''..8.20.''
Rochester growled the minute he stopped to steal a peek at his wristwatch. He stood in observation of Simon, who was getting the act done rather sluggishly. He knew he was agitated because of that mad woman who he needed to avoid bumping into again, at all costs. But right now, with his Butler's incessant behaviour of picking the box and pushing it into the cart in a herculean attempt, he was already losing his patience, and he was losing it real fast!
''Simon!''
''Sir..'' Simon answered rather inaudibly as he let the box drop carefully from his hands. He was sweating profusely as he exhaled sharply.
Rochester would have none of this.
''Tell me this, Simon: Are you set to rile me up the more this morning or you have a dying wish to test my patience?''
''Ah! N-no Sir.'' Simon tweaked his neck about to look at his boss. The sight of Rochester's firm brows, strong as they were, accosted his senses to begin to fidget. Also, he could see him tapping his left foot rapidly on the road. Simon knew his boss only ever did that when he was critically pissed or verily agitated. He decided to choose the both options as they clearly meant the same thing anyway.
''Pardon me, Sir.'' Simon told him, apologetically. ''The box.. I mean, your box is not as lightweight as when we first got here as such..''
''Shut up! Just shut that ridiculous mouth of yours up.'' Rochester was seething. ''I only purchased a few things. So there is no way that it is too heavy than your skinny self.''
''That is my point, boss. I can assure you that this box weighs so much more than me.''
''Enough!'' Rochester yelled at him. ''You're such an insensitive fellow.''
''Yes Sir. Thank you for the compliment.'' Simon said with a grin that further irritated his boss.
''Know what, just drop it there and call Matthew to help you with it. That reminds me, where's that coachman that should already be here?'' Rochester vibrated an angry mood as he darted his vision about the yard.
Simon was quick to intervene.
''Boss.. I am sorry but Matthew said he needed to use the lavatory.''
''The lavat—'' Rochester shut his eyes to internalise his rage. He needed to run away but that did not give him the right to murder someone in the process.
''Simon..'' He tried to settle on his nerves and said. ''Reach into my mini case and get me my tobacco.''
''But boss, the day is quite early for you to be thinking of using that.''
''S.I.M.O.N.!''
Rochester grunted his name through his teeth whilst his ears billowed out the fumes. Was it that Simon did not know how pretty worked up his nerves had gotten already?
''Sir, you called me..'' Simon said as he inched one feet closer to the lion's den.
''For the last time, Simon. If you do not want me to crumble you to pieces, don't you ever try me again.''
''Sorry, boss.''
''Sorry for yourself. Now, get me my stuff and hurry on to find that stupid Matthew to help you with my box, alright? Hurry.''
''Rushing off, Sir. But you seem pretty agitated.'' Simon stopped to study him.
''You know what, get out!''
''Okay, Sir.''
''Go, do what I asked.''
In that instant, his Butler was gone and in a dash he returned back with his smoke before dashing into the Inn they'd left to go trace Matthew out as instructed.
Rochester stood his place as he smoked his stuff.
He was not his usual self. As he stood his gaze, watchful and thoroughly vigilant of the outside premise, he kept at rapidly tapping his feet: both of them. He drew in his smoke and allowed his lips to thin in the process. He was clearly losing it the longer he waited for Simon and Matthew to return. What was taking them so frickin long to come out for?!
Also..
How could a woman cause him; Rochester Blenntmort, the famously known merchant of Aegremonth to cower so much that he'd resort to running away?
How much more cowardly could he be?
Rochester stopped to laugh at his ridiculous act but he later reckoned that he shouldn't have laughed at all because of how he nearly choked on the substance he was smoking.
Simon and Matthew returned to him just as he was settling out his near-choke experience. He grunted a gnarl and threw the tobacco pipe away.
Simon saw him do this.
''Boss, why did you..''
''Focus on your damn business.'' Rochester retorted. ''We do not have all day.''
Simon nodded accordingly and turned to aid Matthew in placing the box carefully at the back. They had to take care to do it so that even if the horses were to dive into a ditch, the box should still remain in place.
Rochester watched them struggle with the luggage until they finally succeeded.
Simon clapped his hands together like he was dusting dirt off of them.
''It's done, boss. The box is finally in the trunk.'' He announced.
''Good.'' Rochester commended, ''Excellent job, you two. You, Matthew! Hurry on over to your side and get me out of here.''
''Very well, Sir.''
Matthew went over to the front whereas Simon stood the coach door open for Rochester to enter. His boss was about to go in but stopped to access the environment one last time and as the sun was a burning blaze by this time, its intensity jabbed Rochester in his lids causing them to narrow into slits.
''I will miss nothing about this place.'' Rochester assured as he bent his head over to get in.
He wasn't fast enough.
''Sir!'' A distant voice called him as was the man's worrisome footsteps.
''Mr. Blenntmort! You cannot leave yet!''
Rochester brought out his head and turned to look at him.
The owner of the inn swiftly rolled his legs alongside his potbelly to reach him just in time.
''Ah.. It's my luck that you haven't left already!'' The man exclaimed while heaving a sigh.
''Simon..'' Rochester looked at his Butler. ''Do we still have any outstanding debt with this man?''
''None that I know of, boss.'' Simon replied promptly.
''But are you sure? Otherwise, why is he here to pose a disturbance?''
''Haha. Ahem..'' The defaulter put his hand on his chest to calm down his breathing from having walked so fast, too fast to catch up to them. He said. ''Actually, Sir. The boy is right. You don't owe me anything and I also did not come here for money.''
''Then why are you here? Speak up otherwise you are simply wasting my time!''
Rochester shot him a feisty look with his eyes.
''Ha ha.'' The man laughed awkwardly and said, ''Ehm.. Kindly take it easy with the eyes, Sir. Eh.. I simply came to thank you for the little show you put up this morning. That little drama has brought me a lot of customers. So, I want to truly thank you for it.''
He laughed a nervous laugh soon after due to how Rochester's glare threatened to pick him up from off the ground.
He quickly restrained himself.
''Oh—!'' He exclaimed. ''I am sorry to bother because I see that you are rushing off to leave. So I will leave you to it.''
Rochester studied the man as he bared his teeth into an awkward grin which made him cringe a little. But he was soon out of there, or so Rochester thought as he turned his back to face him.
''Also whenever you stop in my town,'' His lousy voice came again. ''We will always be at your service, Sir.''
With a wave of his hand to no one in particular, the man went back inside his inn.
''Good riddance!'' Rochester blurted as he attempted to pull his head into his cart. His eyes spotted another coach stop just beside him but he was too preoccupied to care for it anyway.
He had himself halfway in when a viciously clawed hand rippled his suit from behind by grappling it with all her might.
''Useless man! Where on earth do you think you can run to?''
The man's eyes sank inside his head cause he immediately knew what felon he was up against.
That wench!