Chapter Four

Part I: Touch me

COREEN yelled at the pillow she was holding for what seems like the nth time in annoyance, anger and frustration. Whenever she remembers how much she suffered so she could release herself from being tied against the headboard. She tested how flexible she was without breaking her bones.

Royce Sullivan is the real definition of asshole with a capital A!

So what the heck is the use of that wall if he can come into her room like this?! Oh, wait. Right. Stupid me. This is his mansion.

She doesn't think she has the flexibility, but that's not the point! The point is that Royce made a fool out of her. Granted it was her fault for labelling his sexuality but that was way overboard! I could have misplaced a damn bone!

Or is it because you were stunned by his beauty and he made you feel slightly aroused? Her own conscience taunted her making her scowl in denial.

If he had just seen her he would probably have laughed at her misery. But she still won't give up! Coreen believes that this is one of his pranks to scare me away. She had a stronger desire to heal her sister than to give up. Coreen will show that man that she is different from the ones who left before. She will make him see that he finally met his match.

The anger and frustration was replaced by confusion when she remembered what he had said last night. How did he know what she was dreaming?

Coreen felt her heart pound and her eyes darted around the room. Is there a hidden camera out there that secretly records every act of hers? He checked every corner of the ceiling and then stood up to find the hidden camera. But after a few minutes she could not see anything, so she sat down again.

Maybe he's just teasing her? Surely the man is aware how attractive he is and maybe, just maybe she wasn't so discreet when she looked him over so he's using it against her. That's Right! Coreen cried out in her mind. Well then, she would not show him that his words affected her in more than ways than another.

She got up and went to her window to open the curtain to see the beautiful sight of ths garden. Her hand stilled as the sight that greeted her is different than what she should have been seeing. Coreen swallowed and heat crawled up her cheeks at the sight of Royce uplifting, bulging muscles, sweats rolling down his face and taunt abs. Her stomach clench with desire and she bit her lip as she stared at the jerk he just cursed awhile ago and now, she's drooling over the said asshole. Wow Coreen, way to be a hypocrite. Have I starved myself for too long that I am lusting over a man with disgusting attitude?

This is the reason why you shouldn't stay a virgin at this age and time.

Royce was wearing only gray sweatpants and she couldn't help but to roll her eyes when she saw that he was still wearing leather gloves. Is it really necessary and isn't really slippery?

Royce stopped stretching and what she did next really surprised her. Her eyes widened when he suddenly took off his sweatpants. She almost stopped breathing and she's about to close the curtain when he looked up suddenly and their gazes met for a second before she finally closed it. She clutched her pounding heart and panted. Oh my god, great! Now she looked like pervert lusting after her boss!

Escaped an overbearing boss and now under an asshole one. She has no luck in finding the best employer!

But the sight of Royce with only his underwear on is still fresh on her mind. Her heart raced faster if that was possible when she remembered how huge his bulge was. Bigger that her ex's that is for sure. Coreen almost hurt herself for comparing the two. Royce Sullivan is bad for her virgin self and mind. He's making her feel things she haven't felt before. He's making her want things that aren't possible at the moment with her situation.

"I'll be crazy if I stay here longer." she said to herself and prepared herself before going down to the kitchen to cook for lunch.

She was met by the sight of Royce wearing his sweatpants again thankfully, drinking from a bottled water. She watched how a trail of water fell from his lips to his chin down to his bare chest. To his stomach and to the dangerous area. She immediately avoided her gaze and plunged her burning face into the freezer to look for something to cook.

"Why don't you go inside while you're at it?" he heard Royce's sarcastic remark but ignored it and took the shrimp. She was just going to cook a shrimp. She also took all the other ingredients.

"Glad you escaped by the way. I'm impressed." He said mockingly followed by an evil laugh.

Her nose flared but she pushed down her anger and didn't respond until the laughter faded away. Crazy. She whispered in her mind and continued what she was doing. She was grateful when she finished cooking and Royce didn't go down. She prepared the table, cleaned the kitchen and went to the living room to clean it even though there is nothing to clean. According to the rules, Royce will be the one to tell her when to clean his side and Liza mentioned that the man is a neat freak so there isn't really any need to clean there.

After that, she went out to the garden to sweep the leaves from the tree. She tilted her head near the tree and saw something engraved there. "I love you forever, Janice. Love, Michael." she read. "Who is Michael?" he asked herself.

As far as she knows Royce was the only child. His Daddy? Cousins? Friend? And who is Janice?

Coreen looked around the mansion and the garden. Why does it feel like there are so many mysteries and wonders that happened and will happen in this place? Even his boss is also very mysterious.

Coreen did not pay any attention to it anymore and instead collected the garbage to throw it out of the house. She put the garbage in the bin outside for the garbage truck to collect and as she was about to go inside again she was struck by the sight of an elderly asian maid. She smiled at her and came closer.

"Hello. I'm Coreen Moretz, the new maid here." she greeted her politely.

The older woman didn't answer and Coreen only realized that she's not looking at her. She followed her gaze to find that she's looking at the mansion where she works and when she looked back at the old woman she's surprised to see her staring at her. But what shocked her most was the fear in her eyes.

"Leave while you still can. I saw all the happenings in that house and if you still want to live, leave now." before she could answer another asian maid came and took the elderly woman in the arm gently.

"Don't take Lola's word seriously. She's got a habit of scaring new maids. Welcome here! I'm Jenny, and if you need anything, we're at the Smith's Mansion over there." Jenny smiled at her and she smiled back before introducing herself.

As Jenny gently pulled Lola away, her gaze remained in Sullivan's mansion making Coreen frown in amusement and confusion. She stared at the mansion again and wondered if Lola's words have a basis.

He could not help but feel that Royce can't hurt anyone. Yes he has a bad attitude but he seems to be harmless despite what he did to her. It was just like a child playing with his toy. Not that it isn't a good thing.

She returned to the mansion with a confused mind. She found a newly bathed Royce eating the shrimp. "Your food's always delicious. Maybe I should keep you," he said aloud as he poured himself a glass of water. He felt a tingling sensation in her stomach at his comment.

Her mind is running wild. She thought about the possible things and happenings she could experience in that mansion.

"- Man! Woman!"

She was snapped out of her thoughts because Royce had banged on the mirror while calling ber. She did no realized that she spaced out. Lola's words must have aroused questions on her mind. She slowly lowered the glass she's holding and looked into the man's eyes.

"Y-yes? "

She could've sworn she saw concern swimming in his eyes before it was replaced by a bored expression. Her mind is probably playing a trick. "Your mind is out of this world and you might break that glass. It's even more expensive than your salary."

The fear she had felt earlier had been replaced by annoyance. "Whatever," she said annoyingly before putting the glass in the sink and returning the pitcher to the refrigerator. "And my name is Coreen. C-o-r-e-e-n. Not a woman. Okay?"

"Whatever you say," he trailed off before drinking. "Woman." he continued with a grin.

She just rolled her eyes before focusing her eyes on his gloves again. Before she could stop herself, she opened her mouth. "Why do you always wear gloves even when no one is around you?" she dared to ask.

She saw how he stopped eating before dropping the utensils with a loud clang that made her flinch. He stood up and gave her a glaring look.

"Let's get one thing straight, we are not friends. We are nothing. You are nothing." he said with so much venom in his voice. "Know your place, woman." after saying this he took the jacket off the chair and went out.

Why do they always fight and it ends up with him leaving and her feeling upset? Maybe she just wanted to know the truth and Royce didn't need to be an asshole about it.

Coreen sighed, his words stung her somehow. Of course, he was her employer and she was his maid. Cleaning dirt is what she has to do to get paid and not ask questions. This would help her save up for her sister but still couldn't avoid being hurt by what he said.

Royce Cordillero is an asshole, insenstive jerk and cold-hearted man.

She decided to just do her job by cleaning the table and eating alone. She put them in the sink and washed it all. She was about to climb up to her room to bathe when something caught her eyes near Royce's table.

He approached the glass wall and saw a calling card. She bent over and tried to read what was written there.

"Mi - chael?" she read. She tried to read the surname but could not read it because it had a hole in the middle.

Michael? It was the same name she saw engraved on the tree. Who exactly is this man and why is Royce holding his calling card?

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