Chapter 4

Jena's POV

I jolted up my bed, my heart pounding with fear as I escaped a terrible nightmare. Beads of sweat trickled down my cleavage as I thought back to the gigantic wolf that was chasing after me in my dream.

I placed a palm on my chest, feeling my trembling heart.

“Fucking nightmare,” I cussed.

I needed to take my bath. I hadn't had so many scary nightmares in my lifetime.

As I climbed out of the bed, I noticed it was softer than usual. I felt it with my palm, it was too comfy. Plus, a thick duvet covered my leg. I only owned two blankets, I'd never slept with a duvet.

My sight extended to the whole room and it was only then that I realized that I had slept in a room that wasn't mine. The heart I tried to stop from trembling began to throb heavily again. Where the fuck was I?

I closed my eyes and tried to recollect. What had happened the previous night?

“Oh shit!” I cussed when it started coming back to me. I was at the big mansion of the person who had bought me at the auction.

I remembered being brought into the room yesterday. The guards had told me to sleep on the bed, but I refused. I'd told them that I'd sit on the sofa instead and wait for their boss. I should have nodded off there, so how did I get to the bed? The last impression I wanted to give was being comfortable in such a place.

The door swung open immediately and a slim blonde lady cat-walked into the room. She was dressed in an office shirt and a tight short skirt, carrying what seemed to be an iPad in her hand.

“Good morning,” she said briskly, keeping a straight face.

I glanced at her with a daring glare. Then I fiercely demanded, “Who are you?”

She had a laid-back composure as she responded. “Lord Lorenzo’s personal assistant. You can call me Ashley.”

She then flashed a keen smile at me, but I wasn't going to fall for her pretense.

I crumpled my face, “What does your boss want with me?”

“That answer can only be given by him. I'm only here to help get you ready to meet him,” Ashley said.

I stood up from the bed after almost forgetting that I didn't want to seem comfortable there. But that bed was a bag of comfort on its own. Plus, the cool AC blowing in the room and the eye-catching decorations. My real bedroom didn't come close at all.

“Lord Lorenzo is having breakfast at the dinning,” Ashley said, “he demands for your presence in the next thirty minutes.”

“And what if I refuse?” I challenged her.

“Hmm,” Ashley said before she took a pause. Then she continued, “I've served five years under Lord Lorenzo. If there's something I really know about him, it is that he doesn't tolerate insolence.”

“And… Just some bonus info,” she added. “The door is open for you to leave whenever you want. But know that you're dealing with a ruthless man, love. The price he bought you means nothing to him. You better tread with caution.”

My chest tightened until I absorbed her very last sentence. I could tell she wasn't kidding about anything she'd said. What the hell had I gotten myself into? If only I'd stayed back instead of following Oli to the club. I just wanted to be a good friend and not kill her vibe.

I quickly rushed my bathe and dressed up in a red sleeveless gown which I pulled out from the giant wardrobe in the room.

Ashley led the way and I followed her past the gray walls of the corridor until we got to the dining room.

She knocked twice, then she opened the door and walked in.

My orbs tore wide with surprise as I followed behind her. My entire life, I'd never seen a dining room as charming as this one, spacious and adorned with classic decorations.

The large dining table, which spanned over two and a half meters, was crafted with naturally glistening mahogany, with strips of gold surrounding the rims. And right above hung a dazzling golden chandelier, bigger than any I'd ever set my eyes on.

Antique design patterns were printed on the utensils, still, looked like they had just been bought an hour ago.

And the center of attraction was the mouthwatering, lavish meals served on the table. How was this man going to eat a whole grilled turkey all by himself? Not to talk of the bowl of macaroni sauce that made me salivate at just a glance.

“Quit staring like a lost puppy and come in here!” His voice snapped me out of my euphoria.

I walked in, fear and embarrassment knocking my knees against each other.

He gestured at the seat that directly faced him, and I pulled it out, heaving off a soft sigh as I melted down on the cushioned seater.

Silence surrounded us, the clank of his cutlery the only audible thing as I waited to hear him speak.

He ignored me and continued with his meal, the air around me growing tight with each passing second.

My palms buried themselves between my thighs under the table, my head slightly bending down.

I cringed at how his mere silence exuded a dominating aura in the room. What would happen if he then said a word?

And just then, he spoke.

“Tell me your name.”

I swallowed a lump in my throat.

“It’s Jena,” I blurted out. “Jena Gavin Vance.”

“Interesting…” he hummed, placing his fork down and flashing his gaze at me.

My blue eyes met his, but only for a brief second. I couldn't stare at him more than that. I'd shit my pants if I did.

“What were you doing for a living before the auction house sold you?” He asked, glancing at a paper he held in his palm. “Because, here, it says you're a stripper who came from Subcity and snuck into the club with a fake ticket.”

Shock gripped my bones and I let out a soft cry of disbelief. “No.”

“I'm trying hard not to believe that, too,” he said nonchalantly before studying me with those eyes that could make a lion cower.

He coughed into his palm. “My grandma would always say that blue-eyed people are the luckiest. She talked about how you people always succeed in life without having to struggle about it.”

My mind found his words troubling. Why was he talking like he didn't have blue eyes like I did? Did he detest his own eyes or what?

“Jena, if your means of life success for these past few years is stripping, then it's a —”

“I'm not a stripper!” I suddenly blurted out.

But that was when my mistake dawned on me. Not only did I cut him off, my tone was harsh as well.

My heart dropped a terrified beat and my sweat ran cold. I hoped he wouldn't kill me right here.

“Please, I'm sorry,” I bent my head immediately. I didn't need to be told that I'd fucked up right now.

“I don't forgive mistakes,” he declared. “For your first punishment, you will clean the entire ground floor corridor tomorrow. Now, tell me if what I have in these papers are true or not.”

I nodded and continued. “I do decorations for a living. And I came to the club with a real ticket. Oli bought two with her college savings and gave me one so I could tag along.”

“Hmph…” He dropped the paper, resting his jaw on the back of his palm. “What brought you to Metropolis in the first place? Aren't you aware of the law of trespass? You signed an agreement on that, didn't you?”

No. Yes. Yes, I did.

“I'll take your silence as a yes,” he said. “Well then, there's no going back now that you're here. You're my merchandise, so I'll let you know my rules.”

“Rules?” I whispered softly.

“Yes. If you intend to survive under this roof then you must have them at the tip of your fingers,” he said.

My fingers curled beside my thighs. Rules? What rules is he talking about?

“First of all,” he began, a domineering aura taking over the space between us, “you must address me as master. My real name is forbidden from your lips.”

My eyes tore wide.

“Second, you are strictly forbidden from having any intimate or casual affair with any other man,” he added, eyes darkening.

I wanted to ask him questions but I didn't even know where to start, neither could I muster the courage to do that.

“And lastly, never question my orders. You wouldn't like the consequences that follow that.”

My lips shivered. “Lord Lore- - I mean, Master.”

He raised a furious brow. “What?”

“I'm sorry, I may need a little time to adjust to life here,” I mutter.

“I'm not giving you such time, Jena,” he declared. “If your eyes are keen then you should be able to tell that I'm not a patient man.”

His eyes pierced into mine. “Matter of fact, you're starting your first job tonight.”

Huh? When did we talk about a job?

“Master, may I know what job it is?” I asked, totally confused.

“You will be my new case bearer,” he announced. “The previous girl was a slowpoke and you're going to do better than her. Tonight, I have a game at the EmGrande Casino. Two hundred grands at stake. Wear something red and sexy. And don't fuck it up. I swear to the moon, I'll kill you if you do.”