Chapter 7 - Weird People

RHEA

Signing the contract made it feel like a burden had been lifted off me. For unknown reasons, it felt like it came with a sort of inexplicable protection. I didn’t know who he was or what this decision would bear, but for a fact, I knew I hadn’t made a wrong decision for the baby.

It had been more than twenty-four hours since I signed the contract, and he hadn’t been in my room ever since. The only people who came into my room were the maids, and they only came to drop off meals each time. At this point, I was afraid I would lose my shape before giving birth.

Then a knock came on the door, making me raise my head. “Come in!” I said.

The door opened, and a man walked in. Behind him was a maid whose head was bowed, with both hands folded in front of her.

“Good morning, Rhea,” he greeted, unsmiling.

My eyes wandered over him. I hadn’t seen him since I got into this house. Who was he?

As though he could tell what I was thinking, he said, “My name is Darian. I’m the Alpha’s… sorry… I’m Travis’s friend and assistant,” he mumbled, still expressionless.

“Oh,” I simply muttered, unsure of what I was supposed to respond to the introduction.

“He asked me to bring your personal maid to you.” He pointed at the maid behind him. “She will be at your beck and call henceforth. He said you cannot trust anybody else except her.”

The maid stepped forward and raised her head for the first time. Well, it only lasted for a brief second because she didn’t waste much time lowering her head again.

“Good morning, ma’am. My name is Irene, your personal maid. I will be at your service 24/7,” she introduced, and I nodded.

“Well, I don’t think I need a personal maid. I can do everything myself,” I said, diverting my attention to Darian.

“I’m sorry. I have no intention of taking orders from you, and you have no choice but to keep a maid with you because that’s what Travis wants. Do not forget you are with his baby.”

“Of course, Darian. I know I’m with his baby, but that doesn’t mean I have no thoughts of my own. I don’t think I’ll be comfortable having a maid to myself,” I countered almost immediately. “I know he’s trying to protect his baby, but that doesn’t give him the right to make me feel uncomfortable in the process. That could even hurt the baby more.”

He stared at me cautiously for a few seconds. Then he blinked and tilted his gaze to Irene. “You have to convince her to take you as her maid. Remember Travis’s condition,” he said emotionlessly, then turned and strolled out of the room without taking her along.

I was shocked. What were they doing—making Irene stay in my room until I had a change of mind?

“Darian! Why is she still here? Take her with you!” I shouted, but it all fell on deaf ears.

As soon as the door closed, Irene went down on her knees. “Please, don’t reject me. Save me, ma’am. Please, accept me as your maid,” she pleaded, her voice shaky.

My eyes widened, and my mouth opened, but I couldn’t say a word. This was more of a call for help than an attempt to change my mind. There was more behind her plea, but I couldn’t find that out from her. That much was certain.

“Okay, Irene. Be my maid,” I agreed and smiled.

Her dead eyes regained life when I said those words. Her orbs lit up, and her lips curved into a smile. “Thank you, ma’am. I owe you my life,” she said.

I paid little attention to her statement about owing me her life. I thought she said it out of gratitude.

At the same time, a knock came on the door, followed by Darian’s voice. “Come down for breakfast after accepting her as your maid. Travis is waiting.”

He had been waiting by the door all along and was definitely spying on us. One thing I had noticed about the people around here was their inconsistency. I had a feeling that something wasn’t right about everything happening, but I couldn’t yet say, “This is what it is.”