Chapter 4

As I watched the wolves devour the last piece of flesh, a mixture of disgust and hunger overwhelmed me. "You love it, don't you," I mumbled to myself, taking a step back and leaning against the wall to catch my breath. The task of feeding these wild animals had taken me hours, and now I felt famished. It was ironic that I had just vomited the little breakfast I managed to eat this morning, only to now find myself craving a proper meal. These creatures, given a chance, could easily kill and consume me alive.

"Hey there!" The blond maid I had met earlier called out, waving her hands to get my attention. "If you're done with your work, lunch is being served in the servants' dining hall," she informed me with a warm smile.

"I'll be right there!" I replied, grateful for the invitation. Determined to prioritize my well-being, I made a mental note to quickly clean the master's room after I had eaten. Hopefully, he wouldn't return anytime soon.

"I'm Ava, by the way," I introduced myself.

"You can call me Rose," she replied, extending her hand to shake mine. With a friendly grasp, she led me towards the hall where I found a gathering of hungry-looking servants already enjoying their meal.

"Why does he employ so many people?" I asked as we sat down with our plates of food. "Isn't five maids enough? It would also save money."

"Well, that's true, Ava. But if he only employed five people, you wouldn't be here right now, would you? We should be grateful. He doesn't think like that," Rose responded, and I could see the logic in her words.

"You're right!" I nodded, taking a moment to appreciate the delicious-looking meal in front of me. Even the servants here were treated to such good food. Fried rice and chicken, accompanied by a refreshing glass of juice. I couldn't help but moan in delight as I took a spoonful into my mouth.

"This is good."

"I know, right? I said the same thing when I first arrived," Rose chuckled. "Lady Martha knows her way around the kitchen. She's an incredibly talented cook and the best at what she does."

"I never knew Lady Martha worked. I thought maybe she was just here to supervise everything," I said, more as a question than a statement.

"Nobody knows what she does here. Sometimes she cooks, cleans, washes the master's clothes, and even takes care of his pets," Rose replied, adding a hint of mystery to Lady Martha's role in the household.

"That's strange... she seems quite peculiar," I thought out loud.

"Yes, everyone here calls her a weird old lady, but I think she's somehow related to the master," Rose suggested, causing me to ponder on her words.

"Come on, she's not weird, and I don't think it's nice for them to say that about her," I shook my head. "Maybe she just likes to stretch her body. You can't sit around all the time, you know. She needs a little exercise... I find Lady Martha very sweet and amazing to be around. She's like a mother figure to all of us, and you know I'm right," I concluded.

Rose just shrugged. "Everyone has their thoughts and opinions about everything." We nodded in silence, the only sound in the hall being the clinking of our spoons and the occasional moans of delight. "So, how do you find the master, Ava?" Rose asked, looking up at me eagerly, waiting to hear my response.

"I don't understand," I told her honestly.

"Is he handsome or ugly? Hot, scary, or manly?" She smiled. "Which one is more common? Tell me."

"Scary," I mumbled. "I genuinely don't want to be around him. He freaks me out." Leaning closer, I whispered, "I heard he feeds his pets with human flesh."

Rose chuckled. "Everyone knows that, but it doesn't make him any less appealing. He's handsome and breathtaking... I love guys with blue eyes, but the master is rocking those dark eyes of his. For once, I can say it's amazing."

"I get the feeling that you like him," I asked.

She smiled and nodded. "Everyone likes him around here, and I'm no exception."

"Oh, I see." Finishing the last piece of chicken, the sound of the master's car alerted me. Jumping to my feet, I hurried out of the servants' dining hall and made my way to the main mansion, taking the elevator to the fifth floor which led to his room. Swiftly opening the door, I stepped inside and locked it, buying myself some time to clean the room a little before he arrived.

Rushing over to the bed, I quickly straightened the blankets and opened the closet to put in a fresh set. However, I realized I had forgotten to bring a broom with me. Panic set in as I desperately thought of how to sweep this damn room. Just as I was pondering my options, I heard the sound of his approaching footsteps. In a split-second decision, I unlocked the door slowly and ran into the bathroom, shutting the door behind me. Why did I have to eat lunch when I wasn't done with my work? I was so dead. Please, someone save me!

Another scolding was bound to come. "Ava," his voice was calm, but he had a disdain for repeating himself. The moment I heard my name on his lips, I quickly rushed out of the bathroom. Thanks to the heat, I was sweating, which made it look like I had been working.

"Master?" I tried to catch my breath, desperately thinking of an excuse.

"The floor is dirty. I feel dirt under my feet," Damon stepped closer, placing his hand under my chin and making me look up at him. "Explain, and don't lie. I hate liars."

"After feeding the pets, I got hungry and forgot to clean your room. I joined them for lunch, and when I heard the sound of your car, I quickly ran up here. But I was only able to make the bed... I'm sorry." I bit my lower lip, keeping my gaze locked with his. It felt like he was studying me.

"Hmmm?" He moved his hand to my neck, his fingers brushing against the necklace he had given me earlier. "So you didn't clean the bathroom, then?"

"No, master," I replied.

"Go downstairs and bring the materials you need to clean the room," he demanded.

"You won't punish me?" I asked, my words spilling out in a hurry.

"What have I told you about speaking when I haven't given you permission?" He frowned, and I bit my lower lip for the second time. "Do you want me to punish you?" he asked, shaking my head. A smile formed on the corner of his lips. "Silly girl. Go on, hurry up with the cleaning."

I didn't need to be told twice before I hurried back to the elevator and made my way to the equipment room. I grabbed the bucket, broom, and other necessary items and within a few minutes, I was back in the room. However, to my surprise, the master was unbuttoning his shirt. I gulped.

He wasn't staring at me; his gaze was fixed on the window. He seemed to be talking to someone, with earphones in his ears. "Those bastards dare to touch what's mine, and what were you doing, huh? Sitting around drinking tea?" he said angrily. I knew it was wrong to eavesdrop, so I quickly moved into the bathroom and started my work.

Since the bathroom wasn't too dirty, I finished in three minutes. It would have been much easier if he wasn't here while I was cleaning. I took a deep breath and stepped out of the bathroom. This time, our gazes met. He didn't avert his eyes, but I quickly looked away.

I was scared that I might make a mistake and get fired for it. Why wouldn't he just go to the living room?

"Find them and eliminate them— their wives, children, even their relatives should be done with," he said, taking off his earphones and throwing them away.

"What? That's nonsense." I swallowed hard, picked up the broom, and started to sweep. Damon wasn't just an ordinary person; he had a history of killing when he deemed it necessary. He could easily harm me if he got angry. Please, God, protect me from him. I can't afford to make any mistakes. I'm too young to die. I silently prayed.

"Hurry up, Ava. I need my room to myself!" His growl sent shivers down my spine. My body trembled, and as always, tears began to fall. Whenever I got scared, my tears would start flowing. Looking at Damon, he noticed my tears and became confused. "Why are you crying?" he asked, his voice softer now.

"I'm sorry. It happens whenever I'm scared. I'll try to stop," I replied, wiping my tears away, though they just kept coming. I was still scared. He walked closer to me and used his hands to wipe my tears. Surprisingly, they stopped. At that moment, I noticed his bare chest, his broad shoulders, and...oh my god. Does he have eight abs? Is this guy human or an angel?

Looking up at him, I saw that he was serious about making me stop crying. My face turned bright red from embarrassment. "It stopped. Humans and their silly tears," he mumbled, then looked down at me, lifting my chin so I could look at him. "Don't ever cry again."

"How am I supposed to do that when the emotions just happen without warning? And you keep scaring the hell out of me, Mr. Man!" I wanted to say that, but since I loved my job and my life, I just nodded. He then moved to the balcony, leaving me alone in his bedroom with mixed emotions.

Confusion and fear. I was so overwhelmed right now. What was going on? Why was my mind filled with thoughts of this man who also happened to be my boss? I needed to stop thinking about him and focus on my work before he came out and scolded me again.