Chapter 5: The Boss

[Erin] 

The ride was quiet. Akim focused his gaze on the road. It was already night. It was too dark for me to see outside or hint me anything of where we were going. I couldn't seem to find my voice to speak, despite the blasting cold air conditioner inside the car, and I was sweating bullets. 

Good thing that Akim give me his coat or else, I'll be freezing my butt off in this seat. It is my first time riding in a luxurious car. I have never even imagined being inside of one. However, I never thought that it would be like this. I couldn't enjoy how smooth it drives on the road. Fear was overwhelming all of it.

My clammy palms clasp tightly on the seat belt. I was staring at the dark road ahead. I am not seeing anything, aside from the two-lane street we are now taking and the high walls at the side. The car swerves over the curve street, and just on the end of the road, a gigantic black gate emerges. It was so high that I couldn't even see the peak at this vantage point.

There were no guards, nor anyone that would open the gate for us. I thought Akim would get out of the car, but instead, he took out something from his pocket. I caught a glimpse of what looked like a metal card. He rolled down the window and tapped it on the blinking red dot over the square sensor embedded on the wall.

The gate groaned, and it automatically slid to the side, giving us enough space to pass through. 

After that, Akim continued to drive. It was still a long way from the main gate. I watch the time on the backlit LCD monitor and see that we are almost driving for another ten minutes but still, I don't know where we are heading.

Akim said that we were going to his boss's mansion, but I haven't anything until now. I could have fallen asleep, but a bright light coming from the distance caught my attention.

My breath hitches, my eyes grow wide. 

He said it was a mansion, but I ain't seeing one. To be more specific, he could've told me that the house we're going to is a palace. 

"Welcome to your possible new home."

For the first time since the ride, Akim spoke. My nerves set into a whirlwind of twists and turns as I take a gander once again at the swelling image of the mansion.

My possible home.

Possible.

He's not certain when he said those things if I am going to live or not if his boss sees my injured knee cap and deemed that I am not a good product worth his purchase. He might even ask the syndicate that auctioned me for a refund.

Akim got out first, and he rounded up to my side and opened my door. He assisted me gently, holding my waist so I wouldn't put too much weight on my injured knee.

My eyes immediately swept over the surroundings.

The mansion stood there as if the surrounding nature had embraced it, that the flora flowed within it as much as around it. Whoever designed it might have loved nature so much. I might be able to see much, but I could say that the vast expanse of his domain was surrounded by mighty oak trees. Centuries-old, I might state. The base of their trunks was rounded with strip lights, giving off an incandescent glows to the flowers beneath its massive unearthed roots.

The dancing water lights on the fountain adorning at the center of the patio take my breath away. A sculpture of an angel perched on the middle, and I am sure that if I dive in there, the circumnavigating structure of the pool would easily drown me in it.

It felt like I was living from one of the books I have read in fantasy.

The only difference was that no Prince Charming would sweep me off my feet or knight in shining armor that would lift me off from the ground and take me with his horse.

No. 

Only this one giant of a man goes with the name Akim and his luxurious car. Most definitely, no Prince Charming is waiting for me inside this mansion, rather than a man that purchased me as one of his belongings.

He could even be the devil himself.

Just the mere thought of it sends shivers of fear down on my spine.

"Come, let's get you inside. Your hands were cold as death."

Akim ushered me towards the gigantic double doors. He pressed the small button doorbell just beside the large pillar. 

My heart was beating so fast, my hands were sweating profusely, and the wound on my knee began to throb excruciatingly. The fascination I had earlier in this place had vanished immediately, and I didn't even know if my stomach hurt or it was just dread coiling knots in my intestines.

'Oh dear God, please help me. I don't want to die.'

I was silently praying.

The loud bang coming from the other side of the door suddenly clanked, sending me to leap on my feet and almost threw my soul out from my body.

"Easy there, sweet cake, they're just opening the door."

Akim patted the top of my head as I stiffened my spine when the door creaked open, revealing a semi bald-headed man in a black suit with a Charlie Chaplin mustache. He appeared to be in his late fifties, wearing a cuffed long white gloves and a bloating stomach that protrudes in his undercoat, then my gaze landed on his gleaming black shoes.

"Good evening Akim. Boss is waiting for you in his study."

My attention went back to his face. He scrutinized me with his eyes before he turned around and began walking without having Akim say a thing.

My feet felt heavy, and taking a step was quite a difficult challenge for me to do. As much as the pretty marbled cream floor seems to be inviting enough for me to explore inside the mansion. These foreboding feelings that are coiling inside me tell me otherwise.

A gentle nudge on my back brought me out from my trance. I look beseechingly to Akim, begging him, hoping that he will take me out of this place.

"I know how you feel, sweet cake, but let's get on to it and face the reality that there is no escaping for you here." He said, taking me by the waist and lightly push me forward.

Gingerly, I have finally taken a step. I am barefooted and a blast of cold marble collided with the soles of my feet, instinctively eliciting a gasp tearing from my throat. I waited for a moment for my body to adjust to the icy temperature before taking another step. 

The interior is as extravagant as I expected. High ceilings, large glass windowsills, teardrops crystal chandelier that glitters with the lights, and lastly, my gaze sweeps up to the grand spiral staircase where we are heading.

The combination of cream, gold, and brown accented on the walls and the immaculately polished wooden rails of the stairs.

I could bet a hundred steps up we needed to take just to reach the second floor, and I was already panting halfway through it. My knees were shaking, and my wound was throbbing painfully. I was only grateful for Akim that held me steadily so I wouldn't tumble down to my envisaged death.

"As much as I wanted to carry you so we can hurry this up, but I cannot, not in here where the boss's eyes are closely watching us. He might be a dear friend of mine, but you're his property now, and having me touching you in places he despises is like putting my head on a spike." Akim suddenly grunted while pushing my back so I could take another step upwards the stairs.

Instead of relieving my inner turmoil, he just worsened the plight I was feeling.

I could only muster a glare throwing at him as I continued walking up the stairs until we reached the second floor.

Akim then led me to another maze of corridors, taking too many lefts and rights until I lost count of it before halting to a white-colored door. He knocks three times first before announcing our arrival.

"Nikolai, we're here."

My heart ramming against my rib cage. I was intently staring at the closed door, but I was actually isn't seeing a thing until it opened, revealing a man that looked scarier than Akim.

Not scarier in an ugly way, it was his imposing presence that made me cower in front of him. I couldn't point out where I would start describing him, but what made my breath hitched was his striking mossy green eyes that pierced me with his intense gaze.

I swallowed hard, skidding closer to Akim. However, what I did make his thick eyebrows furrowed deeply, and a low growl vibrated on his throat.

"Come in."

And that voice almost sends me to the floor.

In fear.

Oh, right. I'm good as dead.