Riches comes with a price

CAMILLA

The limousine kept on driving until it came to a sudden halt. Slowly we began moving once again and a gigantic huge black gate came in view as we drove into Braden's home.

I noticed that the gate closed by itself.

It was probably electric or it was being controlled.

As we drove inside, my jaws dropped on seeing where he resided in.

The environment was so captivating. A large lawn decorated by colourful flowers and well trimmed grasses spread across everywhere.

There was a huge fountain that stood at the centre and surrounding this fountain were red roses, beautifully planted in the soil around it.

I noticed the grasses surrounding the area were perfectly trimmed and sprinklers watered it.

Mini-fountains oozing pure crystal clear water were spotted at almost every corner. I spotted some lovely picturesque buildings at the far back as our limousine kept on driving slowly

It felt like we were in a garden. The serenity was so natural. Soon enough a gigantic milky shade shadow came in view.

It was his house.

No. It was a mansion not a house.

How can one person stay in such a huge building?

His place was huge. The mansion was painted black and white, with huge wooden timber doors and two outstanding lion carved sculptures were placed at each side of the mansion.

Two huge pillars also stood at each sides of the mansion adding to it's awe-struck appearance.

My eyes drifted to the cars parked and I could swear they were up to twenty littered around the house.

Our limousine came to a sudden halt and the door was opened once again by the chauffeur.

Slowly, I stepped down from the limousine first.

The chauffer stood in waiting for me, the bags I had gotten from the mall in his hand.

"Thank you" I smiled at him and he returned it back with a warm smile.

"Get going" Braden snappily said at me and I flinched.

He walked ahead of me towards the huge doors of his mansion.

I suddenly became aware of the fact that there were many security guards patroling the environment as we walked.

Braden stopped on reaching the doors and faced me with an amused expression. He seemed to always have that look plastered on his face whenever he was staring at me.

"Slow poke. It took you long enough" Braden's bittered voice spat me.

Annoying and rude jerk...I thought to myself.

"Sorry sir" I mumbled an apology before Braden pushed open the doors.

I ponderously entered inside the grand mansion with heart thumping.

It was so imperial and lavishly designed.

The air was extremely cold inside, welcoming me in.

The mansion had two grand marble stair cases, it's rails outlined with gold and they were opposite each other, both of them leading to two seperate hallways.

I stood on what seemed like an Iranian designed rug as I took in every detail of the interior of the house.

Their were various plants pots around his large living room, each having different exotic plants growing on them.

Paintings, surprisingly nude paintings of women could be spotted around the walls of his living room.

Sheesh. What had come over Braden? This definitely wasn't the Braden I knew in the past.

His attitude and personality had totally changed and not in the good kind of way.

"Stop standing there like a log of wood and follow me" Braden suddenly snapped, startling me.

I shuffled my feet towards him and he at once yanked me by the hand even before I could protest to it.

Well there was nothing to protest to. He was my boss from now on.

"This is the kitchen Camilla" Braden said to me as we entered his huge kitchen.

As expected marble tiles decorated the walls of his kitchen and the floor of the kitchen were all black with speckles of gold that shone in rainbow flecks as the light hit them.

The touch screen induction stove was built into the marble surfaces of his kitchen counter and opposite it were various stools of different designs.

Cabinets decorated the right side of the kitchen.

In the centre of his kitchen, stood a long shiny kitchen table that could probably fit ten to fifteen people.

His kitchen was definitely huge.

"This is where you would carry out most of your duties. Breakfast must be ready by seven a.m sharp, latest seven thirty. I expect you to be up by six am. Dinner must be ready by eight p.m. Am I understood?" Braden gave me a stern look.

"Yes Br--I mean sir" I almost flopped.

Braden raised a brow at me before he continued speaking. "There's no need for me to show you all the rooms in this house because I am way too busy and I know you would find your way. Follow me"

We walked out of the kitchen and Braden pointed to a door right beneath the left staircase. "That room houses your cleaning supplies" he simply stated before making his way up the stairs.

I walked right behind him, holding tightly my bags which contained few personal belongings.

I became so lost in my thought as we climbed the stairs in silence that I missed a stair and almost tripped down but a strong grip held on to my waist.

My frightened eyes at once locked with his cold blue orbs as he held me right on time from falling down.

I probably wouldn't have survived if I did fall.

"S-sorry sir. I was just absent minded" I apologised, advertising my gaze from his.

Braden had no emotions in his eyes as he held me.

I didn't want to stare into them any longer.

His orbs burned so deeply into me. It is said that the hottest fire burns blue.

"Be careful how you walk. If you die on my property, I would be left with so many paperworks to deal with" Braden sternly said.

Braden's cold words to me some how shattered me as I had an inkling feeling that probably he felt some sort of care for me.

I nodded and the rest of our walk was in silence.

We kept on walking through the hallways until we came right in front of a white coloured door.

Pushing it open, Braden stepped in before me. I stared dewy eyed at it.

"This is your room Camilla" he announced.

This was the best room I had ever had.

My room back in Olga's was cramped and small but this was huge.

What first caught my eye was the beautifully carved ostentatious four poster bed with white and gold patterned sheets, having a caramel canopy roof over it.

Two long windows were situated at the far end, wisteria curtains drapping over them.

A beautiful foreign rug stood at the centre. I instinctively walked towards it and stepped on the silky soft rug. It felt so tender beneath my bare feet.

The room felt chilly which made me rub my hands together for warmth. My gaze then caught two air conditioners situated at opposite corners of the room and a fluorescent bulb illuminating the room with a sunset orange glow.

Wow. Braden got this room ready all for me? He already knew I would come rushing back to his feet.

Was I that desperate and was my pain that evident that I wreaked of it?

"That's the closet"Braden announced, his index finger outstretched, pointing at a black door. It jolted me out of my reverie to facing the door. I didn't even notice the two doors by the right hand side of the room; one black and the other a silver colour.

"It has all your maid outfits ready in it. And the other door is the bathroom. Remember that dinner must be ready by eight pm sharp" Braden added before walking out and shutting the door behind him.

I was all alone in the room. I shuffled my feets towards the silver door and met with a broad bathroom.

It had a jacuzzi sized bathtub in it and the sweet scent of almond and honey mixed with the air.

The toilet was also good looking too.

I sighed to myself and walked into my bedroom. All these came with a heavy price. My freedom had been ripped away from me and I was a mere toy in Braden's hands.

I couldn't help but wonder what laid in store for me in these coming five months.