Chapter seven

He carried her into the room they’d emerged from, before climbing up the golden staircase. On reaching the top of the stairs, Phoebe observed that the mansion was bigger than she'd initially thought as they kept passing door after door. She wondered if it would be possible for her to escape from the house which seemed to expand the more they went. Looking down at his hard-rock back, Phoebe wondered if he felt pain at all with the way he was carrying her effortlessly like she was weightless even when she weighed over 59kg.

They continued that way for a while, turning left and right, until he finally stopped by a door, which he opened to reveal a beautiful and spacious room. The whole room was painted milky white, matched with golden tiles. The vanity, wardrobe, closet, and door were all of golden color. There was also a queen-sized bed at one end, wrapped with pure white bedding. Before Phoebe could finish drowning herself in the beauty of the room, she was thrown with force onto the bed, so much force that her hair-tie snapped, causing her hair to come undone and scatter all over the bed.

“What is wrong with you!” A frown marred her face as his smile widened. Naturally, she was supposed to feel scared by the way he was acting like a psychopath but all she felt instead was anger.

“Look, I have no idea why I am even here. For all I know, this is nothing less than a kidnapping and I would advise you to let me go this minute if you don't want to face the repercussions,” She threatened as she stared hatefully at the man in front of her.

Phoebe wasn’t sure of what she'd expected but the way he scoffed at her while standing above her, feeling like the prince of Paris had her stomach twirling in disgust. Who does he think he is?

Pathetic jerk. She cursed inwardly.

“From now henceforth, you will listen to whatever I tell you. For this whole year, you would be my surrogate, and I, your master. I will send the documents and your food up soon, It's important that you sign it. I would let you rest for now.” Mr.Reid explained, exposing his immaculate white teeth. Knowing that it was all a facade and he wasn't the gentleman he was trying to portray himself as, Phoebe made a mental note not to give in to his silly games.

“I won’t sign anything,” she stated as she sat on the bed, pulling at her dress that had gone up from the awkward position. If he had seen anything, he didn't mention it and his demeanor remained unchanged.

“You will, princess. You surely will,” Mr. Reid opposed, his voice filled with authority that made Phoebe wonder what would happen if she didn't comply. A part of her wanted to push the jerk’s buttons, to drive him insane until he let her go but she wasn't sure if her safety would be guaranteed.

Choosing not to entertain him any further, Phoebe turned her head to the window, indicating uninterest in the conversation.

Didn't Raven signify a bad omen? She wondered as she caught sight of a black raven perched on a cable through the window.

“You didn't ask for my first name? His voice interrupted her thoughts, making her brows knit in a frown but she refused to look in his direction. The raven ate something that was on the floor and flew away. Looking farther to the right, she noticed that the compound had a garden, a beautiful garden with different varieties of flowers adorning it. She’s always had a thing for flowers and the mere sight of them brought back color to her once-pale face.

Phoebe startled slightly, her frown deepening as she felt a body behind her. She tried getting away from him but as if sensing what she was up to, he entwined his fingers in hers and leaned his head on her shoulders, both of them facing the floor-to-ceiling window.

“You like the view?” his voice was calm and Phoebe couldn't help but wonder if there was a soft heart behind the hard exterior.

“Please let me go, I beg of you. I promise I will repay the money my father must have collected, down to the last penny,” she pleaded. It was not like she bought his useless story anyway but she had to convince him into believing she did.

“I would give it back. Just let me go. I know you are a good man and wouldn't want to go to the length of abducting a woman.”

The fact that he'd been acting all nice with her since she came was even scarier. Why would he go through the trouble of kidnapping someone just for a child? The luxury in the mansion was enough proof of his financial status, that he was a billionaire and could get as many women as he pleased. No, women would gladly throw themselves at him, all he needed to do was just smile at one. What was his real motive then? Why had he abducted her? As much as Phoebe cracked her brain to figure it out, she didn't find any possible answer. Her heart thumped erratically in her chest as his breath fanned the nape of her neck.

Mr. Reid chuckled in a manly way, a way that had Phoebe’s body reacting in the opposite of her mind, before responding. “You want to repay me? The CEO of the Reid Group of companies? Hmm, interesting.”

“So how do you intend on repaying me?” he asked, turning her around until she was facing him. With his hands still on her shoulders, he flashed her his set of teeth.

“You can't possibly pay me back, sweetheart. You would stay here until you give me a child. The earlier you accept that fact and start seeing here as your new home, the better it will be as I am not going to let you go.

With that and without signs, he exited the room, giving the door a little bang.

Pathetic jerk. Phoebe cursed under her breath as she exhaled the air she'd been holding while staring at the door in disbelief. Everything felt so unreal, like a dream. But she was sure it wasn't one. Thoughts about Trevor and her father clouded her mind. Did her father really sell her off to pay their bills? She walked back to the bed but her phone was nowhere in sight. Had she dropped it during her struggles with those men? No, she'd brought it with her. She was sure of it. Scanning the room with even more zeal, she searched for her purse too but it was nowhere to be found.

Assuming that she must have left it downstairs, Phoebe made for the door. At this point she needed some form of emotional support, she needed someone to know that she was in danger.

As soon as she opened the door, she was met with the figure of a woman, who looked to be not so far from her age, somewhere in her mid-twenties, hair packed up in a sleek bun, and putting on a maid uniform. She was posed funnily, with one hand holding a closed tray and the other arm outstretched towards the door. Phoebe’s furrowed eyebrows relaxed as she soon figured out that they had both reached for the door at the same time.