looks bad," Felix commented as she used her phone.
Fiona paused what she was doing and looked at the phone, feeling embarrassed. She had used the phone for ages, and had no funds to get a new one. She smiled nervously and tucked the phone into her tiny bag.
"Here, take this." He put his hand into his pocket and brought out a phone with a sleek exterior.
Fiona was surprised as she took the phone from his hand. "Isn't it yours?" She asked, looking at the phone in her palm.
"I got it recently. There's no files in it. I have another one." He assured her with a light smile.
"Thank you, sir." She said, while bowing her head slightly.
She walked behind him as he led her into the house. Her mind was already rest assured that she would have a pleasant time in his pack. It wasn't up to an hour since she arrived and she already earned a new phone. She scoffed inwardly as she thought of what Kael had told her of Felix having ulterior motives.
They paused when he came inside the house and a valet opened the door, ushering them inside. Felix said something to the man, while Fiona stood at one spot, waiting for him.
The first time she saw Felix, he looked like a young mischievous man. But now, there was an aura around him. It was almost like he commanded authority from those around him. It was only now that she also noticed that instead of the tousled curly hair which he had, his hair was slicked back and rested gracefully on his shoulders. He looked older than her, 25 if she may guess.
Him and the Valet cast several glances in her direction, making her wonder what they were saying about her.
The valet, a man who looked older than both of them, covered the space between them as he walked closer. His black hair had few gray strands in them. His spectacles covered his eyes which were slightly wrinkled. His black suit, sharply tailored to give him a professional look.
"This is Mr. Carter." Felix introduced. Carter stretched his hand towards her for a handshake and she smiled lightly.
"He is the chief supervisor of works, and you'll be working with him."
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Fiona.Let me show you around." He offered, and Fiona obliged, following him as he led the way.
The mansion was a labyrinth of rooms. In the room where she met the Valet, there was a gold chandelier hanging from the ceiling, its light casting a warm glow around the insides. The Valet led her through the corridors which were polished with marble tiles. Flowers stood in vases at the corner and the sweet lilac scent entered her nostrils. The flowers must have been picked recently.
But it seemed like only a few people lived in the packhouse. She hadn't come across anyone since Carter showed her around.
"Is anyone else at home?" Fiona asked out of curiosity.
"The Luna and Alpha travelled and their assistants went with them." Carter responded as he opened a door. "But the maid is still around, you can get something to eat."
The door led to a kitchen. A woman dressed in an apron and chef uniform busied herself as she stirred food on the gas.
"This is the maid in charge of cooking, you'd also be working with her." Carter said as they stood in the kitchen.
"Lara, why don't you get her something to eat."
"Okay." Lara responded.
"If you need anything, reach out to both of us." Carter informed her before he exited the kitchen, leaving the women alone.
Lara continued stirring the soup in the ceramic pot without saying anything to Fiona.
"Here." She said, dropping a plate of chicken soup and rice on the table.
"Thank you." Fiona smiled as she took the food from her. She hadn't eaten anything the entire day.
"I heard about you." Lara pulled a chair to sit opposite Fiona "They gave you such a short jail sentence even though you committed murder."
Fiona dropped the spoon down, almost choking on the food as she ate. That was the least thing she expected Lara to say.
"I know. I also wondered why." She responded, even though the conversation felt uncomfortable.
"Working here may be your way of paying for the gesture."
"Gesture? What do you mean?"
"Someone definitely bailed you out, aren't you aware?" Lara asked her as she put a cup of coffee for herself.
Fiona moved her eyes away from Lara and stared at her soup. Her mind pondered on what Lara told her. Could I actually have been bailed? The release after just 2 years had felt too convenient to be true.
"Do you mean that you know who bailed me out?" Fiona questioned curiously. All the while, she had thought that the prison officials decided to pity her by giving just a 2 year sentence.
Lara emptied the coffee from the cup. "Maybe the sponsor wants to stay anonymous." She said as she moved to the sink.
"But you just said you know who did it."
"I never said that. I only said you should work here as a way of showing gratitude, like community service."
Lara chuckled and walked towards the door. "And one thing, try to protect yourself."
Before Fiona could ask what her statement meant, she already left.
"Protect myself? From what?" She asked herself as Lara's words left her hanging on a cliff. She brushed the thought off and proceeded to empty the contents of the plate into her stomach.
"At least I'm safe from Kael, nothing else can hurt me." She assured herself, or so she thought.
She still stayed in the kitchen and decided to look at the phone Felix had given her. It was really brand new. The system seemed advanced and, proving that it was made in a sophisticated place like Furry Canines.
A message from Ashley displayed on the screen. "I've reached the pack. I'm in front of the mansion."
Fiona headed out of the kitchen and went outside to meet Ashley.
"Maybe I could forgive her, since she has come all this way just to ensure my safety."
As she headed outside, she saw some bags and recognized them as Ashley's, but Ashley wasn't in sight.
"Ashley," she called out, wondering where she had gone.
She called her several times with the phone, but she didn't speak. She stepped forward into the road, hoping that she was nearby.
A car drove in her direction, and before Fiona could shift out of the road, the vehicle came crashing towards her.