Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76915 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 385(@200wpm)___ 308(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
There was an open door that led to what looked like an extravagant bathroom.
“Here is your room.”
I could not hide my surprise.
“This is a servants room?”
“Most of the servants do not live in the house, miss. This is a guest room. Your situation is… unusual,” he added without any hint of judgement, though I could sense it lurking below the surface. I was to be treated differently, it appeared. Whether that was a good thing or a bad thing, I had no idea.
There was something off about his words and his reasoning, but his tone left no room to question him further. I nodded. What else could I say? That I wanted a less beautiful room?
“Wait here until your uniform is delivered. Lunch will be brought up to you.”
Once again, I could not hide my surprise.
“This is an exception, only until you have the proper attire,” he added, and I nodded. It made sense that they did not want a girl wandering around in jeans and an old sweater. “Dinner is at eight. You will be serving. Come down at six thirty for your own meal. Do not be late. Do not leave this room in anything but your uniform. Regular duties will begin tomorrow.”
“Thank you,” I said, giving him a curtsy this time. I could not help it. He was my boss. But more than that, I felt like a peasant who had somehow snuck into a the lord’s castle. I was not meant to be here. I was not… like them.
He gave me another curious look, then nodded, closing the door behind him. I turned in a circle, staring in awe. I walked slowly to the window seat. I had to wait for my uniform, a fitted black dress with matching apron. I had been surprised during the fitting.
It was on the short side, but not quite short enough to look like a Halloween costume. It was close, though. Just barely on the right side of good taste. I could not recall seeing anyone else dressed in a similar uniform, but perhaps it was normal, if sexist, for the estate.
I decided not to think of it, knowing that the uniform was one more thing I had no choice about. Instead, I reached for my phone to check on papa. I decided to take some photos and take him on a FaceTime tour of my new room, starting with the spectacular view from the cozy window seat.
Chapter 5
Anton
“You look sharp,” Alexie said as I poured myself a double of ice-cold vodka. I gave him a look and shrugged. I took a deep swallow. I was nervous, but I would never let it show.
“Don’t I always?”
“Sure, brother. But there’s an edge to you tonight. Like you are going into battle.”
“The edge is in his pants,” Andrei chuckled, sitting by the fireplace in the study, which adjoined the billiard room. We were in the oldest part of the house. The part that had inspired us to build this compound, far from our father’s estate.
This was our domain. We met here for drinks nearly every evening that we were all in the house. But we usually dined together afterwards.
Tonight, I was dining alone.
Or rather, I was dining with little Mishka. She would be serving, with no idea of all the filthy things I wanted to do to her. I was hoping for an easy conquest. If things went well, I expected to have her splayed out on the table to feast on for dessert.
“I hope she is worth the enormous sum you paid to settle her father’s debts,” Alexie said with a lascivious look. I had paid my father, not precisely lying, but also not clarifying that it was I, and not Barlov, who had made good.
No one knew the cost of the old man’s travel and treatment. I did not even know yet. But I would pay it all, even if it was millions.
“I would have done it even if his daughter was not the most desirable woman I had ever seen.”
“I know you would have. And I would have split it with you.”
“Split three ways,” Andrei interrupted. “I like the old man, too.”
“Yes, well, either way, it was way too funny to watch you pay a million for the chance at mounting the girl.”
“Must you use that word?” I asked, not feeling at all offended. I simply found his words, and the image they conjured up, far too arousing. I shifted my jacket as my shaft filled with blood.
Christ, I was already hard and I wasn’t even in the room with her yet. Merely the thought of taking her had sent me into overdrive. That was a first for me, to say the least.
“Touchy, touchy,” my brother joked and I glared at him. They were both in rare form tonight. Or perhaps I was being overly sensitive. Another first, and one I did not like.