Chapter Seventeen: The Unseen Strings 

Kaida

"Kaida!" Meredith exclaimed when the call connected. "Where have you been? I was worried sick." 

"I'm sorry. I was busy last night." 

"I was thinking of going to the police station if I didn't hear from you again by nightfall. You couldn't be that busy." 

"I know. You know that I'm just adjusting to how things are done around here. There's a lot to learn and catch up on."

"How is it going? Is it that stressful?" Meredith asked, her voice etched with concern.

I rubbed the side of my neck, where Kai's hand had held me in a chokehold the previous morning. That bastard. 

"Kaida? Kaida, are you there?"

 I snapped back to focus. "Yes, I am. Just got carried away." 

"Are you at work now?" 

"I'm about to be. I was immensely occupied last night. I'm taking a moment to catch my breath."

"And they allowed it?" Meredith sounded skeptical, her perspective still shaped by the rumors about the Ragnars, despite having encouraged me to apply for the job. 

"It's either they want me to end up dead. I don't get paid enough to get myself killed," I said, rolling my eyes. That was a blunder – I was being grossly overpaid to buy my silence from the attempt on my life.

"You said the pay was attractive," Meredith stated. 

"Yes, it is," I confirmed.

 "Why did you have to be so busy last night?" Meredith whined. "I looked forward to listening to the gist you had for me," she said, her voice tinged with disappointment.

 "I'm sorry," I apologized.

 "How about tonight?"

 I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. "I'm not sure. I still have a lot to handle," I said, trying to brush off the question. Frankly, I was terrible at lying, and the changed circumstances of my employment made it difficult for me to share any details with Meredith.

"You could at least send me a picture of your room or take a tour of the house with me," Meredith suggested. 

"The video of my room, I could do, but don't bank on the house. I could get lost while showing you around," I said.

 Meredith's voice rose with excitement. "Is it that large?"

 "Very massive," I confirmed.

Truthfully, I knew I dared not patrol the grounds on the pretext of showing Meredith around without Caspian's permission, precisely for my own protection. It would be awkward to be showing Meredith around their home while he was there; I bet he wouldn't agree to it.

Moreover, if I set out alone on that mission, I could run into Kai again. I wasn't going to risk a near-death encounter with him twice. For the one year I would be working here, I would make sure to blend into the shadows and remain unnoticeable until my tenure was over.

"You're so lucky," Meredith squealed.

 I wish I was. I rolled my eyes and pursed my lips.

 A knock rapped at my door, drawing my attention to it. 

"I have to go, Meredith. It's high time I started working." 

"Alright, baby girl. I'll call you later tonight." 

"Okay." 

"Make sure to keep your phone on you this time; otherwise, I'm storming that place with cops." 

I laughed softly. "Certainly, mama hen." I could envision Meredith rolling her eyes as we exchanged our final goodbyes, and I ended the call.

"You may come in," I said to whoever was at the door, looking at it. I expected to see Caspian as the door opened. However, it was Asher. 

My shoulders relaxed at the sight of him. I hadn't seen him since the morning Kai had attempted to kill me. I owed Caspian a debt of gratitude; had he not intervened, I was certain I would be reuniting with my parents at the moment.

"Caspian told me you were awake," Asher said, stepping inside and closing the door behind him. He always had that fresh-out-of-shower scent about him, which never failed to elicit a reaction from my body. 

I clenched my belly to prevent it from trembling in response, finding it difficult to breathe. 

Asher approached me, maintaining a reasonable distance. "I'm glad you're okay, and I apologize on Kai's behalf."

 I nodded. "Caspian already apologized."

"You're still staying then, right?"

 I lifted my eyebrows in response. "Well, my silence has been bought. What choice do I have?" I muttered under my breath, looking away from him.

 "You should clean up and come out for breakfast. You should have eaten by now."

 I nodded. "Thanks."

 "You can take this week off to fully heal before you start working," he added.

No way! After such an enormous payoff, I still get to have time off? This deal was getting increasingly disconcerting.

 "You have nothing to worry about, Kaida. You are in safe hands, alright?" 

I scrunched my nose and tsked. "That didn't seem to be the case yesterday." 

Asher rubbed the back of his neck. "About Kai. He's actually having a rough patch. If you get to know him, he's actually a nice guy."

I stuck out my tongue, sniggering. "Incredible." I rose from the bed. "I will get prepared now. Excuse me, please," I said, gesturing toward the door. 

Asher left the room quietly. 

How bold of me! Showing the owners of the house the exit. 

At least, one thing was obvious: they wanted to keep me here, regardless of the odds gnawing at that prospect. And I was curious to find out the main reason behind that. They hadn't hesitated to let go of their other employees. What made me different?

I cleaned up, finding the wardrobe filled with different outfits, from casual to exotic ones. 

My brows knitted into a frown as I gazed at the fully stocked wardrobe. It resembled a rich girl's wardrobe, not anything befitting a house help. 

The uniform I had been expecting to find there was nowhere to be found. Surely, these weren't what Caspian referred to as the uniform I would be putting on throughout my stay here – outfits he had single-handedly picked out for me. No, it couldn't be. There must be a mistake.

The clothing, ranging from casual to sophisticated, appeared to be from a high-end retail store, a stark contrast to my usual preference for second-hand shops due to their affordability. 

Their actions raised suspicions. The massive advance annual payment, their reluctance to accept my resignation, and now the wardrobe filled with expensive outfits all pointed to something more complex. 

Was I truly employed as a housekeeper, or was there more to my role here?

 I mentally noted that all living expenses were covered without deductions from my compensation, further fueling my suspicion. The warning signs were clear, and I couldn't ignore them. I craved answers. 

I considered refusing to wear any of the clothes until we had a discussion, but my own clothes were in the laundry basket in the bathroom.

 Wearing dirty clothes or confronting them in a towel wasn't an option. With no alternative, I chose the first garment I pulled out of the wardrobe—a flattering, short-sleeved white gown that cinched at the waist with a narrow V-line cut that revealed a hint of cleavage without being too indecent.

The material was soft against my skin yet thick enough to conceal the fact that I wasn't wearing a bra underneath—a deliberate choice, given my aversion to bras.

 I typically opted for looser-fitting clothes made of thicker materials that could hide my figure, often choosing dull colors to blend in. This white gown, however, was a departure from my usual style, but it would suffice.

 I slipped into one of the indoor slippers placed at the foot of my bed and set out to find Caspian, this time deliberately avoiding the path to their quarters. Instead, I headed toward the sitting room. 

My stomach growled as the smell of heated food wafted through the air, and my feet veered off course in search of the source. My mouth watered at the rich aroma of ham, cheese, and other savory delights.

I found Asher in the kitchen, working with the skill of a seasoned chef as he flambéed meat over the stove. He turned to face me, his eyes sweeping over me appreciatively before returning to his task. "Have a seat. Food's almost ready," he said without looking back.

 My gaze drifted to the island, where he had set a single place setting. "You're cooking for me now?" I asked, incredulous. 

Asher glanced over his shoulder. "Eat first. Talk later, Kaida. Now, sit," he instructed. 

I moved toward the island stool and sat down, feeling a wave of weariness wash over me. 

Asher served me, pouring a glass of wine to accompany the meal. "Thanks," I said. 

"Enjoy your meal," he replied, preparing to leave.

"Wait," I said, my confusion growing. The dynamics here were perplexing—I was the housekeeper, yet I was being served. While it was possible they were apologizing for Malachi's behavior, the extent of these gestures—expensive clothes, a week off, preferential treatment—felt excessive. 

Asher stopped in his tracks.

 "Where's Caspian?" I asked. 

"He's out on an errand. He'll be back soon. Eat your meal before it gets cold. If you need anything, just call me, okay?" 

My mouth parted in a silent response. Asher's calm demeanor was soothing, and for a moment, I felt at ease despite the questions burning inside me. But I knew that would change once Caspian arrived.

"You look beautiful in that dress, by the way. It suits you," Asher said, his compliment sending a flush to my cheeks. 

I turned my face away, trying to hide my blush. After Asher left, I smacked myself on the forehead, muttering, "Until Caspian arrives." I inhaled the aroma of the meal and began eating, savoring each bite. 

My admiration for Asher had grown exponentially with his cooking skills, and I had to remind myself to keep my feelings in check. I was here for the money, after all. Pursuing Asher, no matter how captivating he was, was off-limits.