SEA'S BRIDE (PHILMYTHO ROMANCE II)

CHAPTER 20

The very thought of it even disgusts me. And so without any more delay, I quickly dispersed the idea from Leandro's head before it gets worst. "Enough said, Leandro. Where is he?" I asked again.

"He's in his study. He locked himself inside ever since that day." Leandro was quick to answer but at the same time, he's also hesitant to look directly in my eyes after saying this. It's as if, there was something odd from when he said the master locking himself inside his study since that day when we last saw each other. This just made me realize that I haven't been awake for an entire day and yet the master didn't bother to wake me up or disturb my slumber to call upon me and meet him. Was he still furious about what happened at the firing range?

I suppose he isn't the type to easily forget things after all.

"Leandro, is it possible to see him now?" I asked Leandro which stirred him again like a while ago. It was like every time I mention anything about his master, it makes him elated to entertain it.

"He hasn't allowed any one of the servants to enter, not even me. But perhaps, there might be some exception if it's you, Miss Emalia." I saw the jubilant beam in his face after giving his response. This man is insane.

"Why would there be an exception for me?" I asked as I can't help but wonder why would Leandro say that I'm an exception despite knowing how many times his master and I usually argue.

With still a smile on his face, Leandro replied, "It's because you are his favored guest, of course, miss Emalia."

What a bum! There they go again with that 'favored guest' thing. As if I'm a favored guest. Pathetic because I know that they were just trying to romanticize the fact that I am they're captive here.

I rolled my eyes but I believe Leandro didn't even see that. "I'd like to have some words with your master. Bring me there, Leandro." I told him. Though I know I could just easily barge inside the master's study, that would only make me more of the person they thought of me. Assertive and not any far from being a killer. Having Leandro to escort me there and request an audience from his master would be the best move. That might make me less of what these people suspects about me. I can't just risk any further than what has been done already.

As Leandro and I arrived at the front door of his master's study, Leandro steps forward to knock on the door thrice, "Master, miss Emalia wish to seek your audience." he said before the door. Leandro waited for the next few seconds before taking some steps back to meet my gaze once more. "You're good to enter." He then said.

"Are you sure? Because I didn't hear him say anything." I was worried that this might be a trap since there was no confirmation for me to enter. I've been really cautious in trusting Leandro but perhaps, trying to test his words wouldn't harm me that much.

My worries were instantly replied by Leandro when he said, "He usually scold us off when anyone of us attempts to go inside. so, Him not saying anything this time only means it's alright for you to enter just like I told you. After all, silence means yes, isn't it?" while sending me a warm smile. I still can't buy this. If anything ever happened to me inside his master's cave, I'm sure to haunt him with my ghost forever.

Leandro opened the door for me and I can't believe that I am back here, inside the Master's study. I was expecting him to be sitting by his table but there was no sign of him around.

Was I being fooled by Leandro?

I was nearing to exit the place to bombard that god-forsaken butler when I noticed an empty cup of tea. I touched it and it's still quite warm. Looks to me that the Master has been here. I guess that Leandro isn't lying to me after all. But where could his master be right now?

If what Leandro said is true, that his master has not left his study since the other day, then he should just be in this room. But where would he go now since he isn't here?

The only two adjacent white doors here connect to two different rooms already. and the other one is an exit. There wouldn't be any other areas he could go other than that. I tried checking the doors and they're locked from within. The Master must've locked him inside the room and only allowing the door where I entered to remain open. I even checked the exit and it's also locked. This is even more making me thirst for more clues.

My hunches are beginning to contrive an idea that there might be some kind of secret passage around here that connects to another place in this household for the Master to go to. This Study can't just be the only place he'd stuck his lame-booty on just to isolate himself from his servants of course. Knowing how ill-tempered he can be, the master seems to be the type of person who can't hold on staying at one place forever.

And it seems like the master won't be around here any time soon, so I immediately look around for any possible passage or detour. I remember Leandro was able to get through the elevator using his watch as key to the sensor. But the Master can't use some sensor too, knowing Leandro might easily have an access on it as well.

If the master wishes to be alone, he wouldn't be so reckless to let others barge in because they, too, have an access to the room. As I carefully think about it, I have to intricately look inside this room first where could a secret door be possibly hiding. I began checking the walls if there is any side with a hollow structure but most of them are concrete walls, so, it would be difficult for me to identify using that alone. I even attempt to knock on each side hoping a sensor would eventually react but to my disappointment, there is no single trace of sensor as well.

That Master can't be too primitive yet he can't be too digitalized either. If this is how it should be, then what else could be useful here to find the location of the door. I even searched among the shelves of his mini-library situated just behind his desk, trying to rummage each book for a possible button. I was hoping it would be just like in the films but to my dismay, they are indeed fictions as I see no hidden buttons.

I'm beginning to lose hope in this searching idea. What if he just went out and suddenly arrive here seeing me going around his private belongings? I would definitely be in a bigger problem than I already have. And so, I decided to take a break. I can't continue looking for something that doesn't want to be found or more like, doesn't even exist. Perhaps it's all in my head. The only question here is that, where would the master be right now if Leandro said that he hasn't left this room. Where could he be then all this time?

"There must be some other way," I whispered to myself while I face the whole shelf before me. And as I rested my hand on the table behind my back, I accidentally pressed on the base pen making it incline outward—contrary to my direction.

I immediately look at it to fix it but while my body is moving towards the base pen, I instantly heard the bookshelf striding to move aside opening a whole new room. My eyes were full of amazement as I mumbled, "why didn't I think of that?"

It was as if I was lured to enter the room just as my eyes caught the sight of it. And upon my entry, I was already greeted by the fancy polished wooden walls and floors of the room with a coffee cream carpet underneath the king-sized bed. With latte cream linen and pillows that keeps on enticing me to lie upon. The room is too spacious with the touches of russet, peanut, and tortilla palettes all over the place. And two wall lamps with dim yellow illuminating the place.

On the left-wing of the bed is an entrance which I can tell is a walk-in closet. I did not bother to enter further as the vibrancy of the room gives me a sudden uncomfortable feeling. And just as my hunch is telling me, I look behind my back as the shivers went climbing quickly in my spine to find the least person in the world I wish to see.

"Would you look at this, the prey has lured herself inside the predator's den?" It was the master's voice, and this time it sounded mischievously intimidating.

As I fully face him, I was even more humiliated than shocked to witness him wearing a loose robe and trunks. His hair is still dripping wet as he tries to dry it off with a cream towel. His clean after-shaved face looks so neat from this distance. And as he drew himself closer, I smelled the unscented soap he used lingering on his tanned skin, and I hate to admit it but, it's so refreshing to inhale.

My whole body is pinned from where I am as the fresh scent coming from him had me freeze at the moment. He was just able to return me to my senses as he snaps me out by forcing me behind and pinned on his bed, "just because I've been restraining me, doesn't count you to freely come here looking like that, Woman. Aren't you even aware what I am capable of doing to you right here—" he uttered which tremble every bit of my nerve. And much more when he lowered his head to my side to whisper in my ear while his hands ceased both of wrists, "—in my bed, with just the two of us?"

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