Stranger things

''I… I was just trying to check if I could climb out from this end; since I couldn't find my way around, I'm sorry for ruining your maze…''

She stammered, her hand pointing to the flowers she had stepped on.

Nicklaus gaze had not fluttered since she started speaking; it was as though he was not even listening to her in the first place; Tiana felt sweat break out on her forehead as Nicklaus stared intently at her; she didn't even know what to say anymore;

She planned that she wouldn't fall into his trap, but she didn't know that she would get in so soon;

''I'm sorry for the flowers, ''

She apologized again as she thought it to be the only reason he would stare at her so intently;

Nicklaus didn't respond to her, he just turned around and started walking out of the maze;

Actually, he didn't even know what to say to her; he wasn't at all angry at her for climbing the huge flowers, in fact he was even amused; but he could not open his lips to say a word because he just realized that he had come all the way from the mansion to the maze to save her and that was not like him. He was even surprised at himself.

Normally, he would have ordered his guards to find her, no matter how long it took them, but he had chosen to find her himself; although he made himself believe that it was because the guards didn't know the way around the maze, he knew deep down that he found her himself because he was worried.

But he wouldn't let her know that; so he turned around nonchalantly and started walking out of the maze; he didn't need to tell her to follow him, since she was lost, she would naturally follow him.

Tiana was stunned; should she follow him?

Was he leaving the maze?

Tiana thought for a moment; then she remembered Bella saying that he was the only one who knew around the Maze and she quickly tiptoed behind him; keeping her distance.

Nicklaus fought the urge to turn around to know if she followed him; luckily for him, she stepped on a bunch of leaves and his mind calmed;

After about twenty minutes, the guards watched their Boss walk out of the maze casually, the lady following behind like a little kitten.

He didn't say a word to them, his face aloof as he walked towards the mansion. Tiana was surprised when she saw the bunch of guards who were standing in front of the maze;

What happened!

She asked herself internally.

Was she in trouble? Did Nicklaus come to the maze to find her himself?

She wondered as she continued following behind;

The guards followed when they saw their boss step out.

After a few minutes, they approached the mansion;

The workers were still standing outside as they waited for Nicklaus to return. When they saw him approach, they strained their eyes to know whether he found her, and when they saw her, they all stared at her like they've seen a ghost.

Nicklaus did not say a word to any of them, he just walked into the mansion and up the stairs. Once he was upstairs, the whole place erupted with the gossip of how the boss had gone to find her himself.

Tiana walked towards her room, her head bowed a little;

She had wronged Nicklaus, now she would have to apologize to him.

She didn't want to make mistakes that would demand her begging him, but this;

She didn't have a choice;

She was almost at her door when she heard a familiar voice call her name;

''Tiana? ''

Tiana froze instantly, and she turned around to see Bella walking towards her;

''Bella, I'm sorry. I didn't know it would take so long ''

Tiana apologized, a remorseful expression on her face.

Bella was angry at first but it had been a long while and her anger had dissipated;

She sighed;

''It is okay, now you've seen for yourself, I'm sure you won't ever go there again. ''

She said with a light chuckle and Tiana laughed;

''Never; not even in my dreams!' remembering something, she asked immediately;

''How did the boss find out, did you tell him? And why is everyone gathered outside, did something happen?''

She asked, her eyes glanced at the workers who were now retiring back into the house.

Bella shook her head.

''Not exactly. By the time I came back to the mansion, everyone was already looking for you. ''

Tiana's eyes shot up in shock;

''What? Looking for me? Why?''

''Well, I think Nicklaus sent for you but you were nowhere to be found, so he sent the workers to look for you. When I arrived, I saw the guards standing outside the mansion, and I told them;

They were still asking me why you went there so late when suddenly, we saw the boss step down with an angry look.

After they told him you were in the maze, he ordered them to go get you, but just when they were about to leave, he stopped them and headed there himself; that's why everyone is shocked.''

Tiana stood at a spot gazing at Bella, her ears felt foreign from what she heard;

''You mean, the boss came to the Maze just to find me? ''

She asked unbelievably.

Bella laughed;

''Yea, we were surprised too, but I think he did so because none of the guards knows the way around the maze, so sending them there would be a waste of time; but even at that, the boss surprised us today.''

She explained with a light chuckle;

''That means he must be very mad at me right now. He didn't even say a word to me when he found me, and to think he caught me climbing his flowers!''

Tiana face palmed in panic; she even had a greater trouble to deal with.

Bella chuckled;

"He might not really be so angry, you know the boss is always frosty, it is hard to discern when he's angry and when he's not "

She soothed but Tiana was not buying it, she knew she was in big trouble.