Bound by Obsession

Chapter 3: Stay for a Few Days

Anyone in Ashley's position would be thoroughly confused. Was it really necessary to keep her here until tomorrow, especially when he clearly didn’t want her around? Thinking about it only brought back old memories, making her feel frustrated.

Her eyes, fixed on the chandelier above, began to droop, and she let out a faint sigh. "This is really strange."

The next day, the odd situation repeated itself. They had breakfast together, then Hellios went off to work, leaving her alone in the large house. She waited all day until five in the afternoon, but Mr. and Mrs. Montero never showed up.

All day, she couldn’t help but replay her thoughts. Had they forgotten their promise? Or had something happened to them? Anxiety started to build inside her. What if there was no meeting after all?

The elevator doors chimed open at that moment, causing her to stand up quickly and turn around. Hellios stepped out, carrying a jacket over his arm.

“Where are Mr. and Mrs. Montero? They’re alright, right?”

Hellios gave her a brief look before walking past her. “Yes.”

Ashley let out a sigh of relief. “Then why aren’t they here?”

“They texted me on the way home, saying they’d be late tonight.”

“Tonight?!” Ashley exclaimed, startled.

Hellios paused, turning to face her. “What’s wrong?”

“My job…” Ashley started, her voice trailing off.

Hellios frowned slightly. “Did you change your shift today? I told you to take the day off.”

Ashley bit her lip, nervous. This man had no idea that she juggled three jobs every day. There was no way she could ask for time off from all of them.

Hellios sighed heavily, rubbing his forehead. “Give me your boss’s number. I’ll ask for permission.”

Ashley shook her head immediately. “No need. I’ll take care of it myself.”

He studied her for a moment, then nodded. “Okay. What did you have for lunch?”

Ashley hesitated, realizing she hadn’t eaten anything since breakfast. Her nerves about meeting Hellios’s parents had taken over, and the unfamiliarity of the place had left her feeling uneasy. Suddenly, her stomach growled loudly, causing her to blush.

“Why aren’t you eating?” Hellios asked. “There’s plenty of food in the fridge. If you don’t want to cook, we can order something.”

Ashley’s frustration rose. “How could I? I’m just a guest here.”

Hellios shrugged, putting his jacket on the sofa before taking her hand and leading her outside. The car ride was quiet and awkward. The space felt cramped compared to his house.

“What do you want to eat?” he asked suddenly, making her jump in surprise.

Holy crap. Was he a ghost or a devil? She jumped out of her seat. “Uh, anything is fine.” Could she just get a sandwich and a carton of milk? She needed to save money this month.

But here they were, in a fancy restaurant with no sandwiches or milk on the menu. Staring at the prices made her want to cry.

“Are you ready to order, or would you like a few more moments?” the waiter asked politely.

“Order whatever you want,” Hellios said.

Ashley almost laughed. “Salad’s fine. It’s the cheapest thing on the menu.”

“Is that all?” The waiter seemed surprised.

Ashley turned to see Hellios frowning. “Yeah…” she mumbled.

“What’s the special appetizer?” Hellios asked, starting a conversation with the waiter.

After the waiter left, Ashley began fidgeting with her fingers in her lap. “Uh… I’m actually fine with just the salad…”

“What have you been eating?” Hellios asked, his voice unexpectedly sharp.

Ashley glanced at him. “Why are you asking that?”

“Your body is so thin. You skipped lunch and just want to order a salad?”

Ashley dropped her gaze. He wasn’t wrong, but it didn’t make it any easier to hear. Every word he said sounded like a lecture.

“I’ll pay for it, so don’t worry. Just eat a lot.”

The way he said it made her even more uneasy.

“What have you been doing all this time?” Hellios asked, his tone softer now.

Ashley paused for a moment before answering. “Not much. Just working.”

Work, work, and more work. What else could she do? She didn’t have the luxury of relaxing like most people.

The waiter soon arrived, placing their dishes on the table. “Enjoy your meal!”

Ashley mumbled a thank you as she looked at the spread in front of her. She had to admit, it all looked delicious.

“Eat,” Hellios instructed, his voice firm.

Ashley picked up her fork, telling herself it was the last meal she’d have in peace. She took a bite, then another. As she chewed, she noticed Hellios had placed a piece of tuna on her plate. Instinctively, she looked up at him. He seemed calm, relaxed as he ate his own food.

“This is very delicious. You should try it,” Hellios said, his tone casual.

“Oh… okay.” Ashley hesitated before looking down at her plate. “Are… Mr. and Mrs. Montero really coming tonight?”

Hellios stopped mid-bite, then continued eating as if nothing was amiss. “Hmm.”

“What time exactly will they come?”

“Are you so busy that you can’t wait?” Hellios raised an eyebrow.

“I have to go to work…”

“Again with that. They will come.”

Ashley bit her lip. She wasn’t sure whether she should press for more information.

“I’ll contact them after this. Continue eating,” Hellios added, his voice soft but commanding.

Ashley met his dark, calm eyes, wondering if she could trust him.

“Any other questions?” he asked, his gaze steady.

Ashley shook her head, returning to her food. Maybe she was overthinking things. There was no reason Hellios would lie about his parents—there was no gain for him in keeping her here like this.

“Starting tomorrow, the staff who usually clean my house will also be cooking. So, they will come early.”

Ashley blinked, unsure of how to respond. She had just learned she would need to stay another night.

“I can’t,” she said firmly, shaking her head.

Hellios had already explained that his parents had canceled due to some business, and now he was telling her to stay another night.

“Can you give me Mrs. Montero’s number? I think it’s best if I go home and wait for a better time to meet them.”

“Tomorrow, they will come.”

“Are you sure?” Ashley pressed, but Hellios didn’t answer, which only made her feel more uneasy. “I can’t take another day off. I have to work tomorrow.”

“Just tell them you’re still sick. Or give me your boss’s number.”

Ashley rubbed her forehead in frustration. “No.”

“Don’t you want to meet my parents?”

“Of course I do. But they’re busy, and I need to work. If I miss another day, my pay will be cut again.”

Hellios leaned in, his expression turning more serious. “Then I’ll pay for your day off.”

“Are you crazy?” Ashley snapped, not hiding her displeasure.

Hellios hurriedly added, “Mom really wants to see you. What if she suddenly has free time when you’re at work? This is her request. Just accept the money as compensation.”

Ashley was silent, biting her lip as she thought it over. She was always reluctant to accept help, but this time, Hellios seemed genuine.

“She apologized for canceling today’s meeting. She’s very sorry. So, stay here for the next few days until they come.”

Ashley’s face went pale. “A few days? That’s impossible!”

Hellios didn’t seem phased. “Hm.” He turned to grab his jacket. “You can use the room you stayed in before.”

Ashley watched him walk away, then asked softly, “Why do you want me to stay here?”

Hellios exhaled a soft breath, glancing back at her. “Isn’t it obvious?”