Stuck with you

Chapter Three

Kate's POV

I struggled awake. The bed was so comfortable I couldn't remember falling asleep after one of the maids had helped me settle in. Realizing I'd soon be one of them, I forced my eyes open — and the first thing I saw was a broad figure standing over me.

"Aaah!" I shouted, sitting upright.

It was Marcus. He wasn't dressed formally, and his eyes were fixed on me. I started wondered if I'd forgotten to close the door.

"So if I were here to kill you," he started, "that's how you'd react?"

I felt embarrassed for shouting like that. "I was just startled," I said, still half-asleep.

"Next time, you could just do something better," he said, his eyes still on me. I knew he had a point, so I said nothing.

He stood. "Lesson Two: shouting doesn't solve problems. It makes them worse."

Memories of my screams attacked me.

He was right, it doesn't

Why is he always right, I thought, and he was too full of lessons.

Why

"Get up. It's your first day as my personal maid."

I got out of bed immediately. He studied me for a moment.

"What's your name?" he asked.

Realizing I'd never told him, I answered, "Kate."

"Okay," he said. "I'm going to call you Kitty."

I was caught off guard. "What?"

"My name is Kate. I said Kate," I clarified.

"I heard you," he answered. "But you'll be called Kitty."

Is he doing this to get back at me? I wondered.

"Do you have a problem with that?" he asked.

How could I say yes? He already had the upper hand.

"No," I answered.

"Good. Follow me." He led the way.

I followed, aimless and unsure.

______

Marcus's POV

I always went for a jog in the morning before anyone else was awake — today was no different.

I'd just gotten back when I remembered I needed to check on the little kitten before leaving. I headed toward her room.

The door wasn't closed. My first thought: she wasn't security-conscious at all.

When I stepped inside, I found her still asleep.

She looked comfortable — her hair catching the sunlight streaming through the window.

She looks innocent, I thought. Just a little kitten.

I sat on the couch near her mirror stand, giving myself a proper look at her. She was beautiful — I hadn't noticed before. Her figure was the kind that could drive a man to distraction.

She started to stir, clearly about to wake. I told myself to look away. I didn't.

The moment she saw me, she screamed.

I knew she was reckless, if not entirely clumsy.

"So if I were here to kill you," I started, "that's how you'd react?"

Her face flushed with embarrassment. "I was just startled," she said, defensive.

"Next time, you could just do something better " I said, eyes fixed on her. She looked back at me strangely.

I stood. "Lesson one: shouting doesn't solve problems. It makes them worse."

"Get up. It's your first day as my personal maid," I added.

She stood at once.

"What's your name?" I asked.

"Kate," she replied.

"Okay," I said. "I'm going to call you Kitty."

Her expression turned indignant, exactly as I'd expected.

"What?"

"My name is Kate. I said Kate," she clarified.

"I heard you," I told her. "But you'll be called Kitty."

I knew she had no real choice, so I asked anyway, half-teasing.

"Do you have a problem with it?"

"No," she replied.

"Good. Follow me." I stepped out of her room, and I could hear her quiet footsteps trailing behind.

Kate, I thought, turning the name over. No — she'll be my kitten. My little kitten.

"Sir," the soldiers greeted me as I reached my quarters.

I opened the door and stepped inside, then realized she hadn't followed. I turned back — she was still standing in the doorway, watching me.

"Why aren't you coming in?" I asked.

"I'm sorry, but I need you to invite me in — it's your room," she said, still peering inside.

"You can stand out there if you'd like, but my bath needs to be ready in five minutes," I said, heading into my study and intentionally leaving her at the threshold.

_______

Kate's POV

I watched him disappear through another door in the room. Big room, I thought.

But that wasn't the real problem.

"Why is he so annoying — and so cruel," I whispered.

The door shut behind me.

I was on my own now. But how was I supposed to know how he liked his bath prepared?

I decided to find the bathroom myself. I tried a door on the left — locked. Then another — same thing.

Where on earth is the bathroom, I thought. This man is really trying to give me hell. I'd be better off without him. Best, even.

Suddenly I stumbled backward into something — what I thought was a wardrobe — but it gave way behind me, and I fell right through it.

His bathroom.

Who builds their bathroom like a hidden wardrobe?

______

Marcus's POV

I decided I'd wait until I heard a knock at the door.

I knew perfectly well she had no idea where the bathroom was, let alone how I liked it prepared.

But somehow, I needed to teach her how to make something out of nothing.

I knew it was strict of me. But there was something in me that had started to enjoy watching her surprise me — the same way she had the day before.