CLAIMED BY MY STEPBROTHER

CHAPTER 05

ELYSIA.

Reluctantly, I got into the car. Partly because I was sure I wouldn't be able to get a taxi anymore and mostly because it's already embarrassing enough that my enemy had to see me like this, and the other people I'd passed with tear-stained cheeks and puffy eyes?

I didn't ask how Zane knew of my location, I was too overwhelmed with the vivid images of my boyfri- Nick's so-called cousin bent over the sink while being taken from behind by him.

My heart twisted in the most excruciating way that it was almost impossible to breathe. I had stopped sobbing, but I was hiccuping nonstop.

Zane said nothing, even if it was obvious that the sound from the hiccups irritated him. He looked infuriated, but still silent. Letting me brood over whatever the f**k made me cry and left me to console myself.

Fair enough, for an annoying asshole, he was unexpectedly cool. Or maybe he just didn't care about what the problem was with me.

"Do you plan to sleep in here?" His voice woke me from my little reverie, and I realized we had gotten home already and he was halfway out of the car. "Aren't you coming out?"

"Oh." I immediately unbuckled my seatbelt, my cheeks going red from embarrassment. I quickly got out of the car, wiping my face and sniffling.

I shot a furtive glance at Zane, but he simply dipped his hand into his pants pockets and headed for the front door.

Yeah, he didn't care about what happened.

I dragged my heavy muscles behind him, feeling like I would slump any second. I had no idea how long I had walked before Zane found me but from how heavy my limbs felt, I knew I must've walked a mile or two.

Getting to my room, I slipped into the bathroom and turned on the shower, letting the warm water splash on my body. In that moment, the intrusive memories flashed in the back of my head again.

Vivid as if I was seeing it right in front of me. The sounds lingered longer than they were meant to and again, my heart felt like it had been stabbed by a saber.

I turned off the shower and stepped out of the bathroom; the heat from the warm shower I just had emanated from my body.

After changing into my nightie and avoiding Nova's calls, I realized I hadn't thanked Zane for finding me tonight. If he hadn't shown up, I have no idea how long I would've walked, or how much danger that subconscious walk of mine would've led me to.

I froze in front of his door, exhaling several times before knocking on the door. But one soft knock pushed the door open by an inch and a tiny creak.

I was unsure of stepping in, so I knocked again, louder this time but like the first time, there was no response. I didn't want to barge in on him again, so I knocked for the third time, still no response.

I waited, pacing around in front of the room while practicing my words. "Thank you for finding me tonight, uhm- I'm really grateful and--"

Forget it!

I pushed the door open gently and tiptoed inside. The entire room was empty, and very silent. I tried to listen, if I could maybe catch the sound of water running from the bathroom, nothing.

I needed to leave before he returned, maybe he wasn't home. I walked out of the room but stopped by the doorway when I heard a sound behind me, I turned, startled by his presence.

It seemed like he had been on the balcony and I hadn't realized. Like earlier this morning, he was half-naked, and the air reeked of the cigarette he was holding.

He quirked a brow, under the dim light in his room, the side of his face looked devilishly handsome... Pardon my compliment.

He tilted his head, another form of asking what I was doing in his room unannounced. I cleared my throat, my cheeks heated up again.

"I-- I didn't mean to barge in... Again, I just wanted--" I swallowed hard, this wasn't how it was supposed to go. "I just wanted to thank you for tonight."

"Oh." He slurred, his eyes narrowed lazily. "You're my responsibility, until they return at least." He took two steps closer, something dangerous flickered in his gaze, it was an indecipherable glint. "As long as you do as I say, doll, I don't think there'll be any problem."

Doll? I blinked repeatedly. Where the hell did that come from?

He squinted his eyes. "Are you done staring?"

I blinked out of my trance. "I-- I wasn't staring." I snapped. "And don't call me a doll, you-- psycho!" I turned and scurried out of the room in both anger and fluster.

I could've sworn I heard him chuckle from behind. Crackhead!

*

Finally, it was Monday, my first day of work at Z&Co LHC. In order to reduce my chances of freaking out, I invited Nova the day before to help me pick out an outfit, and after hours of endless searching, we settled for one.

I stared at my reflection in the mirror and nodded in satisfaction. A crisp white button-up shirt with a fitted bodice over a short black skirt, sheer tights, black heels, and a pair of Bayonetta glasses. Nova suggested I leave my hair in a slightly messy bun which suited my overall outfit.

I grabbed my purse and slipped out of my room. I still had about forty minutes to spare, and I needed to conquer the traffic to save my job.

I couldn't see Zane anywhere when I passed the sitting room, and took a peek in the dining room. After that night, he seemed to have disappeared into thin air. Which was good... To me.

I skipped breakfast because I couldn't afford to be late, and in twenty minutes plus, I already arrived at the company. Before I went in, I took a couple of deep breaths and reminded myself that I would do a good job.

A lady who introduced herself as the secretary of the CEO took me on a little tour. After I was shown to the marketing team where I would be working as a junior analyst, she told me I could settle in.

"The CEO should be here any minute." She said,

I was nervous, and I fought the urge to fumble with the hem of my shirt in anxiety.

"Oh," She yelped. "There he is."

I stood up immediately, trying to look as bold as I could but my jaw dropped the second I saw who it was...

Cold eyes, annoying expressions, intoxicating scent, and a lazy stare... Zane.