LOVING MY BEAST

Chapter 1 SAVIOR

 Claire POV

I sat in the living mindlessly scrolling through channel and hugging my teddy bear when a pair of sapphire-colored eyes gain my attention.

News reporter: [Today Chairman of the Emerald Corp, Edward White will officially hand over management of the New York Emerald Clinic to his third son Alexander White.]

 My heart skips a beat and not in a good way while my face goes pale, my lips quiver and my grip on my teddy bear tightens. I take a deep breath and take one more look the man who smiles like nothing ever happened. That smile, those dimples that made my teenage years a living hell.

 I give myself a good pep talk. ‘He will never harm you again, he can’t! He doesn’t have the time he is now someone important. Besides what business would someone of his stature have with me, he will never recognize me as the Claire Rivers from then.’

 After my pep talk I give myself a mental pat ‘Everything is alright.’  Turn off the television and lay back on the couch enjoying the silence. Little did I know that was only my wishful thinking.

 Three months later…….

 “Claire hurry up we’re about to leave.” My mom yells.

“Coming.” I swing my bag pack over my shoulder and hold my teddy bear in my free hand. I say goodbye to my room and leave. In the car my annoying twelve-year-old brother comments “I really don’t see the results of all that makeup you put on.”

 Feeling insulted I snap at him “I also don’t see the results of all that mouthwash you’ve been using.” “That’s enough.” My mother intervenes. As you can guess the rest of the journey was filled with silent glares of possible murder.

 The journey takes three and half hours by road. I smile and take out my laptop and quickly finished some assignments and sent it to my boss. It’s weekend so I decide to chat up Sarah my best friend. We met each other during my internship at the company

 [Clair: You up?] Sarah isn’t exactly the earliest riser on weekends and its 7:00am, so chances are I will not get an immediate reply. ‘Well my luck must be on overdrive’; she replied almost immediately.

[Sarah: Yep. How far have you gone?

Claire: Probably 20 kilometres out of town.

Sarah: Yikes that forest?

Claire: Yep.

Sarah: Clair be careful that forest is full of bad omens. Haven’t you seen ghost.

Claire: Okay that just the most unbelievaugshfhsuyfhv

Sarah: What was that a glitch in the matrix?

Sarah: Claire what’s wrong why aren’t you answering.]

    {15 Missed calls from Sarah}

[Sarah: Claire I worried please answer me.

Sarah: Claire if this is a prank then it’s not funny.

Sarah: Claire at least say something.

Sarah: Anything T0T]

 I force open my heavy eyelids to the beeping of a machine. I adjust my vision to take in my surroundings. I take it that I am in someone’s house. The ceiling the bed and even the furniture. Soon I noticed my mom had place her head on the bed seemingly meditating.

 I manage to move my hand and tap her only to realize an IV drip was inserted into my hand. ‘No wonder I felt so uncomfortable.’ I

My mother sat up her blonde hair was in a mess while her eyes looked puffy. “You looked terrible.” I smiled as these words left my mouth in a hoarse voice.

 “Honey you look worse.” My mother sarcastically retorted holding a mirror she just took out of the drawer. I was stupefied by my state. My face was pale and my lips, almost turning blue. My eyes were way puffier than my mother while my hair was in the worst state it has ever been since THOSE days of cause.

 Suddenly a horrifying memory came flashing through my mind. I instantly panicked and sat up trying to get off the bed “Max, I have to see if he is okay…” My mother held me back down “Max is totally okay he’s with your aunt Lydia now.”

 I relax hearing the good news. My mom continues. “We had been involved in an accident on the way to new you as you remember. We collided with a truck which was being driven by a drunk driver. He died on the spot. And Max would have also… if you didn’t-.” She started sobbing.

 My mother is known as a strong woman. When my dad left with another woman, leaving her with my brother and I, my mother didn’t even bat an eye nor shed a tear. When I asked her why she wasn’t sad she smiled and said “He isn’t worth my jewel tears. Honey remember your tears are priceless don’t ever waste it on people who hurt you because they are dog s**t compared to your tears.” I smile. She was my role model for when I was going through my bully days. I would rarely cry and when I did it meant I was pushed to the extreme which only happened once. Then, I was completely torn by…HIM.”

 I immediately shake off the tears threatening to take form. I smile and comfort my mom. Without warning a painfully loud sound fills I turn to the direction of the sound it’s was an alarm clock.

 “Oh. My time is up.” She immediately gets up. Before she leaves, she cupped my face and said “Claire I love you very much. I would do anything for your good. Every decision I take is for your own good. If ever you find my decision drastic or unpleasant know that I only ever had your best interest in mind so, forgive this worthless mother of yours.” Kissing my forehead gently.

 “What are you talking…about.” Before I can finish she leaves. Still confused it hits me that I forgot to ask her where this is because this is definitely not a hospital.

I sigh and lie down and stare at the ceiling. Soon a woman enters and weirdly enough rather than a nurse’s outfit she is dresses in a maid’s outfit. She held a tray filled with various delicacies. It’s now I feel my stomach rumbling. She neatly sets it on the bed tray. She bows in a sophisticated manner and turns to leave but I stop her “Umm where am I.”

 “I’m sorry but that’s a question only master can answer.”  After stating this she leaves. ‘Who is Master? Is he a good person or a bad man?’ I sigh and sit up drawing the tray closer I start devouring the contents. After having my fill, I lie back down after realizing my legs were currently weak.

 Soon I drift into a deep sleep. I felt someone’s warm hand move from my fore head to my cheek and cupping it not long after my forehead is given a gentle kiss. ‘So comforting must be a dream.’

 When my eyes open I feel the sun rays on my face as the old maid opens the curtains. She turns to me with a straight face. “You’ve been examined. You are to try and move about to strengthen your muscles.”

 She passes me a pair of crutches. She helps me sit up and put each under my arm. Once more with she helps me once I land on my feet the feel like jelly making me to fall back down on the bed. She sighs and for the first time speaks in a soft concerned voice. “One step at a time.”

 I was a bit baffled but I nodded and once again we tried. I did as she told me and it work though most of my weight was placed on the crutches, slowly, I felt my legs coming back to life. I followed her out of the room and into a magnificent hallway we then enter an Elevator which is quite convenient and expensive this ‘Master sound loaded to me. Whose place is this I feel the urge to ask but I seem to know what her answer will be ‘A question that only master can answer.’

  Once we’re out of the Elevator I look around to try and find portraits to at least get an idea of who this ‘master’ is but there’s none once again my efforts seem pointless. I follow the old maid into a beautiful well maintained garden my mouth falls open at the dreamy sight. There were flowers of different kinds and the lay out was just breath taking with some plants shaped into animals like flamingos, elephants, deer, cats, you name it. 

 All the animal shaped plants were amazing but the one that really caught by attention was the one made into a Chinese dragon. I approached it with an awed expression plastered to my face. Just as I reach out my hand to touch it one of my crochets slips from under my arm, losing my balance I brace myself for the impact. Luckily a pair of strong arms support me, preventing me from falling. I look up to see the face of my savior. I am met with a pair of bold blue eyes; those eyes were awfully familiar. I shivered slightly in fear but he didn’t notice. Those eyes that brought me nothing but pain, I automatically started shaking he help me up and gave me back my crochet.

 “Are you alright?” Her asked in a concerned and soft voice. ‘No this can’t be him. That man could never make such a gentle expression.”  “Y-Yes.” After these left my mouth I practically fled. I reached the gazebo when the old maid had finished laying out my breakfast. Once again I’m awed by the palate.

 “Miss you’re to finish this since it necessary to get back the blood you’ve lost.” I nod and sit down and start eating. Before long I am done and give out the very loud burb before I catch myself. As you can guess I received a strong glare from the old maid. I can only give her a half nervous smile.

 “Well miss Rivers I guess I’ll have to call an etiquette teacher.” 

 Three weeks later…

 I have now healed and completed my etiquette lessons apparently, I learn very fast. During my time here I have really gotten along with all the maids the old maid’s name is Mrs. Becker. The first maid I met was Lisa and she’s actually nicer than she seems. I have even met the butler, Jonas and he is quite the jolly character.

 During these three weeks I managed to obtain some information on why the hell I’m in a mansion rather than a hospital. During the accident I shielded my brother and took most of the blow from the accident. I had been taken to the emerald hospital were mom was told that I sustained serious injuries which placed me in a critical condition, I had lost a lot of blood and suffered a severe head trauma. I needed immediate surgery on my brain to prevent any more damage and remove the 85% possibility of me slipping into a coma from which my chances of waking up will be so low they might as well take me off life support.

 The only problem was that the surgery was too expensive and my blood type had just run out in the hospital plus the was only one person in New York who could perform such nerve-racking surgery. My mother was devastated luckily a window of hope opened. The man himself came to her with an offer, my mom who was more worried about my life agreed.

The deal was he would perform the surgery for free and even nurse me back to health in return he wanted…….me. My mom was torn between saving my life or my freedom. So she agreed on one condition of cause and that was I was allowed visits from my relatives. He agreed with visits on only Thursdays.

 I sat in the room I was given while I text Sarah. Who had forgiven me for not calling as soon as I woke only on the condition that I go clubbing with her when she come to New York to do some work related stuff.

 While I on the other hand have been mysteriously made to work from home. I have a hunch that this “Master” has something to do with this arrangement. Yes, I haven’t met him YET nor have I successfully managed to trick any of the house helps into giving me information on him, they were professionally tight lipped.

 I sighed, placed my phone on my desk then went to take a bath. I found myself staring at my reflection.  My rare silver hair which was a hundred percent natural due to a rare condition I lost pigment in my hair hazel eyes from that damned sperm donor. I sighed after completely ruining my mood with thinking about that man.

 I went to the room, took out my boom box playing some tunes to which I could jam to. I loved music, it was of escaping reality and lifting my spirit. I placed it on my desk and went into the bathroom and took a bath it is now 5:45pm. Today is the day I meet the man himself at 7:00pm.

 Do you want to hear something funny?... I’m excited! I’m excited to meet the man who has locked me up like a prisoner, the man who denies me of my freedom but most of all…the man who saved my life. I hope to negotiate with him so he can let me go.

 I slipped into a turquoise off shoulder dress that hugged my curves making me very uncomfortable. I took a deep breath to calm my tensed nerves. ‘Its okay. Everything will be alright.’ I tell myself which worked like a charm.   

 I followed the butler who led me to the rooftop of the house. I was both happy and surprised to learn that the was a green house. He continued further out of the green house, I was met with a spectacular view of the city lights below the mountain. The butler called out to him with a curt sir. The I noticed a tall masculine figure staring into space he had silky black hair and an intimidating and familiar aura nevertheless, I smiled. I walked closer with a bright smile plastered to my face he noticed my presence and turn around, my smile fell the moment I met those blue orbs. All thoughts of negotiation flew out of the window.