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Last of The Fae Chapter 151: Workplace Relationship (1/3)
🕑 Added 2025-04-18 01:28:24 +0000 UTCWithin the hour Thane and Mirabel were seated on the Greengrass' Jet, which practically screamed obscene wealth with its hardwood trimmings, brass finishings, and dark leather interior. However not even the heavenly chairs at the back of the cabin could relieve the waves of anxiety rippling through Mirabel.
Exhaling through her nose Mirabel willed the butterflies in her stomach to die, but they refused and instead seemed to multiply, 'Get a hold of yourself Mirabel, you were just flying in a carriage less than ten minutes ago...this is no different!'
Thane glanced over and noticed the tension across Mirabel's body and her distant gaze as if she were trying to dissociate from her surroundings, "Are you nervous about flying in a plane?"
Mirabel's head shot up as she looked over at Thane, "W-what no of course not!"
Thane didn't react but Mirabel could tell his piercing emerald gaze had seen right through her and she deflated, "A little. It's just that, how can you trust some massive hunk of metal that has to set off a high-grade accelerant and spin an overly complicated windmill just to stay in the air? Magic is so much simpler and safe!"
"You don't have to trust that the jet will stay in the air," Thane muttered as he waved his hand summoning his grimoire and a quill flipping open to a half-filled page that contained notes on his prototype multi-way mirrors, name pending, "Just trust that if everything goes to shit and we end up plummeting through the air, you can rely on your magic to save you."
"I don't know if my magic is strong enough to save me from a ten thousand-foot drop," Mirabel muttered anxiously as the plane started to move underneath them turning onto the runway and quickly picking up speed.
"Well my magic is, so there's no need to worry," Thane replied absent-mindedly as he started to write in his grimoire going over diagrams and formation blueprints, "While you're within five feet of me there are very few things on this planet that could pose a threat for you."
At Thane's words, Mirabel's racing heart stilled and she looked over at her boss, finding herself tracing over his chiseled features, the intense focus of his gem-like eyes, and the slight furrow of his brow as he encountered a problem in his endless crusade for solutions.
With a mental shove, Mirabel faced forward trying to ignore the new wave of butterflies that had emerged in her gut, 'Don't even think about it, he's four years your junior even if he doesn't look like it, what am I thinking he's engaged and your boss! There is absolutely no chance of anything happening between the two of you it is a strictly platonic and professional workplace relationship!'
So caught up in her own internal war Mirabel nearly missed the moment of weightlessness as the jet lifted off of the runway and into the air. She gasped momentarily and clutched her armrest in a death grip as the aircraft started to gain height, "Relax Garlick, what I said earlier wasn't a boast, even everything that could go wrong did, it wouldn't be enough to stop me."
Once more Thane's casual flex of his powers had a calming effect on Mirabel and after a moment her grip relaxed, "T-thank you."
Thane only slightly dipped his head in acknowledgment before fully engrossing himself back into his work. After a moment of hesitation, Mirabel decided to follow his example and started reviewing the rollout plan he had given her, while also flushing out some of the more nitty-gritty details.
For the first quarter of the twelve-hour flight, neither Thane nor Mirabel spoke both fully engrossed in their work though Mirabel was distracted when the sole flight attendant on board started to offer snacks and drinks that were worth their weight in gold.
Thane didn't even seem to notice, his eyes solely glued on his grimoire as he flipped back and forth between notes like a man possessed. It was an awe-worthy dedication that Mirabel had seen time and time again that showed, Thane's seemingly effortless accomplishments were the result of countless hours of work.
A muffled vibration jerked Mirabel out of her silent praise and she quickly schooled her gaze as Thane reached into his robe and pulled out his multi-mirror holding it up to his ear, "I was wondering when you were going to call...yes, I know the interface isn't that intuitive I'm working on it...yes, I'm on the plane...yes she's with me....alright then."
Then without warning, Thane held out the mirror for Mirabel to take, "My fiance wishes to talk to you."
"M-me," Mirabel stammered as she stared at the mirror like it would come alive and attack her, "W-what for?"
Thane shrugged, "I do not know, I find it better just to indulge her."
"I heard that my love," Daphne replied her voice coming from the mirror and for the first time Mirabel watched Thane shrink, "And I promise you're not in trouble Mirabel, I just wish to talk with you about some things privately."
Mirabel looked to Thane one more time who only gestured for her to take the mirror which she did albeit reluctantly.
"Hello, Ms. Greengrass," Mirabel started politely as she stood up from her seat and walked towards the front of the cabin.
"Hello, Mirabel dear, I believe this is our first conversation without Thane present," Daphne replied sounding every bit the wealthy heiress she was.
"I-it is," Mirabel replied strangely nervous for talking to an eighteen-year-old girl, "W-what can I do for you?"
"Tell me how does Thane's current demeanor strike you?" Daphne asked innocently.
Mirabel snuck a glance at Thane who was still buried in his work, "Well right now he's nose deep in his grimoire, but on the carriage ride over he seemed rather...pent up?"
"Precisely, and I don't have to tell you that if Thane looks pent up on the outside, internally he's just one inconvenience away from doing something uncharacteristically rash and over the top."
Mirabel nodded, "You would probably know better than I do."
"Oh I don't think so," Daphne countered, "I bet myself and a select few, you know Thane's mannerisms better than anyone."
"W-well we do spend a lot of time managing the company and e-everything else," Mirabel explained with a nervous laugh while praying that Daphne wasn't the type of jealous lover to kill anyone who they viewed as moving in on their territory.
Daphne laughed, "Relax, if anything had happened between you and Thane he would have told me already."
"H-he wouldn't!" Mirabel insisted before realizing how that sounded, "I-I mean he wouldn't cheat on you."
"No he wouldn't," Daphne agreed, "But my husband and I have a certain understanding, about our needs. It just so happens that my husband is a very needy man and it is my duty as his partner to ensure those needs are met."
With every word spoken Mirabel's face flushed a deeper shade of red until she was practically a tomato, "I-I'm sorry but you can't possibly be insinuating that I should-"
"Sleep with my betrothed?" Daphne interrupted, "Yes I am, that is of course only if you're willing, and no I am not threatening your livelihood if you refuse."
Once more Mirabel was gagged and left stammering, "T-that's a very generous offer, I-I mean I don't think Lord Fae is-"
"Interested?" Daphne cut Mirabel off once more with a light laugh enjoying the torment she was causing Mirabel, "Trust me Mirabel he is interested, or at least he will be if you don't give a definitive no."
"H-how do you know that?" Mirabel asked her voice barely above a whisper.
"Because my beloved hasn't put a stop to my antics," Daphne answered calmly, "You see he has deceptively good hearing and I would bet my family's fortune that he's heard every single word of this conversation."
Mirabel's entire body froze and for a moment she didn't dare move. Eventually, she worked up the courage to glance over only to see Thane staring right at her with a smoldering fire shining through his emerald eyes that made Mirabel's stomach do somersaults and her legs weak.
A pitiful whimper echoed from Mirabel's throat suddenly feeling like a live rabbit thrown into a wolf's den. A scenario that seemed to possibly delight Daphne who laughed, "Oh my he's giving you the look, isn't he? Oh, you poor thing."
Mirabel couldn't look away from Thane's eyes afraid that the slightest movement would set him off, a possibility that was getting more enticing by the second.
"Judging by your silence can I assume that you're debating whether or not to go through with this?" Daphne asked, "My advice do it, I promise you won't regret it. Though fair warning, he does like to tease."
"T-tease?" Mirabel stammered her doe-like eyes still fixed on Thane who continued to stalk her.
"Yes, he'll make you beg him or something else just as humiliating, though I assure you his process is something that will only be overshadowed by the reward." Daphne teased one final time before ending the call leaving Mirabel without backup.
For a moment Thane just stared at her in silence, then his grimoire vanished and he patted his lap all while never breaking eye contact, "Sit."
