Chapter 3 Follow His Order

"Huh?" I said, stunned. I was sure I looked like an idiot right then, but I couldn't help it. Maybe I heard him wrong. I had to have heard him wrong. "S-sorry, I think I misheard you," I said nervously. We were standing about three meters apart, so maybe that really was it.

"What did you hear?" he asked.

I hesitated. What if I was wrong? What if I misunderstood and he thought I was hitting on him?

"C-Can you repeat what you said?" I asked, voice trembling. I figured I'd rather ask than assume and make things worse.

"I said, take your clothes off." His voice was low, calm, but there was irritation in it.

"What?" I gasped, blinking fast. "Why?"

"Because I want to see your body."

Pervert!

A second ago, I thought he looked almost like a god. Now, all that charm had shattered. He was a nightmare in disguise.

"Sir, I... I didn't come here to be some kind of... exotic dancer," I mumbled, backing away a little.

"You're not," he said flatly. "You're here to be my plaything."

"B-but my aunt told me I was coming here to be a housemaid! She didn't say anything about... that." I couldn't even repeat the word he used.

He clenched his jaw. His lips pressed together hard. "So she told you that herself? That you'd work here as a maid? Those were her exact words?" he asked tightly.

I froze. I didn't know what to say. She hadn't explained much. All I knew was they needed money and I was sent here to pay off the debt. I agreed only to protect my little brother.

"I gave your uncle five million dollars," he said. "You and your brother were the payment. I want to make sure I'm getting my money's worth. So strip."

My stomach dropped. "My brother? What are you talking about? I came here so he wouldn't have to get involved."

He let out a bitter laugh. "Looks like you don't know everything. He's part of the deal too. Want me to bring him here? Want him to watch what happens to you?"

I couldn't breathe. I looked down, completely overwhelmed. What kind of nightmare was this? I thought I was saving my brother. I didn't know we were both sold.

"My patience is running out," he warned.

I looked up. Tears blurred my vision, but I refused to let them fall. I held them in. Barely.

"Or do you want me to undress you myself?" he asked, voice low and menacing.

I wrapped my arms around myself in panic. "No. Please, don't. I'll do it. Just... please. Don't bring my brother into this. I'll do whatever you say. Just don't let him see me like that."

"Then get on with it." His tone was ice.

The moment he said that, the tears slipped free. I never imagined my life would turn into this. I never thought the first man to see my body would be someone like him.

Slowly, I reached for the hem of my shirt. My hands were shaking. I couldn't even lift it properly. I didn't dare look up at him. I was too scared. Too ashamed.

"Look at me while you undress."

I froze. How was I supposed to do that? I couldn't even move properly. My body was stiff with fear. My head stayed down as I finally pulled the shirt over my head, trembling the whole time.

He didn't say anything after that. But suddenly, I heard a phone ring.

"Boss," Damian's voice came through from the speakerphone.

"Bring Clyde-" he started to say.

"Please!" I interrupted, looking up at him for the first time. "Please don't! I'll do it. I'll behave. I promise."

He didn't break eye contact. "You heard her," he said calmly.

"Okay, boss," Damian replied on the phone.

I let out a shaky breath, the smallest bit of relief washing over me.

"Now continue," he said, like it was just another order. Like he wasn't watching me fall apart right in front of him.

Just a few minutes ago, he looked like some god carved out of marble. Now he looked like the devil, sitting on his throne.

Like he told me to, I kept undressing, even though my hands were shaking and my eyes were locked with his. My shirt was already off, so I slowly peeled off my pants next.

I didn't know where I'd find the courage to take off my bra. Or my underwear. But I knew I had to. There was no way around it.

I took a deep breath, reached behind me, and unhooked my bra. The fabric was tight-it had been old and too small for a while now-so the moment I slipped it off, my chest bounced slightly.

And of course, that was when I thought about it. Why did God have to give me a generous chest and not a generous bank account? Maybe then I wouldn't be in this kind of situation.

I saw his jaw clench. Was he going to grab me?

I tried not to panic, but my fingers trembled when I hooked my thumbs into the waistband of my panties. I noticed him lean back slightly. I bit down hard, grinding my teeth. He noticed. I saw his eyes flicker. But he said nothing. He just waited.

So I did it. I took off the last piece of clothing.

His Adam's apple moved. I saw it, but I tried to ignore it. I stayed standing in front of him, completely exposed. His eyes never left mine.

Then, slowly, he sat up straighter. His legs were spread, planted wide in front of him.

"Come here."

His voice was calm. Cold. And I didn't dare test his patience. I moved forward, every step making my heart beat faster. The room was cold from the air conditioner, but the chill I felt had more to do with fear.

Now I was standing between his legs. Too close. Too vulnerable. He tilted his head up to look at me. I couldn't hold his gaze. I stared down at the floor instead.

"Turn around," he said.

I did. And then I felt it... a light touch. Just one finger. But it was enough to make every hair on my body stand up.

"Face me."

I turned back around slowly. Our eyes met again. He leaned back into the couch like he had all the time in the world.

Then someone knocked.

I flinched and looked at the door in panic. I snapped my eyes back to the man just as he stood up.

"Come in," he said, his voice low and unreadable.

I felt like the floor would swallow me. I didn't know where to hide. I hadn't even locked the door.

A man's voice came through.

"Boss, it's here. The rest is already in your room."

The door closed again. I didn't move. I couldn't.

He walked toward the door, locked it, and then came back.

"Pick up those rags you stripped off and throw them away. Put this on."

I froze. My face burned from shame, but I didn't dare argue. He turned away, heading to his office desk like nothing happened. He started writing something. Then he looked up at me again.

"Or do you prefer being naked when you're with me?"

My whole body jolted. I snapped out of it and grabbed the paper bag he'd left on the chair earlier. I got dressed in silence. The dress was modest, knee-length. It made me look younger. Like a college girl trying to look decent.

When I finished dressing, I stood frozen in the same spot.

His eyes didn't leave me.

"From now on, you'll do everything I tell you," he said.

I swallowed. "Yes, sir."

"If I say dance, you dance. If I say sing, you sing. If I say kiss me, you kiss me."

I hesitated, but forced myself to say it.

"Y-yes, sir."

"Whatever I say, you follow. Unless you want to find out what I'm like when I'm angry... Nevaeh."

He knew my name. And Clyde's.

But I didn't know who he was.

"Yes, sir." My voice sounded robotic. Empty.

I didn't know what was going to happen tonight. Or tomorrow. But I knew one thing for sure... at least for now, he hadn't laid a hand on me.

And that was the only comfort I had.