(TYLER)
I follow Miles silently to the room he's leading me. He doesn't talk to me either. Anxiety and frustration eats at me for agreeing to marry Sasha. I hate him, and for obvious reasons, I don't trust him.
Now that I'm here I'm not sure if he'll toy with me instinctively whenever he sees fit. I know certainly that he is happy when I'm on edge like I am right now. There's nothing more I want than to leave this mansion right this second, but then again, I don't want to die.
We get to a hallway that leads into the many doors then we stop at one. Miles pushes the door and steps to the side, gesturing me to go in. I brush past him and enter, taking in the huge room before me. There's a massive king-size bed at the centre of the room. There are also huge drawers and nightstands, and to the far end is a row of thick drapes. I assume there are windows behind those drapes that look over to the patio.
"There are more rooms to choose from if you don't like this one." Miles finally says, studying me. "Sasha's room is right over there."
I scowl. "How convenient."
"But from what I heard, you two will be sharing a room after the ceremony. So, what does it matter if his room is close to yours?"
"We never agreed on sharing a room. That wasn't part of the deal." I hiss. "He keeps changing the rules and you too know it's bullshit."
Miles regards me for a few seconds, and I can't help thinking that he too thinks I'm throwing a fit over sharing a room. Don't they see why I don't want to share a room with that vile man? What if he one day wakes up and decides to kill me in my sleep?
"Situations are ever-changing around here, Tyler. Sasha was right, and you need to accept that."
"Is he? Don't you see he's just taking advantage of the situation to manipulate me? I didn't agree to this, and I don't trust him. He's up to something."
His brows knit. "Sasha won't force you into anything if that's what you're thinking. He's anything but that."
"Sure, he won't." I snicker. "He'll just kill me in my sleep. And that's so much better, no?" I smile tightly. "How did you even agree to work for him?" I mumble as I move towards the bed.
"Sasha is like a brother to me. I have known him forever."
I glare at him and I can't help but think that Sasha wrung Miles into his shenanigans that now, he too is left with no choice but to accept whatever he throws at him. I click my tongue. "Right, a brother who lets you do all his dirty work?" I run my hands over the grey silky sheets on the bed.
In truth, this room is far more luxurious than any room I've ever slept in my life. The only problem is it is a viper's house. It'll sure give me the comfort I very much long for, but I can guarantee nothing good will come out of it.
"I don't work for Sasha because he forced me. I work for him because I'm loyal to him. He saved my life. He isn't as bad as you think he is."
"He is exactly what I suspect him to be, a brutal, barbaric criminal." I raise my gaze to meet his. "Why has he never married?"
He clears his throat. "Because he wasn't in a hurry to."
"But now because his father is dying, he sees the need?" that's a question I don't expect him to answer. He is well and fully aware of the situation. "What do you think about it?"
"My opinions don't matter in the least."
"I know they don't. I just want to know what you think about all of this. Do you think it's fair that he murders me if I don't accept his demands?" I study his face.
"Again, Tyler, my opinion doesn't matter."
"I see, you're a well-trained pup." I let out a long breathy sigh.
He sucks in his lip. I can tell that my response ticked a nerve. But I doubt he will show it. "You can think whatever you want."
"Oh Miles, trust me I will. I suppose you don't take pleasure in being wrung around like a weak puppy. It can't sure be easy on your ego… being ordered around like that." There goes that stupid part of my brain. I shouldn't be alienating Miles. I should be smart and try to make friends with him. Unfortunately for him, I'm in a terrible mood and he will certainly get all the brunt of my frustration.
"Sasha is a complex man. Trying to go head-to-head with him will only land you in a bad place. But if you play it right with him, you'll get a lot out of him. There's no other way it will end for you." He sighs. "You're dumber than I actually thought." His voice is cold.
"How agreeable would you be if it were you in my place?"
"I'm not in your place. But if I were, I'd be wiser."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, Tyler. We could be friends but you'd rather throw a tantrum. You're so poor at reading people. That won't make you survive long in here."
"I just want to go home." I rub my eyes as he regards me. "I don't like it here. I just want my old life back."
"Your old life back?" he squints at me disbelievingly. "You had no life Tyler, you have no home, no job, you're pregnant, unclaimed, look at you, you're all skin and bones because you were starving. That's the old life you want to go back to?"
I hate how spot-on his description is because it's true. To know all that detail meant he was watching me for a while and he took his job seriously.
"Better the devil you know than the one you don't."
"There's no such thing as that. That's just what people tell themselves to feel better. Since when has anything good ever come out of playing with the devil?" He inches closer to me. "Word of advice Tyler, don't make those around Sasha your enemies. This agreement you've taken on, you're sure going to need them.
"You want to be my friend, Miles?" I laugh hoarsely.
(TYLER)
"No Tyler, I'm not talking about you. I'm talking about Sasha. You and I can never be friends. His little brother and mother are the only ones who know about this sham arrangement, and certainly the only people who can help you with it. That is what makes them valuable to you." Miles hesitates.
"If I were you, I'd make friends with them. But you chose to fight Sasha. No way will end well for you. You'll only end up hurting yourself."
His response has me in a chokehold. Much as I hate to admit it, it is true. But how can I be friends with them? I remain silent because I don't know what to say. I'm not even sure if Sasha's family will welcome me or even consider being my friends. I doubt they would, especially considering where Sasha got me. Do they even know about that bit? What if they treat me like dirt?
"Check the drawers. There are clean clothes in there and in the closet too. Go shower and try getting some sleep. Maybe all you need is a proper rest to think straight. You might be smarter when you wake up." He turns to leave and the door shuts behind him with a soft click.
I shake my head slowly. With Miles gone, I scuffle through the drawers and find many pairs of pyjamas. I pick one that seems to be my best fit and head off to the bathroom. Everything in this house is exquisite. The bathroom is big enough for ten people. All fixtures in here are golden and the floor is jaded in large marble tiles.
I step into the shower and the first jolt of the cold water makes me gasp. But then the water gets warmer. I lean my head onto the wall and let the water flow on my body. I haven't had a proper shower in months, especially one with hot water and all I want right now is to soak in here. The shower at the camp was nothing close to this one, making the shower I'm used to seem like a faulty garden hose.
There are several shampoos, conditioners and body wash that all smell like lavender and areal, smooth to the touch. Back at the camp, I'd be lucky if I found scraps of leftover bar soap for use. I didn't care that someone used them before me or what kind of skin diseases they had, I just used what was available. After all, I had no options. I wash my body thoroughly, wanting to rid myself of the stench of that filthy bathroom back at the store.
It is only now that I'm taking a close look at my body. I haven't been fully naked for a while, because I didn't want to look at my growing belly. It gave me ulcers. Now that I see it well, I realize why I couldn't hide it despite the baggy clothes I put on. There are so many changes. I can't deny the swell anymore, so I instinctively cup my belly, feeling numb to the touch.
I sigh defeatedly. "Why did you have to come along?" I mumble, circling it. "You've fucked up my life. Royally."
Its size is unsettling. I'm so bony that it sticks out more than I expected it to. That explains why I couldn't hide it anymore. At least now, I'm sure of getting the abortion. Only that Sasha forbids me from doing it before the wedding. Was he serious about the wedding happening this week? Will I have to force a façade at the wedding too? The thought of that alone unsettles me. I'm really hoping it will be a small intimate affair.
I step out of the bathroom, finally satisfied with the scrub. I yank out a large towel and wrap it around my body. I take out another smaller one and wrap it around my head. There are so many towels that this room looks like a spa. Much as I hate it, part of me delights that I'll be living like this from now on. It's been long since I had a place to call home. This treatment feels like what a prince would get. Not me.
I walk over to the counter pick the clean toothbrush and toothpaste and make sure to explore every last corner of my mouth while I brush my teeth. I feel so refreshed. The water felt good on my still painful bruised body and it gave me a bit of relief.
Now that I finally accepted Sasha's proposal, I'm safe beatings from the goons. The only problem is I now live with the asshole who sent them after me to begin with. I bite my jaw as I stare at my reflection in the mirror and decide that's enough self-wallowing for today, then I spit into the sink.
I put on the pyjama I picked, and I'm glad it has a string attached to it. Pregnant or not, I'm so thin that I doubt if the little muscle I have will hold the clothe by itself. Once dressed, I decide to go take a peek out the drapes. It is nighttime, and there isn't much to look at, but still, I want to gaze at the lit fountain on the patio and the garden of roses beneath my window. Everything about this mansion looks like Disney fairyland and not the home of a vile monster.
But then subtle movements catch my eye and I notice another guy right about my age sneaking through the bushes. I squint, wondering just who he might be. This mansion is heavily guarded and I doubt this is a burglar. He seems to know his way around, which rules off the idea completely. But even then, his movements are suspicious. Why is he sneaking around if he belongs here?
Not long after, another figure emerges from the shadows. He follows in the same direction. His movements are stealthy as well, and because of his tall figure, I recognize him. I watch him until he disappears.
It's Sasha.
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