Tangled Threads
1382 Words
Chapter 4:
Ivie left the study and returned to her room, her heart still racing. As she walked away, Zara watched her with suspicious eyes, her gaze sharp and calculating. After a moment, Zara turned back to her brother with a warm smile, ready to attend to him as the perfect sister.The following morning, Ivie forced herself to wake up very early. She wanted to finish cleaning Alexander’s bedroom before he became active. The first rays of morning light filtered through the heavy curtains as she stood at the doorway, steeling herself. She had barely slept after Zara’s suspicious smirk the night before. That cold, calculating look had followed her into uneasy dreams.Ivie pushed the door open and entered with her cleaning supplies. The room was massive, with dark wood furniture, a king-sized bed dressed in silk sheets, and tall windows overlooking the vast estate. Even blind, Alexander demanded absolute perfection.She began dusting carefully, her movements precise. Every few seconds, she glanced toward the door, half expecting someone to burst in.“You’re early,” Alexander’s deep voice sliced through the silence.Ivie startled. He was already seated in a high-backed chair near the window, dressed sharply in a black shirt.“Good morning, sir,” she replied evenly. “You asked me to handle your bedroom personally.”Alexander tilted his head, inhaling subtly. “That scent of yours… it’s invading my space now.” He stood and moved toward her with predatory confidence. “Tell me, Ivie Roberts, did you sleep well knowing I’m watching your every move?”“I slept fine, sir.” Ivie answered knowing well that she has been having sleepless nights since she entered Clinton mansion He stopped close, towering over her. “Liar. Your voice betrays you. I noticed it last night.” His hand brushed the dresser she was cleaning. “You’re hiding something. I can feel it. Just like the last woman who worked here.”Ivie’s grip tightened on the duster. “I’m only here to do my job, Mr. Clinton.”“Jobs are often covered,” he said coldly. “People enter this house smiling and leave with secrets. Just like Lila Antony did five years ago.” His voice dropped to a dangerous whisper. “If I discover you’re connected to her in any way, I won’t simply fire you. I will ruin you.”The threat sent ice through Ivie’s veins, but she held her ground. “Understood, sir.”Alexander lingered a moment longer before turning away. “Continue. And don’t touch anything personal.”As he left the room, Ivie exhaled shakily. She hated him for his arrogance, his threats, and for what he had done to her mother. Yet every close encounter left her disturbingly aware of his commanding presence.While wiping the nightstand, she noticed a drawer slightly ajar. Glancing quickly at the door, she opened it quietly. Inside were old documents and a faded photograph. Her heart raced as she saw a younger Alexander standing with his parents and Zara. In the background, faintly visible, was her mother, Lila.Ivie quickly snapped a photo with her phone before returning everything exactly as she found it. This could be crucial.Later that morning in the breakfast room, Zara sat across from Alexander, smiling sweetly while sipping her coffee. But her mind was sharp and calculating.“Brother,” she said lightly, “the new girl seems quite… dedicated. Are you sure she’s trustworthy?”Alexander frowned. “She’s hiding something. Her scent and behavior are too suspicious. I’ve told Mary to watch her closely.”Zara’s smile remained perfect. “Wise decision. We must protect what’s yours.”That afternoon, Ivie found a quiet moment in her room. She pulled out her mother’s diary and continued reading. One entry made her blood run cold:“They know what really happened that night. The ones closest to him… I can’t trust anyone in that house. If anything happens to me, tell Ivie to stay far away from the Clintons. They destroy everything they touch.”Ivie’s hands trembled. Someone close to Alexander had threatened her mother. But who? The uncertainty gnawed at her. She needed more proof.A sharp knock startled her. She quickly hid the diary.Mary stood at the door, looking stern. “Mr. Clinton wants you in his study immediately. He sounds furious.”Ivie’s stomach dropped. Has she been discovered already?When she entered the study, Alexander was standing behind his desk like a storm about to break.“Explain this,” he demanded, holding up her phone, the one she had accidentally left behind while cleaning. “Why was this in my private quarters?”Ivie froze, realizing her critical mistake.Alexander’s voice turned deadly calm. “You have sixty seconds to tell me who you really are, Ivie Roberts… before I destroy you.”Before she could answer, the study door swung open. Zara walked in holding the old leather diary, the one Ivie had hidden in her room.“Brother,” Zara said with a dangerous smirk, her eyes locked on Ivie with clear suspicion. “I think you need to see what our new house help has been hiding.”
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