Part 5

“First I want you to step closer” The Prince commanded, his voice sultry and barely a whisper. A shiver ran down the maid’s spine, toes curling around the harsh surface of the room.

Celina made her way over to the man, knowing there was nothing she can do other than follow his commands. The young woman only hoped whatever he had planned would eventually make him forgive her. After all, she couldn’t afford a furious master as her boss. 

As soon as she stood in front of the Prince, Celina blinked, the lashes casting a shadow on her cheekbones. All she did was stare at their feet, awaiting another command from him when she felt Javier touch her face. He stroked the smooth skin under her chin before making the maid look up. 

She looked anywhere but his eyes, the light streaming from the windows casting a huge shadow. Javier towered over her which was enough to make her tremble. Without another word, he took her hand in his own, the touch sending goosebumps running over her skin. 

Javier’s hands were smooth and encapsulated, the soft skin-soothing hers with ease. After all, he did play the piano with ease, crafting beautiful melodies while gliding those thick fingers across the keys.

“I’m so glad I found you,” His words echoed in her arms, raising the hair on her back. 

Celina didn’t know what to do, or how to respond to that, so she stayed mum. Her breath hitched, belly swooping as those words made no sense. The lack of response made the Prince’s brow creased, his eyes were still narrowed, awaiting her answer. She’s starting to feel unsteady on her feet, breathing loud and accelerated. 

The urge to escape the room crawled under her skin.

A sharp knock reverberated the walls startling the both of them. Celina pushed him back and slid away, head bending down to stare at her feet. Her cheeks flushed just thinking about the person on the other side of the door. What must they think of her? It's only her first day for crying out loud. 

“Your Highness?” Beth called out, her eyes shifting towards the maid standing in the corner of the room, hands folded together. 

“Beth” Javier gritted his teeth together, a frown sitting on his face. He had his hands clenched and curled in a fist, voice agitated. “May I know the reason for your arrival?”

Celina noticed their collective stares on her, making her skin crawl. The housekeeper ignored the question of the Prince and motioned the eighteen-year-old towards the door, lips pursed together. Was she mad? 

“Celina your service is needed downstairs in the kitchen. Please show yourself out.” 

The maid nodded her head, trying not to meet the Prince’s stare, “O-Okay” and with that, she walked out of the door. 

***

Once in the comfort of the kitchen, Celina plopped on the nearest empty stool, a sigh escaping her lips. She had never felt that sort of tension in a single room before. Why did Beth come up so suddenly? Not that it mattered at all. She shouldn’t be focusing on these trivial things and instead do her assigned job—the reason her parents sold her for. 

She grimaced at the thought.

“Hey, Celina are you okay?”

The question startled her, making her flail on the seat she was perched on. Looking up, she noticed 

Flora had genuine concern laced in those wide eyes as she scrutinised carefully like a mother looking out for her pups. She was probably a bit too slow to answer from the slight shock as Flora put a hand on her shoulder over the counter. 

Did Celina not look okay while she was daydreaming?

“I’m okay, just thinking about something” 

“Of course because that’s why you are paid off. To think.” An unfamiliar snarky voice sounded from the kitchen door.

Celina craned her head only to stare at a tall blonde girl, must be a year or two elder than her standing with a scowl on her face. Despite that, she looked gorgeous with round pink lips and thick mascara on her lashes. The uniform she had on was a little too short, exposing her pale white long legs. 

Flora sighed. “Avery leave her alone. She’s new.”

“Of course here comes the lecture” Avery snorted walking in and stepping closer to Celina. 

“I’m not lecturing you.”

“Whatever” Avery turned to Celina, brows dangerously knitted together. It made the vein on her shoulder visible. The new maid audibly gulped at that. “Listen here, miss innocent I don’t care if you are new, but you stay away from the Prince. Don’t even think about getting closer to him.” 

“I-I...”

“That’s what I thought” Avery smirked, taking a step back.

Flora cleared her throat, standing in between both of them and glaring at Avery. “That’s enough now. Leave her alone.” 

Avery muttered something under breath and walked but not before widening her eyes at Celina. It sounded a lot like a warning which alarmed the new maid. She sat back and watched till the other one disappeared. 

Flora made a soft sound, placing a warm comforting hand on the new maid. "Don’t take her seriously. Just because Beth is her aunt, she thinks that her presence is vital.”

Celina faked a laugh, bobbing her head. “I’ll try.”

***

Celina has always been a crier. It’s something she knew about herself, and it’s something that she’s not ashamed of. It’s healthy to let it all out and allow yourself to be vulnerable. That’s why when she was done with her duty, the new maid found herself situated under the downfall of the lukewarm stream of water flow.

The stress of the entire day caught up to her. Her parents betrayal, her meeting with the Prince, Avery's behaviour towards her. Hot long showers always soothed her mind. She let the water wash over her, enjoying the warmth for a minute before she began to lather her hair in the scent. Jasmine and peppermint. Two of the most comforting scents which she had been using since young age. 

Just as she turned away from the water, the maid noticed something she didn’t see in the beginning. A mirror. It's facing the shower hung on the adjacent wall and hadn’t fogged up surprisingly. Celina was able to see her body clearly, as clearly as she could in the midst of the steam.

The young woman observed her body as the sudsy water ran down her small soft tummy and slim tanned legs. Her eyes wandered over her smooth skin of the taut tummy before landing in her more intimate regions. She turned her hips to the shower to change the view to her behind. Her small waist, wide hips and round bottom came into view. 

Celina couldn’t help but remember how those rowdy men in the streets called her cheeks peachy globes when she walked by. Honestly, it would appear like she did an obscene amount of work, but in reality, she didn’t. It was all natural. 

With a sigh, she turned off the shower and stepped out but not before securing a peach robe around her body. She dried off her hair and slipped into her night clothes before escaping to her bed. Within a minute, the maid was out cold. 

***

The boldly outlined moss green eyes contrasted against the darkness of the surroundings. She could only focus on those orbs. The sharp state of the green eyes captured her attention immediately, sedating her with a lulling gaze. Celina could make out the gold flecks in the iris along with the bold dark outline of the eyes.

The eyes were truly breathtaking, but why were they staring at her again? To taunt her? Perhaps. 

She was so confused yet content as she drifted in the abyss drawing closer and closer towards the capturing emerald irises. The colour set off a gentle hum of the calm press through the maid like a seductive drug, dragging her into the void of unconsciousness. Soft hands cradled her cheeks before gripping at her chin and lifted her head. 

A heavy thick fog surrounded them, her vision blurry to even focus on anything.

“You’re mine, chérie.”

Celina shot upright like a bullet from the mattress with sweat-slicked skin. She roused abruptly at the trill of the falling feeling as the person surrounded her in that dream. It was a dream, a bizarre and questioning dream—nothing like what she usually had which were borderline nightmares. 

The mental picture of those eyes was circling her mind, and she couldn’t possibly even think about going back to sleep. Whose eyes were they? They seemed somewhat familiar. If then why wasn’t she able to place them? 

Shaking her head, Celina checked the clock on the bedside with a slight groan. Fifteen minutes past six in the morning. It wasn’t like it was three in the morning, and she did have another hour or so till they expected her at work.

It wasn’t all that bad so she closed her eyes. 

***