Lnd shot Damien a disdainful nce. “Besides, it was Ms. Jewell''s decision to save Mr. Howell, not yours. Who are you to chime in with your opinion?"


    He let out a derisive snort, a smirk curling on his lips. "You''re just a servant-don''t go getting ideas that you run the ce.”


    “Lnd, don''t think I won''t deck you!" Damien snapped, his expression turning stormy. "I have nothing but respect for Ms. Jewell. Her word is what matters most!" "All right, that''s enough," Calliope interjected, pinching the bridge of her nose in sheer exasperation. "How old are you two? Is this really worth arguing about?"


    She wondered if Ss and Nigel ever had peace and quiet with these two around. If they were this loud together, their employers must both have permanent headaches.


    “Ma''am, just take a look. If it''s something you can fix, then go ahead. If not, don''t bother," Damien said bluntly. "It''s not like it''d be much of a loss to us if he died. Honestly, we''d be rid of a rival."


    "Damien! Do you even hear yourself?" Lnd practically leapt out of his seat, outraged. "What has Mr. Howell ever done to you to deserve you talking about him like he''s already in the ground?”


    “He hasn''t done a thing to me. I just can''t stand either of you, that''s all," Damien replied with a shrug.


    Lnd was so stunned he was momentarily speechless.


    "If you''ve got a problem, then just leave. Why are you even here?" Lnd shot back.


    “Oh please,” Damien drawled. “I just helped you haul his corpse in, and now you want me gone?"


    "Corpse?!" Lnd shrieked. "Mr. Howell''s very much alive! He''s not dead!"


    "Oh really?" Damien scoffed, rubbing his sore arms. "He''s so out of it, he may as well be. And he weighs a ton."


    "I''ll give you five bucks for your trouble!" Lnd huffed, fuming.


    "Five bucks?" Damien gawked at him and shook his head in disbelief. "You''d offer a beggar more than that."


    Calliope couldn''t help but inwardly sigh. She''d always assumed Damien was the quiet type-clearly, she''d been mistaken.


    "All right, that''s it. Both of you, zip it," she said, her voice brooking no argument. “Lnd,e give me a hand. Damien, you can just stand there and watch.”


    For once, Damien fell silent. Lnd darted over to her side.


    Calliope had Lnd pass her the needles, then began the acupuncture treatment on Nigel. Lnd''s face went pale at the sight of the thick needles. "Ms. Jewell, are you sure those needles won''t mess Mr. Howell up even more?"


    Damien, still leaning against the doorframe, snorted. "If you really don''t trust her, then why even ask for help? Go find some other doctor. No faith at all. Ma''am, say don''t bother treating him if anything goes wrong, they''ll just me you."


    "


    Calliope fixed Damien with a withering look until he finally closed his mouth.


    She turned back to Lnd. "If you''re so worried, just do as Damien says and go find a top specialist. But I''ll tell you now-Mr. Howell''s condition is pretty serious. If I act right away, he''ll be fine. If you stall, you could be looking at permanent brain


    damage."


    "Then let''s wait!" Damien piped up, eyes gleaming maliciously. "Isn''t it for the best if


    he ends up brainless?"


    Calliope was stunned into silence.


    Lnd red at Damien and silently mouthed, “You just wait and see!"


    After that, blessed quiet fell. Calliope inserted several acupuncture needles into


    Nigel. Suddenly, Nigel coughed up a mouthful of blood.


    Lnd all but lost his mind. "Oh god,


    please tell me Mr. Howell didn''t just turn into a vegetable! Mr. Howell, please don''t end up


    brain-damaged! If you''re not around to be the brains of the operation, what am I supposed to do?