6

[Rebecca]

As I followed Avim down the staircase, I finally got a chance to admire the house. Correction: it was a mansion. Its grandeur struck me as we descended, with the tallest ceiling I had ever seen adorned by exquisite crown molding. A spiral staircase caught my attention, and to my right, I noticed another one that led up to the second floor, converging in an imperial staircase style. I grasped the smooth wooden banister, marveling at the mansion's immaculate white sparkling marble.

Looking up, I couldn't help but be captivated by a magnificent Venetian-style crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. Adorned with countless teardrop crystals, it exuded a vintage and elegant ambiance. Lost in its beauty, I suddenly collided with a wall of firm muscles, jolting me back to reality. Startled, I instinctively stepped away, only to be met with a piercing glare from Avim.

"Are you blind?" he barked at me aggressively. I shook my head in response.

"Then watch where you're going," he snapped. Fear gripped me, rendering me speechless. Avim’s intensity was beyond words. With a final glare, he turned around and continued walking, leading me towards the left corridor.

As I started to relax, I resumed my exploration of the mansion. I, too, lived in a mansion, but it paled in comparison to this one. My house was plain, cold, and unwelcoming. In contrast, the attention to detail and the evident love put into decorating this mansion were remarkable. Each element was refined and seamlessly blended together. I followed Avim in awe, taking in my surroundings.

When Avim finally stopped, I abruptly halted, nearly colliding with him once again. I took a step back, my eyes widening as I observed the scene before me. A woman, likely in her early fifties, stood in front of Avim, wearing a similar black dress, albeit longer, and she greeted him with a sweet smile while wiping her hands on her white apron.

Spotting me, her smile widened, and she approached, exclaiming, "Ah, there you are! Such a beautiful young girl." Before I could react, Nona took hold of my hands and guided me into the kitchen through a modern-looking brown wooden door.

The kitchen resembled ours at home, albeit larger. The beige cabinets towered over a central island, and the shiny, multi-toned brown countertops exuded an elegant charm. Four high chairs were neatly arranged in front of the bar, and two women in the same dress as mine stood there. They were younger than Nona but older than me, inspecting me intently as if I were an object.

Feeling my palms grow clammy within Nona’s grasp, I nervously clutched the hem of my dress with my other hand. Nona’s voice cut through the tension, announcing my arrival excitedly.

"We have a new maid," she declared.

However, the blonde woman interjected, stating firmly, "We don't need a new maid."

Before Nona could respond, another voice interrupted, saying, "Actually, you do." My entire body tensed at the sound, and I swallowed hard, knowing exactly who had spoken. The women's eyes widened, and they quickly averted their gazes, appearing apprehensive.

Nona released my hands and turned to face the intruder, though I corrected myself mentally. This was his house, after all. My lips felt dry as I slowly turned around, locking eyes with Artemy, his piercing blue gaze clashing with green. We stood in silence, our intense stare quickening my heartbeat.

A strange sensation enveloped me, making me feel weightless and unsettled. My stomach twisted into knots as I fidgeted restlessly, overwhelmed by a mix of nervousness, fear, and excitement. Artemy took a step forward, his large figure moving gracefully, and I couldn't help but gasp in surprise as I realized I felt butterflies in my stomach.

His presence made me both anxious and thrilled, a potent combination. "Rebecca is going to work here with you. Nona, you can assign her work schedule," Artemy declared calmly, his voice causing me to swallow repeatedly. His gaze shifted from my eyes, wandering down to my waist, hips, and legs. Warmth spread through my body under his scrutinizing stare, lingering for a few seconds before returning to my face.

The look he gave me made me stagger back a step, prompting a small, almost imperceptible smirk to appear on his lips. It was a devilish, seductive smirk. I shook my head and closed my eyes, attempting to regain control of myself. But it was futile. Artemy Loskutov had effortlessly captivated my mind without even trying.

Opening my eyes, I found myself locked in his gaze once again. The desire and hunger in his eyes were undeniable, leaving me breathless and consumed by a surge of pure, unadulterated lust.

[Artemy]

As I saw Avim walk out of the kitchen, I knew where the little kitten was. He gave me a sharp nod as I walked past him.

When I got to the kitchen, I was instantly transfixed by the sight in front of me. Rebecca’s back was facing me and she stood beside Nona. The back of her dress was stretched perfectly over her round ass. What a view, I thought with a smirk.

Shaking my head after a few seconds, I took in a deep breath. Get yourself together. Looking up, I saw the other two maids staring at Rebecca with bored expressions, clearly not happy with another maid joining them.

“We have a new maid,” Nona announced excitedly, bouncing lightly on her toes. I couldn’t help but smile at her cheerfulness.

Nona had been working for the estate for about thirty years, since before I was even born. She had been one of the first maids my father hired. Nona had shown loyalty over the years and she quickly became our favorite maid—our mother.

“We don’t need a new maid,” Bethany said, her tone snarky.

Walking into the light so they could see me, I said, “Actually, you do.”

No, they didn’t. But that didn’t matter. If I said they needed one, then none of them would question me. Questioning me meant losing their job. I wouldn’t even think twice before kicking them out.

I had zero tolerance for people demanding answers from me. My words were law. I walked forward, sending the two maids a glare. They instantly cowered and bowed their heads, avoiding my gaze. Now, that was better.

Nona swiveled around, hand on her hips as she stared at me. But I wasn’t looking at her. I couldn’t because the little broken girl standing beside her had my full attention. Her body had tensed at my voice and she moved nervously on her feet.

Rebecca slowly turned around and we instantly made eye contact, her wide green eyes staring at me with surprise and shock. I noticed that her body trembled under my unflinching gaze. She was definitely affected by my presence.

“Rebecca is going to work here with you. Nona, you can assign her work schedule,” I continued as I kept my eyes on Rebecca. She swallowed hard and squirmed nervously on the spot.

My gaze slowly made its way down her body. Her dress fit her perfectly, showcasing her curves at the right places. And her legs. Damn, those legs.

As I stared at her legs, all I could think about was having them wrapped around my waist as I pounded relentlessly into her. When I felt myself growing hard, I quickly snapped out of my thoughts, moving my eyes away.

I looked back up and saw her suck in a deep breath. She stared at me, her eyes fearful as she took a step back. My desire for her was written all over my face. I didn’t hide it. I let her see what I wanted and then shut down my expression again. It was all part of the game. Let them see but not too much. Let them feel and then take it away. I gave them a sharp nod and then started to back out of the kitchen. I saw Nona giving me a suspicious look before turning toward Rebecca. I walked out. I would give her a week to settle. A week to get herself together.

And then I would pounce.