A Ruthless Bargain

Chapter Fifteen: For You

Amelia.

That evening when Dominic picked me up he followed a different route. I was always one to keep track of my surroundings. Everyday when he took me to work and picked me up, I would try to memorise the way back should in case anything happens.

I didn't pay heed to it as I let myself drown in my thoughts. Iris said we would find a way out and I trusted her. I was deprived of education yes, but that didn't stop me from making research.

Every night when I was done with my chores I would sneak into Natalie's room then when we were younger and she let me have her things. We would study together and she would put me through a lot of things I didn't understand.

Later, when I started working at the bookshop it became healthier and no longer private. I would make research on topics I found interesting and any random thing that came to me.

But again, was that enough to secure me a job. A job that would help me pay off my debt and rent an apartment with Iris. The door beside me was pulled open and I glanced up.

We were home. I hadn't even noticed.

I stepped down, walking into the empty mansion. It was big, luxurious and lacked almost nothing but there was this cold air that still hung around in the air. The house lacked warmth, it lacked love.

I pushed the thoughts past me and walked upstairs, further into my room. I was getting used to staying alone now and I no longer expected him to magically appear like he did last time or my phone would suddenly lit with a text from him like that night we went to the boutique.

I switched the lights on and what I saw on the nightstand caught my eyes. It was a book.

I walked closer, examining it like it would disappear. The particular book I wanted to own for years and had been searching for all over the bookstore but never found it. It was just a book I read once and wanted to relive the imaginations.

And now, it sat here on the nightstand staring back at me. There was a note attached to it and I picked it up.

''For you.''

That was the only thing that was scribbled on the note. It looked like it had been written carefully, delicately with blank ink and placed with the softest care.

I turned around, scanning the room. Like the one who owned the book would come for it or maybe the one who kept it would say it was for me like the note had stated.

But no one came.

I took a shower, oiled my skin and slipped into the comfortable nightwear I loved but the book still sat there. I finally picked it up, opening the first page.

''From Lucien.'' The same handwriting, but smaller this time.

I paused.

It was as if he didn't want me to notice it but that was the first thing my eyes caught when I flipped the pages open. I picked up my phone, contemplating if I should call him and say thank you or not but dropped it halfway.

I put out the lights and left only the one on the nightstand. If one thing could make me forget all my worries and wander into a different world, then it was books. And this particular book was one I loved dearly.

I read through each page slowly, flipping and flipping until I drifted to sleep.

.

.

The next morning came earlier than I intended, disrupting my peaceful sleep. I slipped the covers off my body, reminding myself how important today was.

Job hunting.

I hurried through my morning routine and in no time I was down for breakfast.

''Please can you pack breakfast for me too.'' I grinned at the cook.

She was really nice, smiled at me often. She as way older, she looked like she could birth me twice.

''Yes child.'' She smiled again and disappeared to the kitchen.

I didn't know her name and my mouth itched to ask her when she returned with the boxes.

''May I know your name?'' I batted my eyelashes at her.

''Esther,'' she said. ''You may call me Esther.''

''Madam Esther.'' I smiled toothlessly.

She looked like she wanted to say something else but Dominic appeared, his expression carved as stone as always. I took it as a cue to bade her goodbye and followed Dominic down the stairs and outside the house.

At least I had made a friend. Good progress.

Dominic took the same route again and I wondered why he changed routed but that didn't matter right know. Asking him was a futile attempt because he hardly ever speaks nor did he smile.

''Amelia.'' Iris hugged me the moment I stepped down the car.

She was also walking to the bookstore. Her eyes glanced over at the car, over to Dominic and back to me.

For some reason, Dominic stared at her longer than necessary and I wondered what was going on in his mind.

''Do you always ride in that car?'' Iris asked when we walked a few steps farther. She made sure to keep her voice low.

I nodded.

Her hands flew to her mouth. ''Oh my f*****g heavens, Amelia.''

She turned to look at the car again as it zoomed off. ''This husband of yours is rich. Then why does he need you to repay the debt?''

''That's what confuses me.'' I turned to her, my voice low too so people would not hear us.

''How does it feel to sit in there? The leather seats, expensive perfume and all that. Is his house big too?'' her eyes dilated slightly, eager to hear every tea.

I sighed, shaking my head. ''That's not what we are here for. We are planning for my escape remember?''

That knocked some sense into her and she immediately snapped her head like she recalled something. ''I came with a laptop.''

''Whose laptop?'' my eyes widened.

We had never owned any gadgets left for our phones and mine too was bought off the savings I earned from the bookstore.

''I begged my neighbor's son. I told him I would work extra.''

I hit my palm against my forehead. ''Iris!''

''What?'' she asked innocently.

The bookstore was empty and Madam Grace had not yet arrived. We planned to turn up earlier than everyone and start our research.

''Let's begin.'' Iris opened the laptop and typed something in.

It was all too confusing to me but she browsed through some websites effortlessly.

''The first company would be Blackwood.'' She smiled and I just nodded not knowing what to say or do.