A Ruthless Bargain

Chapter Six

Amelia.

I woke up to the constant ringing of alarm somewhere beside me. It felt like I was in a completely different earth, my eyes refused to open.

My body enjoyed the soft feel of whatever it was I was lying on. I wasn't used to this.

Did I die and go to heaven? Did Auntie Rita finally kill me?

My alarm wouldn't stop beeping though and my eyes fluttered open softly. I set an alarm at Uncle Mateo's house everyday so I would not end up being splashed cold water and have to mop my whole room before leaving for work.

However, this was different. The light I saw almost blinded me, causing my eyes to close back. And when I opened it again, registering my surroundings, I slowly recalled all of it.

Mr Cross. The contract. The wedding.

My eyes snapped open immediately, a diamond ring sat heavy between my slender fingers.

Lucien was nowhere in the room but his scent lingered. He was here.

My eyes scanned the room, his tie from last night, cufflinks and wristwatch sat at the bed stand precisely and the other side of the bed looked rough. We slept on the same bed!

I grabbed the sheets over my body, protecting myself from what I couldn't see. There was no blood on the sheets, meaning I was safe.

He wasn't here so there was no need to panic.

I stood up and caught my reflection in the mirror. I was still dressed in the wedding outfit, hair messy and tangled, eyes smudged with eyeliner that I almost screamed thinking I was a ghost in a white dress.

I made the bed quickly, knowing I would leave for work today. I had eight months to pay off eighty million and for f**k's sake that was a huge amount. I was about to make my way into the bathroom when the door opened and I held myself from screaming, panic surging through me.

Mr Cross.

He walked out of the bathroom, hair damp and water dripping from his hair down to his torso. The sweatpants he wore sat loosely below his waist that I turned around immediately.

For a moment he didn't have that expression he always had and it made him look more human.

''Please can you at least put something on.'' I said while facing the wall.

Silence.

I got no single response from him and when my patience waned I turned to see him in the same position.

''That was not in the rules, Miss Nightshade.'' His voice remained neutral, a little groggy though from sleep.

''It does not have to. That is basic manners Mr cross, you don't just get to walk around half naked.'' I turned to face him, trying to keep my eyes steady.

He moved over to the closet like I was talking to myself, ignoring me completely.

He brought out clothes, a clean-crisp white shirt, black pants, a tie similar to the one on the nightstand and a jacket.

''You might want to turn around then.'' His voice cut through my thoughts.

I raised a brow and turned the next moment I saw him about the pull down his pants. My head swivelled in an instant and I could swear a bone in my neck cracked.

''Mr Cross,'' my voice was sharper now. ''This is not part of the rules.''

I did not wait for a response. I covered my face with the sheets I clung tightly to my body and dashed into the bathroom.

It was different now. A grey towel was hung next to the pink ones that were handed to me yesterday, his toothbrush in the same place as mine.

I drew my palms across my face, brushing my teeth aggressively before taking a shower.

By the time I was done, I thought Lucien would have been long gone. I purposely spent more time in there, making sure he left.

But the moment I stepped out with a towel wrapped around my body, Lucien was there. Cross-legged on the bed with his shoes on, busy on his laptop and chewing a gum absentmindedly.

His gaze averted from whatever he was doing and trailed down my body. I suddenly felt naked standing before him and only a piece of fabric protecting me.

''Dominic arranged clothes for you. It's in the closet.'' His gaze went back to his screen.

I walked into the closet, far away from his eyes and started my rummaging. I gasped at the expensive dresses that were lined in rows.

From designer dresses, to gowns that looked like a model's, heels and all types of bags.

No! I would not wear any of that.

I wore the outfit I arrived with yesterday. A simple blue jean and a plain white shirt.

Yes! That was what suited me.

I walked back to the room, my mini bag I had packed flung on my shoulder, a book I would read on the way in it and little money I took from my savings.

That was a dangerous step but I would take it for now.

Lucien's lips drew in when he saw my outfit but said nothing for a while.

''Why?'' he said after a bit. ''Why this outfit?''

''Because I'm not comfortable in those. Now if you'd excuse me, I'm late for work.''

I made a move to exit the room but Lucien was faster. He stood before me in a second, blocking the pathway.

''What else do you want?'' I asked, my patience thinning.

He studied me for a while before a sound left him. He chuckled. Lucien Chuckled!!

He tilted his head slightly, ''Do you think you know the way out. This part of Velmoor is hidden and only I can take you out of here.'' His breath slowed, every word pinning me in place.

I parted my lips to speak but he cut me off. ''And besides, the fare to your workplace might cost one third of your debt.''

I drew in a breath.

His eyes were glued to mine, unreadable, but hiding something beneath those dark crystals.

''So what's the way out.'' I hesitated.

He walked back to the bed, returned his laptop into a briefcase I didn't see earlier and turned back to me.

''Dominic takes you there everyday and returns you home.''

What! My brain screamed.

Meaning everyone I worked with would see me arriving in an expensive car everyday.

''No. No, that's too risky.'' I whispered.

''That's the only way out. Else you would spend five years and more trying to settle off a debt.'' Lucien opened the door now.

My mouth was still parted open when his voice came again. ''Let's go.''

We walked side by side, down the stairs and out of the mansion. It felt like I was trapped in a prison, I hadn't seen sunlight for almost 24hours.

Dominic appeared out of nowhere, arms clasped beside him, expression carved into stone and only the scar across his eyebrows sat visibly.

Lucien said something I didn't hear to him and he nodded before turning sharply to me and back at Lucien.

I stood there, moving from one foot to another while checking the time. I was screwed.

I missed work yesterday and today I was late.

A different chauffeur stepped out and opened the car door for Lucien while he slid in. Dominic moved to me and gestured the way forward with his hands. We walked until we arrived at another side of the cars and he opened a black huge car.

I didn't know about cars but merely looking at it, I knew it cost millions of dollars.

I was about to protest when he turned, his hands still holding the opened door.

I slid in after much hesitation and the door closed with a soft thud. He rounded the car, slid in and started the engine.

The car smelled expensive, the seats screaming luxury.

My mind drifted back to Lucien, when he stepped out shirtless. I noticed something familiar, his necklace.

I had seen it somewhere, a half moon pendant. And something else, a tattoo across his neck. I could not see it properly but they were numbers, written in roman numerals.

What could it mean? His birthday?

''Please can we stop a few blocks away from the bookstore.'' I said to Dominic after rehearsing for the millionth time.

He didn't respond to me. Just ignored me completely.

The car came to a halt after a few endless minutes of driving and from the windows, I noticed the familiar streets.

''Is this okay?'' Dominic asked.

I was quick to recover though I had never heard him speak and nodded my head in the affirmative. He raised a brow when I still didn't get down.

''Please give me a minute.'' I pleaded.

I waited until the people had passed and the street looked a bit dry before I got down immediately, disappearing into the alley that led to the workplace.

I breathed a sigh of relief when I did not encounter any familiar person until I arrived at the bookstore. I pushed the door open and it chimed with the soft bell that hung above and I came face to face with Miss Glory.

I greeted her, bowing my head slightly.

''How are you feeling now? Iris told me about you being ill.'' Her voice was soft.

I felt a pang of guilt hit me as I responded. ''Much better.''

''You can take a leave if you don't feel okay.'' She reassured.

I was quick to shake my head. A leave when I had to pay eighty million dollars.

I needed to work extra time and not take a leave.

''No ma, I'm fine now.''

She nodded, satisfied with my response before gesturing to the inner part of the library. ''Iris is there.''

''Thank you.'' A smile formed on my lips as I scurried away.

I found Iris between the bookshelf, tracing her fingers along the book spines and as usual finding a book to keep her busy throughout the day.

I walked slowly behind her, but before I could cover her eyes, she turned. ''Gotcha.''

We both fell to the floor, giggling nonstop.

''I heard your voice when you came in.'' she admitted.

I mouthed an ''Oh'' before she started bombarding me with questions.

''How are you feeling? I hope that witch of your Aunt wasn't the cause of this?'' she pressed her hand around my forehead and neck to feel my temperature.

''I'm fine, really.'' I assured her.

A genuine smile formed on her lips before she spoke, ''I made research and found an apartment for us.'' She clapped happily.

My smile faded immediately, realizing the situation I was in. My whole dreams were placed at my feet now.

Iris noticed my expression and pulled closer. ''Everything okay?'' she whispered.

Tears pooled in my eyes as I tried to hold back the sting of it.

''Amelia.'' She drew me in for a hug. ''What's wrong, you know you can tell me anything?''

She smoothed her hands around my back in circles while the tears escaped my eyes. When we pulled back I spoke.

''I am....Uh....I got....'' I tried to explain without breaking.

''Yeah,'' she comforted me, urging me to go on.

''I got....I got..married.'' the realization of everything hit me harder than I expected.

I closed my eyes shut, unable to meet her gaze.

Her hand stilled around my back, but she recovered quickly. ''To?''

I opened my eyes to meet hers but something else caught my attention.

The jewelry around her neck. A half moon pendant.

It was the same as Lucien's. They were the same.