Play Cards.

The minute Rochester locked glances with her, his face turned blue, coated with a rigid expression. What silly prank was this? Why had she come alone with no trace of Giselle anywhere behind her? 

At once Rochester sprang up on his feet. His previous seat seemed more now like he'd been sitting on a stack of wood the whole time since. With crinkled eyes, he slumped his hands in the holes of his pant pockets and grounded his teeth. She needed to get close and explain herself. Fast! 

Louisa picked up her pace from before, walking toward his table when she saw him fly up from his seat in a flounce of fury. Her heart faltered beneath her chest but she would not let it show. She could do this. Even though now his beautiful face was painted like a groom's who'd just been deserted at the altar by his one true love, she invariably cared less.

She had a plan.

As soon as she drew close enough to the man's table, Rochester chewed the corner of his lips and spat out the words.

''Where is Giselle!?''

Louisa pretended to ignore him, swanking her hips exaggeratedly as her footsteps chimed a rhyming beat with the careless talks on that side. 

She glared at him. His eyes towered with annoyance but she adored the blazing flames building up in those shining dark orbs of his.

Smiling into a grin, she pretended to just notice him whilst assuming the seat on the left.

''Ah, I did not expect to find you here already.'' She remarked with a blush but Rochester was not the slightest bit cut out for this ridiculous behavior.

''We had a deal, Hazel.'' He buttressed his talk through gritted teeth, ''Where. is. Giselle!''

''Oh, Giselle? She should be about anywhere.''

She curled her knuckles about the table, drumming a melody with her fingers tapping lightly on it. She seemed to be playing her cards right but Rochester's rage was about to explode inside of him.

''What do you mean, she could be anywhere?''

Casually, Louisa sprained her slender neck to the side and then she saw him.

''Haha, Simon… '' She cupped her mouth with her hand flaily and then let it drop. ''Look how nice it is getting to see you again.'' Her brisk smile uplifted her cheeks.

''Of course, Ms. Hazel. It is nice to see you too and your dress is the most beautiful in all this place.'' Simon beamed after.

''Oh, stop it now will you?'' Louisa teased him and then giggled lightly. From the corner of her eyes, she could see how Rochester was seething but she chose to carry on her act anyway.

''Ah! Poor things!'' Louisa exclaimed with a pout once she settled her eyes on him; Rochester. ''Why, Sir. Look how the nerves on your neck are about to burst out of there. For shame!''

''Hazel, are you trying me?''

''What do you mean?''

Rochester clicked his tongue in his mouth, trying to settle his nerves.

''I asked you a question, one that demands an actual answer. Where's Giselle? Dammit!''

His fist slammed hard against the table sending the drink bottle and cups jumping off, a short way up and back.

The girl simply rolled her eyes.

The nerve!

''Simon honey.''

''Yes, Ms. Hazel.''

''Can you please get me a drink? I think I just now felt a sore in my throat.''

''Oh, I will. I will.''

What utter rubbish was this!

In a dash, Rochester marched up to her front and pulled her by the arms. He lifted her off her seat.

She resisted him.

''Let me go!'' She demanded. ''What exactly is your problem!?''

''You— you are my freakin problem!'' 

The onlookers watched in awe.

''Who do you think you are to ignore me when I talk? Answer me!''

Louisa cowered in her heart once her eyes met his exasperated glare. He was breathing smoke.

''Let go of me!'' She said, ''You're hurting me.''

Simon turned back on the scene now and begged. ''Please, boss. She's only just a girl.''

''Quiet! Both of you!'' 

Rochester stopped to gawp around the diner. The alarmed look on the many faces he saw got him even more turnt up.

''You, you are coming with me. Brat!''

''Let me go… ''

Rochester ignored her many other pleas, trudging his foot angrily forward. She resisted his grip all the way through to his room in that inn but he showed no compassion for her mood, hurdling her up the stairs in the most unfeeling way until he jammed the door open and pushed her inside the place. 

Louisa flew lightpapered and landed face flat on the faded-looking bedsheet.

''Are you sick or something?'' She shouted from lifting her face up from there. 

''Oh, you want to know how a sick man behaves? Would you like for me to show you?''

''You already did. Psycho!''

Rochester turned his eyes from her. She did not deserve to see him break. 

Whilst Louisa kept at massaging her arm with her other hand, his words accosted her from the side.

''You assured me you would be coming with her. Not only did you waste my precious time but you also nerved me up by ignoring my talk? Who the bloody hell do you think you are?''

''Hazel.'' She said.

''NO. You are some brat.''

''Am I?''

''Didn't you know that?''

''Never did a man say such horrible things to me.''

''Well, it's your goddamn fault and you freaking deserve it!''

The air in that place began to thin along with the heat from the man's claims. True, her plan was to make him beg her once she reacted like that down at the diner, as such she'd never considered the possibility of him burning so hot at her gestures.

She sank further in her seat.

''Now I know why Giselle doesn't want to be with you, Sir. Your behaviour is very animalistic.''

''Is that what's most important to you at this instant?''

Rochester ignored her after. Jaw clenched and muscles tense, he could practically feel his face flush. How did her nonsense behaviour rile him up so much? He settled on his nerves, his chest burned hot. Exhaling deeply, he took off his coat and flung it onto the floor. Seeing her settle so simply on his bed caused his eyes to darken but he wouldn't have himself become like this. Maybe Simon was right and his obsession for this Giselle was slowly driving him mad.

He unbuttoned his undershirt, revealing his wet dripping, broad-chested torso. Louisa could not help drooling in her spot. When he began to roll up his sleeves, her eyes hovered at his ripped arms gleaming with shiny droplets of sweat. She gaped longer at him. His view was causing her mind to fathom such naughty little thoughts. She wanted to taste him and she wanted him bad.

Was he truly oblivious of his actions or he wanted to taunt her on purpose? She wet her lower lips with her tongue and glared at him lustingly.

Rochester did not see her do this as he kept pacing about the front, hands on his goatee, he seemed truly worried about something.

Louisa gulped silently in a bid to recover her thoughts from the lewd journey they'd just embarked on. Sitting out from the bed, her shoulders propped and her chin raised.

''Actually… '' She stalled for a bit just enough to get his attention.

Rochester steered his eyes at her. 

''If what you want to say has nothing to do with Giselle, then by all means, don't! I no longer have the patience for your nonsense.''

''Then why did you bring me here?''

Rochester noticed his eyes skip a blink because she was right. Why had he brought her there, to his bedroom? What for?

''In any case,'' She continued. ''While you figure out your answer, I have something to say. You see, I did inform Giselle about meeting you here around the time we agreed.''

Rochester's brows began to pull slowly apart.

''However, due to a slight shift in her plans, she said to inform you about how she might come a little later than 7. Say, before 8.''

''She will?'' Louisa noticed his voice soften.

''Not any more. Your irresponsible behaviour has caused me to have a rethink. I think I made a big mistake convincing her to be with you.''

''But Hazel, if you'd told me this much earlier, I would not have treated you that way.''

''It doesn't matter and I shall never forgive you for treating me like garbage. I will leave now.''

Abrupt, she bounced up from her seat, determined to head towards the door.

Rochester reached for her.

''Wait, wait, wait, wait… '' He begged, humbly. ''You don't have to be like that.''

''Be like how?'' She looked him down her nose.

''Just sit down for a bit, okay? Let me tell Simon to get you something for your nerves.''

Her eyes sparkled because of his pompously charming behaviour. She could very well play this game forever. As long as 'Giselle' was involved, he seemed easily tamable.

''Hm.'' She sighed, eyed him for a bit before slumping back on the bed.

''I am waiting.''

''Right. I will send him up in a bit.''

In a dash, the man was gone leaving her all to herself in the comforts of his room.

Louisa darted her eyes about. It was a simple room with a simple bed (—big enough to accommodate sinful lovers), a desk in the form of a wardrobe, a granny chair leaning against the wall on one side and a table for official activities(if any).

Louisa poked her eyes about as she ambled on, looking after the tiniest detail. She reached the drawer-type wardrobe and pulled open a compartment of it. What she saw nearly got her blinded for glittering so shiny.

''Holy mother!'' She exclaimed in glee. ''How much more jewellery!'' Her jaw dropped open and she supported it quickly with her hand.

''This merchant is truly rich in every substance!'' 

She lurked further around the area, studying his expensive choice of clothing; shoes and all that.

As she lifted her eyes from that place, her gaze met the open window which portrayed the sky falling down.

By her presumption, the time should be around 7.30. 

She began to panic. 

'What's taking him so long?' She mused.

''I need to leave fast so that Giselle can come in.'' She danced with her shoulders, giddy about the outcome of tonight. Then it hit her.

''That's right!'' She exclaimed with a gleam on her face. ''Who says I have to go and come back as Giselle? I have everything that I need right here with me.'' 

~~~

Simon came in first, ahead of Rochester. He brought a bottle of nice drink and two cups with. Louisa adjusted her pose and watched as Simon poured a handful in each cup.

''There you go, Ms. Hazel.''

Louisa smiled dutifully at the man.

''The boss will be up with you in a minute.''

''Okay. I'll be expecting him.''

With Simon gone, Louisa crossed her legs. Lips pressed into a fine line, she soon curled them into a pretty wry smile.