Perched in the study that could easily be mistaken for a public library—except a hundred folds fancier—Sara held her breath tightly. She didn't even want to breathe too much in such extravagant air. What if they charged her for it? She had no money to spare.
Her eyes widened, nearly spilling out of their sockets, and her hands were tightly clenched together."What is this place?" she wondered, her heart skipping. Do people really live like this?
Slowly, the door opened, and Jay stepped in, holding a file in his hand. He was smiling softly—he'd seen the way she looked around, completely dumbfounded.
"Does Miss Sara like the interior?" he asked casually.
Sara snapped her head toward him, her cheek lifting slightly with a half-smile as she nodded."It's gorgeous. I mean… I haven't seen anything like this before. Not in real life," she admitted.
"Well, brace yourself," he replied, taking the seat across from her and placing the work contract on the table."You'll be seeing a lot more of this now that you work here."
He pushed the file toward her."Here—take your time and look through it before signing."
Sara glanced around, almost like she was expecting someone else. Jay caught it.
"Is there a problem?" he asked.
"Isn't the boss going to be here?" she asked, a little confused.
Jay chuckled."The boss is a very busy man. He doesn't handle minor contracts like this himself. You're lucky he went all the way to your old job just to meet you."
There was an undercurrent in his tone—a subtle meaning Sara caught a moment too late.Why would a man like that, with a thousand things to do, personally come for someone like me?The thought lingered as she picked up the file with slightly trembling hands.
Jay continued."Little Miss will be moving to her grandfather's mansion starting tomorrow, so you can take today to explore the swimming area and get familiar with the layout. From tomorrow onwards, you'll be expected here by noon each day."
Sara nodded and began skimming through the contract. She had already read the sample copy before, so now she was just making sure the details were entered correctly. After a few moments, she picked up the pen. Her hand hesitated slightly before scribbling her name at the bottom.
Just like that, it was signed.
Jay took the file from her hands and smiled warmly."Congratulations, Miss Sara. I hope you have a wonderful experience with us."
He stood, brushing his coat straight."I'll give you a quick tour before I leave. Follow me," he said with a polite nod.
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Augustine's eyes opened slightly.There was a throbbing pain in his head—sharp and relentless, almost like it might burst. He breathed heavily, his chest rising and falling with effort, and blinked through the haze. His vision slowly cleared, revealing Flinn standing by the IV drip, adjusting the flow on the stand beside the bed.
His brows furrowed deeply.
"What are you doing?" he growled, his voice rough. The moment he spoke, a sharp sting pulled at his cheek. Moving his tongue along the inside of his mouth, he felt a small wound—raw and sore.Did I bite myself?It hadn't been there before.
Flinn looked up, startled but relieved."Thank God, you're awake!" he said, his voice light with exhaustion.
Augustine stared at him, confused. He pushed himself up from the bed, slowly taking in the room around him. It looked like a hospital—or something meant to be one. Towels were scattered across the floor. Bowls, half-filled with water, cluttered the side table. Empty popsicle wrappers and sticky sticks piled nearby. The scene was chaos, and for a man like Augustine, it was a personal horror show.
He turned sharply toward Flinn."What the hell is all this? What happened here?" he snapped.
Flinn winced. "I'm sorry, boss. I'll clean it up right away." His voice was hoarse, his face pale and drawn. The dark circles under his eyes told their own story.
"Explain this—now!" Augustine barked, his tone cold and commanding.
Flinn nodded, rubbing a hand over his face."You were sick. Really sick. I was just trying to take care of everything… I didn't realize what a mess I'd made in the process. I'm sorry."
"Sick? Me?" Augustine echoed like Flinn had just said something impossible. But then—It hit him.A flash. A fragmented image."Where is she?"His hand shot up to his cheek again, feeling the lingering sting.
Flinn hesitated, his expression going pale."Sorry?" he said, pretending not to understand.
"There was a woman here!" Augustine thundered, swinging his legs off the bed and launching himself toward the door."Tell me you've detained her, Flinn!"
Flinn raised his hands defensively, his eyes wide."Boss, it was a misunderstanding—"
"You let her go?" Augustine whirled on him, rage boiling over."Someone broke into my house, assaulted me—and you let her go? And now you're defending her?"
Flinn's mouth opened, then shut again. His eyes narrowing. That word—assaulted—took him by surprise. His mind scrambled through the pieces of the night, but nothing added up. He was missing something—and Augustine looked like he might skin him alive right then and there.
"I—I'm not exactly sure what you mean by assault, but her being here… it was a misunderstanding we've resolved—"
"Bring me that woman!" Augustine roared."I want her behind bars. Now!"
Like a stubborn child hell-bent on revenge, Augustine stood rooted in his pride, jaw tight and fists clenched at his sides. His eyes burned with a storm of fury, dark and unrelenting. Flinn could only sigh inwardly, silently offering a prayer for Sara—because if there was one thing he knew for sure, it was this: once Augustine set his mind on something, no one, not even God, could save the one who crossed him.