CHAPTER FIVE

Coraline

I found myself back at Mr. Castelli’s penthouse suite the next day, staring in confusion at the contract papers and pen he had placed on the table in front of me.

“That contains the terms of our business arrangement,” he explained in a hard tone before I could voice out my questions. “Tasks you’re to carry out and rules you should never break. Legal action would be taken against you if you do. So just read through and sign at the bottom of the last page and we can get that out of the way.”

My eyes moved up to take him in. He was dressed in a business suit today and he looked so much more intimidating in the sharp, all black ensemble. His expression wasn’t any better, his face looking like it was carved straight out of granite itself.

It made me wonder why I had decided to subject myself to working under this kind of man that had the power to make my working hours less than rosy. Then I remembered the twenty thousand dollars sitting pretty in my bank account and that put a stop to the wondering in an instant.

“Okay.” I acquiesced softly, picking up the stack of papers and scanning through its contents. I was to resume work every weekday at 8am to make him breakfast then stay back when he goes to work to prepare his dinner. Then I’d properly preserve the food and go out to restock his pantry after which I was free to leave and go about my day until I returned the next day.

My duties were simple enough. But the rules were a little aggravating.

Never lie to him, never steal from him, never talk to him or call him except it was absolutely necessary. I wasn’t allowed to go anywhere past the kitchen, living room and guest bathroom. I wasn’t allowed to bring in any kind of visitor. I wasn’t allowed to run late, snoop around or slack off. I wasn’t allowed to linger one minute past my cooking time. I wasn’t allowed to repeat the same food twice in one month.

It went on and on like that and the words were already giving me a headache. I didn’t plan on breaking any of his stupid rules in the first place so I grabbed the pen and scrawled down my signature, not wanting to give him any reason to snap at me.

“I’d be needing your contact information,” he said as he collected the papers.

“You mean my phone number.” I countered without thinking, and he gave me another one of his frosty looks. I gave in and rattled off my number then dug into my sweatpants for my phone when he called it.

“What kind of device is that?” He leveled my phone with a look of disgust.

“The iPhone 8, why?”

“That thing looks ancient and like it would fall apart any minute. How would I trust to get in touch with you with that type of unreliable looking device?”

I almost laughed but held it back at the last second. “Don’t bother yourself, really. My phone is the definition of don’t judge a book by its cover. It had gone through a whole lot and have the battle scars to prove it but it has never failed me in my time of need.”

He stared at me like I was a different species of human. The look was a tad insulting.

He eventually let out a breath and shook his head then rose to his feet. “Since I’m already late for work, I’ll be skipping breakfast for today. Here’s my card for all the grocery shopping you’ll be doing.” He tossed a sleek black Amex card on the center table. “My house passcode is 0214. No one is to step into this place besides you while I’m gone. Any questions before I take my leave?”

I shook my head, just wanting him to leave already and stop looking at me like I was a pain in his ass. I wasn’t the one who told him to hire me in the first place so what was with him looking like he was already regretting his decision?

I wanted to roll my eyes so bad but managed to hold myself back, not wanting to act like the child he saw me as.

“Don’t forget the contract you signed.” He shook the papers. “I’m not a man to be messed with and I won’t hesitate to make your life and those of your loved ones miserable if you go against me.”

I swallowed and nodded again, genuinely scared of this man and what he was capable of.

‘You need the money’, I repeated like a mantra in my head. It was the only reason I was going to endure working for him. I was certain he was going to snap out of whatever weird delusion he was under sooner than later and discover there was nothing special about my food after all. But since he wasn’t back to normal yet, I was going to make the most out of this situation.

And by making the most, I meant making the most money.

He finally strode towards the door and when I heard it beep and the lock mechanism engage, I breathed a sigh of relief.

I immediately stood up and walked into the kitchen, deciding to be quick with my work and spend the littlest amount of time in this expensive as hell apartment before I broke anything that could cost me my entire life savings.

My phone rang when I was trying to figure out the best option for dinner and my heart skipped a beat thinking it was him. But when I looked at the cracked screen, I saw it was my sister instead.

“Hey, how’s it going? Has he declared his undying love for you yet?” Her familiar voice teased.

I snorted. “More like his everlasting hate.” I stepped into the pantry, trying to see if all the ingredients for chicken rigatoni alfredo were available.

“I don’t believe it. There must be something seriously wrong with him not to fall for your sweet charm.”

I let free an eye roll. “I’m not his type, Ash. He dates glamorous-looking women with big boobs and ass. Besides, he’s technically my boss. And remember the age difference? Yeah, that still exists.” Everything was literally against us, not that I was ever considering going for him in that kind of way.

Knowing the little I knew so far about him, he’d accuse me of being a gold digger and throw me to the wolves, aka his lawyers who I had no doubt were highly skilled at what they did.

A loud buzz suddenly echoed throughout the apartment and I startled at the sound, heart racing.

“Oh my God, I think he’s back. Maybe he forgot something?”

“Isn’t he supposed to just walk in?” Ash asked. “Why would he buzz his own apartment?”

“I’ll call you back.” I hung up before she could say anything else, already heading for the door and peering through the camera in the entrance panel.

A woman stood there dressed in expensive designer clothes, tall and sophisticated looking with a full face of flawless makeup and a chic handbag tucked in the crook of one dainty elbow.

“Alessio darling,” her high-pitched voice sounded through the small screen. “Open up. It’s Gigi, your baby.”