Chapter 5 Stairs

Chapter 5

Caesar's POV

"Mistress Avila declined every stylist you sent her," Rolan announced as he entered my office.

I paused my work and looked up at him.

She declined it? Does it hurt her pride to accept help? I'm just trying to help her. She's not just embarrassing herself but also me.

Last time, she declined my approved designs for her new mansion, and now this.

"Call Lilith," I ordered Rolan.

He left as I called Philip.

"Master?" he answered promptly.

"The 8th wife declines everything I offer her, from mansions to dresses. How can I make her accept it?"

"Avila?"

"Who else?"

None of my wives decline what I offer them. This one clearly needs help, yet she won't accept it.

"Of course, she won't accept it. She has a standard."

"Standard?" I almost laughed at his statement. "That woman clearly doesn't know the word standard."

"Just tell her exactly what you need her to wear. She will listen if you ask her respectfully."

"I'm here, master."

I looked up at Lilith.

"I'll be back," I told Philip on the phone before hanging up. "Did my 8th wife receive an invitation from my fourth wife?"

"My mistress's name is Avila, and yes, she did receive it."

"Does she have something to wear? I don't want her to embarrass me in front of my guests."

Lilith looked at me before speaking.

"She's working on it," she said after a long silence.

She glanced subtly at Rolan. I then looked at Rolan, who was standing by the side, waiting for orders.

"Rolan, go out for a moment," I ordered, keeping my eyes on Lilith, knowing she had something to say.

Rolan seemed confused but left and closed the door behind him.

"Tell me," I commanded.

"The mistress wants to have a meeting with Philip when he arrives."

I frowned.

Then Philip knows Avila personally.

"And she already knows that Rolan is under Mistress Cassandra and has been spying on you. Rolan is reporting your every move to Mistress Cassandra."

I know Rolan is watching me for his mistress, but it's interesting that Avila figured it out.

Avila's POV

"I know you're still mad at me," I said softly on the phone. "But I need your help on this one," I pleaded. "Please... Sariel."

A long silence followed between us. Since I was taken from the mansion, we hadn't spoken. I knew he was angry about my decision, but I didn't want his anger to last.

I thought a month of silence between us was enough to lessen his anger.

"I'm sorry too," I added.

He took a deep breath and sighed.

"What is it?" I smiled when he asked that.

"I need to talk to you in person about this."

"Where?"

"At Zeke's place," I said softly.

"At Zeke's?! Why would you want us to meet at that airhead's house?!"

I sighed.

He hates Zeke. Their relationship is complicated. You could call it a love-hate relationship.

"Because I also need his help. I need my brothers now. So, stop fighting, please." I knew they would argue when together.

"Okay, fine!" he said reluctantly, making me smile.

"Thank you! Let's meet at his house in an hour-"

"What?!"

"Bye!"

I ended the call and looked at Michael, who seemed disappointed in me.

"What?" I asked innocently.

Michael told me to respect my brothers, but respect goes beyond respect with brothers.

"Let's get ready," he said as he fixed my hair and dressed me in the clothes Zeke had sent before we left the room.

I smiled widely as we walked because I would see my brothers after weeks of not seeing each other, but my smile quickly faded when I saw Caesar coming down the stairs.

It was too late to turn back because he had already seen me.

I forced a smile that didn't reach my eyes. In short, fake.

"Master Caesar," I said, bowing as I had been taught in etiquette.

"Avila."

Oh? You remembered my name?

I stood up straight. "When did you arrive?" I asked again.

He frowned. "I never left."

"Oh." I looked away.

No one told me he had left, but I hadn't seen him in the mansion, so I just assumed.

"Where are you going?" he asked emotionlessly, looking me over. A corner of his mouth lifted. "You dressed well."

I looked at the royal blue dress that reached my thighs. "Thank you."

This was one of the dresses Zeke sent me because he also didn't like my fashion sense.

"So, you know how to say thank you?" he said, extending his hand to help me down the stairs.

"And you also know how to give compliments?" I raised an eyebrow and accepted his hand.

"When I give compliments, I mean it." We walked down the stairs with our attendants following behind us.

"I know. You're a straightforward man, but I didn't think you were the type to give compliments." That's true because all I heard from his mouth since we met were insults.

"So, where are you going?"

"To prepare for your anniversary with your fourth wife."

"Don't disappoint me." We stopped at the last step. "I want you to be more beautiful than my fourth." He smirked. "I would like to see you outshine her."

He brought my hand to his lips and kissed it, never breaking eye contact.

"It will be interesting to see you seducing me while I'm with the fourth," he added before leaving.

I watched him walk away with his attendants, including Rolan, who I knew would report this to Cassandra, and I knew she wouldn't back down.

Is this a challenge?

I secretly smiled.

Game on.

Caesar's POV

I smiled at what I said to her earlier. I'm now in the car heading to the office to choose what to wear for my anniversary with Cassandra.

I don't know if Avila will accept the challenge I gave her, but I would like to see her try. Knowing Cassandra... I know she won't back down.

Cassandra is a difficult opponent, but if Avila can't overcome her, she'll have an even harder time with the others.

I know the rest of my wives are just watching Avila's moves, looking for her weaknesses.

And I know Avila's appearance at the anniversary will have a huge impact on my wives' impressions of her.

Avila's POV**

"You're showing too much skin," Sariel said as soon as he entered my room in Zeke's mansion.

He was carrying a folder containing the designs for the new mansion I was building to replace the one I had burned down.

"What do you mean?" I asked while looking at myself in the mirror.

I was wearing a black fitted dress with a slit on the right side of my leg and a tube top covering half of my cleavage.

"It's fine," Zeke said as he adjusted the back of my dress.

"You're too sexy for this," Sariel added, concern evident on his face.

"She has a nice body. What do you expect?" Michael said as he put a black choker around my neck.

I looked at Sariel. "I wore dresses like this all the time when I was still working."

He shook his head and approached me. He opened the portfolio to show me the complete design of my mansion.

It still had a castle style but with a modern touch.

He flipped through the pages, and when I saw all the features I had requested were included, I felt relieved.

"Good."

"Good?" He smirked. "I'm the best." He then went to sit down, watching me as I waited for Zeke and Michael to finish.

I decided to get ready at Zeke's house because I knew Caesar's mansion would be crowded with guests for their anniversary celebration.

"I got this," Zeke said to Michael as he fixed the diamond accessory in my messy bun.

Michael went to the table, grabbed his notebook, and stood in front of me.

"Let me give you a brief overview of the event. 6 PM will be the arrival, 7 PM will be the start of the program, the introduction of the couple, Cassandra will give her speech, and the dance will start, including the traditional dance of the Levovski family."

"The two of them will dance?" I asked.

I don't think Caesar can even dance.

"Nope. The people will. Caesar only dances if he wants to, but no one has seen him dance before. Some say he danced with his first wife. That was the first and last time."

Caesar must feel embarrassed about it. I don't think he respects his traditions. He only does what he wants.

"That's why the wives are always waiting for him to ask them. It's the traditional way of asking; the man should be the one asking."

I rolled my eyes.

So much for tradition.

To Be Continued....