ROSE.
If anyone had told me this was going to happen, I would have taken a different option.
The skin around my wound was red and botched. I had always hated how sensitive my skin was. This wasn't what I had in mind when I came here.
I took a bullet for the bastard.
Drank his poison.
And I had been unconscious for two days.
How the fuck am I supposed to get my revenge if I'm this stupid?
I can't believe I wasted two days doing nothing. Madame Tovia had excused me from work until I recovered, so now I only helped with small tasks.
Still, I regretted taking the poison. According to the gossip, the poor girl would be killed. She was forced into it. She didn't have an agenda like mine, and she was young, barely sixteen.
I hoped she survived.
I winced as I peeled off the bandage just below my ribs. I was lucky the bullet hadn't grazed anything vital. I glared at my reflection, furious that I'd risked my life for someone I wanted dead.
I should've let them kill him instead of obsessing over doing it myself. Now I was under his scrutiny, and it would only make things harder.
The fucking icing on it all was his disgusting advances. I could still feel his thumb brushing my bottom lip, the lust in his intense gaze, those stupid blue eyes glinting like diamonds.
I felt like hurling my guts out, even though I hadn't eaten in days.
Reid would be so ashamed of me.
Irritation bubbled inside my chest.
A knock on the bathroom door jolted me out of my thoughts. I quickly discarded the used bandage and pulled on the bastard's T-shirt so I wouldn't be half-naked when I opened the door.
The others were working. I was alone. Who could it be?
I opened it to find Mrs. Marcelo standing there, dressed in a fitted red gown, her lips painted the same shade, her hair pulled into a tight bun.
Elegant. As always.
"Well, it looks like you survived," Gillian said dryly.
Was she disappointed?
"I did. Unfortunately, you didn't mention that you had others working for you," I replied, referring to the assassination attempt.
"That wasn't me. It was foolish and impulsive. Those amateurs should've waited for the right time," she shook her head. "A wasted opportunity."
"It wasn't my intention to draw attention to myself," I said apologetically, but she waved it off.
"It's fine. He thinks you helped him. He'll trust you. He's obsessed with loyalty," she scoffed.
"About that… I don't think I'm comfortable with his trust." I explained how touchy he'd been. Gillian listened closely, then laughed.
"Oh dear."
"What?" I blinked, confused and uneasy.
"I should've known it wouldn't take long for him to notice you that way. Rose, you're extremely attractive. Your appearance was one of the reasons I agreed to work with you," she said. "He's a manwhore, but women usually throw themselves at him. He doesn't chase. With you, it's different. You saved his life. He sees you as an angel."
She patted my shoulder, pleased. It was the first time she'd touched me since our deal.
Her gaze dropped to my shirt.
"Is that his?"
"Yes. My gown was discarded after I was shot."
Her smile widened.
I didn't like that.
"My goodness. This is better than I thought," she said eagerly. "You need to use this. Seduce him. Make him fall in love with you."
"You don't understand. He—"
"He's interested in you. And we can use that. Think about it, Rose. It'll make everything easier."
"I'm not the right person for that kind of job, Madam Gillian," I said firmly.
"I'll give you more money. Anything you want," she pressed.
She was desperate.
And so was I.
But hatred wouldn't make this easy. I was repulsed by him. I could barely stand being in the same room with him.
How was I supposed to become his lover when I couldn't even pretend?
"Think about it, dear. I have to go," she said, patting my shoulder before leaving.
There was no need to think.
My answer would stay the same.
***
A few days later, I was resting when Madame Tovia barged in.
"Follow me."
I sat up and instantly regretted it as pain stabbed my side. I obeyed, confused, as guards escorted us toward the main house.
My jaw dropped when I stepped into the living room. Shopping bags were scattered everywhere, leaving barely any space to walk. My stomach tightened.
"Do you like it?" A masculine voice murmured behind me.
I gasped as he took my hand, stepping into view. Midnight-blue eyes locked onto mine as he pressed his lips to my knuckles.
My skin crawled, but I kept my expression neutral.
"Sir?" I feigned ignorance.
"It's all for you. And you'll have a room in the main house now. I don't want you working as a maid anymore," He said, his thumb brushing over my skin.
I remembered scrubbing my lips raw after he touched them. Now all I could think about was bathing until my skin burned.
Keep it together.
"What will I be doing in the main house?" I asked.
His smirk answered before his words did.
"You'll be here," he said softly. "As my woman."
He kissed my hand again, sending unwanted goosebumps down my spine.
I was in deep shit.