Chapter Seven

It was 4am and Bella was already up and in the kitchen. She could not sleep well because of hunger and at that moment she was having her missed meals the previous day, alone in the kitchen. She saw herself eating like a maniac but what did she care? That was probably going to be the only opportunity she had to eat that day and she intended to eat very well. Who knew what Alexander had in store for her that day? After eating to her heart's content, she set off to prepare for the day after which she would start with Alexander's breakfast.

Just as she had predicted, Alexander came home by some minutes past five am and she had already set the table in his room for his breakfast. Alexander just walked passed her without a word to the table and started with his food. Bella watched him for a while. He looked like he had just exhausted himself with ladies the previous night. His hair was ruffled, as well as his shirt. He rushed the food like it was his last meal on Earth, grunting with every bite he took. Bella was disgusted at him. Somehow she felt pity for him with the way he was living his life. There was nothing productive about him. He only wasted. She thought, if she was his father, she would cut off every allowance from him and ask him to work hard for his own money since he obviously had no value for it. Perhaps if given the opportunity, she would suggest it to his father, Mr Felix. Then she remembered his mother and what Christine had told her about the woman. She could be the reason why Mr Felix had not done so, being that she was a troublesome woman.

Alexander finished his food and without casting another glance at Bella, he instructed that she cleared the table and leave him alone to rest. Then he jumped on his bed and dozed off. Bella quickly did as instructed and left the room. She was happy to be getting a little break that morning. She thought that Alexander would have had another tedious work for her that would keep her occupied before he would wake up.

Bella returned to the kitchen to have her breakfast for that morning and as she was eating happily, Christine walked in to her.

"Finally" Christine started "You were practically invisible yesterday. What happened?" she asked.

"Hell happened" Bella replied with food in her mouth.

"What did Sir Alex do to you?" Christine asked.

Bella quickly swallowed the piece of food in her mouth and started, "He is an animal. He made me his personal maid and is now bent on torturing me to death. I didn't get any break since yesterday. I had to wash a huge pile of clothes, his car, clean his entire room which he intentionally trashed. It wasn't till few minutes past three this morning I completed my yesterday's task and I still had to get up early this morning to serve him his breakfast before he returned from his night out with women" Bella said in frustration and continued with her food.

"Poor you" was what Christine could say being very shocked to hear all that Bella said.

"Is this like a punishment for slapping him?" Christine asked.

"Obviously" Bella replied.

"I'm so sorry Bella. I just pray he soon gets over the slap and let's go of you" Christine said.

"I pray so too" Bella replied her, "Coz I don't think I can survive a month here like this. I might just end up poisoning his food out of frustration" Bella sighed.

"Don't worry my friend. Everything will be okay, and I will be here to help you whenever I'm free" Christine assured.

"Thank you so much" Bella replied.

Bella had a little rest till lunch time that day. Sir Felix was not around, and Madame Claudia was not yet back from her journey, and so lunch was not going to be made by the cooks. Bella then had to singlehandedly prepare lunch for Alexander. Christine, as promised, was there to help her prepare Alexander's desired lunch.

While serving Alexander his lunch in his room as usual, Bella met an unfamiliar guest for the very first time in the house. The pretty lady was the one who opened Alexander's room door for her when she had knocked being that Alexander was in the bathroom.

Bella suspected the lady to be one of Alexander's many girlfriends and she thought that suspicion confirmed when the lady placed her arms all over Alexander as soon as he was out of the bathroom.

"Baby, your lunch is here" the lady had informed Alexander of the obvious after planting a light kiss on his lips.

Bella quietly studied that the lady seemed to be the one so interested in Alexander. She noticed that Alexander's response to her was just so cold and neutral. She sighed within her, that lady was set for a heart break is she would not be careful around a man as Alexander.

Alexander softly removed the lady's hand from his neck and walked to the table to examine the lunch Bella had brought.

"What is this?" he asked, facing Bella with a slight frown on his face.

"Your lunch sir" Bella quickly replied. She was already sensing an intentional trouble. "You had asked me to prepare this for you sir" she quickly defended.

Alexander smirked, "Well it looks disgusting. You'll make me another, one that does not look like poop as this one"

"But sir, it's actually fine and it tastes pretty good too" Bella replied.

"I don't want this one. I want a fresh one." he insisted.

"But sir, it took me a lot of time and effort to make this all by myself." Bella argued. She knew what Alexander was doing and she was hoping her argument would change his mind.

"I don't care, Bella, I won't repeat myself. I am not eating this garbage. You'll prepare this same meal again and you'll make for two this time. I have a guest as you can see" Alexander spoke firmly.

The lady who had busied herself with a magazine on the bed the whole time stood up and walked to Alexander.

"I also want some cucumber water with my meal" the lady said with a pretentious smile on her face, which Alexander reciprocated, then faced Bella,

"You heard my lady. Now get to work".

Bella took a deep breath and started off with removing the lunch she had set on the table. As she was about to leave the room, she heard Alexander, "Send some snacks first, Bella."

"Yes sir" Bella grunted and left.

Bella did as instructed, but this time, Christine was not available to assist her as she was busy with her assigned chore.

"I hate you so much Alexander" She said aloud in the kitchen as she worked.

"I know" she heard almost immediately and turned to see her master just by the door with a smirk on his face and his hands in his pockets.

Bella's heart suddenly became scared on seeing him. He was not supposed to be in the kitchen, what would he be doing there?

Alexander walked closer to her with his hands still in his pockets.

"I love that you hate me, Bella. I really do." Alexander spoke so satisfactorily. "And get ready, coz you're going to hate me even more"

Bella ignored him and turned to her chopping board. Alexander watched her chop the vegetables with obvious anger. He moved closer to her and held her hand, stopping her action. Bella turned to him, ready to attack him but did not utter a word. She let her eyes express the indignation in her heart and Alexander could interpret it accurately.

Bella's eyes were full of fury, slightly reddened but at the same time very alluring to the young man who was still holding her hand with the knife. Bella's emission of anger seems to attract Alexander more to her and he was gradually losing himself that moment. Bella did not understand what what going through Alexander's mind and was more irritated that he was touching her.

"Leave me alone" she said, wriggling her hand to free it from his grip but Alexander held on tight.

"What do you want from me?" Bella asked, giving up on struggling.

"To make you pay" Alexander replied quickly. Bella's indignation deepened.

"I think I've paid enough already. I'm being stressed out too much. How much more do you want me to pay?" Bella raised her voice.

"You might want to relax on your tone, Bella. If you attract the other servants, and they see us this way, you'll end up being the subject of mockery" Alexander smiled calmly as he spoke.

Bella's anger must have been too much for her as her eyes began to gather tears.

"You made a mistake by becoming my fantasy" Alexander began, "You worsened it by slapping me. As long as you remain my fantasy, Bella, I won't ever let you go till I get what I want from you"

"What could you possibly want for me?" Bella's rage turned into a plea for mercy. "There is no girl out there who wouldn't kill to be in your arms, who would not hesitate when you ask them. You can go after them and leave me alone".

"Why then are you resisting me?" Alexander asked.

"Because I'm not like them." Bella replied.

"Exactly. You're not like them. Every lady is interested in me, both the rich and the poor but you, you don't care. Why don't you care? Why aren't you moved by my wealth, my looks, my body. You saw me naked, Bella, but you just acted like it was nothing, unlike other ladies. Why?" Alexander asked.

"Because I have a dream. I have a goal in life and fraternizing with you will kill that dream. And also sir, I have a good upbringing from home and I cannot mess myself up just because of a wealthy man who is handsome, and who I know does not in the slightest way really care for me or love me" Tears streamed down her eyes as she spoke. Alexander left her hand. Bella's words seemed to have an effect on him. He cannot remember meeting any lady like that, with morals, values and vision. He fancied her the more but could not understand what he was truly feeling. He just felt that he needed to have her at least once and satisfy his fleshy desires. He stared at her in silence, wanting her more.

"Alexander" they heard and turned to the door to see the lady in Alexander's room standing there. Bella could see a hint of jealousy in her and quickly walked away from Alexander, minding her cooking.

"You said you'd be back in a jiffy and its been quite long you left me" She said, "What's the matter with you and the maid?" she asked him.

"Sophia dear" Alexander called, walking up to her, "It's nothing...." that was all Bella could hear, as Alexander pulled the lady, Sophia away from the kitchen.

Bella hurriedly finished her task and simultaneously pondered about Sophia. From the little scene, she did not think that Sophia was just a random girlfriend. It was after she has served Alexander and Sophia their lunch that she found out all about Sophia. While washing the car Alexander would use in his outing that night with Sophia, Christine was free to give her all the details about Sophia. Bella then found out that Sophia was Alexander's betrothed. Soon Alexander's days of frolicking about aimlessly would end and he would take over his father's business with Sophia Michael by his side.