Chapter Eleven
“That was easier than I thought. Be ready, my driver would pick you up in thirty minutes time. Don’t keep him waiting,” the reply read.
I hated his guts. How dare He? Was he in anyway implying that I was easy to get? He certainly didn’t know what awaited him. There was no need replying to a rude a text like that. Yet, I took caution of his warning not to keep the driver waiting. It was a few minutes to seven, I made a mental note to get ready within the next twenty minutes.
There wasn’t much to do since I had taken bath already. I brought out my makeup kits. This wasn’t a strip club, there would be no need for an intense makeup. I did a light touch on my face, drawing a pink lip gloss along my lips, and packing my hair into a ponytail.
I picked out a simple black dress with low neck and tiny straps behind, a mild heel and a pair of earrings. I was satisfied with the outcome of my effortless makeup. I paced the room for a while, anxiety eating deep into my flesh. What would I say when I get there? What would he do? Maybe it would be easier if I just offered him my body, get the details I needed about him and leave.
A loud horn sounded from outside. I picked up my purse, took one long, last look at the mirror and headed towards the door, to avoid another of that loud horn. What if this plan is stupid anyways? There was only one way to find out and that way led to Antonio Bernoti’s house.
The drive was a silent one, I was in no mood to talk and even if I was, i didn’t like Antonio’s driver enough to want to hold a conversation with him. I kept looking out of the window, hoping to get distracted from the mission at hand.
The large gate at Antonio’s castle flung open as we approached. There had been no horn to alert the gatekeeper, neither was there a gatekeeper, it made me conclude that the gate was an electronic gate. “We’re here,” the driver annouced, bringing the car to a halt.
It was at the tip of my tongue to tell him to take me back from where he had brought me, but I knew I couldn’t. The door of the car was opened by a guard that stood outside. I stepped out admiring the elegant structure that stood in place of his home.
“I have been to Antonio’s house for a party before, but this place looks different,” I spoke to the driver, starring in awe.
“That was probably one of his buildings in town. The boss does not host any kind of party in this castle. It’s the most precious of all his houses.” The driver explained.
I mouthed a silent ‘wow not wanting to show my surprise in the presence of the guards that were scattered over the compounds, each one of them heavily armed.
“This way,” another guard stepped in front, pointing out the road that led to the entrance of the house. I followed behind like a lamb that was being led out to be sacrificed. The moment I waited for was near, my heart thumped loudly in my chest in a way that made me feel dizzy.
“Wait here, the boss would be with you in a jiffy,” the guard announced.
I nodded. The interior of the castle was far better than what I had seen from the outside. The chandelier was bigger than any I had seen in real life, it had the brightest bulbs decorated in the form of little doves that glittered all over the sitting room. There were breath taking paintings that hung on the wall. A large frame, holding the picture of Antonio Bernoti, covered half part of the wall at the left wing of the sitting room.
His deep grey eyes peered down at me from the image, it felt alive, like he was there in the frame, looking at me. His jaw lines stood firm, giving him a no nonsense look. His lips were curved tightly, adding to the grim on his face.
I was lost in the image that I didn’t hear the approaching footsteps of Antonio. I was astound when his deep voice interrupted my thought. Swirling around so quickly, I had almost bumped right into him, I didn’t know he was standing so close. I took two steps backward, trying to control my breath that now came out in gasps.
He moved closer, covering the distance between us. I could feel every liquid in my body turn hot. This wasn’t what I expected, I had taken my time preparing to be strong for this moment, so why was my body acting differently?
“It’s a good thing you changed your mind princess,” he finally spoke.
“My name is Eve,” I corrected him, daring to look into those taunting grey eyes of his.
“As long as you live in my castle, I would call you whatever I please darling,” he was so near that I could smell the frangance of his perfume. It was a nice scent, yet, it was messing with my sense of reasoning.
“I don’t have to live in your castle, do I?” I asked.
“Yes you do. I would be needing your services at every hour of the day. Hence, you have to be in the castle, dear.” He lifted his hands, pushing away a wayward strand of hair from my face and tucking it neatly behind my ear.
The friction of his hand on my skin sent a wave of new feeling through my entire body. A feeling that I couldn’t name. I wanted his hands to linger longer on me, even though I knew it was wrong to think that way. How could one man make me feel so many things at a time. I was here, feeling disgusted at how proudly this man carried himself, at the same time, my body was longing for his closeness in a strange way.
“What kind of services boss?” I asked, drawing the boss in a mocking tone, loud enough for him to hear.
“You would find out,” he turned around, walking towards the spiral staircase that led upstairs. Then stopping swiftly, he whirled back to look at me.
“I would allow you settle in, Jacob would show you around, he would be your personal guard henceforth, he would take you to school when you have lectures and bring you back directly to the castle. For now, he would show you to your room. Welcome home princess,” he turned again, this time ascending the stairs without looking back for one moment.
“I do not need a personal guard!” I screamed after him, frustration had slowly made it way into my voice.
“Hi, you must be Eve,” a voice called from behind me, startling me for the second time.
“Jesus Christ! How do you all walk without a single noise around here? The last thing I need outside this fucking job is a heart attack,” I yelled out at the man standing before me.
“What’s funny?” I glared at him, when in respond to my querry he had replied with a smile.
“You sound funny when you yell with a voice like that,” he answered.
“What?” I pulled my brows together.
“My name is Jacob, I was assigned by the boss to show you around,” he continued, not dented by my glare.
“I do not need a body guard, and I told him that already. I can handle myself,” i bragged.
“I’m working on orders my lady, you have very slim options here,”
“I guess I have to get use to your annoying presence then,”Property belongs to Nôvel(D)r/ama.Org.
“Exactly. This way please, let me show you to your room.” He pointed towards the same staircase Antonio had used.
I knew I had to start my job, the earlier I got the informations I needed, the quicker I could leave this place and return to my normal life. If what I had before now was in any way normal.
“Why do you work for your boss?” I blurted, not being exactly sure how else to start a conversation.
My so called personal guard threw me a puzzled look, as though I had asked something out this world. “Because I love working with him,” he answered.
I batted my lashes disbelievingly at him, it was my turn to look at him with a scoff on my face. He couldn’t be serious right now.
“That’s a lie, isn’t it?”
“Why do you think it is?”
“Cause nobody in their right senses, should enjoy working for someone as mean as your boss,” I rushed out in one breath, as though I had rehearsed for that particular question.
He smiled again, like he had when I yelled at him. Why was it so easy for him to smile?
“You would like him once you get to know him well enough,”
“I would never get to like him!” I swore.
“We would see about that,” he smirked.
“What does that even mean?” I stopped walking.
“It means you do not have so many choices, Eve.” He paused as well.
Now, I didn’t know who was more annoying, my so called personal guard or his devilish boss Antonio Bernoti.