4: Moving to His House

"He wants a child, seriously? He even didn't ask if it's okay with me. He just demanded it! Can you imagine how controlling he is?" I couldn't help but rant. I even didn't mind that it was Peter I was ranting to.

I didn't expect that Mr. Beaumont is that absurd. No doubt Analiese ran away. She must have figured out what kind of person he is. For a girl who was sheltered her whole life, it must have scared the hell out of her. Who would not be, anyway? Even the man has the looks and all the riches in the world, once he looks straight to your eyes, you would see the personification of darkness right before you. He looks so vicious and ruthless, I doubt if he would give a damn about what others say or how others feel.

"Don't worry, we are doing our best to find Miss Analiese as soon as possible. Everything will be alright when she is back."

"But when will she be back? What if you can't find her before the wedding or even after the wedding? Then..." Sure I turned pale. "Does that mean I will have to sleep with him and bear him a child?"

Oh God. I couldn't imagine how my life would be.

Peter sighed, obviously having a hard time thinking about it too. He looked troubled as if he couldn't find the right words to answer me.

"And my goodness, he already wants me to move in his house even we are not married yet! What do I do, Peter? What do I do?"

He sighed and cleared his throat. "You will have to move to his house, then. You said you are willing to do everything alright?"

My lips parted.

"Look. I am not asking you to bear him a child like what he wants, but there's only one thing I could do to help you. I can help you not to get pregnant."

He can only help me not to get pregnant... then does that mean he can do nothing if Mr. Beaumont would want to the deed with me? Oh damn!

"Mr. Beaumont isn't the typical guy. What I am trying to say is, he is a good-looking man. I'm sure it won't be a loss if ever the situation will call for you to sleep with him."

What the heck is he saying? It's not a loss because he is a handsome man? Of course it's a loss on my part! I'm a virgin for Pete's sake!

But of course I won't dare say that aloud. I won't bring shame on myself. I just sucked on my breath and looked through the car's window until I saw the familiar manor.

I was so tired that night. I thought about Mom. Then I thought about Mr. Beaumont. No doubt this job is hard, but I guess it's all worth it. At least Mom is at the best hospital where she could receive the best treatment. She will recover soon and everything will back to normal. With the big sum of money I would receive from Mr. Racini, I thought about the places where I could bring Mom and the things I could give her. I thought about it dreamily until I fell asleep.

The next day, I was told by Peter that Analiese had already picked a wedding dress and that I should try it on so they could make necessary adjustments. The dress is beautiful and elegant but I wasn't comfortable the whole time I was wearing it. I guess it's because I know it isn't mine to begin with. Plus the fact that the owner of this dress has disappeared in thin air and is nowhere to be found. I just really hope that Analiese is doing fine wherever she is now. I don't know what I would do if she won't come back even after the wedding.

"I told Mr. Racini that Mr. Beaumont asked you to move in, so he told me to arrange everything and that you are moving to Mr. Beaumont's house this afternoon," Peter said.

"What?" My eyes widened. That fast?

"Yes, Katherine. I already asked some servants to fix your things so you don't have to do anything and just ready yourself."

I swallowed hard and I suddenly lost the appetite to eat whatever's left in my plate. I drank water and lifted my gaze to Peter who's just sitting across me. We are having lunch in that long dining table with just the two of us.

"If I will live there, does that mean I'm not going to see you often, right?" That is really a problem since I ask for his advice every now and then, and he's the only person here I am comfortable with.

"I won't move out with you, so yes. But you don't have to worry about that. if you have any concerns, you can call me anytime," he promised but that wasn't enough to console me.

I was wearing a black long sleeve dress and black heels when we left that afternoon. Peter was with me along with the driver and a few bodyguards. The bodyguards were on a different car, though. I assume that the news of me as the Racini heiress already spread, and of course Mr. Racini as a big time personality, it is inevitable to have threats to his family's security. I wasn't comfortable with it, however. Being treated like I'm a very special person is not something I was used to. And I don't think I would ever get used to all the luxury of Analiese's life.

"Good afternoon. You must be Miss Analiese," a lean man in a suit and tie welcomed my arrival in Mr. Beaumont's expensive residence. He smiled politely. From his physical appearance, I could guess that he's around early thirties. He also looked neat and decent.

"I'm Charlie, Mr. Beaumont's butler. Nice meeting you, Ma'am. Let me guide you inside. Mr. Beaumont is still out for work. I assume he will be back before dinner."

I thought Peter will come inside too but I looked at him when he stopped a few steps away from the grand double doors.

"Peter?"

"Now that I've sent you to Mr. Beaumont's place safely, I have to go, Miss Analiese."

I wanted to wince at the way he addressed me. He didn't even look like he's trying. He looked so confident that no one would notice his actions. I should learn from him, huh.

"Uhm..." I wanted to ask him not to go but I know I can't do that. "Alright. You can go. Thank you." I sighed.

He nodded and gave me the look that says "You better behave if you don't want to die". He won't harm me of course, but I guess we both know that Mr. Beaumont might be capable of doing so. The idea made me shiver.

"The servants will be the one to put your things upstairs. Do you want anything? Tea? Juice?" Charlie asked in a light tone. I relaxed a little with the attitude he's showing. I figured he is not that stiff and stoic like he's boss.

"I'm fine. No need to get me anything," I said as feminine and elegant as I could. Peter told me it is how Analiese talks like. Though, he didn't say that I should try so hard to copy it since the people haven't here met her anyway. Still, I want to do my job right and avoid making mistakes as much as possible. If Mr. Beaumont would know that I'm deceiving him this whole time, then I will be good as dead meat.

"Are you sure?" Charlie looked hesitant to not give me anything. "Are you tired? Your room is ready upstairs, you can take a rest for a while before I give you a tour around the mansion."

"A tour?" I was surprised.

He nodded with a smile. "Yes, Ma'am. Mr. Beaumont told me to give you one once you arrive."

I smiled a bit even though I admit how he addressed me made me uncomfortable. It's just, I'm not used to people seeing me as someone higher than them. I always feel the other way around. It's not that bad, though. As if I'm mistreated. Well, I admit sometimes in work, people regard me as someone so low that they wouldn't mind asking me things like if I would sleep with them in exchange for a big tip. I feel so low when men do that. I just hold up and walk away as if nothing happened because I don't want to cause a commotion and end up losing my job.

For some days, it's like that. But every time I see Mom and her smiles, I always see a reason to keep going despite how hard it is for me. I didn't finish college, reason why I can't find a better job. I was on my second year when Mom got tuberculosis. She could no longer work for us so I had no choice but to give up studies and work. We have a lot of things to pay for and if I would add tuition fees, we would have been staying on the streets. Life is hard and I figured I had to make a choice. Not that I want my life to stay this way forever. I'm still twenty-one. I'm not losing hopes that I could get back to college and finished the two years I dropped and get myself a more stable and better job for me and Mom.

True enough, Charlie gave me a tour around the mansion. It is quite big, bigger than Mr. Racini's actually. It has a lot of paintings and it seemed so quiet and clean as if Mr. Beaumont doesn't want to see a single dust around. Maybe he is very meticulous.

Maids were in uniform and looked very professional. They seemed to be well-trained and well-mannered. Every time one sees me, she bows her heard and say her greetings politely without looking on my eyes as if it is something forbidden.

I just smiled a little. Even though I am receiving fair treatment, I can't help but feel uncomfortable. The air around the mansion is just so heavy, morbid. Plus the colors of the curtains around. It's so dark and colorless. No life at all. Maybe it's based on Mr. Beaumont's taste? My eyes narrowed when I remembered how he looked like last night. He was too dark and too intense. And the way he move and speak... there was something striking about it even though he was not trying. Is it confidence?

Well, he is a man with everything on his palm. I guess that is where his confidence is coming from, huh?

"I hope you enjoy the tour, Miss Analiese. Would you like to go to your room now? I will lead you."

I looked at the blooming flowers in front. We are in the wide garden near the mansion's big gates. The sun had already set and I can see the last glimpse of light up in the horizon being swallowed by darkness. I sighed.

"Can you leave for a moment here? I want to stay for a minute. Thank you for giving me a tour. I will just find my way to my room in my own late on. Is that okay?"

"Uhm, I can accompany you here... but if you really want to be alone, then I guess I have to leave." He chuckled lightly. "Just ask some servant to guide you there. Everyone here already knows you."

I don't know if the last part is an advantage, though. Once Analiese takes over, whenever they are reminded of my face, they would only think of me as a deceitful woman. It will be carved in their minds and I really wished that I should have wore a veil or something to cover my face like Analiese did. It would have been more convincing that I am her. I don't know what is running on Mr. Racini's head.

I don't know how minutes I've been standing there and staring at the sky as the stars began to appear. The darkness became not as lonely. Stars may not be enough to light the whole sky like the sun does, but for me it is enough that they could make such darkness looks so beautiful.

"Why are you here?"

I jumped a bit and turned to see who it was even though I recognized the voice.

It was Mr. Beaumont. He's in a dark three-piece suit and tie, standing a foot away, staring down at me straight to my eyes. For a moment, I felt like I couldn't breath.