CALI
The next day, I woke up with a new resolution weighing heavily on my mind. No matter how difficult it got, I was going to keep working until I paid off Bryan's debt. I didn't care how long it took or how tired I became. As long as he hadn't made any move yet, I believed I still had time. I could handle it.
I had to.
Seeing Steve again yesterday had opened my eyes in ways I hadn't expected. It reminded me of the consequences of this agreement I had trapped myself in, and instead of breaking me, it hardened something inside me. I had decided I wouldn't crumble under it. I would work my way through this situation, step by step, until I was free.
I glanced at my wristwatch and realized it was just a few minutes to 6 a.m. Panic stirred in my chest. I had woken up feeling unusually pressed this morning, my body tense and restless, so I rushed straight to the restroom.
Once I was done there, I moved into the bathroom and brushed my teeth. I spat out the debris in my mouth, rinsed thoroughly, then splashed water on my face, trying to shake off the lingering heaviness in my chest. I proceeded to shower, but just as I untied my towel earlier, I heard the faint crack of my room door opening.
I froze.
I waited, listening carefully, expecting to hear a voice or footsteps, but there was nothing—just silence. My heart thudded uneasily. Quickly, I tied my towel back around myself, securing it tightly before stepping out.
What I saw next nearly stopped my heart.
At this hour of the day, I never expected to see him here. How did he even know I was awake? The thought made my skin crawl. Was my boss spying on me now? The idea alone irritated and unsettled me. Still, a part of me reasoned that this might be the perfect time to tell him I wanted to go to work today.
"Good morning, sir," I greeted cautiously.
He only nodded in response, his expression unreadable. My curiosity got the better of me, and before I could stop myself, the question slipped out.
"How did you know I was awake?" I asked, forcing the words out after mustering every ounce of courage in me.
He shot me a sharp stare, one that made my annoyance spike instead of fading.
"Wait," I added quickly, my voice rising slightly, "are you spying on me?"
To my surprise, he let out a short crack of laughter. Then he stood up from the bed where he had been seated and walked toward me. Instinctively, I stepped backward, my heart racing, until my back hit the wall. He closed the distance between us, caging me there with his presence.
"You seem to forget what you came here for," he said coldly. "Do you really think you're important just because I made you comfortable?"
His words cut deeper than I expected. I bit my lower lip, the hard truth sinking in all at once. For a moment, I had almost believed I mattered—that I was something more to him than this arrangement. How foolish.
He was right. I needed to remember my place in this house.
I swallowed hard as the weight of our closeness pressed down on me. I was only wrapped in a towel, bare and vulnerable beneath it, and the awareness of that made my skin prickle. The air felt heavy, suffocating. Then, just as I realized I had fully absorbed his words, he stepped away from the wall.
I released the breath I didn't know I was holding.
"If I spy on you," he added, his voice calm but edged with arrogance, "I think I have the right to do so. I paid you generously for this, didn't I?"
With that, he turned to leave, emphasizing his point as he walked away. I frowned deeply at his retreating back.
What a pervert.
Then I remembered the reason I had wanted to talk to him in the first place.
"I want to tell you that I'm coming to work today," I said, choosing to state it firmly instead of asking.
He paused briefly, muttered an indifferent "okay," and left the room.
Nuthead.
I honestly thought he wouldn't allow it, but lately, I was realizing just how wrong I had been about many things. Especially Bryan. He was more heartless and colder than I had ever imagined. A complete jerk—self-centered and cruel in ways that still shocked me.
Shaking off my thoughts, I returned to the bathroom. When I was done, I dried my body thoroughly and applied lotion to my skin, taking a moment longer than usual to steady myself. Then I got dressed: a brown skirt, a grey packing shirt, and a matching grey jacket that reached my knees. I packed my hair into a neat bun, securing it with a black scrunchie.
When I checked the time again, it was already 6:45 a.m.
I picked up a grey handbag and began adding a few essentials into it when the door cracked open once more. Bethel walked in, her eyes widening as she looked me over.
"Goodness, you're all dressed already," she said. "Mr. Smith asked me to call you down for breakfast. Are you going on a date?"
I rolled my eyes dramatically.
"You know you sound hilarious," I replied, shaking my head as I walked past her.
Together, we headed down to the dining room.