Chapter 12: Getting Thrown Out

Alyssa's POV

I was cleaning the room of one of the Alpha's guests when Claudia called for me.

I had no choice but to leave what I was doing and answer her.

I wondered what the problem could be this time.

I walked toward her, my steps careful.

"You called for me, Head Maid?" I asked.

"Yes. Leave what you're doing and go clean the Young Master's room. He has requested that it be cleaned."

"What?" I asked, surprised.

"Go clean the Young Master's room. How many times do I need to say it before it sticks?" she replied irritably.

I immediately bowed my head.

"Yes, Head Maid. I'll do that immediately."

I quickly walked away before she could bite my head off.

As I climbed the stairs, I silently cursed my fate.

Why did it have to be me?

Why did I have to be the one to clean his room?

I just hoped he wouldn't be inside when I got there.

When I reached his door, I took a deep breath, trying to calm myself before opening it.

I peeked inside.

Empty.

I breathed a sigh of relief.

Thank God.

I stepped inside and looked around.

His room was insanely clean.

Nothing was out of place.

I frowned.

What exactly did they expect me to clean?

Then my eyes landed on a picture sitting on the drawer.

It was a picture of Sebastian and Helena.

I walked closer and picked it up.

They looked so happy together.

I stared at the picture for a moment.

Then, without warning, the bathroom door opened.

"What are you doing?"

I shrieked, almost dropping the picture.

I turned around.

Sebastian stood there.

And he wasn't wearing a shirt.

"I'm—I'm sorry. I didn't mean to touch anything."

I quickly put the picture back where I'd found it.

"You two look beautiful together," I stammered.

"What are you doing here?" he asked.

"Claudia asked me to clean your room. I didn't know anybody was inside. I'm sorry."

I bowed repeatedly, my eyes fixed anywhere but on him.

Why wasn't he wearing a shirt?

"I'm sorry. I'll leave right now."

I turned to walk away.

"Wait."

His voice stopped me.

"Didn't I tell you not to come in front of me?"

He took a step closer.

"Yes, I know that. Claudia was the one who told me to clean your room. I couldn't exactly say no."

I kept my head bowed.

"You should tell her not to ask me to clean your room again."

"Why would I do that?" he asked, his voice laced with sarcasm.

I looked at him in confusion.

"Why wouldn't you?"

"Why would I do anything for you?" he asked again.

I was getting frustrated.

And he was still standing there without a shirt.

"It's not for me. It's for you. You're the one who doesn't want to see me anywhere near you."

"So you're saying you want to be near me?"

What was wrong with him?

Did he hit his head somewhere?

"I'm just saying your request will be more valued than mine," I replied.

"I see."

He nodded slowly, as though considering my words.

Then he took another step toward me.

I immediately held my hands up defensively.

"Young Master, please go and put on a shirt. You cannot stand like this in front of me."

"Why?" he asked.

"This is my room. I can be however I want. Why should I consider you?"

His sarcastic tone was beginning to get on my nerves.

"Fine!" I exclaimed.

"You shouldn't consider me. You shouldn't do anything for me. I'll just come back and clean when you're not around."

Before he could say anything else, I turned and hurried out of the room.

I ran downstairs, my heart pounding from the adrenaline.

And before I could stop myself, I started laughing.

What was really wrong with Sebastian today?

My laughter had already started drawing curious looks from the girls passing by.

I probably looked like I had gone crazy.

But for the first time, I realized something.

That had been the first conversation I'd had with Sebastian where I hadn't felt any malice between us.

I smiled to myself.

Maybe things weren't as bad as I thought.

I was about to walk away when someone bumped into me.

The person's belongings scattered across the floor.

"Oh, I'm sorry."

I immediately bent down to pick everything up.

"I'm sorry. I wasn't looking where I was going."

I gathered the things from the floor and stood up.

Then I looked up.

Helena.

"It's okay. I wasn't looking where I was going either. It's not your fault."

She smiled at me.

I couldn't help smiling back.

I handed her belongings to her.

"Thank you."

She took them from me but continued staring at my face.

"No, really... Why does it feel like I've met you before?"

My smile faded slightly.

"I might just look like someone you know."

I tried to walk away.

But she caught my arm.

"I'm sorry. You really do look familiar. I just can't place where I've seen you."

"Helena."

A familiar voice sounded behind us.

Sebastian walked toward us.

"Sebastian, doesn't she look familiar?"

Helena turned toward him, releasing my arm.

"I don't think so, Helena."

His eyes briefly met mine.

"Let her go back to doing her work."

He nodded toward me, silently telling me to leave.

I bowed my head and turned to walk away.

"Alyssa."

Her voice stopped me.

I slowly turned around.

"Alyssa Ross."

She said my name again.

I stared at her.

"How could I forget that hair?"

The warmth in her expression disappeared.

Something colder replaced it.

Something I couldn't recognize.

"What are you doing here?" she demanded.

"How dare you lie to me when I asked you who you were?"

By then, everyone had already gathered around to see what was happening.

I spotted Stella and Grace among them.

They were both looking at me with worried expressions.

"I didn't lie to you," I said.

"I came here only to work. Nothing else was important."

Helena looked at Sebastian as though she wanted to say something to him.

But she seemed to change her mind.

She turned back to me.

Then she grabbed my hands tightly.

"You came here to finish what your father couldn't, right?"

Her voice was filled with anger.

"Your parents bit the hand that fed them, and now you're here again."

She tightened her grip.

"You daughter of a traitor. You have no place here."

"You know that's not true!" I shouted.

Before I could understand what she was doing, Helena pulled me toward the gate.

"Stop it, Helena! Let go of my hand!"

She didn't listen.

She dragged me all the way toward the entrance before pushing me outside.

I lost my balance and fell to the ground.

Pain shot through me as I looked up at her.

"Get out," she said coldly.

She stared down at me.

"Leave. Now."