***Kai***
...
I follow the maid towards the end of the hall where my room is.
It's probably smaller than the rooms in this mansion, but it's a lot bigger than my room back at the condo.
My suitcases are already there by the bed, waiting for me to unpack.
There's a maid dress in black and white apron lying on the bed and I reach to pick it up.
So I guess I'll be working as his maid.
I know rich people has maids, but I'd never expected them to dress in the actual maid costumes!
Kinky bastard...
"Your shift begins at 6 am everyday and ends at 11 pm. You get two hours break for lunch. Anything else, you can find other maids or butlers in this house and they will help you. Just don't disturb the young master."
"Is he always.. intimidating?"
The young maid shakes her head. "No. Well.. he had always been a troubled teen. He got into fights. He was uncontrollable. He was lost ever since his mother died. But it all changed when he fell in love with a girl. And he changed for her."
"Really? I don't see how he changed for the better. He still looks like a psychopath to me."
The maid looks at me with a shocked expression.
"Don't say that! Have pity on the Young Master. His bride ditched him on the wedding altar and ran off with another man. You can see why he's destructive. He's like a time bomb, just waiting to explode."
I wince. "I'm sorry to hear that."
And I've no doubt when he explode, he will destroy everything around him.
I better make sure to avoid him as much as I can...
I have enough shit to deal with. I dont need to deal with a grieving groom who lost his bride.
Although I feel kind of sorry for him. Which shitty person would ditch someone on the wedding day?
"Then dont badmouth him." The maid says haughtily before she leaves the room.
Jeez, does she have a crush on him or something?
I change into the maid dress before heading out to work.
I spend the entire day vacuuming the many rooms and polish windows.
It's midnight by the time I stagger back into my room.
I sink to the floor as exhaustion takes over me.
Cleaning is such a hard work especially in this large empty mansion.
What's the point of living in a big place where there's no one occupying these rooms?
The mansion is cold and without a shred of warmth.
And silent with only the echo of footsteps from the staff.
How can anyone live in such a cold place?
No wonder his heart is made of ice.
My mother used to say the home shapes the heart. A warm home means a warm heart.
There's nothing warm about this place.
As I begin to untie the sash around my waist, the phone in my room rings.
I look at it confused before I reach out to answer it.
"Too slow. I told you when I call, you fucking fly." Charles growls at the end of the line.
"Sorry, I just got back from my duties."
"No excuses. Come to my room now."
"But it's midnight--"
"I dont give a shit. You come when I command you so, even if this world is falling apart, you still have to come."
"What do you want with me?"
"You have 60 seconds." Click.
I look at the phone in disbelief. Did he just... hang up on me? How rude!
If I'm not indebted to him, I wouldn't let him talk to me that way.
He may be older, but I can kick his ass just fine.
Opening my door, I run to his suite.
I reach his suite with my pulse in my throat. What does he want from me?
With a shaky hand, I enter his room.
I see him sitting on a chair in his dressing gown.
His dressing gown is slightly exposed, and I can see his sculpted chest.
I trace his abs with my eyes, appreciating the lean muscles.
His elbow is on the armrest, his eyes watching me.
His other hand is holding a glass of Scotch, and I hope he's not drunk.
The room is dark, apart from the silver rays of moonlight infiltrating through the large windows.
His face is casted in shadow. I cant see his expression other than the bright green eyes glowing in this darkness.
The intensity of his gaze stops me short. My body feels feverish and I feel like he's undressing me naked with his eyes alone.
Those eyes smoulders me and my clothes suddenly feels too tight. Too hot to breathe.
Whats with this guy? Everytime I see him, I feel like I'm becoming undone.
I dont even recognize myself. I feel like prey.
"Come closer", he says.
I swallow hard and walk slowly towards him.
This enclosed space... it's too dangerous to be with him alone.
Yet my feet moves further, as if they have a will of its own.
"Closer."
I walk until I'm in front of him. My hands are in fists to stop them from trembling.
I will not look weak in front of him.
"Strip."
That one word jolts my body hard, as if I've been hit by a lightning.
"Dont make me repeat myself. You won't like consequences," he says when I stand there frozen.
"No," I whisper. "No," I say it louder.
"If-if you dont need me for anything else, I'll be going. It's late."
I turn to leave but a large hand suddenly grips my wrist hard.
I stumble and would've fallen on the floor but he stands and I smack right on his naked chest.
He pulls me close until our faces are an inch apart.
I see those angry trained on me and his mouth shaped in a cruel line.
"You're mine. Dont ever think for one second that you dont belong to me. I shall do whatever I please because until you pay back your debt, I. Own. You."
He drags me by my arm before throwing me on his king size bed.
My head slams on the mattress before his tall body looms above me.
My eyes widens and my heart leaps in terror.
I'm in a very bad position.
His hands are rough on me and I realize my captor is large as he fills my entire world with his body alone.
My exposed skin are immediately cold.
"Don't." My voice comes out barely a whisper.
This moment, I realize how strong men are.
And no matter how much I train myself, I am still weak.
"Please," I can't fight him no matter how much I try. My fists are weak on him.
He's going to deflower me... he's going to break me.
And I can't stop him.
I close my eyes tightly and weep. I don't want to see what he does to me.
I haven't even been kissed yet.
Tears streams down my face. I wish I can empty my soul until this body is nothing but a broken shell.
I conjure up memories in my mind to shut down my reality.
I see my brother in my head, his face sick.
He has tubes going inside him and he's breathing through a mask now.
(I can do this...)
But I dont know if I'll ever be the same person again.
Will I still like myself afterwards? I'm already standing on the edge. I think I would go truly insane if I fall.
But maybe insanity doesn't sound so bad.
Maybe going crazy can help me become numb. I dont have to feel a thing.
And that itself is a blessing.
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
Those words brings me back from my memories.
My eyes open and I see Charles repeating the same words over and over.
"Sorry, I'm sorry."
There's a stricken look in his eyes and they hold remorse and guilt.
He gently brushes my tears with his fingers.
"I'm sorry, Kai."
Tears well up in my eyes again when I hear him say my name.
That's the first time he calls my name...
He gathers me in his arms, lays me on the pillow before pulling the duvet to cover me.
His touch is gentle as he wraps his arm around my waist.
I sob into the pillow, my ugly cries fills this empty room.
Charles doesn't say anything.
He simply lies down with me as if protecting me.
I want to scream.
I dont understand him.
He hurts me, then tries to soothe me.
He's cruel, then he's kind.
He's my tormentor and my solace. He's dark and light.
He saves my brother.
A devil with remorse.
I know he will undoubtedly hurt me again but in this moment, I allow myself to be in his arms.
Because right now, I just need someone to hold me.
To tell me that everything is okay, even when the world is falling apart.
I want to stay away from reality for a little while.
This moment, I lie to myself. That everything is okay.
His large arm is around me protectively and I wonder in the midst of tears, why he makes me feel safe.
How is it possible?