"I need to leave for a few hours, so feel free to explore the mansion," Ethan said. "You can go inside any room except for the one with a red door," he added mysteriously.
"What's behind the red door?" I looked at him curiously. Dead bodies of his past lovers?
Ethan looked at my wide eyes for a moment, then chuckled. "I'm just fucking with you. There's no red door. Go anywhere you want," he said.
Idiot.
"Oh, and don't bother trying to run away. You won't go far. This house is pretty secluded with heavy security."
What am I, his prisoner?
"Whatever, just leave already," I said irritably.
"May I get a kiss," Ethan smirked.
I rolled my eyes and pressed my lips on his. He grabbed the back of my neck and pulled me towards him to deepen the kiss. His hand slid inside my shirt and caressed my body. I pushed him off. "I thought you had to leave. Get out!" I ordered.
"Alright, I'll come back soon," he said.
"I don't care," I waved my hand in dismissal. Ethan chuckled and left the room.
I decided to explore the mansion as soon as he left. It was gigantic. Ethan's grandfather must've been a billionaire. I remembered Ethan's parents to be rich, but not to this extent. I haven't seen his parents since we were kids. I stopped visiting his house after middle school for obvious reasons. I don't remember his mother much other than the fact that she was beautiful like a model and was barely home. I do distinctly remember his father, Joseph.
Joseph Miller is tall and intimidating. He has a sharp jaw and piercing blue eyes. Ethan obviously inherited his good looks. I didn't see him much either since the relationship between Ethan, and his father was distant. He acted more like Ethan's boss than his father.
"Sir?"
I was startled as I heard Charles' voice behind him.
"I'm sorry to bother you, but I have prepared you some dinner if you're hungry," Charles said.
I couldn't help but smirk at his serious expression. He must take his job very seriously. "You don't have to refer to me as sir, Charles. Just call me Corey."
"Mr. Miller wouldn't approve," Charles said.
"Fuck Mr. Miller," I barked.
Charles looked at me like I was crazy. I guess no one ever talked about Ethan that way. Charles cleared his throat. "How about I call you Corey in private and Sir every other time?" he asked. His grey eyes were twinkling, and I swear I saw a hint of a smile on his usually stoic face. Is he flirting with me?
"That...um...works for me," I said. I was suddenly feeling nervous. Something about him was off-putting.
"How about dinner, Corey?" Charles asked, my name smoothly rolled off his tongue. I shivered. I didn't know why, but this guy seems dangerous.
"Aren't you hungry?" he raised his eyebrows.
"I'm famished," I replied quickly.
"Follow me to the dining hall," Charles started to walk away, so I followed him.
The dining hall had a large table and a big chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The room was brightly lit and decorated with fresh flowers. I smelled jasmine. Do they decorate this mansion with fresh flowers every day, or was this just for me?
Charles ordered the cook to bring food. Pretty soon, the table was filled with a variety of meals.
"You know I can't eat all this food by myself. Where is Ethan, anyway?"
"Sir had to go take care of something," Charles said.
"Take care of what exactly?"
"I'm not allowed to say. Now, if you will excuse me," Charles nodded and left the room, leaving me alone with a feast big enough to feed an entire village.
After dinner, I went back inside the bedroom. My mind was spinning. Was this really happening to me? I was kept by Ethan like a porcelain doll. No, no, I can't let this happen to me. I was not weak. I needed to get out of here and figure things out by myself.
I put on a jacket and decided to go outside. The front door wasn't locked. I quietly walked out and started to look for the gate. There was a huge garden next to the house and a long driveway. I followed the driveway and eventually ended up at the gate. I grabbed the handle and tried to open it.
Locked.
Fuck...
Ethan did tell me the gates were secured. That bastard made me his prisoner, that's for sure. I started to walk back to the mansion. I paused in front of the front door and thought about checking the garden. Maybe there's a back gate I can use to escape.
I turned back around and walked inside the garden. After walking a few steps, I noticed a small house in the garden. The light was on, so I decided to take a peek inside.
My heart leaped. Charles was walking around. He wasn't wearing a shirt, so I assumed he was getting ready for bed.
I should walk away before he sees me, I thought to myself, but I kept staring at him. His body wasn't as well defined as Ethan, but he had a gorgeous body nonetheless. Charles walked towards the nightstand and opened the drawer, and pretty soon, he held something in his hand.
The moonlight seeped through the window, and the object on his hand glinted. It was a large knife. Charles lifted it up and stared at it. A scowl slowly formed on his face, and he looked at the window. Was I caught?
I backed away and proceeded to walk back to the mansion. But before I could go any farther, someone grabbed me from behind and pulled me towards him. Dammit, he got me!
Charles dragged me inside the small house. I tried to wiggle out of his grasp, but he was stronger than he looked. He pushed me against the wall and stared into my eyes.
"So the little birdie decided to fly, huh?" he hissed.