Third person's POV
Faith yelped, yanking her hand back from the scorching pot. "Ouch, ouch!" She sucked on her singed fingers, eyes welling up. What was she thinking, reaching for a pot straight off the flame?
The clock on the wall seemed to mock her, its red digits flashing 11:52 am. She'd accomplished nothing except boiling water for Felix.
And how was he supposed to eat that, anyway?
She grabbed a towel to carry the pot, but her feet tangled, and she landed on her butt with a thud. Scalding water drenched her, making her scream.
Felix's voice drifted from the living room, "What's all the commotion? Can't even boil water without making a mess?" His tone was laced with disdain, and Faith's face burned with embarrassment.
Faith glared at the ceiling, her backside throbbing. This was not her day.
The kitchen was a disaster zone, but Faith sprang into damage control mode.
She hastily grabbed eggs, bread, and vienna sausages, whipping up a makeshift meal. As she scrubbed the floor with the mop, Felix's impatient shout echoed from the dining area, "I'm starving"
Faith's whisper was laced with annoyance, "So what?" She shot a glance towards the dining area, her eyes narrowing.
Felix was being deliberately obtuse, and she couldn't fathom why. He seemed to be reveling in the chaos, his eyes glinting with mischief.
Felix, however, was oblivious to Faith's frustration.
He was too caught up in the novelty of having someone in his space.
The silence had been suffocating him, and Faith's presence, though chaotic, was a welcome respite.
He didn't analyze it , he just knew it felt different.
And he liked it.
Felix's mask of indifference remained firmly in place, giving away nothing. But beneath the surface, a subtle shift had occurred.
It was a change so slight, so imperceptible, that even Felix himself might not have noticed.
Yet, it was there, a whispered promise of something more.
In the kitchen, Faith moved with a quiet efficiency, the sizzle of eggs and toast filling the air.
She snatched a vienna sausage from Felix's plate, the motion almost involuntary. As she ate, she thought, "This is either going to be a really good day or a catastrophic one."
As she worked, Faith's thoughts drifted to Felix, "What's his problem, anyway? Can't even be bothered to make his own breakfast."
She slammed the toast onto the counter, the sound making her wince. "Sorry, kitchen. Not your fault.".
The coffee, at least, was a redeeming factor. Faith recognized the brand Felix favored and smiled, a small, wry smile.
As she poured the steaming brew, she thought, "Maybe this will be the one thing I get right today."
Faith walked back to Felix, his food and coffee balanced in her hands. He took them without a word, his eyes holding hers in a silent challenge. The only sound was his low, rough chuckle.
As he raised the cup to his lips, Faith thought, "Hope you choke on it." But her satisfaction was brief.
Felix's eyes snapped back to hers, his gaze razor sharp. "If you thought about pulling a stunt like spitting in my coffee, you'll regret it. I have eyes and ears everywhere."
His voice was smooth, but the underlying threat was unmistakable.
Faith's eyes flashed with anger, but she bit back her retort. She retreated to the kitchen, her hunger suddenly gone.
As she ate, she felt Felix's presence lingering, like a shadow on the wall.
Felix watched her through the robots cameras, his eyes narrowed. He could sense Faith's anger and her resentment .
The kitchen was silent, except for the soft hum of appliances. That's when Faith noticed the robots, standing like statues, their eyes dim. It was a strange kind of luxury, having machines do all the work.
Faith activated one of the robots, and it sprang to life, cleaning the kitchen with precision. She watched, fascinated.
But Felix's voice cut through the air, "Shut them down. I won't need them today, but I will tomorrow." Faith spun around, her eyes locking onto Felix's. He stood in the doorway, his eyes glinting with a hard, calculating light.
Faith's heart sank, her mind racing. She felt trapped, caught in Felix's web of control.
Felix's voice echoed through the hallway, "Max, shut down everything robots, robot works , for today but reactivate tomorrow." The house program, Max, responded promptly, "Yes, sir. Shutting down in 3, 2, 1..." Then, silence.
Faith's eyes widened as she stood frozen on the kitchen , her cleaning supplies scattered around her.
She had thought Felix was wealthy, but this , this was on a whole different level. The sheer scale of his estate, the advanced technology, it all screamed of unimaginable wealth.
As she resumed her cleaning, Faith couldn't shake off the feeling of being overwhelmed.
.
.
.
.
The stairs seemed endless, the cleaning a Sisyphean task.
She glanced at the time 3 pm and sighed.
She had been at it for hours, and yet, the stairs still looked untouched.
Maybe it was because she was used to her small one room apartment, or maybe she was just lazy.
Whatever the reason, Faith knew she had to push through.
She gritted her teeth and continued cleaning, her movements mechanical.
Felix stood in the doorway, watching her with an unreadable expression.
His presence was imposing, his eyes seeming to bore into her very soul.
Faith felt a surge of discomfort, but she refused to look up, refused to acknowledge him.
Instead, she focused on the stairs, her hands moving in steady, rhythmic motions.
Faith finished polishing the stairs , her arms aching from the exertion.
As she stood there, she gazed down the seemingly endless corridors, the silence oppressive. The only sound was the faint scent of soup wafting through the air.
Felix appeared beside her, his voice low and even. "Don't forget the third floor." Faith stared at him, taken aback.
Third floor?
She hadn't even known this house had one. She nodded, biting back her frustration.
Mopping the floors with a cloth was a tedious task, especially when the house was already spotless. But Felix had insisted, saying he needed to see his reflection in the gleaming surfaces.
Faith sighed, feeling a sense of relief wash over her as she finished the hallways. Now, all that was left was the third floor.
As she trudged up the stairs, Faith couldn't help but think about her escape plan.
This was the perfect opportunity to explore the house, to find weaknesses and vulnerabilities.
She glanced around, taking in the opulent decorations, the lavish furnishings.
Felix watched her from afar, his eyes narrowed.
He saw Faith every day, but today something about her seemed different.
Maybe it was the way she moved with a newfound determination, or the way her hazel eyes flashed with a hint of defiance.
Whatever it was, it sparked a memory, a fleeting glimpse of a moment long past.
Felix's eyes clouded, his mind racing to place the memory. He had seen Faith before, he was certain of it. But where? And when?
Faith stepped into the third floor room, and her eyes were met with a sight that made her heart sink. The space was a mess, books scattered everywhere, knives littering the floor, and ominous red stains on the carpet.
She frowned, wondering what kind of person would create such chaos.
As she began to clean, her movements slow and deliberate, Faith's gaze landed on a small pink note.
She ignored it at first, focusing on restoring order to the room. But as she finished up at 11:39 pm, her curiosity got the better of her. She picked up the note, her heart racing as she read the message:
"Leave as soon as possible, or else I will make your life a living nightmare. He's mine."
Faith's eyes narrowed, her mind racing.
Who wrote this?
And who was the note meant for?
She looked around the room, searching for any sign of who might have written the note. But she was alone. Or so she thought.
Just as she turned to leave, a hand touched her shoulder, sending a jolt of fear through her. She spun around, her fist flying, and connected with a satisfying crunch. But as she looked up, she saw Felix's cold expression .
Felix's expression didn't change, his eyes never leaving Faith's face, as he took the note from her hand.
Her punch, meant to defend herself, had been nothing more than a minor inconvenience to him.
He stood tall, his movements fluid and unhurried, as he regarded Faith with an unnerving intensity.
"You shouldn't have read that," he growled, his voice low and menacing.
Faith tenderly blew soft kisses on her sore hand, her eyes fixed on Felix as he read the note.
His expression twisted into a scowl, his eyes flashing with anger. "Fuck this bitch," he muttered under his breath.
"She thinks she can threaten me, in my own house?" His voice dripped with venom, his words laced with a deadly intensity.
Felix's eyes snapped up, locking onto Faith's, his gaze burning with a fierce possessiveness.
Faith's eyes locked onto his, her heart pounding in her chest. She felt a surge of fear, but she refused to back down.
Felix's eyes flashed with something, and then he leaned in, his lips brushing against hers.
Faith's eyes widened in shock, her mind reeling. She was caught off guard, her body frozen in surprise.
Felix pulled back, his eyes glinting with a mischievous spark. Faith's heart was still racing, her lips tingling from the kiss.
"What's going on, Felix?" she demanded, trying to keep her voice steady.
Felix's smile grew wider, his eyes glinting with amusement. "You really don't know, do you?" he whispered, his breath hot against her ear.
Faith's eyes locked onto his, her heart pounding in her chest. She knew she was in trouble. But she had no idea what kind of trouble.