Ryder's eyes darted between the book on his thighs and the door. It had been a couple of hours since the whole house had gone silent after the dramatic argument that he was forced to hear every word.
He couldn't help but wonder if she had snuck out of the house after her brother left. Well, if she did then it meant more money to him because it was added in their agreement that if she refused to uphold the deal, additional money would be added for the inconveniences.
He closed the book and placed it on the table, ready to find answers to his questions and to know how much money he was to demand from the girl's brother. The door creaked open when he brought his legs down from the table. How unfortunate, no additional money. He relaxed back into his chair, watching the girl who looked like she would rather be anywhere but his farmhouse.
One look at her guarded face gave him the answers he had been looking for. She had been crying. Her puffy eyes and red nose were enough to give her away.
He watched her every move. It was clear in every involuntary step she took further into the room that she wanted to be somewhere far away from his farmhouse. It was expected from a girl who, all her life, had been in and out of mansions of different sizes and shapes. When her eyes landed on him, her expression turned venomous. The hatred and disgust reflected in those once beautiful green eyes. "What are you doing in here?" She croaked out.
Look who finally opened her mouth. "This is my room and my house."
The two stared at each other. One digesting the information and the other waiting for a reaction. "I came to the wrong room then,"
"You didn't," He continued watching as her eyes fell on her luggage that was placed by the corner of the room,
"If this isn't the wrong room, why are you here?"
"Like I said earlier, this is my room,"
She fell silent again, "Will you also be sleeping here?"
"Isn't that what a room is meant for? We would be sharing the room."
"How dare you insinuate such nonsense?" She asked,
Head tilted to the side, he asked, "What nonsense?" His hand latched onto his unshaven beard as he gave it a rough scratch, making her wince. No way on earth was she going to share a room with the uncultured scamp.
The man was a barbarian. The type that didn't belong to the society. "Go get another room ready this instant," She ordered and expected him to jump to his feet and get to work like her servants usually did, but the scamp sat there with big hands crossed on his chest. "Do I need to repeat myself?"
As if explaining the situation to a five-year-old, he began, "We are sharing this room because it is the only room in a better shape." Calantha's eyes scanned the room once more.
Better shape her foot. The roof looked like it was ready to collapse at the slightest touch. "But to be fair, there are a total number of ten rooms in this building, you are free to go around the house and check them out. If you find anything you like, make yourself comfortable." He turned around and picked up the book he had been reading. He wasn't going to waste his time on the spoilt brat.
Vexed by his dismissive attitude, she stormed out of the room, determined to find somewhere to stay. She had to stay as far away from the lunatic as possible.
Ryder began a hundred count down. The whole house was a mess. It would only take a few minutes for her to come crawling back into his room. Renovating the house had been on his mind but he had more important things to do, and the house was a great getaway from the infuriating townspeople.
Calantha opened a random door and winced. Instead of staying up, the roof had decided to join the floor. Closing the door, she went to the next one, the same reaction. It was nothing to write home about, likewise, the other rooms she had visited.
Frustrated, she stomped her feet on the floor but stopped when she heard the wooden floor groan under her assault. What was she supposed to do with her life? Sharing the same roof with the man was enough torture, but sharing a room with him was over the top! Her eyes welled up.
Twenty-nine,
Twenty-eight,
Twenty-seven,
Twenty-six,
Twenty-five,
Twenty-four,
Twenty-three,
twenty-two,
Twenty-one,
Twenty— the door was pushed open. "How was the tour?"
Though his tone was serious, Calantha wasn't a fool to miss the mockery in it. She was livid with anger. "Have we met before?" She suddenly asked, green eyes locked on him.
He offered an indifferent shrug, "Not that I remember. Why do you ask?"
"I am asking because I want to know why you are doing this to me. Have I ever wronged you?"
"No. What's your name again, young woman?"
Calantha looked like the man had slapped her right on the face. He couldn't be serious! How could he not know the name of the girl whose life he was hellbent on destroying? "Calantha,"
"Good. Calantha, listen carefully, I have no business with you,"
"How can you say—"
He raised his index finger, effectively shutting her up, "I wasn't done. The person I have business with is your brother. All you have to do is play your little role and when everything is done, you are free to do whatever you please with your life,"
"What life are you talking about? You have taken everything from me! My family, my dream wedding, my fiance, and my social life. I am supposed to be planning my wedding to Duke Harold. Do you hear me? Duke Harold! My dream man but here I am, in a collapsing building, with you, an infamous murderer. An ex-convict. Tell me, who is going to associate with me?"
"I will leave that puzzle for you to solve."
"You killed my father, didn't you?"
His bushy brows drew together, "Where is that coming from?"
"How is it that my father died after meeting you?"
"Because he wasn't the smartest man," He was tempted to say, but remembering his conversation with her brother, he remained silent. Oh, he would have loved to rub everything on her face and see her reaction to reality, but considering the fact she was still grieving her father's loss, he would excuse her because he believed she wasn't in her best state of mind.
Taking his silence for the answer she was looking for, she let out a bitter laugh that reflected the ache in her heart. "That's what I thought. I will make you pay for it,"
How can such a pretty little thing hold so much venom? "Okay, I have somewhere to be. Do well to properly arrange your belongings in the room before I get back," He placed the book on the table and stood, cramped bones cracking in its wake.
Calantha internally groaned, everything about the man was irritating!
"Oh, by the way, if you ever get hungry, the kitchen is downstairs by your left. I should still have some leftovers from the other day." As he walked towards the door, she took several steps away from it, fingers pinching her nose closed.
Oh, heavens! Taking her life seemed like a pretty good idea to get away from the whole thing, but for Theo, she was going to wait. He promised to get her out of the situation, but before that, he would make the scamp pay.
Now alone in the house, she scanned the room, scared that something might jump at her. She was tired and weak and needed to rest her body. Seeing the broken bed, she hissed and sat on the floor. No way on earth she was going to lay on the deathtrap in the form of a bed.