Faith's POV
(Splash)
Icy water slammed into me, ripping me from sleep. I jolted upright, gasping, as the chill seeped into my bones.
I launched myself out of bed, but my momentum was short lived. A shock of cold water hit me, sending me plummeting back onto the mattress.
I sat there, dripping wet and disoriented, my heart racing from the sudden shock.
What the fuck ?
Felix stood before me, his eyes narrowed, the bucket still clutched in his hand. The morning light streaming through the window cast an unforgiving glare on his chiseled features.
I rubbed the water from my eyes, my gaze locking onto his. "What's your problem?" I spat, my voice laced with venom.
Felix's expression remained impassive. "You're wasting time," he said, his voice low and even. "Get up."
I sat up, already awake, as Felix's voice cut through the morning silence. "Didn't I tell you I'm going to make your life hell, well baby, here you go." He winked at me, his eyes glinting with amusement, as he stood over me, bucket in hand.
Before I could react, he splashed the icy water all over me again . I let out a startled scream, my body recoiling from the shock. Water dripped from my hair, soaking my clothes, as I glared at Felix.
I stared at Felix, my mind reeling with the abrupt shift in his demeanor. Was this the same guy who'd held me, who'd whispered words of comfort in my ear just hours before? Or was I staring into the face of a stranger?
A snort escaped my lips, bitter and incredulous. What had I expected from him, anyway?
Felix wasn't exactly known for his compassion.
He was a force to be reckoned with, a man who didn't suffer fools gladly. And I was just a fragile, broken thing, clinging to the shattered remnants of my life.
The clock on my nightstand read 8 am. I muttered a string of curses under my breath. Felix had ruined my morning routine, and I was not going to let him get away with it.
For a moment, I fantasized about wrapping my hands around his neck. Feeling the warmth of his skin, the pulse of his artery beneath my fingers. I imagined the satisfaction of seeing him crumple, just once, under my wrath.
The thought was intoxicating, a sweet escape from the helplessness that had been suffocating me.
But sanity quickly doused the flames of my fantasy. I knew that if I even dared to try, the outcome would be disastrous.
He would overpower me, and I'd end up worse off than before. I forced myself to let go of the futile rage, acknowledging the bitter truth.
I was trapped, and resistance would only lead to more suffering.
Felix checked his watch, a smirk still plastered on his face. "Dress up and get to my office. You've got six minutes." He paused, his eyes locked on mine. "Starting now."
Panic set in as I scrambled out of bed, my mind racing with the consequences of being late. Felix's laughter echoed through the room, fueling my anger and determination.
I rushed through my morning routine, scrubbing my face and brushing my teeth with reckless abandon.
I grabbed the first outfit I saw , a sleek white dress that looked like it belonged on a runway.
The price tag was probably astronomical, but I didn't have time to worry about that now.
I wrapped my hair into a bun, the repetitive motion calming my frazzled nerves. Stray strands slipped free, and I caught them, my fingers deftly weaving them back into place.
As I worked, my gaze dropped, focusing on the tangled mess.
The bun took shape, a slightly lopsided circle, and I made a few final adjustments, securing the last stray hairs.
As I checked the clock, my heart sank. 9:05am . I was more than 30 minutes late. Felix was going to kill me. I could already imagine him strangling me with my own hair, his face twisted in a comically exaggerated scowl.
I took a deep breath, smoothing out the dress as I headed out the door.
I was a girl, and girls were allowed to be fashionably late, right?
But as I rushed to Felix's office, I knew I was in for a world of trouble. Specifically, the kind of trouble that involved being throttled by a furious Felix.
I was so dead.
I stood outside Felix's office, my hand hesitating for a moment before rapping sharply on the door.
Two weeks.
It had been two weeks since I'd been trapped in this place, and I was no closer to freedom. But I had a plan, slowly taking shape in my mind like a puzzle. And with each passing day, I was getting closer to making my escape.
I rapped my knuckles against the door, the sound echoing through the silence. I waited, my ear inclined towards the door, but there was no response.
I knocked again, a little louder this time, and then froze, my hand still raised, as I strained to hear any sign of movement from the other side of the door.
The silence was oppressive, heavy with anticipation, and I found myself holding my breath as I waited for some indication that I'd been heard.
"Fuck this," I muttered, turning to retreat back to the room. But my feet faltered as a low, smooth voice drifted from the other side of the door, "You're not going anywhere."
"Come in," Felix's deep voice called out from the other side of the door.
I took a deep breath, smoothing out my dress before pushing open the door and stepping inside.
As I stepped into the office, the scent of mint wafted through the air, making my stomach growl with hunger. I realized I hadn't eaten anything yet, and my body was starting to protest.
Felix's voice cut through my thoughts, his tone firm but controlled. "You're thirty minutes late."
I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt. "I'm sorry, I was just preparing," I muttered, my voice barely above a whisper.
My gaze drifted up to meet Felix's, and my heart skipped a beat. His hair was messy, his blue eyes piercing, and his black suit seemed to accentuate his broad shoulders.
I'd never seen him wear anything else, never seen him smile except when he was amused which was often.
Felix's expression was neutral, but I detected a hint of amusement dancing in his eyes. He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers together as he waited for me to explain myself.
I locked eyes with Felix, waiting for a cue, a hint, anything. But he just stood there, his face a mask of calm, his eyes giving nothing away.
Then, in a movement so smooth it was almost menacing, he rose from his chair.
His eyes sliced through me, his expression glacial. The air seemed to vibrate with tension as he regarded me, his silence a palpable thing.
It was as if he had two personalities warring for dominance ,the charming, urbane facade, and the dark, turbulent depths that lurked beneath.
Felix's voice was low and even, but I detected a hint of sadistic pleasure as he outlined my tasks for the day. "I want you to clean this house from top to bottom. Wash the dishes, mop the floors...and I want you to use this." He held up a small, threadbare towel, a smirk playing on his lips.
I felt a surge of incredulity. Did he have any idea how massive this house was? The sheer scale of the task was daunting, and I knew I'd be lucky to finish on time.
"The maids took a day off," Felix continued, his eyes glinting with amusement. "So you'll have to be quick. And don't forget, I expect my lunch on the table at 12 pm sharp." His tone was deceptively mild, but I knew better than to underestimate him.
I stood there, frozen in shock, my mind reeling with the sheer magnitude of the task ahead.
Felix's whisper cut through my stupor, "Do I need to drag you out of my office?" I shook my head hastily, backing away as I turned to leave.
"What have I gotten myself into?" I muttered under my breath, my eyes scanning the opulent hallway as I tried to wrap my head around the task.
"Felix is turning my life into a living nightmare, but I won't break. I'll play his game, and I'll come out on top." My gaze drifted back to Felix, who stood in the doorway, a sly smile spreading across his face.
I forced a smile in return, refusing to let him see the turmoil brewing inside.
"12 pm, my lunch" he bellowed, his deep voice echoing through the hallway, making my heart stutter. How did he manage to make even the simplest commands sound menacing?
My legs seemed to move of their own accord, the familiar path to the kitchen unfolding before me with each mechanical step.
As I entered the kitchen, I was greeted by the sight of spotless countertops and sparkling appliances. It was a culinary paradise, but I knew I had my work cut out for me.
The clock on the wall read 9:30 am. I had two and a half hours to transform this kitchen into a culinary masterpiece. And then, there was the small matter of cleaning the entire house.