Chapter 5

“Why do you keep testing my patience?” Kyle curiously asked. His eyes locked into hers, searching for something. “Who are you, that you don’t fear the repercussions you get when you challenge me.”

Alessa said nothing.

“You already lost your room, a night's sleep, do you want to keep going?” He pulled her in tighter. She swallowed involuntarily. His eyes followed the movement of her neck. He moved closer towards it. With his free hands, he traced her neck with his thumb, going all the way up to stop at her lips. She closed her eyes hoping shutting this sense down would get rid of the goosebumps that erupted all over her body.

His thumb circled beneath her lips, and she wished she had time to come up with theories of why he was doing this, but she was too busy enjoying his touch. Why was she? She hated him! Why was her heart always betraying her brain when it came to Kyle Danny? A man she has just met.

At this thought, she came to and shoved him away from her. She opened her eyes to find his thumb covered in ketchup.

“Stay away from James. He is known to use and lose his girlfriends.” Kyle said shaking his hands so the blood-like ketchup splatted Eden’s garden, tainting this place filled with beauty and green with the color red.

****

The next week Alessa made it a point to avoid the main area of the mansion. She and James became fast friends as she went out of her way to decline Kyle’s warning.

The only time she would have to pass the main house was when she and Madison, who were working from home this week, had to meet on PHAT News work. She did this quickly and stayed in Madison’s room till she could.

Even though she was avoiding Kyle, it didn’t help that her brain kept thinking about him. She chalked this up to the beautiful garden and night. He was threatening her before that for god sake’s.

Now, at the end of the workweek, she was on her way to their small PHAT office and she was so excited to get out of the house. Madison had said, “I want you to go into the office today. Personally hand out the checks! I think if it comes from one of us, it will ease the staff's fear.”

Once Alessa got to the office, however, she noticed her staff was already being addressed by none other than Kyle Danny in their conference room. She dashed inside.

“Now that you are part of Camelot, you will have to meet our standards! This company was run on grounds by your previous management—speaking of which—thank you for joining us, Miss.McClaire.” Kyle addressed a windswept Alessa.

“What are you doing here?”

“I am talking to my staff!”

“Your staff!” Alessa bellowed.

“Open the checks in your hand.” Alessa looked down at the stack of envelopes in her hand. She picked one out and ripped it open. On it, the name Kyle Danny was scribbled at the bottom.

“I didn’t know she sold—I thought you gave us money—“ She said through clenched

teeth.

“You think I gave you and Madison money for free? PHAT—ridiculous name—now belongs to me.” Kyle met Alessa at the clear door of the conference room, where Alessa was standing. “Which means, you belong to me!”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

“Oh you’ll see—you think you can live in my house and eat my food for free and avoid me.” He got closer and growled into her ears.

“I wasn’t—“

“I know you’ve been hiding out in the servant area with James.”

“What! Are you stalking me?” Alessa asked curiously.

“I am keeping my house in order. Everyone in my house is my business.” He threateningly said.

“So I can’t do anything you don’t want me to.”

“As long as you live under my roof—“

“What are you, my dad.” Her heart gave a squeeze at the word dad.

“No, but silly girls make silly decisions that can affect my life. I like James. He is a good worker. Starting a romance will decrease his productivity. It already has.” Kyle claimed. “You're a distraction!”

“What?” Alessa yelled. “Who have I distracted?”Alessa waited for Kyle to answer, but he said nothing. Alessa thought she saw Kyle’s gaze trace from her neck to lips again. Flashes of that night flooded her brain and she shook her head to get rid of them. She wanted to stop thinking about Kyle Danny!

“Have you or have you not been seeing James?”

“What do you mean seeing him? We live in the same place. We work in the same place. Of course, we see each other!” Alessa scoffed.

“I mean are you and him dating?” He said, exasperated.

“I am not answering such a personal, invasive question!” Alessa said, Kyle glared at her. Neither of them broke their silence. Just shot daggers at each other as the staff uncomfortably watched.

Until finally, Kyle added. “Fine, if you don’t answer, I’ll have to have a serious talk with James. He might need to be terminated.

“What, no! James and I’ve only had dinner together in the garden a few times. Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Stop having dinner with my staff on my grounds after work. I won’t have it!” Kyle commanded.

“Fine. I guess James and I will just have to go off-grounds to see each other then!” Alessa said.

Kyle opened his mouth, but nothing escaped. Alessa, not interested in hearing what he had to say anyways, shoved the checks in her hand into his stomach, and walked out of the conference room, though not before Kyle shouted, “I start my work day at 6 am, and expect my assistant to do the same.”