Chapter 4 - Belle

We arrived at a seemed-to-be-exclusive property and I am in awe of the vastness of the whole place. A huge mansion is proudly towering the well-maintained garden adorned by different lights.

"Is this your house?" I shyly asked while feeling so conscious of his intent gaze. I just can't guess what he is thinking with his unreadable expression. 

"Yes and your home from now on" he just briefly said with the same expressionless face.

I stared at him for a while and turned to look at the huge mansion in front of us.

"It's so huge" I mumbled softly with pure admiration. 

"It's empty" I heard him whisper. I turned to him and stared at his face. Looking at the mansion, his gaze was blank. I don't know what he meant but I could see his vulnerability despite his intimidating aura.

"You have all the luxuries in there," I softly countered, turning to look at what he was looking at. 

"Maybe..." that's all he said before taking a very deep breath. 

"Come on let's get you settled, I know you are tired" he grabbed my bag and carried it himself while his other hand grabbed mine.

I followed him quietly as I looked around in awe. The place is so huge and the door just opened for us, which later I noticed there were two uniformed men beside it. I smiled but got no response from them. They look awfully serious.

After we stepped inside the door, a uniformed old man was standing in the center of the huge entrance who seemed to be waiting for us. 

"Welcome home master Ethan and to your guest" the man politely greeted with his bowed head. 

"Prepare the dinner" he just ordered while we continue to walk past him towards the stairs. I hurriedly smiled at the old man who smiled back at me. 

He held my hand the whole time we were walking up the grand staircase. I am awestruck by the huge chandelier hanging at the ceiling way down to the first floor. The whole mansion is so magnificent from above.

"Beautiful!" I haven't stopped myself from admiring the view. I realized he was looking at me, so I just covered my mouth with my other hand and kept quiet to mull my embarrassment. 

We entered a huge room with a huge bed, with a huge living room, with a huge balcony. Everything is huge. I can't help myself from gaping in awe. I kinda felt like a stupid idiot when I saw him looking at me with his amused expression. I'm so embarrassed when I noticed him staring at me with my wide-open mouth while looking around. 

"This is the master's bedroom" he announced shortly with his calm yet serious tone. 

"Ahm...this is what I will clean every day?" I thoughtfully asked while I looked around. It's huge but I would gladly clean his room, even if I clean the whole house it will still not be enough for all of his help to me. 

"What are you talking about?" his voice suddenly became hard and I turned to him to see him glaring at me. 

"Ahm, about cleaning your room. I will start to clean now or tomorrow?" I carefully and cautiously asked in case he hasn't heard me. 

"And why would you clean my room? I have a lot of people to do that" I was surprised when he suddenly had an outburst. Rich people are easily triggered. Tsk, I mentally clucked my tongue. 

"Then what will I clean?" I asked him softly while feeling so nervous with his glaring eyes. 

"You will not clean anything" pinching the bridge of his nose, he heaves a sigh.

I immediately kept quiet when I saw the pissed expression on his handsome face. Did I say something wrong? I got nervous when he seemed to be pissed. He kept on heaving a sigh while massaging his temple this time. 

"You take your shower first, I will find some clothes that would fit you," he said after a while. Relieved by his calmness, I nod.

"Ahm...okay. Thank you" remembering I don't have clothes, I pause and stare at him. It was a relief he will lend me something to change. 

I quietly picked up my bag and turned towards the door. I was busy thinking of just asking the old man downstairs where I could take my shower. I was almost at the door when I heard him ask again.

"Where are you going?" he asks while still glaring at me. He had to do something with his temper. 

"I will just find the bathroom downstairs, don't worry I won't be lost" I turned to him and assured him that I can go downstairs without his assistance. 

"Belle why would you find a bathroom downstairs?" he looked incredulous when he asked. He gave me another confusion, which made me rooted on the floor. 

"Okay...let's clear this, this is my room, and starting now you will be staying with me. There is a bathroom you will use just like me and you can use everything you can see around here. Did I make myself clear?" I was just staring at him the whole time he was talking. He looked irritated and pissed so I just nodded my head to all of what he said. 

"You take a shower now so we could have dinner" he added with a serious face. Without much thought, I turned towards the bathroom he had pointed to earlier. 

I'm still not sure if I heard him right. I will also be staying in his room? Wouldn't it be so awkward to share a bedroom with a man like him? Well, I honestly don't feel awkward or anxious around him, in fact, I even feel safe when I'm with him. 

It's quite strange but I feel I can trust him with my life, but people will definitely talk around here so might as well ask for another room later. This is a big house and I'm so sure there are a lot of rooms here for guests or I could just sleep together with the other people I saw downstairs earlier when we arrived. 

I was in awe again when I entered the bathroom, he has a huge tub, with a huge shower cubicle and a huge vanity with a wide mirror. The bathroom is magnificently elegant I'm so afraid I might break something expensive. 

I slowly went to the shower and looked for the showerhead which I found on the ceiling. I saw these kinds of showers and I know it can be cold and it can be warm.

Thinking of my room back there in building Z, I only had a cold shower. No warm since I can't afford such luxury. It's indeed nice on the skin to shower in warm water, I don't have to hurry because it's so cold. 

Losing track of time, I enjoy the warm water and the sweet-smelling liquid soap when the door suddenly opened. I froze when he unceremoniously entered with me still inside. He just casually went inside with only the translucent shower wall to conceal my nakedness. 

"I want to pee, you are taking so long" he casually said while walking towards the toilet bowl and peed as if I'm not here. I gaped at him but realized what I'm doing so I hurriedly turned away and mentally scolded myself for watching him pee. I can feel my face burning and surely I'm as red as a ripe tomato.

"I...ahm...the water is warm here. I didn't notice I had already stayed long. But I'm finished now" I hurriedly rinsed my whole body of the liquid bath soap I forgot how many times I repeatedly used. 

I'm supposed to be embarrassed and offended but I can't find malice in his actions even if he can surely see the silhouette of my nakedness from where he is standing. 

I forgot he would be waiting so I just hurriedly showered while he waited for me. When I'm finished I grabbed the towel in the rack to wipe and wrap around my body. 

"Here's the robe, come here" I didn't notice he was already beside me with a robe in his hand and slipped it on me. 

I just silently wore it and let him dry my hair with the towel. He pulls me to the counter to blow dry my shoulder-length hair. 

"Your clothes are on the bed, I will just take my quick shower then we will have our dinner," he said softly while running his slender fingers through my already dried hair. 

I nodded before I quietly went out of the bathroom. I put on the clothes I found on the bed. The clothes are my size but it's not new. I wonder who owned it, maybe from one of the women I saw downstairs. 

I took another look around the room when I noticed a glass sliding door across me and with my curiosity, I walked towards the balcony. The magnificent night view got me gawking. I turned around several times to take in the entire beauty of the night lights from afar. The whole city is just below and it sparkled with different lights against the darkness around. The view is so mesmerizing and I am so amazed I forgot the time. 

"Do you like it?" I was startled when I suddenly heard his voice amid the silence, although it's softer than usual. 

I turned to him and smiled. He is already dressed casually, with his black pants and a blue shirt. He is at home but he is still in his casual attire, if I am home I'm just in my shorts and old t-shirt which sometimes have holes on them. 

"It's magnificent!" I exclaimed happily and I'm so sure he can see the bright sparkle in my eyes. 

"Yes, it is" I looked up at him and found him looking at me instead of the view I'm referring to. I just gave him my warm smile and turned towards the city again. 

"You can stay here if you want to enjoy the view while studying" he mumbled softly as he stood behind me and placed his chin on my head. 

"Can I do that?" I asked excitedly. I'm looking forward to doing it since the view is so stunning. 

"Of course, anything you like, you can do it here Belle. But first, let's have our dinner" he mumbled above my head and held my hand. I just took a last look at the city before I let him drag me inside. 

We went downstairs with my hand still on his. We literally walk while holding hands. It didn't escape my eyes all the subtle glances from the people we passed by. I can see them staring at our joined hands, even if they tried to be discreet. 

"Good evening Master Ethan and to your guest" the old man from earlier greeted us and he smile at me so I smile back at him. 

"This is Belle Perez, she will be living here starting today. Treat her like you will treat me. Make sure all the staff knows her" I stared at him as if he was a different person from earlier. He looked so intimidating and very imposing while he talked to the old man, very different from the gentleness he showed me. 

"Yes, master Ethan, I will make sure of it" the old man bowed and nodded. 

"This is Mr. Oh, he manages the whole household. Anything you need, just tell him" he turned to me and his eyes became tender. 

"Hello, Mr. Oh, I'm Belle. Nice to meet you" I greeted the old man and I extended my free hand to him which he hesitated to accept. 

"Nice to meet you young Mistress" the old man greeted me and accepted my handshake, which made me so happy. I smiled brightly at him. 

"Just Belle, Mr. Oh, I don't have a young mistress in my first name" I tried to tease the old man even if I was surprised with the way he addressed me. 

"It's just proper young mistress Belle" the old man insisted while smiling warmly. 

"My mother will hit you in your head when she hears you calling me that. She will always scold me if I'm always lazy. She told me, I will not have a bright future but if I work hard, I will be a master of my own house with as many helpers as I want. I'm still working hard so I’m still not a young mistress, Mr. Oh '' I explained what my mother would always scold me. I suddenly felt a pang of sadness when I remembered them.

I smiled and turned to look at them. I was startled when I found them intently staring back at me. 

"I had worked hard for all of these so in the meantime I will share it with you, I am the master of this house and you will be their young mistress. You will be the one who would take good care of me until I grow old, right Belle?" he turned to me and with such gentleness, he earnestly explained.

His face showed obvious sincerity in his every word and I'm immensely comforted. Never in my wildest dream, I will have someone to take good care of me aside from my parents. I have almost lost hope but he came to save me from everything. 

With hopeful thoughts in my mind, I instantly smiled brightly while I tilted my face up towards him. Starting today, I have to work harder because I  also wanted to share something with him aside from the whole life I planned to spend with him. 

"Yes, I will. I promise to work very hard to become a doctor and I will take care of you every day until you get old... we will get old together" I smile dreamily for the future I have started to dream. I could imagine it to be brighter than what it was yesterday and it's because of this master who is willing to share his everything with me. 

                       ****😊😊****