Strip

Emma's POV

My head pounded as I regained consciousness, pain throbbing in my head.

The light from the window intensified the headache. I winced trying to sit up to go close it, when the door entered and the now-familiar woman entered the room.

"You are awake, you scared me," she said, her face with a smile this time. I forced back a smile at her as she strode further into the room with a tray.

The aroma of the food filled the room, and my stomach growled, and my cheeks flushed with embarrassment, but she laughed, easing the tension.

"Here, have your breakfast to take your medication," she brought the food closer to the bed as she kept her gaze on me. Her face was full of affection, a feeling I was not familiar with anymore; I ignored the throbbing in my chest as she reminded me of something.

My father'd always bring us food in bed whenever we were sick. A lump formed in my throat as the tears pricked my eyes, blurring my vision. I forced it back, sniffing as I stuffed my stomach with food.

A soldier needs his health for the fight.

She seemed to notice my emotions, and she patted my hair, and the dam broke, wetting my clothes and dropping into my food.

She pulled the food away and pulled me into a tight embrace that made me feel safe since my arrival in this house.

All the pain that had haunted me for so long poured out of me as the tears ran down my face, my body shaking with sob.

She embraced me tighter, whispering soothing words as I cried. "You'd be fine; it's only a phase; it will pass."

She pulled me away after I stabilized, and I missed the warmth of her body; she smelled like home. She wiped my face with the rim of her clothes.

"He told me you guys are getting? I never expected someone this young." She said, peering at my face; I nodded, looking away as embarrassment from my earlier breakdown flushed my cheeks.

"He's not a bad man; he just hates betrayal, especially coming from Marco," she added, and my heart skipped a beat; I just betrayed him with Marco.

I gave a non-committal hum and continued eating.

"How did you guys meet?" Her voice now has that glee, not the slow and emotional tone. The look on her face told me that she was expecting the usual fairytale love story.

"Our meeting is an accident; I stole from him for Marco," I said, and she gasped.

I chuckled; her expression looked so funny before it switched back to pity as my words sank in.

"You are in for a tough ride."  She said and we both laughed.

"What can I call you?" I asked.

"Mrs. Brianna," she said with a smile that donned her lips.

I'm comfortable with her; I need to make her more comfortable with me, too, to enable her to spill lots of his secrets that I'd need. My stay here won't be that bad. I grinned at the thought.

"Come down to the kitchen; the workers can't wait to see the new mistress that stole the devil's heart; he traveled, so the house is clear," she said with a wink as she went out with the tray.

I ran to my bathroom, staying longer as the water soothed the wound on my butt from the devil. I winced at the first contact.

I opened the door to my room, and I felt a chill run down my spine. I could see the whole house with the staff cleaning every corner of the house; everywhere was sparkling. The chandelier added beauty to the house. I walked down the staircase, noticing the way the staff nudged themselves, and everywhere fell silent as they stared at me. And from the way they looked at me, I knew they pitied me.

As I walked through the mansion, I couldn't help but feel like I didn't belong. Everything was perfect and so polished and I was just a rough, unpolished dirt in the middle of it all.

I walked further, ignoring them; Mrs. Brianna met me halfway with a smile; she rang the bell, drawing the attention of everybody as they formed a four-line formation with their bows.

"Miss Emma is the young miss of this house and demands respect," she said, her voice leaving no room for negotiation.

"Yes, ma'am, welcome, Miss. Emma," they chorused and I was marveled by their organization.

I was led away as they dispersed back to their various activity.

"Hi," I said to the two older women in the kitchen, the aroma of freshly baked wafted through my nostrils.

Their face broke into a smile. "Welcome ma'am."

"How can I help?" I moved to sit but I winced as my butt sent a sharp bolt of pain through my body.

"Don't worry ma'am. What would you like for lunch?"

"Please stop with the title. You are embarrassing me," I said and the tension in the room cooled down.

"Here, wash them," she said handing me vegetables, gently touching my hands.

"I never thought Master Leo would get married after Ma'am Rosaline, but you proved us all wrong, and you look beautiful."

My face broke into a smile as  I touched my face. "Thanks."

"Which skincare do you use?" the younger ladies chimed in, taking the bread and the older woman slammed her hands, taking the bread away.

"I don't use any skincare." I chuckled.

"Aww, you're so lucky; your skin looks so clear. Look at me." she pouted.

"You can as well buy from every skincare store," another said and we all laughed.

The day went down like this, and we all retreated to our rooms, and the day after, until after a week.

I came downstairs after my siesta to notice the tension in the house. The once-bubbling house was now silent, and I could hear the echo of my footsteps.

"What happened?" I asked Mrs. Brianna.

"Young master is back," she said and my heart skipped a beat. I gulped nervously before rushing back upstairs and shutting the door.

A knock came on the door later at night.

"Come in," I said, and Mrs. Brianna said, her eyes clouded with a mix of sadness and pity as she stared at me.

"Young master sent for you," she dropped the bomb.

My palm grew damp at the thought of facing Leonardo again, which made my stomach twist into knots, my mind racing as chill coursed through my veins, leaving me numb.

I wasn't ready to meet him after our last encounter. The pain from my butt was still sore.

"I'll prepare your bath," she said, walking to the bathroom and coming out before going to the closet to bring out my clothes.

Seeing her set that set of lingerie on the bed made my heart bleed, and my stomach churned at the thought of him touching me. Bile rose to my stomach.

She watched me get dressed, avoiding eye contact with me. The one moment our eyes met in the mirror, she shifted her gaze almost immediately as though my eyes burned her. Maybe they did, but I tried to hold back the tears, which still streamed down my cheeks, ruining my make-up. Her hands stilled when the hot liquid fell on her hands, but she continued.

My heart broke with every passing seconds, and as I stepped out of my room, wearing a robe that covered the lingerie, I heard the scurrying footsteps as the staff scrambled away

Their heads peeped out from the doors, their eyes filled with pity as I walked up the stairs like a lamb led to slaughter.

I forced myself to take a shaky breath, brushing away the tears as I tried to steady my shaky body.

Each echo of our footsteps was like a dagger sent to my soul, as we progressed to Leonardo's room.

She knocked on the door and the deep voice resounded.

"Come in,"

She opened the door, standing aside, and I felt my heart ripped off as I walked into the dim room. I saw the shadow that stood on the veranda puffing out smoke.

The dim lighting in the room made it difficult to read his expression, but his eyes seemed to bore into my soul.

I stood there, my heart racing heavily, staring at him as he smoked, and another and another, my legs beginning to ache. He didn't even cast me a glance, his husky voice came at last.

Leonardo's low, husky voice sent shivers down my spine as he commanded, "Strip."

My head seemed to explode; I didn't want to believe what I had just heard, as my grip tightened against my robe, holding it firmly.

I swallowed when his cold gaze landed on me.

"I said strip!" He shouted, stepping close. His towering figure seemed to shrink the space.

Fear constricted my chest at his piercing gaze and I stood still unmoving.

"Or do you want the guards to help you?" He said, the sneer in his voice undeniable.

Beads of sweat ran down my face, my hands clamped around the knife in my hands.

She pulled the robe, and the sound of the knife clattering made my heart race heavily as his gaze grew dark, lingering on the knife.

"Guard!" The loud echoes of footsteps sounded right outside the door.