SIX

Mani’s pov.

"Miss! " A distressed voice echoed through the room. 

" Please wake up, Miss."

I felt a hand on my shoulder shaking me, dragging me out of my slumber. My heavy lashes peeled open and the first thing I saw was a worried expression of a woman in her twenties like me. She was wearing what I assumed was a maid's outfit. She was leaning over me on the same bed where I passed out yesterday. 

" Thank God," she sighed when I finally opened my eyes. " I came yesterday to wake you up, but Sin said I should let you rest. Are you alright?" 

" I'm fine," I croaked. My vocal cords dried like sandpaper due to all the crying. I could see the pity and remorse on her face, so I decided to try my luck and see if she could help me escape. 

"Please help me, I have been kidnapped," I begged. 

"You need to be careful and mind what you say. I can't help you," the maid replied back anxiously. 

" Were you kidnapped as well?" I asked. That was the only logical explanation I could come up with since she was too scared to help me. 

The question seemed to throw the poor maid off guard. " What do you mean, Miss?" 

" Were you forced here against your will? Is that why you can't help me?" 

"No Miss, I've worked for the Violenta since I was nineteen, and I've been treated well, just like everyone else who is loyal," the maid explained cautiously.

I snorted out in disbelief at the words she said, " I don't care, I was taken against my will." 

" Quiet, you need to be careful," she whispered, looking around the room, " you don't want to get on Sin's bad side. As long as you do not disobey him, he won't hurt you". 

I spat out angrily, "Easy for you to say, you were not kidnapped and taken from everyone and everything you love." 

I could see that my words affected her, making her look away from my direction for a minute before looking back at me. " I really wish I could help you, but I can't. This is the first time Sin has ever shown much interest in a lady except for pleasuring him. I can't help you. I'm too scared to face the wrath of his anger". 

I let out a frustrated sigh as tears fell down my eyes. Deep down I knew she couldn't do anything to help since she was just as helpless as me, but I just couldn't help but take out my anger on her, which I now regret. 

"I—I'm sorry," I let out, giving out a tight smile as I managed to control my tears. 

" It's okay, I understand. I'm Zoey. I have been assigned to you by Sin in case you need anything. " She said, trying to ease the tension. 

"Normani, but my friends call me Mani ," I said.

" It's nice to meet you, Mani, despite the situation." 

" And you too, Zoey. I'm sorry again for taking my anger out on you." 

" its okay Mani," the dark-haired woman said, giving me a smile. " I will draw you a bath." 

I wanted to protest, but the box in her hand caught my eye, as if she read my thoughts, the woman explained. " It's a dress. Sin wants you to wear it when you eat dinner tonight." 

" Dinner with him..?"

" Yes, he requested your presence." She handed the box to me before walking towards the bathroom. I could hear the sound of running water drumming against my ears. My stomach coils at the thought of seeing that man again. 

Peering into the box, I found a beautiful red dress and a set of matching coloured lingerie. My fingers trembled, and the lump in my throat made it hard for me to breathe.

" You were asleep for hours since yesterday till this evening. I thought you weren't feeling too well." Zoey said as she came out of the bathroom. "Your bath will be ready soon. I will leave you to it." Before she could leave, I called her back. 

" Zoey"

"Yes, do you need anything else?" 

" Could you come keep me company before the dinner?" I asked anxiously, not wanting to be alone and needing every possible piece of information about Sin. 

A soft smile grazed her face, "I just need to finish up the choice I was assigned to and I will be back." 

" Thank you." 

After she left, an eerie silence engulfed the room and I drew in a deep breath. 

I need to be brave and smart. 

The warm water hardly soothed the wreck that became my nerves. I wished more than ever that an hour would turn into two hours. Anything to keep me away from coming face to-face with that monster. 

I sat inside the bathtub until the water had become cold and my fingers were wrinkled. I came out of the bathtub with a bathrobe wrapped around my naked body, and I walked back into the room. 

Zoey was already there waiting for me. She directed me to a seat in the room as she helped me with my hair and makeup. 

" Why do people call him Sin?" I asked curiously. 

" I don't know, but I heard he preferred being called Sin and no one was allowed to call him by his real name, not even family," Zoey said. 

" Do you know his name?" 

" We aren't allowed to say his name, Mani," she replied warily. 

" Please, I think I deserve to know who my kidnapper is. Don't you think?" I asked desperately. 

" Nikolai Violenta," she whispered, "Please always address him as Sin," she pleaded. I nodded, knowing fully well that I wasn't going to listen to her. If his name pricks him, then I would gladly use it against him. 

An hour later, I was dressed and ready. My breath was shallow and my fingers clung to the soft material of my dress as Zoey led me down the waving hallway to the dining room.