Rules

RANLEIGH

“What the hell did you just call me?” the driver irritatedly asked.

“Doggy? I guess?”

The man laughed sarcastically. “I am Bryce’s right hand, the second in position next to the boss. I am not just anyone, Miss. Asmodeus. More especially, I am not someone's dog, I am from a powerful household.” The man fixed his tuxedo. “So if you’re just using the young master for your gain, I suggest you stop. That is if you still treasure your life. As you can see, we could kill you mercilessly, Miss. Asmodeus.”

I widened my eyes, acting as if I was shocked by the news. I looked at the man and bit my lower lip, stopping myself from laughing. They once almost killed my father by beating him up nonstop. Do they really think that I would never think that they could kill and that they wouldn’t harm me? And rumors about them going on a rampage once in a while was all over the place. “Oh really?” I asked.

I didn’t care about them harming me, really. And I knew Bryce even before the loan sharks started harassing my family and I already knew how ruthless the Vergara family members could be before engaging in a contractual relationship with Bryce. The news about them being merciless didn’t shock me at all.

“Do I seem to care?”

The man shook his head and sighed. He looked at me like he was telling me how reckless I am. He shook his head and sighed again as he loosen his tie.

In the end, the man just shrugged his shoulders and walked near the gate. As we stood up in front, the gate automatically opened when the man pushed something. A button perhaps? I am not sure what it was. I’ve never seen something like that even after working at some noble’s estate.

We both entered and passed through the gate.

I couldn’t help but be in awe after entering the gate of the Vergara Family’s estate. I enthusiastically looked side by side like a kid who just entered the Animal Kingdom.

The driver sighed. “Please mind your manners, my lady. If the young master’s ex sees you like this, uneducated and ill-mannered, she might laugh and insult my boss.”

I just rolled my eyes. I don’t care what others would think about me. The man who Bryce sent to fetch me wasn’t their family driver but Bryce’s most trusted right hand himself. No wonder why he was awful. He is Bryce’s nearest aide and they are the same. Birds with the same feather, flocks together. And he thought that I was just using Bryce for my gain. He didn’t know that it was the opposite and I was forced to do Bryce’s bidding.

“This way please,” the man stated.

I nodded and followed the man. He started walking and kept on glancing back at me once in a while. He looked like he was too afraid that Ranleigh might do something weird that could ruin the Vergara family's reputation in just a snap.

I am once again speechless from the beauty of the place unfolding in front of me. The mansion is very well-cared. It is undoubtedly stunning at first glance. Paintings were hanging on the wall. The outstanding painting that costs millions was the first piece of furniture that blessed my eyes right after entering the mansion. I was even tempted to sell it.

There were two hallways after entering the main door. The man walked to the right hallway. Not too long after walking, they reached the living room. I could see millions of dollars in each and every piece of furniture inside. There’s no doubt that they are one of the richest nobles of the country.

But among those furniture that is worth more than millions, there is something that radiates more than anything and it is the most eye-catching of them all. An eye-candy.

Bryce was expensively sitting at a single sofa while facing his laptop. His thick brows furrowed while talking to someone. He looked at me,licked his red lips like he was seducing someone, and continued talking again. His necktie was hanging loose around his neck. He looked sexy with his eye-glasses on.

I am sure that I will not fall in love with someone like Bryce but seeing him in his corporate attire with his eye-glasses on, looking smoking hot and sexy, I felt her heart skip a beat.

I clenched my jaw.

Why the hell was my heart beating this fast? If this isn’t palpitations because of overdrinking coffee, then I’m screwed!

Bryce is dangerous for my heart. I sighed and clenched my fist. I had to guard my heart or I would end up broken after the contract ended. I need to sort out my attraction towards Bryce before it's too late — before that mere attraction turns into something deeper. Falling for him wasn’t part of the plan after all.

“Please wait on the sofa until my boss finishes his virtual meeting, my lady,” the man stated.

I nodded my head in trance. “Yeah… sure.”

The man left and I was left unattended. Bryce is busy with something. There was nothing to do so I took out her phone and started scrolling on her social media applications.

While scrolling, I saw news about the family members of the Vergara estate and the other powerful families. Scandals and gossip that are worth wasting time for. They were on the cover page of an article, probably to catch the attention of the readers.

[BRYCE VERGARA, THE YOUNG MASTER OF THE VERGARA MARQUISATE, IS ENGAGED TO SOME LOWLY COMMONER?!]

I just sighed at my current disposition. A day hadn’t passed yet since I became Bryce’s contractual lover but the public was already spilling some teas. Though I couldn’t really blame anyone. I am aware that this would be a lit to the gossip society but I still agreed. A part of it was my fault anyway. I loved my family so much that I was willing to put my freedom and dignity on the line just so I could provide them a peaceful and happy life. It is my fault and I didn’t regret my decision. As absurd as it is, I don't care about what would happen to me anymore as long as I am pretty sure that my family is doing well somewhere. But more than that, I couldn’t tolerate such insults just for being poor.

I then snorted. “What’s so wrong with being a commoner? Is it a sin? What’s the big deal?” I gritted my teeth. “These kinds of people just get on my nerves sometimes. Hypocrisy at its finest,” I whispered.

“There’s nothing wrong with being poor, Ms. Asmodeus. It’s just that some of those on higher status tend to look down on those in lower positions as filthy. It is common in the elite social circle to gossip and talk bad about you since you are my fiancée.”

I looked at Bryce, annoyed “So there’s nothing you could do about it?”

Bryce smirked. “I can shut them up but why would I bother? I am a busy person after all.”

I rolled my eyes. Bryce was simply telling me to face all of the problems by myself and solve them without Bryce’s help.

“Face them and prove them your worth. Only in that way could you survive in my world, Ms. Asmodeus.”

I bit my lower lip. I had no idea what problems I had to face in the future and Bryce made it clear that he wouldn't help me no matter what.

Prove them your worth. I chuckled.

If Bryce didn’t bother to clean up his name in public and let them think that he is indeed a sick bastard who goes on rampage and killed people at his own will, why would I bother to clean my name for them? Bryce was seen as a cold-blooded man while they saw me filthy. If that’s what they wanted to believe, should I waste my time to rectify their rotten mind? No!

Anyway, aren’t we a perfect match?

I unconsciously tucked my hair behind my ear and chuckled. Both I and Bryce got a very bad reputation. Isn’t it a perfect match, indeed? It was as if we were made for each other.

I widened her eyes, shocked by my own thoughts.

“Woman! Are you even listening?” Bryce asked, looking at me as if his patience was wearing thin.

I cleared my throat and awkwardly answered, “Y-Yes.”

Bryce looked at me suspiciously. “Then what did I just say, Miss Asmodeus?”

“Uh.. uhm…” I trailed off.

Damn! He caught me off-guard.

Bryce took a deep breath. “I won’t say this again, Ranleigh Asmodeus so you better listen carefully and take every word I say. We will be attending a party the day after tomorrow. Everything is settled and your instructor will be coming tomorrow to teach you the basics about nobility.”

I nodded slowly. Nobility. It was the one word that I loathed the most. It reminded me of that one noble lady who caused all of my grandfather’s addiction which led me to where I am at the moment. My grandfather became a gambling addict after my grandmother, a noble lady, left my grandfather and my father alone.

My grandfather loved that noble lady so much that he was willing to ruin himself after she left.

And now, I am bound to attend a party that nobles, like my father's mother, would attend. I set up a rule for myself that I wouldn’t be tangled with anyone like my grandmother—a noble. Now, after decades of living by following my own rules without breaking a single one of them, I am now being forced to break them. I would be breaking my rules for my family.

“Do I really need to attend that? Is it compulsory? Will I die if I don’t attend?”

“Do I have to spell it up for you?” Bryce asked. His voice was hoarse and rigid. “I’ll tell you one rule that this household should never break, Ranleigh. No one should question the masters, but one must obey them no matter what. That’s what you must do as you are one of my people now.”

I nodded my head although I badly wanted to complain. What people Bryce was talking about? We have a contract! We both signed it! We have an agreement and our relationship was beneficial for both sides. We are practically business partners!

I let out a deep breath.

“Do you have any complaints?” Bryce asked after seeing my face become distorted with rage.

I laughed without humor. “I have tons of them but I won’t question you anymore. I totally understand, Mr. Bryce.”

Bryce nodded. “That’s good. You understand the assignment. And one more thing, Ranleigh Asmodeus. You shouldn’t fall in love with me.”

After Bryce turned his back as he strolled away from me. I rolled my eyes. Bryce is a fucking bastard.