Chapter 10
1597 Words
*Alessandro's POV*
The marble floors echoed under my shoes as I walked down the east wing hallway.
I was supposed to be heading to the garage. The shipment at the warehouse wouldn’t check itself.
But then I heard it.
Raised voices.
“...you have to let me in!” June’s voice. Sharp. Demanding.
One of the guards was blocking her path in front of Alice’s room.
“No, I’m sorry, Miss June,” he said stiffly. “I’m only following the boss’s orders.”
June’s face twisted when she saw me approaching. Relief flashed in her eyes, like I was her way in.
“Brother,” she called out the moment she saw me.
I didn’t answer. I kept walking.
But of course she followed. Her heels clicked fast behind me.
“Brother, you haven’t even asked me what she did yet,” she said, catching up.
I didn’t know why it happened.
The moment I’d seen Alice earlier, lying in that state on the floor, something inside me had ached. It wasn’t logical. She was just a maid.
But the thought of them hurting her again made my jaw clench. Made me want to find out who gave the order and make them regret it.
And yet… June was my sister.
I stopped and turned to face her.
“How could you,” I said. My voice came out cold. Deeper than I intended.
She froze mid-step.
“Brother, that girl is a vixen,” June said quickly, eyes wide. “She is not who you think she is.”
“Really?” I let out a humorless laugh, watching her carefully. “Then tell me. Who is she?”
Silence.
June opened her mouth, then closed it. Nothing came out.
“No answer?” I checked my watch. “How unfortunate.”
I exhaled. I didn’t have time for this.
“June, you need to go apologize to Alice,” I said. “Not now. I’m going to check the shipment at the warehouse.” I turned toward the door.
Then I remembered something and looked back. She was still standing there, arms crossed, glaring at the guard like he’d personally betrayed her.
“You should not hurt Alice again,” I said firmly. “If she’s done something wrong, you tell me. You don’t take it into your own hands. Understood?”
I didn’t wait for her reply. I left.
I didn’t want Alice to be hurt again.
I told myself it was because I was responsible. She worked for me. As her boss, I was supposed to look out for my staff.
That was all it was.
I went straight to the parking lot. Damien was already standing by the cars, keys in hand.
“I’ll be going alone,” I said, and took the keys to the Ferrari myself.
“Okay, Sir,” he stepped aside immediately.
“Tell the butler I’m not around,” I added.
I slid into the driver’s seat, ignited the engine, and drove out of the villa. The roar of the engine drowned out everything else.
Especially the image of Alice bruised hands
***
Alice's POV
I woke up to the soft white ceiling of my room.
What happened?
I tried to push myself up and pain shot through every inch of my body.
“Ahh,” I gasped and fell back onto the pillows.
Memories came flooding back.
Miss June. Maria. Ann. The hallway. The words. The whip.
I looked down at my arms. Red welts snaked across my skin from where the leather strap had landed. My wrists throbbed too.
What did I do to deserve this? I’m not even close to the boss. Why am I getting punished like this? What did I do wrong this time?
The room was empty except for the quiet hum of machines. I noticed the drip stand beside the bed. An IV needle was taped to the back of my hand, fluid dripping slowly into my veins.
The door creaked open.
A maid walked in carrying a wooden tray. She closed the door softly behind her and set the tray on the bedside table.
“Alice, you’re awake,” she said, eyes softening when she saw me conscious. “Come, let me help you sit up.”
She slipped an arm behind my back and helped me up. Pain lanced through me again, but I bit it back. I had to eat.
“Nena,” I whispered. “Who told you to bring food for me? It couldn’t have been... them.”
“It was the boss,” she said simply, uncovering the tray. Steam rose from a bowl of soup and bread. “He gave the order himself.”
“The boss? Why?” I frowned, confused. Alessandro hadn’t even looked at me twice before today.
“Eat and stop asking so many questions,” Nena said, scooping up a spoonful. “You need to take your medicine with food.”
She brought the spoon to my mouth.
“I can feed myself,” I mumbled, reaching for it.
“With which hand?” she asked gently, pulling it back. “Your hands are hurt. It won’t be easy.”
I felt something warm spread in my chest. No one had been kind to me in a long time.
I opened my mouth and let her feed me.
“The boss told Miss June not to come to your room,” Nena said quietly between bites. “Otherwise she would’ve been here by now to threaten you again.”
I stared at the blanket. “I don’t know what I did to them.”
“Okay, I’ll tell you what you did,” Nena said, blowing on the next spoonful before offering it. “The boss seems to prefer your service over the other maids. He specifically asked for you to clean the east wing. Only you.”
My stomach dropped. “That’s it?”
“That’s enough,” she said. “In this house, attention from him is dangerous. It stirs up suspicion. Jealousy.”
“So all I need to do is stay away from the boss,” I said quietly.
“That’s it,” Nena nodded. “Just stay away.”
I shook my head. “I’m full now. I don’t want anymore.”
She set the tray aside and covered it.
“Let me prepare your bath,” she said, standing and heading to the bathroom. I could hear the water running.
I don’t know how to avoid the boss, I thought, staring at the ceiling. If I avoid him and he calls for me, it’ll look like I’m ignoring him. And I’ll be punished for that too.
I was still thinking when the sound made my blood run cold.
The main door to my room was pushed open.
Miss June walked in first. Behind her, Maria and Ann.
Fear crawled up my spine and settled in my throat.
“Well, well,” June drawled, looking around the room. Her eyes landed on the half-eaten tray, the IV, the clean sheets. “Look who’s getting the princess treatment.”
My hands started to shake.
No. What are they doing here? The boss said they weren’t allowed.
June stepped closer to the bed. Maria shut the door behind them.
“Aww, are you hurt, Alice?” June said mockingly, tilting her head. “You look so fragile. The boss must really care about you, huh?”
I didn’t answer. My mouth was dry.
“You’ve been a very bad girl,” Ann chimed in, smiling sweetly. “Disobeying orders. Trying to get close to things that don’t belong to you.”
“I didn’t do anything,” I whispered. My voice cracked.
“Didn’t you?” June’s smile vanished. She reached out and grabbed my chin, forcing me to look at her. Her nails dug in. “Then why is he protecting you? Why did he tell the guards to keep _me_ out?”
The IV line tugged at my hand. I winced.
“Let go of me,” I managed.
“Or what?” Maria laughed from behind her. “You’ll tell the boss? Go ahead. See if he believes a lying maid over his own sister.”
June leaned in close, her perfume sharp and suffocating.
“Listen to me very carefully, Alice. Stay away from my brother. Stay away from the east wing. Stay away from anything that isn’t scrubbing floors and washing dishes. If I see you near him again, next time it won’t just be a few lashes. Do you understand me?”
I nodded, tears burning my eyes. I couldn’t speak.
“Good girl,” she said, releasing me. She stood and smoothed her dress. “Come on. We’re done here.”
The three of them turned and walked out, closing the door softly behind them, like they hadn’t just threatened to break me.
The moment they were gone, I collapsed back onto the bed, shaking.
Nena rushed out of the bathroom, towel in hand, when she heard me.
“Alice? What happened?”
“Nothing,” I whispered. “I’m fine.”
But I wasn’t fine.
I was trapped.
If I got close to Alessandro, I’d be punished.
If I avoided him, I’d be punished.
And the worst part was… I didn’t understand why he’d even bothered to help me in the first place.
Outside, I could hear the distant sound of a Ferrari engine fading down the driveway.
Alessandro was gone.
And I was alone again.
- Writer
