Chapter 13

HAZEL'S POV~







"There's nothing like new beginnings."







I stepped out of the shower using a towel hanging on the shower wall to dry my body. Prepping for the day, I dressed up in a white gown that hugged my body in the right places, highlighting my curves. After that, I stepped into a white pair of canvas applying a little powder on my face. I banged the door of the closet angrily, stepping out of the room. I couldn't wait to get over today and every other day I was going to be in this house. It hasn't even been twenty-four hours yet and I already hated the place. I was awakened harshly by a bell I didn't know still existed in a century like this. I wasn't ever a morning person and wouldn't start being one now because I was working against my will with an asshole.





I moved around the many corridors in the house in search of the kitchen because I wasn't concentrating I had taken the wrong from the other one I took that day and I can't seem to find my way back to my room. I hated everything here from up to down, most especially I detested the all-white wardrobe he provided for me. I know he did that to annoy me. Clearly, he had done some research on me and knows my love for colors. So the devil decided to deny me that luxury by filling up the closet in the room where I will be staying for the next few days with all-white clothing. I didn't even know when they did all of that, I was knocked out by the pain meds I had taken for the pain in my left arm which was still hurting like hell. At the corner, I met a familiar face approaching me with a worried look on her face. It was Dorothy the elder woman who had taken care of me the first time I arrived here.



"Miss, you shouldn't be walking around now. Your arms are yet to heal," she said, observing me with a worried look. I stood silently as she turned me around as if making so was okay.



"Uhmm... I got lost while trying to find the kitchen," I mumbled shyly avoiding her eyes. I wasn't one to be intimated but there was just this motherly scolding look in her eyes that I couldn't be without.



"Oh, I was about to send some breakfast to your room but since you are already here. Why don't you join them in the dining room?" She replied, pointing me to which way to follow to get there.





I didn't need an explanation to know who the "them" she was referring to were so I decided to brace myself for any confrontations. The fact that I decided to work with him, for now, didn't mean he owned me. I was hit by a cheerful environment as I finally entered the dining room. Roles of chairs sat around the table occupied by both familiar and unfamiliar faces. The men paused whatever they were discussing as soon as I entered with all eyes on me.



"Well, look who decided to wake up from the dead." Mikhail joked breaking the silence.



"Lazarus!"



"Lazarus!" I and Jamie replied at the same time. I turned to see him seated beside Mikhail. I reached out and high-fived him, loving the humourous mind we shared. Believe me, it's not easy to find someone like that nowadays. All the other guys stared blankly at us not getting the joke.



"You would have said, Jesus, not that I'm complaining but he's more known for his resurrection than Lazarus," Mikhail grumbled addressing the two of us.



"Your point being that?" I questioned, unamused as I sat on the only empty seat in the middle. The chatter in the room stopped as everyone resumed staring at me. Jamie had his two eyes wide open, someone around me dropped their spoon while everyone else had open mouths except Mikhail who continued eating his meal with a smirk on his face.



I heard him muttering something along the lines of this is going to be interesting but I wasn't sure.



"Ha-Hazel" Jamie stammered still with his wide eyes expression. "That's- that's..." I frowned as I waited for what he wanted to say.



"What this idiot here is trying to say is that you are sitting on the boss's chair and he won't like it," Tom stated, hitting the back of Jamie's head. His chair? I turned to observe the chair I was sitting on. There's no name written here or any claim of ownership so why is it his? Smirking to myself I decided to continue sitting there shrugging like I didn't care. Mikhail smirked as he observed me as if knew what was going through my head.



"Excuse me," a familiar voice Called out behind me but I ignored it, picking up a piece of pancake from Jamie's plate as I waited for the cook to be done with mine.



By then everyone in the room was staring at the person behind me. He stood behind me for some time not saying a thing. After about two minutes, I heard him walk out. The faces of the men in the room contorted in confusion except for Mikhail who was now smiling curiously at me. A beautiful woman came back into the kitchen with a bowl full of pancakes and placed it in front of me. I smiled in appreciation of her before digging into my food. Completely blocking out the whispers and stares I was getting from everyone in the room.

After breakfast, I joined Jamie for a little tour of the house. This house was basically a fortress, he took me through different rooms and hallways. The house had about forty rooms with its own hospital.



There was a game room, movie room, indoor and outdoor swimming pool, a huge library, and some empty office spaces. There was another building in the compound which was mainly for the maids and workers in the house. Apparently, there is also weaponry and a basement which I don't have access to, for now. I was told Matteo had a separate space from everyone, he resided on the whole top floor which in my opinion was too large for one person. He took me through the garden at the side of the house which I didn't notice the night I tried escaping. Everything here was done in other ways, even the gardeners took proper care of the flowers.





I knew Matteo was more than just a wealthy businessman from my suspicions I could tell he was into some sort of organized crime activity maybe the Mafia but I wasn't sure yet. Even, Jamie was careful enough not to give out too much as he took me around.



"Do you want to go back or stay out here for some time?" He asked, drawing back my attention as he stood waiting for my answer.



"No." I shook my head."Take me to, Matteo, please..." There were a lot of things I needed to know and if we were going to successfully work together, he would have to answer all my questions. I need to know what I'm getting myself into. Nodding, Jamie turned back a grin appearing on his face.



"You are very popular in the house now," he grinned cheekily like he was enjoying himself. "Everyone is talking about the girl that stood up to the boss without even saying a word. I envy your confidence but I will have to warn you," his face turned serious.



"Not everyone here will respond as the boss did, some have even started plotting to get a reaction out of you."



"I know, Jamie, thanks for the heads up but I can take care of myself." Finally, we reached a door at the far end of the building. Jamie turned to me with a worried look in his eyes.



"I know you can but you have to be careful. These guys... You don't know what they are capable of," he warned before turning to walk off but paused looking back at my hand. "When you are done here, come find me I will take you to the doctor to get that checked up," he left. I looked down at my now swollen arms, it looked worse than they did this morning.



Knocking on the door, I didn't wait for an answer before I stepped in. Matteo sat behind the desk making a phone call, he looked up at me raising an eyebrow. I ignored his look to access the office before me. The whole place seemed like a typical boy's office, from the dark furniture to the wallpapers. Everything was draped in a dark color which I felt was too bland. He should have at least added some other colors to make it look more lively.



"What are you doing here?" He grumbled out as soon as he finished the call. I kept quiet for some time watching him type something into his laptop.



"For how long do you plan on standing there to stare at me?" He stopped what he was doing looking up at me.



Accessing his features I couldn't help but be reminded of the first time we met.