After the mediocre meeting, Midas, Jules and Skye were the only 3 left in the room as everyone else had disappeared, not wanting to be anywhere near their boss for the time being.

"Well, that could've been worse... right bossman?" Skye mutters, trying to look on the positive side of things, if there even was one.

"Not really the best way to lighten the situation Skye, but props for trying." Jules points out to her.

Midas, however, was the complete opposite of Skye's positive attitude:

The pale man's face looked so distraught to the point where the bags under his eyes were becoming more and more noticeable.

"Why would they treat her any different from you Skye?" He asks himself.

"Huh?"

"They treat you with the up most respect, then your friend comes along, and this happens!" He yells, clenching his shaking fists as gold crawls up his arms once again.

"Now now Midas, calm down! We don't need a repeat of earlier." Jules sits down beside her brother, rubbing his back gently, trying to soothe his temper.

"That's right bossman, take deep breaths in and out." Skye encourages him.

And for once, Midas actually listens.

He takes a few deep breaths, in and out, whilst Jules rubs his back gently. After a few minutes, the gold dies down as his temper does too.

"Ok, I'm going to go and talk to her. See how she's doing." Midas sighs, getting up and walking towards the door.

"Hang on, bossman, should we go with you?" Skye asks, putting a hand on his shoulder.

"I would let you Skye, but this is a matter I must deal with alone. But if it makes you feel better, you can both stand outside the door and listen." He responds, picking up the book and taking Skye's hand off his shoulder.

He then opens the door and walks out, leaving it open for Jules and Skye.

*****************************************

Meanwhile...

Sophie, having retreated to her quarters, was still emotionally distraught after the meeting she ran away from. Currently, she was cowering under her bedsheets, tears streaming down her face. And then, a soft knock can be heard from the other side of the door.

"Sophie? Are you in here?"

Midas hears nothing but a sniffle in reply, but it's enough to let him know that the girl was not doing well. Finding the door still unlocked, he lets himself in and closes it, and sits down beside her in a chair, pulling it closer.

"Now, listen closely. I'm not angry with you at all if that's what you're afraid of." Midas sighs, grabbing the box of tissues on the bedside table. "I just want an honest answer about this. So, can you please come from under your bedsheets so you can tell me to my face?' He asks calmly.

Sure enough, Sophie eventually pokes her head from under her covers and sits up. Her eyes are pretty red from her crying.

"That's better. Now, all I'd like to know is where you found this and if you've read anything from it or not." Midas requests, placing the book on her lap as he passes her a tissue.

"When Skye passed me two of the folders we had to get to you, one of them had this stuffed inside." She explains, wiping her eyes. "I assumed it was your diary or something like that, so that's why I wanted to talk to you before the meeting..."

"And I should've listened to you, kid." Midas sighs, putting a hand over his face, disappointed in himself. "I'm so sorry for what happened back in there..."

"And since you're wondering, no, I didn't read anything that might be inside it. I may find you cool, but I'd never invade your privacy." Sophie adds, passing the diary back to him.

*****************************************

Did she just call me...cool? No-one's ever said something like that to me before. Or if they have, it's been a very long time since.

"I'm sorry Midas. I ruined everything..." She cries, covering her face again.

"Hey, come along now. You never ruined anything. Those agents of mine just need to learn some manners." I tell her, taking her hands away from her face. "Come now, where's that smile of yours?"

Almost immediately, she lets out a chuckle and a smile creeps its way onto her face.

"That's better, isn't it?"

Once again she wraps her arms around me, hugging me tight, and this time, I don't resist. Although, it's a bit too tight to my liking.

"Ok kid, bit too tight. You can let go now, please?" I ask nicely.

"Oh, sorry Midas."

She loosens her grip on me, but has her head leaning on my arm.

"Don't worry. I promise to you that for as long as you stay here by my side, I won't let Shadow's authority lay a single finger on you." He promises her.

"Because if they do... they'll be answering to me." His one golden eye glows brighter, shimmering in the darkness. He really means it when he says Shadow won't be laying a finger on her.

*****************************************

"Damn, he really means it when he says that." Jules mutters, listening through the door with Skye.

"Yep, M means business now." Skye adds.

They take their ears away from the door and look at each other.

"Hey Skye, you ever get the feeling that Midas might... y'know..." Jules asks, tilting her head slightly.

"What? No! Jules, that's just weird!" Skye shouts, getting the wrong idea.

"No no, not like that! Good lord, no." Jules sighs. "I mean, have you noticed Midas starting to get a little... protective over your little friend in there?"

"Oh! Well, he seems to care about her... maybe more than he lets us notice. I guess he just really wants her to be safe." Skye summaries.

"In my opinion, don't get me wrong, he acts like as if she was his kid." Jules admits, a smile on her face.

Skye's face immediately lights up with a big grin.

"That's the sweetest thing I've ever heard!! I didn't even think about that myself!"

"I know right? He's such a dad towards her." The engineer whispers to the adventurer.

"C'mon, let's go before M starts to hear us!"

The 2 girls run off, knowing if they stay longer, Midas may hear them.