Chapter 6

#Painful_realization

_Vicky_

My hand still stung from the slap. My future stung worse.

I sat there on the cold floor for a while and wept quietly. I felt so frustrated over everything that had happened recently, and I just wanted to disappear. Michael has done nothing but make everything worse. I can’t even grieve my friend properly or work. I cannot function because this man has kept my mind preoccupied with one problem or another in the past twenty-four hours.

I felt trapped. I was tired and exhausted. I don’t know if I have the strength to fight him anymore.

I know he will probably return with Selena and let her move in with us, and there is nothing I can do about it. That lady already hates me, and I hate her right back, so living together under the same roof is suicide.

I haven’t worked, spoken to my manager, or checked my work mail since my friend died. I’ve been off the grid, and I’ve notified all the people I work with to give me some time to cool off, but I know a shit pile of work is already waiting for me.

I sat on the ground for about thirty minutes. Gracie had fallen asleep on the bed, so I dragged myself to the bed and fell asleep almost immediately.

I didn’t know the number of hours I took to rest or if I slept for a long time, but when I woke up, Gracie was still fast asleep, and everywhere looked very dark from the window. It’s probably nighttime. I felt very hungry, and I wanted to eat something, and I know the child has probably slept the entire day without having anything to eat.

I didn’t even try to check the door because I know it’s probably still locked and Michael has not returned. I went straight to the shower and took my time to bathe, making sure I washed off every bit of tiredness I had in my body. I felt refreshed and energized after taking my bath. When I came out and dressed, Gracie was already up, and she was crying and kicking her feet angrily on the bed.

“Bottle…”

She cried, pointing her index finger at her lips. I knew the little girl was already hungry.

I sighed.

Poor child.

I took my phone and opened it. I had fifteen missed calls from Cole. Shit, he probably came and couldn’t reach me. The gatekeeper would not let him in. I know Michael would make sure that doesn’t happen.

I felt kind of bad for Cole. I’ve been using him and standing him up ever since Michael showed up.

I checked my emails. I had one from my manager reminding me of the appointment I had with one of the companies interested in working with me. I quickly replied, telling her I can’t attend the meeting myself, that she should do that on my behalf. I hardly ever attend such meetings in person because I’ve been trying so hard to protect my identity in this industry.

I turned off my phone and kept it on the counter, then I walked towards the door.

It’s impossible to pick this type of lock, plus I had no experience with such things. The little girl was already crying, and I felt helpless.

I grabbed the knob and turned it, trying to see if it would be easy to try and pick the lock or even break the door down, and surprisingly, the door opened. I gasped lightly. When did Michael come back and unlock this door? Because I can swear that the bastard made sure to lock the door before leaving.

I felt relieved. At least he unlocked the door. He knows the little girl will starve if he doesn’t. I took Gracie and left the room, trying to coax her into keeping quiet. When I got downstairs, the atmosphere looked very quiet yet different. The dining area was set already. I stopped in my tracks and looked at the well-arranged table filled with food and sighed. What is going on?

Almost immediately, an elderly lady came into the living room carrying a tray of fruits in her hands.

“Good evening, ma’am.”

She greeted with a smile and bowed the moment she saw me.

“Hi.”

I returned a nervous greeting.

She proceeded to the dining area and dropped the tray of food, then walked back to where I was.

“I’m the new housekeeper. I cook and I also clean. I’m responsible for the house, and I will do my best to make sure things are in order.”

She explained after seeing the confused look on my face.

“Master Kane brought me in two hours ago. He said the two of you were taking a nap and not to disturb your sleep. Dinner is ready. You can go ahead and eat. I’ve already prepared the young lady’s formula. Let me take her. I’ll give her a bath and bring her back so I can feed her.”

The woman sounded so polite.

I somehow felt relief that there was someone around to help me out. I don’t appreciate a crowded home, but one person would not make any huge difference.

“Where is Michael?”

I asked the woman.

“He is in his room.”

She replied with a smile and tried to carry Gracie. The little girl pouted and hugged me tight.

I chuckled.

“She’s very hungry. Let me feed her first. Then we can give her a bath afterwards so she can sleep.”

I said. The woman smiled and nodded.

I turned and walked towards the dining area but stopped halfway.

“What is your name, ma’am?”

I asked.

“My name is Helen, Miss. Call me Helen.”

She replied with a smile.

“I’m Victoria.”

I returned the smile.

The table was full of all kinds of delicious-looking food that made me salivate. I haven’t had a proper meal in a while, and my appetite was just starting to return.

I asked Helen for the milk and fed it to Gracie first, making sure she was full before coaxing the little girl to go with Helen.

Afterwards, I dished out some steak for myself and proceeded to eat quietly. For a moment, I forgot all my pain and worries. I just ate. The food tasted nice, and I didn’t want to feel hungry anymore. I needed my energy to come back.

“You seem to be having the time of your life digging into that steak. I hope you left some for me.”

His voice came from behind. It sounded stuffy yet calm.

But I know well enough not to be deceived by the calmness in his voice. That is the worst thing a person can do.

He walked towards the other side of the table and pulled out a seat. He made sure to sit directly opposite me so we were facing each other. I didn’t like it.

He took some of the steak for himself, and all this while, I didn’t spare him any glance. I pretended as if I was the only person in the room.

I still felt mad. Why would he lock me up in a room? Who does he think he is?

“You suck at pretending, you know that.”

He said when he saw that I was not paying him any attention.

“What do you want from me? I wouldn’t want to offend you so you don’t lock me up in a dungeon this time around.”

I replied bitterly without looking up, munching noisily on my steak.

“That was for your own good. You cannot leave the house with Gracie. It’s too dangerous, and I won’t allow that.”

He said.

I threw my fork on the table in frustration and finally looked up.

“What are you trying to prove right now? I’m not your prisoner, and you know that. You can’t dictate where I go and who I talk to.”

I snapped.

Michael dropped his fork as well, clasping his hands together on the table as he stared back at me.

“Do you think I care?”

He asked.

“Here is how this is going to work, Vicky. For the remainder of this one month that you and I are going to have to spend together, you don’t date. I think you thought I was joking when I said that yesterday, so I’m going to say it again with all seriousness. You don’t date, you don’t leave, hell, you don’t breathe without my permission!”

He roared. His voice bounced across the empty house, off all four corners of the walls.

I was terrified. He stared daggers at me, as if threatening me with something worse than death.

“Of course I’m going to allow you your freedom. I’m not a monster.”

He suddenly laughed and relaxed his gaze.

“You can leave the house from eight am, but make sure you are back by five pm. And you must leave with a guard and a driver. It’s not safe. You also don’t leave with Gracie. Anytime you step out, she stays back with Helen.”

He stated his rules.

I scoffed. I could feel a tear slip out of my eye, but I didn’t care. I didn’t care that he could see my weakness or that I felt violated and hurt by how he is treating me.

And he didn’t seem to care as well. His face still remained stoic.

He stared at me for a couple of seconds, picked up his fork, and resumed digging into his steak.

My blood boiled. I felt so pathetic that I couldn’t do anything to put him in his place.

“Where’s Selena? I don’t see her anywhere. Did you coax her with some candy or what?”

I asked as I sank back into my chair, staring daggers at him as he ate his food quietly.

He didn’t give me a reply, and I didn’t stop staring daggers at him either.

My appetite was gone. He already ruined it.

He took his time and ate quietly without sparing me any attention. After he was done, he dropped his cutlery, picked up a glass, and poured himself some water.

“You don’t like Selena. I won’t force you to live with her. She’s just overreacting for no reason. I already talked things over with her. I’ll come here straight from work every day to check on you and Gracie in case the supervisor comes around, but I won’t spend the night here. It’s not fair to her.”

He explained and brought the glass of water to his lips.

I rolled my eyes. I felt kind of pained, and I don’t know why.

“Are you just realizing you’ve not been fair to her?”

I mumbled, giving him a distasteful look.

He smiled mockingly.

“Would you rather I bring her here?”

He asked and leaned forward with a teasing gaze.

“Suit yourself.”

I snapped and stood up, picking my phone from where I dropped it.

“Just make sure you are always here on time. If the supervisor happens to catch us on a bad day and I end up losing Gracie, I’ll kill you.”

Was all I could say before storming off. I didn’t want to spend another second sitting with him at that table.