Total pages in book: 116
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 108721 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 544(@200wpm)___ 435(@250wpm)___ 362(@300wpm)
“Elyse!” Someone calling my name way off in the distance yanks me back to the present.
Shit. I scramble to my feet and move, focusing on cleaning up the spill. Don’t think about the memory or what happened. A dull ache forms at the back of my head. I’m still trembling when Tanya waves a hand in front of my face.
“Hello…Elyse?”
Oh crap. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t hear you.”
Looking up, I scan the hallway, finding Sebastian first, staring down at me. Tanya stands beside him, a bit closer to me with a confused look. “Are you all right?”
I glance side to side, anywhere but at Sebastian, and then realize she’s still talking to me. “Oh, yeah, fine. I’m fine. Just not sleeping well.”
She doesn’t respond, but then again, she doesn’t need to. The expression of disgust etched into her features is all the response I need.
I swallow the bile rising in my throat. “Did you need something?”
She waves at the floor. “Well, yes. I need someone to clean this up. How about you go get one of the kitchen staff to help you. I’m not sure what your problem has been recently, but you need to start paying better attention to what you’re doing. Otherwise, you might not have a job in this house anymore.”
The threat is clear, and I know while Tanya isn’t really my boss, she could easily convince Sebastian to fire me and send me back to my father. The mere thought repulses me. Yanov would certainly get me once I was back in my father’s care. I’d discover very fast then what’s a memory and what’s my imagination.
“Please… I’m sorry. I’m just… I’ll do better,” I squeak the words out.
Sebastian shifts, lingering in the doorway of his room. I still don’t risk more than a glance in his direction. He stares down at me just as Tanya does, and even if his eyes aren’t as cold as hers, they’re still inspecting, watching for any little imperfection.
“Stop. You don’t have to apologize to Tanya; she’s not your boss,” Sebastian orders, shoving his hands into his pockets. He seems to do that a lot, especially when I’m in the same room as him. Is it so he doesn’t strangle me? Probably.
“I understand that, but she is right. I have been very clumsy lately and forgetful, but I promise to work harder and pay better attention.” I look away from Sebastian and back at Tanya, whose eyes have only grown colder.
I hate how desperate I appear, but with the threat from Yanov hanging over my head and Tanya’s warning, I know it’ll only be a matter of time before the other shoe drops. Without Sebastian’s protection, I’m as good as dead. I know it, and surely he does, too.
Looking away, I quickly gather up the rest of my supplies.
“This is your only warning, darling. Next time, you’ll be out the door,” Tanya states matter-of-factly, and I can feel the tension rolling off Sebastian.
“Tanya,” he scolds. “Elyse isn’t any of your concern. I told you that once before.”
I duck my chin to my chest. Doing my best to ignore their presence, I work hastily to dry up the spilled chemicals.
“Anything that affects me, my home, and those I care about is my concern,” Tanya snaps at him.
“It’s barely your home, only in a legal sense, and nothing Elyse does or doesn’t do has any effect on your quality of life, so again—not your concern.”
“What do you mean?” Tanya growls, clearly insulted by Sebastian’s words. “It’s obvious something is wrong with her. I shouldn’t have to explain how I want my things every time she cleans my bedroom. Being a maid is not that difficult of a job,” she huffs. “Now she’s spilling things and making bigger messes. I'm telling you, if it doesn’t get fixed, I’ll hire someone else.”
Sebastian makes a rude noise. “Maybe have that bodyguard of yours do it. I don’t know how he can be ‘guarding’ you while you aren’t even in his presence. Then again, he probably won’t like that he can’t meddle in my business if he’s busy cleaning toilets.”
“I think you’re jealous, Sebby.” Her voice drops to a seductive tone. “Am I not giving you enough attention?”
My skin crawls, and I can feel bile climbing up my throat. It’s been clear since I started living here that something terrible happened between Sebastian and his aunt/stepmom, and every day that I’m around her, I draw closer to the conclusion that she’s the predator in all of this.
“There, all clean,” I announce and shove off the floor with the supplies in my hands.
I need to get out of here and away from these two before I vomit on the floor and make a bigger fool of myself. I’ll have to remember to try harder and complete my tasks without so many errors so I don’t risk Tanya trying to change Sebastian’s mind.