Chapter 4

Ann's POV

"Who are you?" Karl asked me in a loud and firm voice when I didn't speak after I entered his room. How can I speak when I was starstruck after I saw him?  I didn't expect to see him in person. Jasper likes to watch a drag racing contest on a cable channel so I started to like it too until both of us becomes a huge fan of Karl Ibarra; the American-Filipino drag racer who always win the gold medal in his every racing contest. But I haven't heard any news about him since he had an accident and went blind while participating in an international drag racing contest in London. "I said who are you?!" he asked me again in a louder and more dangerous voice.

I took a deep breath before answering his question. "I-I'm A-Ann V-Villamor, Sir Karl. I-I'm your n-new m-maid," holy cow! I'm stuttering. I don't even stutter when I talk back to my tiger-like stepmom, but in front of my idol, my tongue seems twisted.

"My new maid? And who told you that I need a maid? Get out of my house right now!" he yelled at me that almost make me deaf.

Now I understand why Art said that he hopes I could endure the behavior of his friend and also no maid can endure him. Because he is super grumpy. Even though he is blind, he is still grumpy. He should thank that he is handsome even though he's blind so I'm sure he can still find a woman who will love him and replace his dead girlfriend.

His girlfriend died because she was inside the car when he crashed. His girlfriend is stubborn and too spoiled, even though it is forbidden to have a passenger on board during the competition, Karl found a way to be with his girlfriend while competing just to indulge the woman's whim. So she died because of her stubbornness.

"Art accepted me to be your maid, Sir Karl. And if you send me away, who will take care of your needs, especially your food?" I answered him bravely.  If I don't answer his question, he might get mad at me even more.

"You have the guts to talk back with me, lady," he said to me with a dark face. "Call Art right now. Tell him to come into my room right now!" he commanded me in a high voice.

"Of course, Sir, I'm answering you because you might get angry again if I don't answer you right away. But now that I'm answering you, you're still angry at me. What do you really want, Sir?" I couldn't stop complaining to him.

"Call Art right now!" his voice was emphatic as he ordered me again. It seems that he is running out of patience with me. He really wants to kick me out of his house. But no. I can't leave his house because I have nowhere else to live. And one more thing, Edu will definitely kill me if he finds out that Karl didn't accept me as his maid. It's better to stay inside his house because I feel safer here than outside. So I must stay here inside and be the maid of this grumpy and handsome blind man.

"Sir Karl, just relax. Your high blood might attack. Just let me work here in your house. And Art was gone. He left earlier because he said he had a meeting," I answered him.

"I don't have high blood but I'm starting to have it now. And do you know that I can have my men outside shoot you because of what you are saying?" Karl suddenly threatened me. I was nervous but I had to be brave to stay here.

"Why, Sir? What did I do wrong to make you shoot me? You should be thankful because a maid is willing to work for you even though you are grumpy," I said before I could stop my mouth. My eyes suddenly widened and I quickly covered my mouth with my hands after I realized what I said. What did you do, Ann? You need a job, don't you? Do you think he will accept you because of what you told him today? a little voice in my mind scolded me. I just bit my lip.  That little voice was right. It looks like I have to say goodbye to this big house right away.

"Come here, Lady," Karl ordered me with narrow eyes.

I feel more nervous. What will he do to me? Will he strangle me until he kills me? I immediately rebuked my bad thoughts.  Maybe he's not a murderer. He's just grumpy but not a killer.

"My name is Ann and not lady, Sir," I told him as I slowly approached him. He didn't take his eyes off me as I walk closer to him as if he could see me.  Maybe he can see me and there is a basis for Edu's suspicion that his nephew is just pretending to be blind.

"Faster!" he ordered me in a loud voice as if he was getting impatient waiting for me to get close to him.

"S-Sir," I said to him in a low voice when I was in front of him.  He can't see me because even though I'm in front of him he still doesn't speak and although his eyes are open it's like he's just staring into nothingness. To my surprise, Karl suddenly grabbed my waist and pulled me closer to him. "S-Sir. W-What are you g-going to d-do with m-me?" I stammered as my eyes widened.

"Shut up," he hissed at me.  From my waist, his hands went up to my head and caressed my face then moved down my sides until his hands reached my hips. I couldn't stand it anymore so I pushed him hard. He lay down on the bed but did not try to get up. "Get out of my house right now. I will not accept a thin and ugly maid like you. So leave now if you don't want my men to drag you out."

My lips parted not because he said he would let his men drag me out of his house but because he said I was thin and ugly.  When did I get skinny? I didn't eat last night and this morning, but I don't think that I will lose weight that fasts. And then he called me ugly? I am always the muse at our school but this blind calls me ugly? He steps on my pride. He is really blind!