5

When I woke up the other day, it was still dark outside. I couldn't sleep the entire night. New places always creeped me out and it made it extremely difficult for me to sleep. So I decided to get ready and go out to hunt for a job for myself. 

Staying with Silas in the same house was not good for my mental and heart health. His face is enough to remind me of the beautiful past we had and the pain he gave me after making me believe in love so much. When Silas made me believe in love for the first time, he was the only one who broke my trust and faith in love and men. 

After taking a quick bath, I changed into a pair of formal pants and a brown blouse. I pulled my red hair into a ponytail and wore my shoes again. I need to earn to survive and hide myself from Ethan and my father. And for that, I need a good-paying job. 

It was still dark, and I could barely find anyone in the mansion except for some kitchen staff who were cleaning the kitchen while others were chopping the vegetables. Taking advantage of Silas’ sleep, and the lack of a lot of people in the corridors, I tip-toed out of my room and started running out of the mansion without making noise. 

Is this how thieves feel when they break into someone’s house to steal? Because I was getting the same feeling. 

“Going somewhere, Bella?” My heart almost jumped out of my mouth when I heard Silas speaking, and a loud scream erupted from me as I turned out, clutching my heart. I glared at him with an accusatory gaze. 

“You scared me! Idiot! What are you planning to do? Give me a heart attack and kill me?” I asked him, my chest resonating with my rapid heartbeat. 

Silas smiled at me, his eyes danced with mirth, making me go all red. He was leaning against the pillar, his hands crossed against his chest, and his eyes were twinkling with newfound merriment which was infuriating me like nothing ever did. 

“Aww, you finally decoded my plan? Damn it, Bella. I thought you would never understand my fetish with killing women with heart attacks. You’re smart.” He said, slapping his right palm against his trouser-clad thighs. 

“Shut up! What are you doing up so late?” I asked him, narrowing my gaze as I crossed my own arms to look a little intimidating to the giant man standing in front of me, who pushed himself away from the pillar and started walking to me. 

“And why are you walking towards me?” I asked him, lowering my arms, and taking a couple of steps back, and his amusement increased seeing how quickly my composure broke down. 

“Why? Standing in the same space as you is illegal now, Miss Murphy? Or are you scared that your stubbornness might lose in front of my charm?” He asked me, looking smug, and the desire to slap the smugness off his face took birth inside me. 

“I don’t have time to help you get rid of your self-obsession, Silas. I am running late.” I said, turning around to leave when he grabbed my wrist and pulled me towards him. 

I gasped when my head hit his chest and his arm wrapped around my waist to steady me. My heart was accelerated as soon as the warmth from his body heated up my skin. And my skin pricked with familiar goosebumps every time his fingers would touch me. 

“Where are you going? At four in the morning? If you think I will let you roam on the streets, homeless and hungry, in the mouth of risk, you are wrong, Bella. Until I find out the truth you are not leaving. Get back inside. And it’s cold. Come inside.” His eyes blazed with seriousness, and his tone smoldered with power. 

“Leave my hand, Silas. You can’t expect me to sit down and waste my time just because you think there is some sort of danger that is lurking behind me like a predator. It’s just your illusion! And I need money, Silas. Nobody pays people who do nothing. Leave my hand.” I spoke lowly, irritated by the control everyone wanted to have on me. 

“I will pay you. I will employ you.” He said. No ounce of amusement was in his eyes that could prove his joke. He was dead serious. And I wouldn’t lie, these words might have made me blush seven years back, but they angered me the moment he spoke them. 

“I must appreciate your bold assumption that I will work for you. But sorry to burst your bubble of illusion, Mr. Kingsley. I will go out now. I will look for a job where you won’t be involved in any way. I will work. I will make my own career, Silas. And you won’t stop me because you have no say in my life.” I said, glaring into his eyes, and I watched his midnight gaze calming down considerably as he heard me speak. 

“You’re right. I have no say in your life, Bella.” Silas spoke before leaving me alone, standing on the doorstep. I watched him walking away as if my words hurt him and caused him deep burns and cuts. 

Regret engulfed me when he walked away. A sense of remorse swept through me when he didn’t argue. His lack of persuasion made me feel empty from within. It was painfully funny how I still craved him. 

But he was gone, and I knew I had to move on as well. Unclenching my fist, I let out a breath and decided to take a step forward to the first step of my life. 

…

“I know you have done your major in designing but you’re a fresher, Miss Murphy. I saw your work and they are marvelous but the salary you’re expecting is not something a fresher can get.” Mr. Lewis, the sixty-one-year-old said, making me sigh. 

“I understand. So from when can I start working, Sir?” I asked him, and Mr. Lewis smiled at me politely, placing the file in front of me.

“If you agree to the terms and conditions, Miss Murphy, I would like to have you working for us from tomorrow itself. Tell me if you are okay with the terms and conditions, then I will mail you the contract and you can mail them back to me after signing.” Mr. Lewis said softly, and I sighed. 

This was the fourth company I went to with my resume. While two of them didn’t have a vacancy, the rest two offered me a basic salary. And I had no option but to accept. It was still better than being jobless. 

After reading the terms and conditions, I placed the file back and nodded my head. 

“Send me the contact, Mr. Lewis. I will start from tomorrow only then. Thank you very much for your time.” I said, and Mr. Lewis immediately put a stamp of SELECTED on my resume, offering me his polite smile once again, dismissing me silently. 

Tired and hungry, I walked out of the office. Filling my bottle with water, I started drinking the cold water. Drinking cold water in cold weather is not always a good decision. But I was making decisions that were anything but good. No warm clothes, no lukewarm water, no money, no food. 

I was dependent on Silas for food, shelter, and water for another month. At least, until I received my first salary. I will pay him back for the number of days he will keep me inside his house. His pity and favor is the last thing I want. 

I was deep in my thoughts when I bumped into someone. My files fell down, and the papers scattered on the floor. Mumbling a quick apology, I started picking up the papers. I was too busy to gather my belongings that I didn’t pay attention to the man who bent down to pick up a spare copy of my resume I had managed to drop. 

“Bella Murphy.” 

My eyes widened as I looked up at the man who was staring at me with disbelief. He stared at my resume and then at me before he took a step forward to grab a hold of my hand. 

Fear, panic, and dread filled my body. I did what my mind told me to do when he tried reaching me, I kicked him hard in his balls and made a run for exit. I need to get away from here as soon as I can. 

What the hell was Ethan’s man doing here? In my hometown?

And the safest place I could think of was Silas and his house. The only man who could protect me from Ethan and his clutches was Silas Kingsley.