Arette wasn't willing to let April agree to such atrocious orders, but before she could intervene, April nodded in agreement. However, Arette realised that April likely felt she had no choice but to comply, as Dominic's words sounded more like commands than suggestions.
Arette let out a yelp of surprise as Dominic swept her off her feet in one swift motion, carrying her to the bed. She watched in apprehension as he gently placed her on the bed and hovered over her.
Arette's mind raced with all the worst possibilities of what Dominic might do next, while April stood nearby in shock, her hand covering her mouth in disbelief.
"I missed you so much," Dominic whispered sensually as he leaned closer to Arette, placing his head on the crook of her neck. His words caught Arette off guard, and before she could react, he planted kisses on her neck, his hands gripping her thigh.
April found herself torn between staying and leaving, unsure of what was happening or what to do. Opting for the safer choice, she began to rise from her knees and aimed for the door. However, before she could make her escape, Dominic's voice halted her movements.
"Don't you dare step out of this room. Didn't I tell you that your job is to stay with Arette 24/7?" Dominic's command was stern, his voice cutting through the air as he continued to shower Arette's collarbone with kisses.
"W-well, I thought you needed privacy," April stammered in response, unsure of how to navigate the tense situation.
"Even if I'm ramming into Arette's guts, you will stay and watch because you make her happy," Dominic's crude words caused both Arette and April to choke in shock. Dominic's audacious nature knew no bounds.
April quietly retreated and pressed herself against the wall as Dominic resumed making Arette feel uncomfortable. "Ah, remember when I mentioned getting you a vocal coach for the annual showcase?" Dominic questioned rhetorically, to which Arette responded with a nod.
"Well, your coach is arriving today, and I've brought you a vintage piano that once belonged to my mother. Now that you're here, it's yours," Dominic lifted his face to smile at Arette, but his expression quickly turned to a frown when he heard Matthew's voice from behind the door.
"CHAIRMAN! MR. RUIZ IS HERE!" Matthew's voice boomed unnecessarily loud, causing Dominic to tense up.
"Arette, Matthew has been getting on my nerves since I laid eyes on him this morning. I swear, if I step out of this room, I will kill him. Help me calm down," Dominic vented to Arette, expecting her to somehow alleviate his frustration.
Arette was taken aback by Dominic's request and had no idea how to respond. She didn't want another person to die because of her, but she was at a loss for how to calm him down.
Glancing at April for help, Arette found her making kissing signs, indicating that Arette should play along. But Arette remained uncertain about what to do.
Arette acted on instinct and planted a quick peck on Dominic's cheek, immediately witnessing his expression morph from one of anger to that of adoration. He smiled at her before reciprocating with a kiss on her forehead, then got off the bed.
Dominic approached the door with a stoic expression, ready to confront Matthew, but the affection from Arette softened his resolve. He closed the door behind him, following Matthew downstairs to the living area, determined not to lash out.
Meanwhile, April rushed over to Arette, practically squealing with excitement. "That was simultaneously beautiful, weird, scary, insane, and romantic!" she exclaimed.
"Erm, I think I missed the romantic and beautiful part," Arette replied, settling comfortably on the bed.
"Erm, the part where he asked you to calm him down? I've known the Chairman for two years now, and I'm pretty sure I've never seen him smile. But to you, he was like, 'I missed you so much,'" April remarked, her gaze drifting to the ceiling in awe. It was evident to Arette that April was a hopeless romantic.
"You do realise that he kidnapped me and indirectly threatened to kill me if I ever tried to escape," Arette stated matter-of-factly.
"Yes, but he wouldn't actually kill you. And besides, no good thing comes without a bad thing," April countered.
"Well, I doubt you'd be saying that if you were there the night he strangled me," Arette retorted, her tone tinged with bitterness.
"And what did he do after he strangled you?" April inquired, her expression not as serious as Arette thought it would be.
"He... begged for forgiveness? He said he didn't mean to hurt me. He sounded really worried and screamed Mrs. Wolfe's name in the middle of the night," Arette recounted, realising as she spoke aloud that his actions didn't quite add up. Why would he strangle and then show such concern for her well-being?
"Miss, if you don't already know, Chairman isn't quite right upstairs," April explained, tapping her head to indicate she was referring to his mental state.
She continued, "One moment he's calm, the next he's irritated by everything. And so far, this is the calmest I've ever seen him. Rumour has it that he had an accident when he was younger and suffered brain damage or something, causing him to lose a few screws in his head."
Arette gasped in shock as she listened to April's explanation. "But I don't know the authenticity of this story. It may be true, or it may not be, because the maids are notorious for making things up," April reasoned.
"If everyone knows about it, then that means there must be some truth to it," Arette speculated, but April shook her head.
"The rumour going around about you among the maids is that you're a spy sent by the police, and he's keeping you captive to kill you when he's bored," April said casually, unaware of the fear her words instilled in Arette.
A knock on the door interrupted their conversation, causing both Arette and April to turn their heads towards the entrance. The infamous male maids, dressed in white long-sleeve shirts, black trousers, and shiny black shoes, stepped inside, pushing the piano into the room.
"Madam Arette, where do you want us to put the piano?" None of the maids dared to look up at her face. Even when they asked her a question, their eyes remained fixed on the floor. Dominic had made it clear that anyone who dared to look into Arette's eyes would meet the grim reaper, and they knew he didn't make idle threats.