Kitanna
Chapter 176: TROUBLE MAGNET

Chapter 176: TROUBLE MAGNET

[MUSIC RECOMMENDATION: PANIC ROOM ~ AU/RA]

"I’m not a thief; please stop," Axilla whimpered as she was dragged outside. People who were busy pricing goods now turned their attention to the small commotion.

"Then explain how this got inside your dress, as it has no leg ," the woman who had pronounced Axilla a thief said in a harsh tone.

Axilla closed her eyes, trying to stop tears from escaping her eyes, because it would seem as though she was crying out of guilt. She bit her inner cheeks, "I don’t know, I haven’t even counted the pearls; I was only done with the wild ginsengs." She replied.

"Madam Antonieta, what is going on here?" William rushed to the small gathering, stopping in his tracks when he found Axilla sitting on the floor.

"This young girl you brought here is nothing but a little thief!" The lady addressed as Madam Antonieta remarked, causing the crowd to curse the young girl.

Axilla knelt down, "I am not!"

"Then why were you running?" Madam Antonieta asked, her hands resting on her bosom.

"She was running; that means she was caught?"

"Likes of her always show up during such sales; heaven has finally caught her."

"Please search her properly; I’m also looking for a fine silk."

"Why would a young woman be stealing so shamefully!"

The crowd spat, murmuring loudly as they judged the young girl, not willing to know what transpired or the authenticity of their accusations.

Axilla, who had wanted to defend herself, was shocked when she heard the malicious words people said against her. They didn’t even know her, yet they were cursing her out like this; they didn’t even want to give her the benefit of the doubt. This was just how people were, looking for an easy prey to feast on, whereas they have their ugly sins hanging behind them. Always the first to cast the stone of judgment when they are no better. But this was the world Axilla lived in, and she couldn’t do anything about it than to beg.

"William, believe me. I didn’t do it; I can swear if you want me to." Axilla held her chest, speaking to her last anchor, which was the young man who employed her.

William nodded, "I know; maybe there’s a mix-up somewhere." He knelt down beside Axilla, coming closer to her.

Axilla became a little cautious when the young man leaned forward; it was broad daylight, but she didn’t trust the man.

"Let me help you, Axilla," William whispered only to her hearing.

"Please, please you have to. I don’t know what -" Axilla stopped talking when she noticed William fondle with her hands; she pushed it away.

"What are you doing?" She glared at him, irritated by the touch.

William chuckled, "What else? I’m a merchant, pretty one. I can’t bargain where I’ll lose. Let us both gain something in return; I help you, you give me a good time later. Win-win for all." His warm words disgusted the hell out of Axilla.

"I’d rather be named a thief! Why should I sell myself for something I didn’t do?" The young girl pushed him away.

William sucked his teeth, "Now now, you don’t know what happens to thieves here, do you? Let me enlighten you since I’ve been doing just that; they first strip you, making you walk round the village naked then they mark your face as a reminder that you are a thief, a huge scar for life. Either way, it’s a win for me; I get to see you still, and no man would wish to have anything with you." He grinned, twisting Axilla’s hair.

Before Axilla could think her action through, she had already done it. She spat on his face; she couldn’t stop the bile of disgust that was growing inside her stomach.

"You are the worst! How am I sure it wasn’t you who had planted the pearl on me? To put me in this situation." Axilla asked looking furious.

William used his handkerchief to wipe off the saliva, "I know women like you, and I’ve met them during my journey; you act all stubborn, and there is only one way to tame you. By the time all your will have been broken, you’ll come back to me begging." Cleaning his face a little, William stood up to face the crowd.

"Have she confessed?" Madam Antonieta asked, glaring at the young girl as if she was a plague.

William’s face turned to a sad one, "I thought bringing her here would change her. But old habits die hard; she not only stole the pearl now she offers her body shamelessly to me."

"William!! No, no, I didn’t. He blackmailed me. He put the pearl in my dress. I would never lie." Axilla cried, trying to beg the crowd, but her plea fell on deaf ears.

"I can’t believe I had helped someone as ungrateful as her." William continued with his act, getting a sigh of pity from the crowd.

Madam Antonieta scowled, "I know likes of her, not just a petty thief but a harlot! I will make sure she learns her lesson today," the woman barked, waving her hands for the girl to get stripped.

"Oh God!" Axilla cried; she pushed the hands of the women who were trying to undress her while panic surged in her veins.

"How hard is it to undress one girl! Be fast," Madam Antonieta blared at her girls, while William snickered from behind.

"I didn’t know you enjoy seeing your fellow woman’s body so much, Madam Antonieta." The voice got the woman’s attention, and her face reddened because she knew who it was.

Axilla looked up at the person who had just spoken; it was the young master and standing behind him was Kayla and Lady Hash!. She let out a sigh of relief.

Kayla had been in the crowd when she saw Axilla being dragged out, and she rushed out to find Chief Cortez only to hear that he was in a meeting. She didn’t know how important Axilla was to him, so she had waited for him to finish his meeting before reporting the situation to Chief Cortez.

"It’s Chief Cortez," the crowd murmured, some of the women arranging their dresses to get his attention.

Madam Antonieta cleared her throat, "Chief Cortez, you are in luck. I found a thief in your lair today." The woman raised her shoulders proudly.

Cortez nodded his head, "Then why is an innocent person on the ground while the real thief stands there." His eyes stopped at William, who shook his head as if disappointed by Axilla’s action.

"Huh?" Madam Antonieta blinked.

"Don’t tell me you went deaf already, Madam Antonieta." Cortez remarked, his eyes now trailing to where Axilla was, "Trouble magnet stand." He called the young girl.

Kayla quickly went to help Axilla up, bringing her to stand beside Chief Cortez.

"Ehem, Chief Cortez, you are -" William started.

"I wasn’t done talking," Cortez’s voice turned cold; he took out a record book and threw it up in the air as the crowd scrambled to pick it up and read what was written on it. Including Madam Antonieta. Everyone’s attention now fell on William.

"W--what is it?" William asked, trying to fix his collar because it was beginning to feel choking.

"Yes that’s right, William here has been stealing from me, now trying to start a business of his own with my hardwork. Who is the thief now?" Cortez asked, looking at the crowd, who now changed their judgement and started cursing at William.

Cortez touched Madam Antonieta’s shoulder, "I trust you know the better judgement for a big thief. I won’t want to hear less, I’ll leave this to you." Saying this he stepped away from the crowd, the three women followed him behind.

"Thank you, Young mast-" Axilla didn’t complete her words as Cortez walked past her.

"We should get you cleaned up," Kayla remarked.

Lady Hash who was also walking with them inhaled, "Axilla, if trouble was a person I guess it’s you." The older woman smiled, patting Axilla’s back.

Axilla let out a nervous smile, "I’m happy to see you too Lady Hash." She bowed.

"Mmm, get dressed, we are leaving this evening." Lady Hash announced.

Axilla furrowed her brows, "We? Young master still has a lot of goods to sell." She replied.

Lady Hash chuckled, "Your young master has asked me to make you my apprentice that way I can watch over you properly. Trouble magnet." The elderly woman remarked, borrowing Cortez’s word.

Axilla bit her lips, he was sending her away. She thought, maybe she was causing him a lot of troubles. Axilla nodded at the thought, she look at the passage he disappeared to, and she sighed.

"Come and change your dress Axilla," Kayla called back her attention, leading Axilla to her room.