Chapter 7 You're fired.

~Elena~

The moment he touched me, the memories of yesterday flooded my head and I felt my nipples tighten. I exhaled, hating myself for reacting this way to his presence.

A shriek left my throat when I sensed the hot liquid running down my back, but I remained still and let my face twitch to express how painful it was.

When it wouldn't stop, I started to move but his hand held me in place.

"Stay still. I'm checking the temperature."

I obeyed. Shutting my eyes and balling my palms, I pushed back the tears, reminding myself that I couldn't react if I wanted to save my family.

This monster was my husband and I was stuck in his web.

After what seemed like an eternity, he stopped. Or ran out of coffee and I confirmed that when he dropped the empty cup on the saucer. Until then, I didn't realize how tightly I gripped the table.

My back started to burn but I made no move to touch it. When he moved to my front, I met his gaze with a glare.

"I guess it was hot, but unfortunately I wasted everything with the test. Make me a fresh cup," he paused when the door opened and Flynn walked in.

"Be back in thirty minutes."

Without a word, I turned around and stumbled out of the room.

I was very wrong when I thought it couldn't get worse than this. Two maids were relieved of their duties and I was made to fill in both their spots. I worked tirelessly every day and was only allowed to rest when everyone else had retired for the day.

The little in-between breaks I had was to eat or use the bathroom, aside from that I worked. Since the day I walked into this house, I seemed to get a new nightmare.

I lived every day with the fear of being exposed for who I really am, and even more so, the fear of pissing off my monster of a husband.

I wondered if this was my last bus stop or if there would be more negative encounters for me in the future.

I washed my hands in the bathroom, preparing to leave when my phone beeped, indicating that I had received a text. I slipped it out of my pocket and opened the message.

[I'll give you a second chance. I'm stoned right now, send me some sexy pics and I'll consider taking you back.]

I didn't need anyone to tell me it was from Jake. That bastard.

He used a different number since I blocked his. I gritted and proceeded to block the number but tears burst out uncontrollably. I really wanted someone to take me away from this nightmare, yet wasn't stupid enough to trust such a scum of the earth like Jack.

What a mess of my life!

"Julia, the master wants you to bring his lunch!"

I froze, then fixed my composure and walked out.

"The master is back?" I asked, my brows squinted as a look of horror rested on my face. Flynn said he wouldn't be back until tomorrow.

"Yes. He wants his lunch in ten minutes. Don't be late."

I nodded as I strode past her to the kitchen and picked up the food trolley. In the elevator, I quickly fixed my wear, hair and readjusted the look on my face.

Marla was in Asher's room when I got there, she flashed me a hateful look and resumed wiping the dining area. With time, I realized why Marla was always mean to me.

Marla had a thing for Asher but he never noticed her. I heard from the other maids how she had tried to seduce him but failed at every attempt. She was jealous of me because the master liked to call me more though I was new.

Keyword, jealous. I found it absurd.

If only she knew how much he enjoyed tormenting me. If only she knew Asher was a literal monster as the rumors professed.

"Hello Julia," Asher grinned. Beneath it, I could see the hatred, undiluted and raw.

I replied simply and proceeded to the table with the trolley. Marla left her position and I faintly saw her push out her leg. I had skidded too late and soon the trolley fell forward and all the plates of food fell out, the sauce not skipping Asher's legs.

I gasped when I saw this, and the glare he sent my way next sent the world to hold its breath. I felt the hair on my skin rise!

"I'm so sorry, master. Someone tripped-"

"Oh my goodness!" Marla cried out, "How could you be so sloppy, Julia? Look what you've done to the master?"

I faced her, my fear partly turning into anger. "Don't act like you didn't cause it. I saw you deliberately try to trip me."

"Don't you dare blame your sloppiness on me," she wagged her finger. "You're incapable, you should accept your faults."

"You little bitch-" I felt anger burning in my lungs.

"Now you're calling me names just because I corrected you. What did I ever do to you?" She feigned hurt. "Master, I told you this is the kind of person she is. I watched her closely as you requested and she never learns! She's mean and sloppy. She should be punished for this-

"You're fired."

I turned to him, unable to process what it meant. I felt my heart pounding fast. Does it mean we're getting a divorce? Does it mean I can run out of this hell?

Or...that only meant I was getting a greater punishment than housekeeping?

"You're fired, Marla," his icy voice rang out again. Marla's face went from displaying a surreptitious satisfied smile to holding a flabbergasted look.

"W-w-what?" She stuttered. "Young master-"

"Don't make me repeat myself. Get out."

Her sobs rented the air as she was dragged out by the guards. And I was still stunned in confusion.

"We will discuss a befitting punishment for you later," I faced him when he started to speak again. "For now, you'll have to wash and dress me up."

"D-dress you?" I stuttered.

My betraying core clenched as his gaze strolled down to my skirt. A flash of anger slammed on his face and I heard him tease me.

"Does the imagination make you wet, slut?"