His pet, his sole property

**Ivery Clark POV**

"Shhhh....it's me !" The shadow appeared closer.

*What the....?*

It was a feminine voice. But who might be at this hour ? Her face was hidden in the shadows.

I tried to control my breathing, but each shallow gasp seemed louder than the footsteps that followed in.

But a familiar figure appeared in front of me and to surprise it was the maid. The maid who usually brings me three meals.

She was short with curvy figure and brunette hair which were always braided.

She stood few distance away from me, her figure blocking the light from the door, and I could feel the weight of her gaze on me.

Why is she here now ? I don't have the track of the time but I'm pretty sure it's late at night.

Her eyes went to the food plate she had brought earlier.

"You haven't touched your food again. Don't you think it's necessary for your survival ?" She scoffed at me and I glared at her giving 'mind your own business look'.

I knew she didn't like me. Nobody liked me here. I'd rather die than eat anything here. Who knows what they have mixed in there.

"Look, you need to eat something so that you need energy for later." She insisted and I gave her an annoying look.

"Energy for what ? To sit like an idol in this locked up room and wait for my doom ?" I sneered at her as she stood there, so calm, so composed, like none of this affected her.

Of course, why would it ? She didn't know the pain I had gone through. Nobody in here did.

The people around Alrigo -his maids, his men just fell in line, like they couldn't see what was happening right in front of them. Or worse, they saw it and chose to look the other way. I was nothing to them, just another person under Alrigo's control.

I hated this place. Every inch of it felt like a cage, trapping me in a nightmare I couldn't wake up from.

"No...but you need energy to escape from here, that is." My eyebrows shot up when she said. I think I didn't hear right.

"What ??" I looked at her in disbelief.

"You heard it right, I'm going to help you escape, girl. So hurry and eat so that you can muster some energy to escape, not die or get caught halfway for god sake."

Her expression was as flat as ever, but I could feel something stirring underneath. Was it calculation ? Resentment ? I couldn't tell.

And I still couldn't believe what I was hearing. She was going to help me escape this monstrous Mafia den ??

Was she really going to do that ?

But that's highly impossible since there are so many Alrigo's guards over the mansion.

Alrigo's men were everywhere. They weren't just guards; they were affiliated with the mafia. Hardened, dangerous, and loyal to the Alrigo Valerie King.

Escaping wasn't as simple as slipping out of a window and running through the gates. These men would hunt me down if they caught even a whisper of my escape.

I didn't doubt their ruthlessness. I'd seen enough in Alrigo's presence to know what they were capable of. They weren't just some hired muscle; they lived and breathed his rules, his way of life.

One wrong move, one sound, and it would be over. They wouldn't hesitate to drag me back-or worse they'll beat me to death.

I stared at the maid, my pulse quickening. Could I really trust her to get me past them ?

She had lived among these people for so long, probably seen and done things I couldn't even imagine. And yet... here she was, offering me a way out.

I looked at her suspiciously, "Why are you going to help me ? Aren't you working for Alrigo ?"

"Oh please, don't be mistaken, I'm not helping you. I'm just trying to get rid of an annoyance, that's all. Young master only belongs to me." The maid scoffed glaring daggers at me.

I was taken aback, baffled at her words. Wow, she seems delusional as fuck. Her young master ? She is surely a crazy fan-girl of that maniac Alrigo.

"My young master doesn't need a whore like you, he only needs me. Since witnessing you create all the ruckus at the bathroom, I guess you don't want to be here either. Isn't it ?"

That's right.

"And since you want to run away from here, I'm going to help you. So shut up and take what I offer you."

Hmm...interesting. I stared at her for a long moment, and something clicked into place. Her obsession with Alrigo wasn't just delusion-it was a weakness, a card I could play.

She wasn't helping me out of kindness or guilt. No, this was personal for her. The sooner I was out of the picture, the more secure she'd feel in whatever twisted fantasy she'd built around him.

Fine. I could use that. If the opportunity has walked on its own, there is no harm in taking the advantage, isn't it ?

I don't care what's in her mind, but if she can help me get out of here, I'll do anything for it.

"Fine." I almost smiled. She believed she had won, that this was her chance to prove herself to Alrigo, even if he didn't know it. Her delusion would be my salvation.

All I had to do now was let her think she was in control, and she would get me out of here.

"So how are you going to help me er..."

"Sophia. Well hurry up and put this on." She grinned and threw some clothes towards me. It was the maid's clothes.

I stared at the maid's uniform, confusion mixing with a frown, "So I'm going to disguise myself as one of the maids ?"

"Well yes, then how am I supposed to take you out ? I can't just waltz through the front gate with you in that fancy outfit. You'll draw too much attention. Why don't you hurry up before anyone gets suspicious."

I glanced at the uniform, my mind racing. Wearing this meant blending in, but it also meant stepping into the world I had been trying to escape. The thought made my stomach churn. I took a deep breath, reminding myself that this was the only way out. I needed to trust her and play along with her

I got ready, camouflaging myself. Sophia wound a muffler around me and then put a small woollen cap on my head so that nobody would identify me.

"Let's go now." She signalled to me. My heart raced as I stepped closer, ready to follow her lead.

We were about to slip into the dangerous world outside my room, where Alrigo's men prowled like hungry wolves, but I couldn't let fear paralyze me.

This was my chance, and I couldn't afford to waste it.

The tension in the air was palpable but we successfully went outside the door and walked towards the garden area.

My hand was sweating, my heart was thrashing hard against the ribcage.

"Wait....where are you two going ?" We froze when one of the guards stopped us.

No, no no. My eyes darted toward the gate in the distance, barely a mile away. Freedom felt so close, yet here I was, caught in the crosshairs of the very reality I was trying to escape.

Should I make a run for it !?

"Oh my, didn't I tell you already, Rina wasn't well ? I need to take her to the doctor." Sophia said basically annoyed at him.

I tried my best to cover my face and coughed loudly pretending to be very sick that I could die any moment.

The guard narrowed his gaze, skepticism etched across his features.

"Err..." The guard hesitated, uncertainty flickering in his eyes. I could see him weighing his options, the tension between us thick enough to slice through.

"Okay, fine." The guard let up and we walked away nodding.

Yes ! I exhaled slowly, relief washing over me, but it was short-lived. The moment we turned away, my heart raced again, the gate still beckoning in the distance. I could see the expanse of open air just beyond the iron bars, and I felt the urge to run, to break free.

"Let's go," Sophia whispered urgently, grabbing my arm and pulling me forward. We hurried along the path, every step feeling like a countdown to either freedom or disaster.

We were finally out of the mansion ! We walked a few distance towards the nearby wood until Sophia decided to stop.

"I hope you can take from here, this woods connects to a highway." She handed me a piece of paper.

"Search for this address on the paper, don't wander off anywhere else. They are people who I know, they'll surely help you get out of this city or send you to your home."

My tears brimmed after the edge of my eyes hearing the word home. I hugged her and I took off.

Finally, I'm free !