Lea was overjoyed with Dwyl's positive answer. Her eyes started to twinkle and she felt the sudden need to do a happy dance. "Yay! Thank you so much, Dwyl! You definitely won't regret this!"
Dwyl looked at Lea hopping around and making strange spastic movements. Was it really alright to go along with her? He already started to regret his decision. "You don't have to be so happy."
"I can't help it! I never expected you to agree." A big smile was plastered on her face. She had progressed an extra step to match two handsome men together! How could she not be cheerful?
"Well I did, so get over it." Dwyl crossed his arms. He didn't know what he should feel about Lea's ecstatic appearance. He was happy with her support and the chance to finally realize his unrequited love, but he didn't like how Lea seemed to treat this like a game. She didn't understand how important this was to him, and that worried Dwyl.
"Tch… No need to be so grumpy, it makes you less cute." Lea waved with a finger at Dwyl. This arrogant attitude wouldn't make matching him and Mason together easy.
"Whatever," Dwyl said swapping away Lea's finger. "Tell me, how am I supposed to attract Mason? Since you suggested this, I assume you have a plan?" Dwyl looked at Lea expectantly.
Lea looked at William's eager expression. He was really serious about this, huh? That made her kind of nervous, doubting her ability as a matchmaker. She had never tried something like this before! She'd better do this right, or Dwyl might never forgive her for playing with its feelings.
"Well, I don't really have a plan, but Mason owes me something. So, I taught that maybe I could ask him to go on a date with you?"
Dwyl narrowed his eyes suspiciously. This sounded like a really bad plan. "You've not even been here twenty-four hours. How come he already owes you?"
Lea scratched her head. "Well, you might have heard, but I hurt my nose yesterday…"
Dwyl nodded. He had indeed been notified of that by some fearful servants. She had walked into a wall. Dwyl had laughed at the news, and immediately forgotten about it after hearing there was no serious damage.
"And I guess Mason was afraid you'd blame him or something," Lea continued her explanation, "so he asked me to speak a good word about him and request his services."
"Don't tell me you shamelessly said he owed you for something like that?"
"Uhm… I did?" Lea said in a small voice. "But I don't think it's shameless. His way of sentencing already implied he would return the favor. I just explicitly said so. Who am I to turn away such a golden opportunity?"
Dwyl couldn't really blame Lea. He would have probably done the same thing, but that didn't mean he had to like it when Lea did it. Obviously she used Mason to her advantage! That was so disrespectful.
"You'd better make this stupid plan succeed or I'll throw you in the dungeon for the rest of your life in this world."
Lea swallowed. Why was Dwyl so annoying one moment, the next adorable, to then turn all intimidating the moment after? It really wasn't good for her heart.
"I'll do my best."
"Great. I'll call Mason then, and order him to give you a tour of the grounds. You can ask him about the date then."
***
Mason was in the kitchen discussing with the chef about the menu that was being finalized for the ball, when a servant suddenly said William Wright wanted him to go to the breakfast room.
He wondered what that brat wanted him to do now, always giving him tasks that any other servant could accomplish. What was William thinking? He was the head butler for heaven's sake. It wasn't his job to wake him up from bed, to serve him dinner or anything else! Mason didn't have the patience for that, and it kept him from discovering the really nasty things going on in the presidential palace.
Mason knocked on the door of the breakfast room. "Young master Wright? Can I come in?"
"Come in."
Mason entered the room and saw William together with miss King. "You called for me?"
William stood up. "Yes, Mason. I'm going out of town today, and while I am away I want you to give Kailey a tour of the place."
Masons heartbeat speeded up hearing this. This was great! An opportunity to be alone with miss King and scope her out. "Young master, although I really appreciate you giving me the important task of guiding your esteemed guest around the palace, with the ball taking place in less than a week I am incredibly busy. May I suggest another servant for the job?"
William glared at Mason. "Are you disobeying my orders? I said you need to give Kailey the tour. No one else."
Mason bowed his head. He had expected this answer, otherwise he wouldn't have dared to suggest someone else could take over. "I would never disobey you, young master Wright. I'll make sure to give miss King the best tour there is."
"I expect nothing less," William said before leaving the room.
"I thought you said to request your services? If I had known you were so busy, I wouldn't have asked William for you." Kailey said to Mason.
"It is no problem, miss King. I'm honored you asked for me and I really don't have that much to do. I can handle it." Mason said with a polite smile. He was really happy that Kailey hadn't forgotten her promise. This would make it easier to get close to her.
"Please Mason, I wanted to say this yesterday, but you don't have to speak so formally. Call me Kailey. I'm not used to being treated like this. It's making me embarrassed."
Mason's heart skipped a beat. Kailey looked so charming. "Okay then, Kailey. Where do you want to start the tour?"
"Oh, I don't know. Maybe the gardens? I could use some fresh air."
"The gardens it is. Follow me."
***
Kailey and Mason were walking between the finely cut bushes of the garden. The small pebbles underneath their feet crunching with every step.
"How did you get this job?" Kailey asked, fully knowing the answer.
Mason glanced at Kailey. It would be so easier to trust her if she didn't ask these questions that put him on the spot. "A friend recommended me."
"You must have very important friends then."
"I guess." Mason answered curtly. He needed to turn this conversation to his advantage. He needed to be more assertive, because right now he was the only one who gave information away. He needed to know more about Kailey, not the other way around!
"Kailey, would you mind if I ask you some questions myself?"
"Huh? Why would I mind? I told you, I don't like to be treated so formally. We're equals!"
"It's hard to see someone as an equal when they are so close to the president's son."
"I wouldn't say we are close," Kailey objected. "I didn't even know him until the day before yesterday!"
"That is hard to believe, considering the way he treats you."
"I'm telling you the truth. I was at home with my… my husband, and all of the sudden William Wright stood in front of the door, declared us divorced and whisked me away!"
Mason clenched his fists. He really didn't like being remembered that Kailey had been married, but what concerned him the most right now wasn't her former husband, but that stupid president's son. "I hope I don't sound to forward with this, but what is your relationship with young master Wright?"
Lea was thrilled with Mason asking the golden question. Did this mean he also had feelings for William and was jealous of her? That would be awesome! The only problem was with how she would answer. She couldn't say that William was her system. A friend? No, that would be weird since they only knew each other three days in this world. The most logical thing to say was her kidnapper. He had after all abducted Kailey, without asking her opinion. (Not that Lea minded.) The problem was that saying the truth would be counterproductive to her goal of matching Mason and William. Damn, why did William have such a horrible personality?
While thinking about her answer, Lea's legs lost all strength and made her fall on the ground. Why did this stupid body have to be such a goody two-shoes? She was only thinking the truth! It wasn't her fault the presidential family wasn't likeable.
Mason watched how Kailey fell through her knees. This was the second time something like this had happened. He thought about what they were talking about the last time she had seemed to punish herself and concluded the subject then was also William Wright. Could it be she didn't like him?
"Kailey! Are you alright?" He tried to stop her hitting the ground, but he was too late.
"I'm fine," Lea flinched when Mason touched her knees. They were bleeding.
"No you are not. I'm taking you to the doctor." Mason put his arms underneath her knees and lifted her up in a princess carry.
Lea had not seen that one coming. "What? Put me down! I do not need to go to a doctor. It' just a scratch."
Mason looked at the struggling Kailey. It annoyed him. Was it that uncomfortable to be in his arms? She should just let him take care of her. "Even a scratch needs to be treated, otherwise it can lead to an infection."
"Fine! I'll go to a doctor but put me down!" Lea felt Mason's hard muscles through his shirt. It was the first time she had been so close to a guy that she could feel his shape and temperature. Her entire face was getting warm and her heart was beating like crazy. This was so embarrassing! The plan wasn't for her to do such intimate things with Mason, but matching him up with William. She needed to put a stop to this situation immediately.
Mason looked at Kailey's blushing face, and his irritated heart had soothed. It wasn't because she hated to be in his arms, she was just shy.
Mason put her down, and supported her with his arm. If Kailey thought he was going to let her go she was wrong.
"I can walk on my own, Mason."
"It's either this or back in my arms. You choose." He said stubbornly. Mason had already made a compromise, he wouldn't back down again.
Lea looked at Mason sideways. He was really persistent. She quite liked it.