The drive was as long and as quiet as yesterday’s, Halle felt slightly uncomfortable and maybe a bit embarrassed. Maybe she should not have asked about Mr. Stone. It seems like everyone is bent on keeping whatever the famed yet unknown owner of Stone Corp was doing a secret even to her who he’d just hired. Halle wished she could play along, as a child she was very good at keeping her mouth shut. Her words were never valued and never believed, she held countless secrets, and in a way, if spoke to the right person she could’ve been able to destroy a lot of lives. People said a lot of shit in front of her because they felt or rather they knew she wasn’t capable of saying those words out loud to anyone. Halle pursed her lips and turned her gaze back to hard jawed Monty who was clenching the steering wheel so hard that veins bulged from his hand and neck. “Are you okay,” “No,” He said, surprising her, “I’m angry and no—” he shook his head, “I am not going to tell you the reason so don

He was able to find and contact her this entire time but yet he didn’t. Halle always believed that he was probably dead, seeing the kind of lifestyle he was into, she feared that the people he said were after him finally got to him and killed him. Yet here he was. He was seated on the royal blue sofa when Halle entered the living room. She had taken a warm shower and changed, not like she needed to do so but she desperately wanted to feel water on her skin, she made herself comfortable and just did it. Maybe in hopes that memories of him would wash away from her mind and then she’ll wake up from this nightmare. When she opened the door to the closet, she gasped in awe. It was a walk-in closet. Bigger and more spacious than anyone she’s seen on TV. It was a bit empty, all that was in there were the lounge wears Tabitha had told her about, Halle dragged her luggage into the closet and didn’t bother unpacking, she just left it there and changed into something more comfortable. Cott

Doctor Horacio was a nice man. At least that was what Halle wanted to believe when she looked into his eyes but she just didn’t get that vibe from him. Halle noticed that the man had stiffened up the second Xavier acknowledged his presence and gestured him forward. He grinned too widely and took slow steps to where they sat. He stood in front of Halle and Xavier, his smile too wide for his face, his gaze landing on Halle and making her squirm in her seat. “This is our family Doctor, Horacio,” Xavier said solemnly, looking at the mad like they both had some unspoken beef between them, they probably did. “He will see to all your health needs if you have any and run the proper tests,” “Nice to meet you, Miss Dean,” He outstretched a hand for a handshake and Halle took it while still sitting on the sofa. Xavier didn’t get up to greet him, why should she? His palms were callused, rough, and not what one would consider the hands of a doctor but yet his fingers were neat and trimmed to

Halle stayed up in her room for the rest of the day, only going downstairs to make a sandwich as she was too lazy to cook up anything extravagant.They had the ingredients and fuck they also had the best kitchen utensils, the types that looked like they were being polished but of if course it was just the quality’s natural gleam. Halle wished she could do more in that kitchen, turn it into hers but…it wasn’t hers and despite how many days she’d spent in the mansion, she still didn’t feel free enough to take such a big step and perhaps she never will.June, Collette, and Tabitha have tried their best to make her feel at home in the days they’ve spent with her but none of it really mattered when she thought about the way Xavier treated her. Like a non-existent employee.Damn it! It shouldn’t bother her this much!Halle stared blankly at the pages of the book she was reading or at least was supposed to be reading. She couldn’t focus, she couldn’t get the words properly in her head or

Xavier drove like the wheels were on fire or rather like they were being chased by the cops or something, he took unexpected swerves and unapologetically stepped on the brakes whenever there was a sudden red light.All through the hell of a drive, Halle dug her teeth into her bottom lip and stayed silent while hoping that her blind trust in the man wouldn’t get her killed. She held on to the door handle for dear life but yet didn’t shut her eyes, she tried not to look at him either, she wondered if it was his attempt at getting her riled up or maybe he just wants to fuel his amusement.The thought of being just a form of amusement to him made Halle grit her teeth and her eyes narrowed with determination.‘Why not go faster?’ She wanted to say with an acidic tone that she hoped would burn through his clothes and leave a mark.The drive which was supposed to be at least two hours took just one hour, before she knew it, they had pulled up at the front entrance of the university.T