Chapter 2 FIRST ENCOUNTER

CLARA'S POV

FIRST ENCOUNTER

All eyes were on me. Every staff member in the servant hall had something to say about me.

"Who is she?"

"Why has Madam Choice taken a liking to her?"

The hushed comments were endless.

"Madam Choice, no new staff offers services to the boss-. " A soldier bold enough to face Madam Choice said.

"This one looks like she can. Moreover, I'll supervise her. Station some soldiers around the boss's study so that she knows not to mess up." She simply responded.

The soldier looked like he still had something to say, but the look on Madam Choice's face clearly said, 'Try me and see.'

She placed a rag, some cleaning agents, and other items needed for cleaning in my hands. "Take her to the boss." She ordered the soldier.

I had no option but to follow.

My heart raced rapidly as the footsteps of the soldier slowed down, indicating our nearness to the boss's home office or study, as one may call it.

"Go in." The soldier said.

I tried to go in, but my legs betrayed me and remained planted to the floor.

He placed his hand on his rifle. "Are you deaf or something?"

Fear of being shot at the door overrode my fear of meeting the most popular and most dangerous mafia lord on the first day of arrival at his mansion, and I JUMPED IN.

The air smelt strongly of alcohol, and he was asleep on his gigantic chair. Good! Now if only I can quickly clean him up without waking him up.

Blood was everywhere, the smell so pungent that I felt like puking. Clear evidence of a just-concluded operation.

I cleaned the floor and table of every trace of blood. I wiped his neck and face clean too. His face was as handsome as it seemed in those hood publications. If you lived in this part of the city and you've ever been privileged to see his handsome face, you could be considered lucky.

I have been lucky twice but never this up-close. This man is a pretty man.

"An angel!" I jumped at the exclamation. The mafia lord was awake.

He ran his fingers through my face. "You're an angel, aren't you?" His voice is so slurred.

"I'm only here to clean you up, sir."

I continued wiping him and now had to wipe his chest. I unbuttoned his shirt, and he smiled.

"You're the most beautiful being that has ever existed."

I blushed.

"I've seen my share of beauty, but yours is celestial." He kept the compliments coming, and I blushed harder.

"Your all clean now, sir," I said and moved to the door to get the second rag I came with. His gaze followed me as I moved around. I could feel it like a piercing sword.

"Is there anything else you want, sir?" I asked, ready to take my leave.

He doesn't respond. He only stares intensely at me.

"This will do." I picked out a random shirt from the mini closet in his office and tried to put it on him. He didn't let me; he kept kicking my hand down. "You have the prettiest face and smile. Your smile looks heavenly. You just fell from heaven, and I'm convinced. Would you mind taking my baby back to heaven with you?"

He said all these in the sweetest tone you would ever hear. I was sold, but I tried to turn him down for courtesy's sake.

"You're my boss, sir. Having your baby is not only impossible, but it can also be very bad for both of us." I had gone mad at this point, because why on earth was I entertaining this conversation? Shouldn't I be plotting my escape from here?

I hadn't stayed up for 24 hours in this mansion, and here I was, bargaining on having a baby with the devil.

***

"You did what?" Pat half screamed.

I immediately covered her mouth with my palm. "SHhhhh..." She needed to lower her voice.

"No one needs to know about this, please, Pat."

She nodded in understanding, "Your secret is safe with me. But tell me, what was he like?"

"I can't tell. All I know is that one minute he was making me feel like the most beautiful girl in the world, being all caring and loving, and the next minute when I opened my eyes he was gone." I felt that pang of pain hit me again as I recalled and recounted her 'use' I felt when I woke up and found myself naked and lying alone on the cold, hard floor of the mafia don's study.

Our room door burst open; it was a soldier. "Clara, Madam Choice needs your attention."

I quickly followed. Had she noticed my absence in my room? Oh lord, help me!

How much trouble can one person run into in the space of hours?

"Sit down, girl..." She ordered as I walked into her chambers.

She stood up and poured us both a drink. While she was at it, I took the time to admire her chambers. It was beautiful and really big. It was a room fit for a queen.

"You child, smell like you love mischief."

"No, I don't, Madam Choice."

"Tut, tut, tut." She tutted.

"How long did it take you to wipe the Don and his office clean?" She smiled at me.

I was scared at this point. She was up to something.

"H-hours...It took me hours, ma'am."

She tilted her head to the side and sipped more wine. "And approximately how many hours did it take?"

Oh, she was clearly setting up a trap.

"I didn't think to count the hours, ma'am." I answered.

She smirked. I looked at my feet and twiddled my thumbs in anticipation of her next question.

"I will ask you one last question, and I need the truth only."

I took a deep breath.

"Did he force you to spend the night with him, or did you willingly do it?"

I burst into tears.