It's Your Poison

 

“I don’t know why I bother coming here.”

 

“Because I have the best coffee. Ever.”

 

Merlin laughed loudly after Edwin Muirden, resident snark master, replied to her dryly.

 

“You are so not my best friend,” Merlin huffed, but he merely draped his arms lazily around her shoulders from behind her, leaning against her and slightly putting some of his weight on his arms.

 

He mock-affectionately rubbed his cheek against hers in retaliation.

 

“Lies,” he huffed. “You know you love me. To prove it, you will say it once I hand you this delectable lemon meringue that I saved just for you.”

 

“I love you,” she said immediately, leaning away from him and aiming for the plate that he’d set aside on a table behind him.

 

He rolled his eyes and grabbed the plate himself, handing it to her. She eagerly dug in, accepting his casual embrace again as she did so. Just in the middle of her dessert, the phone rang and she stiffened up at the same time as Edwin squeezed her tightly. She reached for her phone at the same time as Edwin snatched it away and held it from her.

 

“Ignore him,” he practically growled. “Tell the asshole you didn’t answer because I kept your phone or whatever. But I don’t want to hear his voice and I don’t want to hear you talking with him when you’re with me.”

 

Merlin smiled sadly at him before sighing, her hand retracting from its reach. He tossed the phone back to her before he carelessly sprawled into the seat next to her, closing his eyes.

 

“Need a ride to that internship thing?” he mumbled.

 

“No, it’s alright. I can take the bus from here,” she reassured him.

 

“Bah. Shut up. I’ll take you,” he grumbled.

 

She rolled her eyes. “I don’t know why I even bother. You always have your mind made up. Why do you bother even asking when you’re not going to listen to the answer?”

 

“Courtesy. Now get. I’ll drive you over to it now,” he abruptly stood up and stretched, moving over to the counter and swiping his keys off of it. “Place’s not opened until later, so I’m good –don’t worry about it.”

 

“Ah, coffee first,” Merlin smiled apologetically, playfully trotting over to the machines and brewing a quick batch.

 

“I can’t believe you get coffee for your boss,” Edwin snorted. “I thought that kind of shit only happens in movies. Secretaries don’t really get their bosses coffee in real life, do they? How’d the hell you’d land that position anyways?”

 

She ignored his jab at the coffee thing. “I don’t know,” she said honestly, referring to getting the position. “I just came in on the first day and he’d told me to do a list of things, telling me I was going to practically be his secretary slash personal assistant.”

 

“And it’s Uther Pendragon’s secretary. Are you getting paid a lot? Wanna be my sugar momma?”

 

“Okay, Ed, I’m going to kill you now, and hide your body.”

 

“Don’t call me that,” he snapped at her, scowling.

 

She smirked. “But, Edwin, I thought you said you didn’t care so long as it was me?”

 

“I was drunk,” he sniffed haughtily, and she couldn’t help laughing at him.

 

“Hurry it or you’ll be late,” he called out to her from the entrance of the coffee house he owned.

 

She hurriedly put the cover on the coffee cup and rushed to him, snatching up her bag along the way.

 

Therefore, 15 minutes later, Uther saw his interned secretary come in to work, putting her bag next to her desk and then walking over to his door. She knocked and he bid her enter, and she walked through with her usual bright smile and his coffee in hand.

 

This had become the usual since she started working three months ago. Every day, after school, she would come in with coffee –and she’d started that after the first day she’d started to work for him. At first, he thought she was trying to kiss up to him or something, but quickly realized –after just days of her just smiling and going on about her work –that she’d watched too many movies. While it wasn’t uncommon for a secretary/personal assistant to do so and many employers did ask them to do it, Uther had always settled for the coffee from his home in the mornings, and coffee in the canteen later on, too busy and focused on work to care much about where he got his coffee; he always forgot to ask his previous secretaries to get one for him also.

 

But he really did quite like the coffee she brought in, though had yet to find a way to ask her where she got it from without feeling uncomfortable about it.

 

Also, from the three months of her there, he’d actually be really impressed with her performance. Initially, after his last secretary, the desk had been cleaned and empty of anything. He hadn’t managed to note it the first time about the post-its and everything, but he’d thought on it later on and had found out that she’d actually gone out to the other departments and asked for the supplies. The things he’d wanted sorted by subject matter was sorted in that matter, and even further sorted by alphabetical order and further by chronology, into those folders he’d seen last time but hadn’t bothered asking about. The post-its were used to make note of things, and more so of the things needed (especially what he needed done or wanted her to do) to be done, crumpled up when it was finished.

 

She not only typed up his things quickly, but also managed to look over it for errors, even correcting grammar he’d rushed through, or word it even better than he had (especially if he’d been rushing or it had been a long day and he just wanted it done with ). Her fact-checking was meticulous and she had yet to be late, even when it was the weekend and she had to come in the morning.

 

The most impressive thing, helped expressed by the post-its, folders, and notepads, was that she was doing all this work without the technology most PA’s were accustomed to nowadays, and going it the old-fashioned way.

 

“Hello, Mr. Pendragon. Good morning,” she chirped up cheerily.

 

He nodded at her, even as he made a mark on the paper he was currently working on.

 

“Good morning, Merlin,” he’d caved after a week of formalities (what with his own kids continuously referring to her as ‘Merlin’ and for years of it already, he’d always referred to her as that in his head, even without having met her). Besides, she responded better to it and it was what she preferred –so much so that it was what everyone referred to her as, and had practically replaced her first name.

 

And it didn’t help that it was much easier to get out than having to call her ‘Ms. Amber’ all the time, he admitted the laziness.

 

On the other hand, her sense of propriety and decorum was lasting much longer than his had.

 

“Thank you,” he thanked her quietly, accepting the coffee cup. Before she left, he stopped her quickly. “Wait a second, Merlin. I have something for you.”

 

She turned back to him in surprise, becoming more so when he handed her a Blackberry cell phone and iPad.

 

“I know you use your regular cell phone as an alarm for the reminders you keep note of for me, while writing the what it is on your wrist with a pen.” She blushed at that, but he ignored it and went on. “This is your company phone and to be used for business only. You may organize and program my schedule and reminders in it instead. The iPad is for doing business outside, when you accompany to me meetings, personal tasks, etc. Notes are easier taken on it.

 

“You may be a temp and intern, but I see no reason why you shouldn’t still be able to enjoy the benefits of an actual employee in the company. Now, an email should have been sent to you with the details of what you need to do for the day. I will see you later.”

 

She thanked him profusely, bowed several times as she walked backwards out, and then turned and hurried out his door while closing it behind her. He could call it a very productive morning and good start to a day.

 

When he went to lunch later, he walked out the door and saw her still working diligently, the new file cabinet he’d recently brought in for her convenience opened and was currently being ruffled through.

 

“It’s lunch time, Merlin. You could take a break, if you’d like,” he spoke up suddenly, startling her from her intense concentration from her work.

 

She hesitated and he started speaking again to cut her off.

 

“Why don’t you accompany me?”

 

Though she might’ve not thought she had a choice, she did. But it worked to his advantage that she seemed to be thinking in that way, if only so that he could get her away from work for breaks every once awhile. She wasn’t a workaholic like him, but she certainly was one of those types who liked to finish everything all at once and didn’t like leaving anything unfinished.

 

“Have you ever had schwarma before?” he asked once she was by his side. “It’s not bad. Not my favorite of foods, but good. We’ll be going to have some today.”

 

They were halfway through their meal when another customer came through the door, and Uther saw Merlin look up curiously. Her reaction to the newcomer was most curiously, eyes growing wide and her slender body stiffening up. He turned to look himself and was surprised to see only Cenred Essetir, who looked to have stopped in surprise himself.

 

The man quickly schooled his face and when he glanced at Merlin, she only seemed uncomfortable.

 

“Pendragon,” Cenred greeted him jovially, smiling coolly.

 

“Essetir,” he nodded in acknowledgement, giving no other reaction.

 

“Lunch time, is it?” Cenred continued.

 

Uther gave an equally as cool smile. “Yes, though it’s almost over. Forgive my manners. This is Marilyn Amber, new intern secretary. She goes to school with my children and her co-op sent her to me.”

 

“I see. She must be good if you’re treating her out. Shame St. Albion’s didn’t send her my way –I would have been extremely glad to have had her on staff,” Cenred’s smile widened slightly.

 

Uther wasn’t sure if he was imagining all of these miniscule details, but he felt important to note them all the same.

 

Abruptly, Merlin stood up, jolting the table a bit and disturbing the things on it. She winced at the pain she received, but quickly covered with a nervous smile.

 

“Um, I’m sorry. I should be getting back to work. There are a lot of things left to do and I’m a bit behind. I’ll be fine getting back by myself, Mr. Pendragon. Thank you for lunch,” she gave him a quick smile before turning to Cenred. “It was nice meeting you, Cenred.”

 

“Goodbye then, Merlin,” Cenred murmured.

 

Uther was quick to remember that he’d never said Cenred’s first name, nor had he ever mentioned Merlin’s preferred name.

 

His young secretary hurriedly rushed out, and Uther was left with Cenred. The man nodded at him, left to order to go, and Uther just thought to himself. When Cenred had left, he had Merlin’s food packed up, threw away what little he had left over, and quietly trekked back to his office. Upon reaching it, instead of seeing Merlin at work as she’d said left to do, he saw her hunched over herself, arms wrapped around her torso tightly.

 

“Merlin?”

 

Her shot up quickly to look at him, her wide eyes present before she forced herself to smile and look normal.

 

“Ah, Mr. Pendragon, you’re back.”

 

“Are you alright?”

 

Her smile faltered, but then returned stronger.

 

“Yes, sir. It might’ve been something I ate from the restaurant,” she shrugged. “I’ll be fine.”

 

He frowned inwardly. It had looked more like a panic attack than any upset stomach.

 

“Well then, I suppose I should throw this away instead,” he lifted up her leftovers.

 

“Oh no, it’s okay!” she stood up. “It was…a drink. What I was drinking must’ve been what upset my stomach. The food should be fine.”

 

Quietly and unquestioningly, he held out the food to her. Her fingers were almost unnoticeably trembling, but Uther had sharp eyes and had caught the trembles just fine.

 

“Did you know Essetir in some way?” he asked just as their hands touched and their eyes connected.

 

Her fingers jerked against his, but it was so quick that he could almost think he’d imagined it if it weren’t for the previous things he’d noticed.

 

“No, sir. This is the first time I’ve met Mr. Essetir,” she was speaking too softly and her eyes had moved away from his as she’d said.

 

This was the first time she’d ever lied to him, and the handful of lies sent his way that day made him very suspicious.

 

“I see. Get back to work then.”

 

He went into his office and was determined to find out what was the actual connection between Cenred Essetir and Merlin Amber truly was, and what were the two to each other.

 

~*~*~

 

Once again, Merlin worked until it was time for him to leave and he had to basically kick her out. Instead of offering her to a ride to her home, he offered something else.

 

“Would you like to sleepover my home?” he asked, voice still quiet as it had been since that odd little meeting between Cenred and Merlin. He continued before it could be construed oddly by her. “Morgana has been complaining that I keep you too long and you have no time to spend with her. Arthur just gives me hard glares and the silent treatment.”

 

Merlin’s lips quirked up. “Sorry about that. I should apologize to them too; I hadn’t meant to not pay attention to them. I’ve just been so busy.”

 

Uther gave a small smile. “Children. Besides, I think you spoil them and give into Morgana and Arthur too much.”

 

Merlin just gave a shrug and was about to answer him when her phone rang. Her regular phone.

 

She looked down at it, sitting innocently on her desk, while he looked at her after a glance at it.

 

“Don’t answer,” though he wasn’t quite sure why he’d said that.

 

She looked at him in alarm, but he just looked steadily back at her. It rang again and she snatched it up and walked away from him, turning her back to him as she answered.

 

“Hello? No, no, I was across the room. Sorry I took so long. No. I promise. I’ll be home soon. Earlier? No, I’m sorry about then too. Edwin was keeping me busy and I couldn’t get to my phone. I had to rush to work straight after so I could call you back. I’m sorry. I’m sorry. I’ll message you next time. No, I’ll be home soon.  I swear. Don’t be upset. I’ll be there…”

 

The words were floating by and Uther listened with his jaw clenching the more he listened to the one-sided conversation. When she finished, she clicked the ‘end’ button and didn’t face him.

 

“How long will he be there?” he threw out there, taking the guess that he felt he knew was true.

 

“…An hour or so. He has an important meeting tomorrow,” she whispered.

 

“Call me when he’s gone. I’ll pick you up and bring you over. It’s the weekend, and the kids will be looking forward to it, no matter how late. I’ll just…I’ll just go pick up a late night chocolate cream pie in the meantime.”

 

She let out a shuddering breath before facing him with a shaky smile and tiny tears in her eyes that he ignored for her sake. Then they were walking side by side to his car, where he reluctantly drove her to her home. He glanced around it, again wary and distrustful, but then caught sight of the midnight blue Ferrari who owner he disliked, even more so now.

 

He remembered it vaguely from the first time he’d dropped her off here, and should have known.

 

“Okay…thanks, Mr. Pendragon. I’ll see you later,” she sent another shaky smile at him, before getting out of his car with wobbly legs.

 

He watched her until she went all the way to the entrance of the dingy apartment complex.

 

When he went to get the pie as promised, it hadn’t really taken all that long, so he actually went back to her place and parked somewhere discreetly. And still, an hour later and it seemed he was still there. Half an hour after that, finally, Cenred Essetir appeared, walking casually out of the place like he owned it (Uther wouldn’t be surprised). The slightly younger businessman went over to his car, and carelessly drove away.

 

He waited five minutes and almost called, when she did it herself.

 

“Hello?” he kept his tone neutral.

 

“He’s…he’s gone.”

 

“Okay, I’m coming in.”

 

“Wait, what –”

 

But he’d already hung up and was striding towards the apartment complex entrance rapidly. He’d made it to her apartment in no time, ignoring the dirty, unkempt halls with its suspicious marks and many cracks. With a single knock, the door was opened to admit his person, with the owner of the place standing breathlessly on the other side, her common wide-eyed expression on her face.

 

She let him in and he respectfully ignored the negligee she was wearing in favor of observing her home. It was bare, but kind of homey…while still feeling a bit lonely. There were a collection of pictures around, most of them with his children. There were a few she had taken with a younger man, much older than her but younger than himself.

 

There was a centerpiece picture, clearly meant to be a focus, of herself and with Cenred.

 

The man was smiling coolly at the camera, arm wrapped possessively around her as he was dressed in his usual black business attire. She was wearing a pretty dress, but she wasn’t looking at the camera but slightly to the side, face obviously miserable.

 

“You should pack a bag. You can sleepover tomorrow as well, and go to school with Arthur and Morgana the next day. Tomorrow, I’m taking a day off therefore you would be required to do so also,” he said nonchalantly.

 

He didn’t face her and he didn’t hear anything from her for a moment, until he finally heard her move and start to rustle around the place. And then they were going to his car, walking side by side silently.

 

“What is he to you?” he asked tiredly.

 

“My boyfriend,” she muttered.

 

“…Are you lying to me?”

 

“…Yes.”

 

And he just sighed and opened her car door, helping her inside.

 

He was in the middle of driving to his home, halfway there, when he noticed her shivering.

 

“You should’ve changed. It’s cold and I doubt my kids will take kindly or understand you wearing…what you are. I’ll probably take the blame for it,” he joked lightly, bring surprise to her face.

 

She gave a sheepish smile. “Sorry, I kind of forgot. I was a little in a hurry to leave…”

 

She turned around and grabbed her bag, rummaging around until she found pajamas. She wiggled around in her seat, slipping on her pants first, and then she started thoughtless removing her negligee to reveal her bare torso, slipping her petit arms thought the sleeves and shrugging it on. He politely kept his eyes on the road.

 

When she was done, he glanced at her and felt his lips involuntary move into a small grin. She looked incredibly adorable dwarfed in her slightly oversized Snoopy pajamas, hair cutely already looked styled as bed-hair (shagged-hair, if he was being honest with himself).

 

It brought to mind the first thought he’d reflexively thought of her, when he’d first caught sight of Merlin on the first day they’d met.

 

She was rather pretty.

 

And here Uther thought he’d forcefully pushed that thought away, to never be thought of again…