Vladyk and Yvonne went for a walk in the immense gardens that surrounded the aristocratic house after dinner, enjoying the roses in bloom and the delicious soft perfume drifting in the air. Victor Falcone and Sylvia Knaast were in her bedroom with Bruce.
The couple sat on a bench under an arc of the flowers facing the lake in the property, and Yvonne rested her head on Vladyk's shoulder.
"What do you think of Olaf's words, my love?"
He sighed. "I never understood why the boss went after me. I am not the best professional for a driver's position. I was a sports champion and a schoolteacher when they invited me to work for them. Medals and college degrees never paid what I get from Mister Knaast so I accepted."
"Yes, same here. A sociology and philosophy teacher became a governess. He insists I am the best because of my upbringing. The gifts he gives me made me wonder about his actual reasons, but he explained his guests must see themselves below the Knaast governess. It makes them easier to deal in business. But sometimes I think if I am not too naïve."
Vladyk caressed her lean arm. "I called my cousin in Norway. He lives in a city near the Knaast castle. He laughed when I told him Olaf's words."
"He heard them before?"
"Oh, he recited a bunch of sayings using the Knaast. Nothing alluring or inviting to trust, I assure you."
The woman's green eyes clouded with worry. She bit her lower lip. "Do you think we should follow Olaf's advice, love?"
"I am not sure. When we have our week-long vacation, I think we should drop by their city and feel the people there. Hear their stories. Maybe we learn more so we can make up our minds."
She sat on his lap. "My sweet giant. I love you so much it hurts."
"Love me less. I can't stand when you suffer."
She kissed his lips with sweetness. Vladyk's hand spanned Yvonne's waist. "You are so delicate compared to me. I am seven feet tall and you are just an inch above five. I feel clumsy beside you."
Yvonne giggled. "I feel protected and loved in your arms. You are not clumsy at all. Our love is the best thing ever, Vlad."
They stayed under the moon, surrounded by the beauty and fragrance of roses.
Olaf's words fell to second place as they enjoyed their love connection and watched the silver disc reflect in the serene waters of the lake.
Bjorg nodded when Vladyk asked for the brief vacation, but with Yvonne, it was another matter altogether.
The governess and her boss were alone in the library, and his reaction when she talked about the trip scared her. The man's handsome face turned into an ugly mask of anger.
"I don't see why you need to meet his family right now when my daughter will get married. Sylvia's wedding is the most important thing to happen to the Knaasts in decades."
Bjorg's overreaction was frightening. She paled and Olaf's words came to her mind.
"The event is in a year, Mister Knaast. I talked to Mister Goodwin, and he said the hotel is organizing everything. I assure you it will be perfect," she tried to appease him.
Venom and contempt dripped from the warlock's lips.
"I guessed you were in love. Otherwise, you would not ignore my obvious hints. When I imagine you, a duchess, in bed with a driver, I feel sick. It is disgusting. Leave. Go see for your tasks."
When Yvonne left her boss's office her knees were weak. She crossed the house's marble corridors to the servants' aisle with her heart bumping her ribs, and found Vladyk in the garage, polishing a Ferrari.
Bjorg's sports car collection took the driver every moment of the day he wasn't driving.
As she threw herself on his arms, he received her lightweight with ease, and asked with surprise, "What is the problem, love?"
"I come from Mister Knaast office. He got so mad when I told him we are getting engaged and I needed to travel to meet your family. I thought he would hit me or fire me. He declared he wanted me with plain words."
Vladyk put her at arm's length and examined her and he saw her green eyes huge with fear and brimming with unshed tears. "Did he offend you in any way? Did he touch you?"
She shook her head. "No, but I am sure his gifts were with second intentions now."
Vladyk snorted. "You think? Those diamonds are worth money we will never make. He was seasoning the lamb; that's what he was doing with the Rolex and everything else."
"Seasoning the lamb," she repeated with a crease on her forehead.
"Yes, the wolf seasoning the lamb for the slaughter."
Yvonne blushed. "It's crass."
"It's true. You must gather all those things. We will make an excellent copy of them in a jewelry shop and the originals will go to a bank locker under Mister Knaast's name. We must do it before our trip. If he plans to accuse you of robbery to have leverage, he will have an unpleasant surprise when he calls the police."
Yvonne blanched. "Do you think he can do that?"
"My cousin is researching on our behalf. The things he told me are despicable."
"What things?"
"He throws orgies in his castle. And the people involved lose pace with a normal life, getting into a kind of sick relationship, living to please him and nothing else. After he is tired of them, all of the young and beautiful people end up perishing in mysterious situations."
"I guess that's what Olaf meant but did not want to say openly. But I saw nothing in my three years here."
"Me either. Maybe because we work in the house where his daughter lives."
"She leads a weird life, with all the sleepovers in the hotel, but she's getting married now."
"Maybe her marriage triggered his advances. But don't think about it. Just do what I told you. Take pictures of the pieces. We will have copies made and then we put the originals in the bank."
She nodded. "You are my safe port, Vlad. Thank you."
The man's light blue eyes glinted with his love. "Don't thank me. I was a national sports champion. I had women throwing themselves on me all the time, but you are the answer to my lonely nights, the light of my life. I will protect you. Nothing will hurt you as I live."
They kissed, and Yvonne left.
Vladyk rubbed the soft cloth on the car with renewed strength. Somewhere his collected anger must vent out to avoid the worst. He felt like killing Bjorg Knaast for Yvonne's fear.
Byorg smirked at the ball of fire he had summoned to watch the couple after Yvonne left his office. "The driver is smart. He guessed my intentions. But I am a warlock. They can't bypass me."
The Knaast priest called the chief of police, then the supervisor of the house's security team who was the next to receive orders.
"The love birds deserve a pleasurable surprise."
He laughed out loud and the demons of his escort enjoyed once more the cruel actions of the Knaast priest to destroy some more lives.