8• Micah.

If you ask me about what I'm afraid of right now, it is the fact that Sullivan fooled his family.

I don't know if he's autistic, but I'm sure he's a psycho.

He had acted so innocently when his sister interrupted us, and I would have fallen for his pretense and called him a true autistic patient with how he had acted.

I didn't miss any of the cold gaze he threw at me when he walked to the staircase before focusing my gaze back on his blond-haired sister, who was looking coldly at me, but I wasn't moved by the stares she was giving me as I tightened my folded hands, still keeping them on my chest.

"I thought you were asked to serve my brother," Ginevra said more like asking me a question.

"Does it seem like I don't know my job yet?" I fired at her, wondering if my job was ever serving a lunatic like her, her sadistic, unstable brother, who wanted me to be his submissive.

At the thought of what Sullivan had told me and remembering the underground world he had taken me to, I wished to tell his sister straight away. However, on the other hand, his warning kept ringing in my head, and who knows what someone like him could do to me if I exposed his secret?

Ginevra looked down at me before raising her eyes to mine. "Do you want to get fired?" She threw the question at me and I would love to scream a big ' Yes! But what's the use of it when I know that even if I get kicked out, the gangster who picked me up from the airport will resell me to another buyer?

"Huh---no," I answered. "I'm sorry ma'am. I will do a better job." I apologise softly and Ginevra gave me a harsh look before walking past me.

She grabbed an apple and walked out of the kitchen, but stopped on her tracks, glancing back at me. "Oh. This should be the last time you intimidate my brother. And do whatever he asks you to. Understood?" She instructed, and I smiled a little, succumbing to her bossiness.

"Yes," I replied and watched her storm out of my presence.

It seems like everyone in this family just wants me to be obedient to Sullivan, like some kind of controlling device.

I walked out of the kitchen, climbing the staircase to the room that I had been assigned to start living in by Mrs. Stone.

I opened the wardrobe and saw that some clothes had been hung inside the wardrobe and they were all looking decent. Like what the fuck! Who wants to wear a long gown with arms that would reach my wrist? I screamed internally, glaring at the dresses Mrs. Stone must have ordered some of the housemaids to put on for me.

I was used to skimpy dresses and not all gowns! There aren't even trousers!

I fell breathlessly on the bed feeling as though my life had come to an end.

My luggage and phone had been collected by the gangsters after they dragged me out of the trunk leading me to a place I couldn't even see because I was blindfolded.

I finally let out a breath closing my eyes.

Everything seems strange and unsuitable for me. I just want to go back to my previous life. I miss Ricky, my long-time friend, whom I have known even before I became a slut. That dude is the best person who would be comforting me at a time like this.

I could see my mom's smile and my once-happy family. My dad was smiling as well, and both of them were playing with me in the garden of our previous small home.

Although my father had been struggling with his company, which went bankrupt, we were still happy with the little we had, even though it was coming from my mother's salary. We would sit and watch the stars at night, and they would tell me the usual stories about a good girl and a badass falling in love and I had believed in that crazy folktale. It's just so sad everything is now in the past, and my father is now a monster who only wants money, and my mother...

"Get up!" The voice shouted jolting me out of my peaceful sleep.

I yawned, glancing at the maid standing in front of me, and I called out. "What? Aren't I allowed to sleep again?"

"Please. You're allowed to, but not when you need to get master Sullivan down for dinner." The brunette-haired maid said in her strong Italian accent and I could barely understand what she meant by those words.

"Can't he walk down by himself?" I asked with sarcasm. "He walks perfectly fine this noon when he came to the kitchen to---"

"Will you do as you're told to do?" The maid interrupted me before I could complete my word, and I scoffed, raising a sharp look at her.

"What's your problem?" I rose from the bed. "Did I snatch the job you longed for?" I glared, amazed at how bitchy she was trying to get with me.

"Excuse me." She hurried out of my room and I frustratingly used my hand to push back the folds of my hair.

First Sullivan, Ginevra, and now the maid? Woah! And now I have to go back into that psycho two-faced bedroom? Why the hell is this happening to me?

I dragged my feet to the hallway, and I walked as if I was being pushed by some invisible kids, I didn't even realize when I got to the front of his room because I must have spent minutes with the way I walked.

I didn't knock as I was about to open the door when the door suddenly opened with force and my hand hung in the air, I couldn't control my posture because I had thought I was going to rest my tiredness on the doorknob but now I was falling flat to the floor when a strong hand grabbed me by the waist preventing me from hitting my smooth forehead on the ground.

I met with his blue orb which stared innocently at me. His hand was hard, I could feel it in how he held my waist so firmly, and his chest, which my hands were on--- suddenly he let go of me.

"Ouch!" I groaned falling to the ground. "Are you sick?" I fired at him. Whatever the case, this psycho needs help.

Is he back to his autistic self? Or is he just pretending to be one? I thought about watching him leave the room.

Whatever the case, this psycho needs help.

I groaned as I rose to my feet, feeling pain in my butt and I swore at him for not even apologizing.

I quickly caught up with him and held his arm, faking a smile as we walked downstairs, and I met with his family's gaze.

"Gentle," I said as he climbed down the stairs, putting on a fake smile that was having my face curse me for the fake act that didn't seem to suit me.

We finally walked down the stairs, and I was overly concerned about how he walked if it was possible for me, I would be helping him carry his legs.

"Hello, Micah." Mrs. Stone called with a bright smile.

"Hello, ma." I called helping Sullivan to pull out a chair and he had his seat, muttering a 'Thank you' to me.

"Please join us for dinner." Mr. Stone offered and I smiled faintly again.

"No, thank you." I refused humbly glancing at Ginevra and Sullivan. Of course, I ain't the type to dine with the enemies.

"You should." Mrs. Stone pestered. "Have your seat." She added.

I was about to decline again when Sullivan talked. "Yes... Micah. You hardly ate today."

I would be laughing at how he said those words but I'm at the front of his parents and I slapped back the urge to laugh.

I sat next to Sullivan, who smelled both masculine and refreshing. A hint of woodsy cologne mixed with the scent of soap, creating a clean, appealing scent. I couldn't help but take a deep breath.

As I inhaled the pleasant aroma of Sullivan's cologne, a maid came over and set a plate of mouth-watering Italian food in front of me and she left silently.

"How is it attending to our son?" Mr. Stone started a conversation and I tried to look as comfortable with them.

"I'm coping," I replied and he raised a brow at me.

Did I say something wrong? I thought raising a brow back at him.

"Coping indeed," Ginevra remarked and I stopped myself from glaring at her.

"Yes. Coping." I laughed derisively. "Huh... Do you guys know if he keeps some secret or acts sad ---" I was yet to complete my words when Sullivan coughed interrupting me. "Is that a sincere cough?" I whispered at him while he continued coughing.

"Please give him water." Mrs. Stone says pouring some water into a cup and passing it to me.

"Can't he drink it himself?" I scowled.

"Excuse me?" Mrs. Stone says and I immediately smile brightly realizing I might get thrown out of the house if I continue acting like this.

"I meant... He should be gentle when he eats." I lied collecting the cup of water from her.

I turned to Sullivan and helped him gulp some water from the cup before dropping it back on the table. "Are you okay now?" I asked with a smile and he nodded.

"So, what were you saying?" Ginevra asked and I took a look at Sullivan whose expression seemed to be giving me a warning.

I glanced back at Ginevra as a smile formed on my lips. "It's nothing," I replied, back to my obedient self and Sullivan seemed to give a smug smile.

I wonder why I'm the only one noticing this act of his.

We continued eating and Mr. Stone started another conversation asking me about my background which they should have known before hiring me or did they just buy me because the evil doctor asked them to? I almost wondered before bringing myself to answer Sullivan's father's previous question.

"Uh... I come from New York." I started while assuming they already knew about it. "And, I'm from a good home," I say again since I suck with introduction and what more do they want to know about me? "I'm twenty-four years old, my parents are fine and that's all..." I said hoping I wasn't rude since any word coming out of me always sounded rude to others.

"Gin is just a year behind you." Mrs. Stone said and I smiled a bit taking a quick look at Gin who always acted bossy with me.

I wish she was looking at me right now, I would love to make her know I am older than her.

"You went to college or... Dropout?" Mr. Stone asked.

"None of the above," I replied eating the meal in my mouth and they all seemed to look at me as though I was rude again. "I mean, I didn't attend college so I cannot be a dropout." I corrected.

"You didn't go to school?" Gin inquired this time with a mocking look as if trying to get back at me since I've taken pride that I'm older than her.

"Yes. I didn't. Not like Sullivan here did, did he?" I responded before continuing eating I had no idea my word came out scornfully until I met with Ginevra's gaze who glared at me.

At least a professional tutor was hired for him, unlike you, who remained illiterate. Ginevra fired, and I scoffed about giving her a word of mine when Mrs. Stone interrupted. "Let's just continue eating; it's getting late," Mrs. Stone said, and I rolled my eyes at Gin, who returned the gesture in kind.