Chapter Seven: Off Limits 

Kaida

I cleared my throat, drawing the brothers' attention toward me. Three pairs of eyes snapped in my direction, their gazes sharp and piercing. My gaze, however, was fixed on Asher. He didn't seem pleased with Caspian's action, and neither was I. Did I get a say in who escorted me to my room? I was clearly in no position to choose. 

Asher threw me a playful smirk. "Don't be scared, Red. We weren't about to go feral."

 I smiled faintly, my mouth parting wordlessly. I clamped it shut, opting for a soft humph instead. I felt Caspian's glare burning into my skin, but I ignored him.

Asher waved a casual salute at me, starting to move. "See you around, Red." He began to walk back in the direction of the exit. 

"It's Kaida," I told him when he reached my side. He merely hummed, smiled once more, and left. I watched Asher until he was out of sight, feeling a sense of relaxation wash over me. He had that effect on me, and on everyone, from what I'd read.

Kai got to his feet as well. My head swung in his direction at the abrupt movement. He stormed off without sparing me a glance, following in Asher's wake. I promptly moved out of his way, lest he barrel into me with his shoulder. As if there weren't enough room for him to weave his way to the exit, why did he have to pass exactly where I was? That rude jerk. I glared at the back of his head before turning my attention back to Caspian.

"Are you done ogling my brothers?" Caspian threw at me with a bite in his voice. He looked unusually expressionless, like anger was simmering beneath his impassive features. 

My head reared back at his question. "Excuse me?"

"Follow me," he barked, turning abruptly.

 It was a struggle to keep up with his long strides. I had to jog after him to maintain his pace. What was it with these alpha males and their bad attitudes? Why couldn't they be more like Asher, who was nice and easy to get along with? 

Kai and Caspian were undoubtedly the reason behind the past helpers' need for therapy. They were in for a surprise if they thought they could break me like the others. For the money, I was willing to stoop so low, but there was a limit to how much I could temper down the hellion side of me.

I might look dainty and couldn't win a one-on-one fight against them, but they clearly didn't want to provoke me. Battle is not often won by physical strength or size. I was being unwise to contemplate challenging two alphas, but when push came to shove, I wouldn't hesitate in putting these two brats in their place. I turned my mouth upward, scrunching my nose in distaste as I followed Caspian.

He led me across an artfully lush hall with a polished marble floor that would put a master architect to shame. The surroundings were exotic, and each turn he took led me further away from the sitting room to the living quarters. We passed several doors before he finally stopped at the entrance to one. He turned to face me abruptly as he reached that door.

 I was taken by surprise, caught in the act of glaring at his back with my mouth turned upward in contempt. Slowly, I relaxed my mouth, forcing my eyes to meet his gaze without wavering.

"This is your room, Kaida. Go in and change into your uniform. I expect you to be out in an hour for further instructions." 

"Uniform?" I made a face, parting my lips. 

"It's part of your contract. You'll find the physical document on the bed in your room. You have an hour," he repeated.

 "I heard you the first time you said it," I responded. 

He appraised me with a look I couldn't fathom. "You have an attitude." 

I tsked. "Coming from you, that's shocking." Kaida! I mentally growled at myself. Why was I hell-bent on sabotaging my future here? Glaring, mouthing off at them, being sassy – I clearly wanted to break the record for the shortest time an employee had worked with them. I bit my tongue in caution. However, Caspian didn't remark on my apparent rudeness. Instead, he began to walk away.

"Kaida." 

I heard him call me when he was a few distances away from me, and I turned to look at him. "Yes." 

"My brothers are off-limits." 

I choked down a scoff, narrowing my gaze. 

"You're here to work, and I expect you to conduct yourself accordingly. Understood?" 

My mouth parted as I rolled my tongue in my mouth. Annoyance bristled under my skin as I watched him. What was he trying to imply? That I would try to seduce his brothers?

I hissed under my breath. I had no intention of making advances toward men who were far too attractive for me to handle. My self-esteem was already fragile enough without the added burden of heartbreak. 

I forced a smile at him. "I understand, sir. May I be excused, please? I'm certain a non-fraternization policy is included in my contract." I hate you guys, I thought. If not for my circumstances, I would gladly remain enemies with you until karma avenges my case against you. But I couldn't say that, could I? So, I dutifully smiled at him while awaiting his permission.

Caspian watched me for a brief moment. "No."

 "Time is ticking. My hour will be up soon," I reminded him. 

"A non-fraternization policy was not included in your contract," he told me, fixing me with a blank stare. 

I blinked. "Perhaps you should consider revising it," I suggested.

 "Obey the rules, Kaida, and there will be no trouble. Otherwise," he concluded, leaving the threat implicit as he walked away.

I bit the inside of my cheek as I watched Caspian's retreating back. I clenched my fist, itching to hit him hard, damn the consequences. The man was infuriating. 

The idea that I could have any romantic interest in his brothers was laughable. Kai was a walking red flag. Asher, on the other hand, was a green flag, but even if he was nice, it didn't mean he wanted to be friends with me. 

My eyes might widen at the sight of vast wealth, but I'm not a gold digger. Seduction is the furthest thing from my agenda. That Caspian perceived me as that kind of woman rattled me. But I didn't blame him; I blamed my body for giving the wrong impression. I'm a full-blooded woman, not an alien. Of course, my body would react to the sight of a handsome male. However, that didn't mean my mind and body often coincided. I still harbored resentment toward the Ragnar brothers, except perhaps for Asher.

"You have an hour!"

 I jumped, my eyes widening as I gasped. I could have sworn I heard Caspian's voice in my head. My head spun toward the hallway he had exited through, and I quickly opened the door to my room and rushed in, clutching my racing heart.