Strip

For a few long seconds, Katie stood there, wavering in the silence, until the distant hum of activity from the kitchen brought her back.

She forced herself to breathe, steadying her steps as she made her way into the kitchen.

The murmurs hit her almost immediately, whispering voices intertwining like a tangled web around her.

"Can you believe she even has the nerve to show up here?" one young woman muttered, loud enough for Katie to hear.

“Honestly,” another snickered, “how brazen can someone get?”

Katie clenched her hands, refusing to react. Instead, she approached an older woman who was setting out ingredients near the counter.

“Excuse me…” Katie’s voice was quiet, almost swallowed by the noise. “Is there anything I can help with?”

The woman looked up, her gaze settling on Katie for a moment before her expression softened. "Yes, of course. Would you mind washing the cabbage? We’ll need it for the kimchi."

Katie gave a small nod. "I’d be glad to. My mom taught me how to do it."

The woman smiled, and Katie returned it, feeling a small lift in her chest as she moved to the sink.

She rolled up her sleeves, carefully began tearing the leaves and washing them, feeling a sense of calm return.

A few minutes later, a young boy appeared at her side, looking hesitant. Katie raised an eyebrow, pausing her work. “May I help you?”

The boy shifted shyly, glancing behind him. “Um, could I… have a piece of cabbage?

Katie laughed softly. “Is it really the cabbage you want, or are you hoping for a taste of the kimchi?”

He glanced back toward the doorway, where a young girl was peeking in, then whispered, “She said… if I got it, she’d be my girlfriend.”

Katie hid a smile. “Ah, now that makes sense.” She took a small piece of cabbage and handed it to him. “Go impress her.”

The boy’s face lit up as he took it, bowing his head quickly before he darted away, his laughter trailing after him.

But the brief lightness vanished as the kitchen door swung open abruptly, and Jerome strode in.

The room seemed to freeze under the force of his anger; even Katie’s heartbeat faltered as he crossed the room toward her, his steps heavy.

“What do you think you’re doing here?” he demanded, his voice low and harsh.

Katie looked down, unsure of what to say. “I… I was just helping.”

“Did I ask you to leave the spot I left you at?” he questioned angrily, his gaze unyielding.

She struggled to find words, her voice barely a whisper. “I thought—”

“Are you dense or what?” he interrupted, eyes narrowing.

Yet for a brief moment—so fleeting Katie almost missed it—his gaze flickered toward her lips.

And there was something about the way he was looking at her lips

Her lips parted unconsciously, an apology trembling on her tongue, but he waved it off with a glare.

“Spare me whatever excuse you’re trying to come up with. I need you in the bedroom. Now.”

The weight of his words settled heavily around her, as murmurs from the other women echoed behind her back.

Katie felt her cheeks heat, shame prickling beneath her skin. With a small nod, she quietly set down the cabbage bowl, offering the older woman an apologetic look. “I… I think I have to go.”

The older woman gave her a soft, understanding smile. “Go on, dear. Best not keep him waiting.”

Katie mustered a faint smile in return before turning away, keeping her head down as she passed the group of women still watching with thinly veiled disdain.

She slipped out of the kitchen and closed the door softly, steeling herself as she walked down the hallway toward Jerome’s room.

The hallway stretched out before her, each step feeling heavier as she approached Jerome’s door. She paused just outside. Her mind going in different directions and her heart pounding.

She stood outside Jerome’s door for over five minutes, her hand hovering just above the wood, reluctant to knock.

She could feel her pulse racing, a dull ache radiating from the slap she was still recovering from, but she kept her face steady.

She breathed in, straightened her spine, and knocked softly. When no response came, she knocked again, hesitantly this time, but still there was silence.

Unsure what to expect, Katie took a steadying breath and carefully pushed the door open.

As she stepped inside, she flinched instinctively, bracing herself against an harsh blow.

But instead of finding Jerome rushing toward her in anger, he was seated on the bed, his eyes narrowed as he regarded her with cold intensity.

His gaze alone was a powerful force, enough to make Katie feel exposed and small.

A tense silence settled between them before Jerome’s voice, low and edged with disdain, broke it.

“When you’re done with this little display,” he murmured icily, “strip.”

Katie’s breath hitched, the demand slicing through the air. It was as though her mind went blank at first, the words hanging in the air like a challenge.

She looked at him, frozen, but the steel in his gaze told her that he was in no mood for disobedience.

“Are you daft?” His voice sharpened, his tone barely above a whisper yet filled with enough venom to make her stomach twist.

“I said strip.” The words were so biting, so dismissive, that they almost forced her into action.

Katie swallowed hard, her hands trembling slightly as she reached to close the door behind her. She knew what defiance could bring, and there was nothing left within her to muster it.

With quiet resignation, she stepped forward, stopping only when Jerome’s voice halted her once more.

“Did I ask you to come closer?” His gaze was unforgiving, sweeping over her with an air of disdain.

“Stay back. I don’t need you near me, staring at me like some broken doll.”

Katie felt a pang of humiliation so sharp it nearly stole her breath, yet she remained motionless, fighting back the emotions churning within her.

She reminded herself why she was here, why she had no choice but to bear this without question.

With a small, barely noticeable nod, she stepped back and began to pull down the straps of her dress.

The fabric slipped down her shoulders, inch by inch, her eyes glued to the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.

And then, the tears came—quiet, hot droplets sliding down her cheeks, falling to the floor. Each one felt like a silent confession, a painful surrender.

She couldn’t stop them. They continued to fall, mixing with the tension that had stretched between them like a taut rope.

Jerome’s voice broke the silence. “Look up.”

Katie's breath hitched. She clenched her jaw and refused to comply.

“Look up,” he repeated, his tone unwavering, laced with an edge of command.

Katie stood there, her gaze fixed firmly downward, the tears still silently tracking down her face, her body trembling under the weight of his words.

“Look up!” he demanded, a dangerous bite in his tone now.

After a long moment, Katie finally raised her eyes, her tear-filled gaze meeting his cold, unwavering stare.

“Get out,” Jerome said, his voice flat, almost bored, as though it was a mere dismissal.

Katie felt her heart skip a beat. She didn’t hesitate. With urgency in her every step, she rushed out of the room, the door slamming shut behind her.

The hallway seemed to close in on her, the weight of his command still heavy in her chest.

Her body shook with both anger and helplessness as she fled, the echo of his voice still haunting her steps.