(TYLER)
I follow Miles silently to the room he's leading me. He doesn't talk to me either. Anxiety and frustration eats at me for agreeing to marry Sasha. I hate him, and for obvious reasons, I don't trust him.
Now that I'm here I'm not sure if he'll toy with me instinctively whenever he sees fit. I know certainly that he is happy when I'm on edge like I am right now. There's nothing more I want than to leave this mansion right this second, but then again, I don't want to die.
We get to a hallway that leads into the many doors then we stop at one. Miles pushes the door and steps to the side, gesturing me to go in. I brush past him and enter, taking in the huge room before me. There's a massive king-size bed at the centre of the room. There are also huge drawers and nightstands, and to the far end is a row of thick drapes. I assume there are windows behind those drapes that look over to the patio.
"There are more rooms to choose from if you don't like this one." Miles finally says, studying me. "Sasha's room is right over there."
I scowl. "How convenient."
"But from what I heard, you two will be sharing a room after the ceremony. So, what does it matter if his room is close to yours?"
"We never agreed on sharing a room. That wasn't part of the deal." I hiss. "He keeps changing the rules and you too know it's bullshit."
Miles regards me for a few seconds, and I can't help thinking that he too thinks I'm throwing a fit over sharing a room. Don't they see why I don't want to share a room with that vile man? What if he one day wakes up and decides to kill me in my sleep?
"Situations are ever-changing around here, Tyler. Sasha was right, and you need to accept that."
"Is he? Don't you see he's just taking advantage of the situation to manipulate me? I didn't agree to this, and I don't trust him. He's up to something."
His brows knit. "Sasha won't force you into anything if that's what you're thinking. He's anything but that."
"Sure, he won't." I snicker. "He'll just kill me in my sleep. And that's so much better, no?" I smile tightly. "How did you even agree to work for him?" I mumble as I move towards the bed.
"Sasha is like a brother to me. I have known him forever."
I glare at him and I can't help but think that Sasha wrung Miles into his shenanigans that now, he too is left with no choice but to accept whatever he throws at him. I click my tongue. "Right, a brother who lets you do all his dirty work?" I run my hands over the grey silky sheets on the bed.
In truth, this room is far more luxurious than any room I've ever slept in my life. The only problem is it is a viper's house. It'll sure give me the comfort I very much long for, but I can guarantee nothing good will come out of it.
"I don't work for Sasha because he forced me. I work for him because I'm loyal to him. He saved my life. He isn't as bad as you think he is."
"He is exactly what I suspect him to be, a brutal, barbaric criminal." I raise my gaze to meet his. "Why has he never married?"
He clears his throat. "Because he wasn't in a hurry to."
"But now because his father is dying, he sees the need?" that's a question I don't expect him to answer. He is well and fully aware of the situation. "What do you think about it?"
"My opinions don't matter in the least."
"I know they don't. I just want to know what you think about all of this. Do you think it's fair that he murders me if I don't accept his demands?" I study his face.
"Again, Tyler, my opinion doesn't matter."
"I see, you're a well-trained pup." I let out a long breathy sigh.
He sucks in his lip. I can tell that my response ticked a nerve. But I doubt he will show it. "You can think whatever you want."
"Oh Miles, trust me I will. I suppose you don't take pleasure in being wrung around like a weak puppy. It can't sure be easy on your ego… being ordered around like that." There goes that stupid part of my brain. I shouldn't be alienating Miles. I should be smart and try to make friends with him. Unfortunately for him, I'm in a terrible mood and he will certainly get all the brunt of my frustration.
"Sasha is a complex man. Trying to go head-to-head with him will only land you in a bad place. But if you play it right with him, you'll get a lot out of him. There's no other way it will end for you." He sighs. "You're dumber than I actually thought." His voice is cold.
"How agreeable would you be if it were you in my place?"
"I'm not in your place. But if I were, I'd be wiser."
"Oh really?"
"Yes, Tyler. We could be friends but you'd rather throw a tantrum. You're so poor at reading people. That won't make you survive long in here."
"I just want to go home." I rub my eyes as he regards me. "I don't like it here. I just want my old life back."
"Your old life back?" he squints at me disbelievingly. "You had no life Tyler, you have no home, no job, you're pregnant, unclaimed, look at you, you're all skin and bones because you were starving. That's the old life you want to go back to?"
I hate how spot-on his description is because it's true. To know all that detail meant he was watching me for a while and he took his job seriously.
"Better the devil you know than the one you don't."
"There's no such thing as that. That's just what people tell themselves to feel better. Since when has anything good ever come out of playing with the devil?" He inches closer to me. "Word of advice Tyler, don't make those around Sasha your enemies. This agreement you've taken on, you're sure going to need them.
"You want to be my friend, Miles?" I laugh hoarsely.