Inside, the opulence was almost overwhelming. Expensive artwork adorned the walls, and plush furniture filled the spacious rooms. The air was warm and smelled faintly of lavender, a stark contrast to the cold, rainy night outside.
"Welcome to your new workplace," Argon said, his voice dripping with mockery. "Make yourself at home." He purposefully making her irritated knowing how drenched and uncomfortable she was.
Leo clenched her fists, her nails digging into her palms. She followed him into the living room, trying to steady her breathing.
"You can start by making me some tea," Argon said, flopping down on a luxurious sofa. "And don't forget, you're on the clock." he said, placing his legs up on the table. "And before that! Take these shoes off for me." He pointed at his feet.
Leo's mouth remained open, full of disbelief. "What did you just say?"
"Take off my shoes." He repeated, looking at her dead in the eyes making sure she knew he was not kidding.
"I will not be doing that!" She said with her neck straight. "I didn't apply to be your babysitter." She replied.
"Yes you didn't, but you definitely broke my wrist didn't you? And before that, I was able to do these things on my own so you owe this to me." Realising the true reason for him dragging her here.
She shot him a glare but didn't argue. She needed this job, as much as she hated to admit it. Above that, she did injure him. Closing her eyes as if not wanting to see what she was about to do, she nodded and walked up to his side, leaning over his feet and pulling the shoes off him. They were drenched but not more than hers. Her face had a repulsive expression almost like she was about to puke. But she still placed the shoes to the side, Argon enjoying the scene as he felt victorious for some reason.
"Now make me tea." He reminded her of the second task. "The kitchen is that way. And remember to not make a mess out of things. I hate it when things are unorganised" His tone almost threatening. Leo gave him a plain look, not wanting to react in any way because she really wanted to react and in a very bad way but that would make her lose the job, and she had no wish to die just yet. She simply turned around and walked away. Argon watched her leave and then chuckled with amusement because no matter how plain she held her expressions, he could see how enraged she was.
Entering the kitchen, Leo found it squeaky clean. Now that she thought of it, the entire apartment was immaculate—and eerily empty. "What is the meaning of this? Am I alone in an apartment with a man at this time of the night?" The realisation hit her, and goosebumps ran all over her body, making her turn around hurriedly. She found herself staring at her reflection in the shiny glass door of the refrigerator: short, drenched hair, dead eyes, curveless body, all wrapped in a dripping wet suit.
"Oh!" It didn't take her long to realise the precariousness of her situation. She had lived with Magnus in his mansion before, but she was never alone with him, so it felt different. But now, the situation was making her nervous. It might not have been just the fact that she was alone with Argon—there was more to it. Argon had a history with her, though she was unsure of what it entailed. She desperately wanted to know what this man thought of her and why he used to write her letters and gift her the most beautiful jewellery pieces.
Was her nervousness because she thought he might have feelings for her? But then again, her uneasiness lessened slightly when she remembered she was in disguise. Argon saw her as Leo, a man, so it shouldn't matter at all. She took a deep breath and tried to steady herself. She was here to do a job, and that's all she needed to focus on.
Shaking off her thoughts, she began searching for the tea supplies. The pristine kitchen was well-stocked, and she quickly found everything she needed. As she filled the kettle with water, the sound of the rain outside intensified, echoing through the silent apartment.
Waiting for the water to boil, Leo laced her hand on the counter and reminisced about her time as her true self, Viviana. "If I was Viviana, he would not dare to talk to me like that," she muttered, watching bubbles appear in the water. Her mind was completely distracted and hazy.
She had little knowledge of her surroundings as she was preoccupied with her thoughts when suddenly she felt something brushing against her legs. Her heart collapsed in an instant, and she jumped back, looking down with wide eyes.
"Ahhhhh!" She screamed a high-pitched scream and jumped on the counter, holding her legs up. Chess, Argon's cat, had walked in and was rubbing its body against her legs. Leo's reaction took the cat by surprise, and it gazed lazily at her before starting to reach up to her.
"What happened?" Argon, who felt like an intruder had shot Leo dead given her scream, got up from the sofa and headed to the kitchen. Chess jumped up onto the counter where Leo was taking refuge, causing her to jump back down and run towards the kitchen entrance. She collided into Argon, His expressions once again turned pained as she had bumped into his arm. But he didn't react just now. She was clinging to him like a leech and breathing heavily.
"Get that thing away!" she begged.
Argon was taken aback by her reaction, and the fact that the scream he had heard was because of a cat made him frown. "Get off me first! You're breaking my arm!" he said, grinding his teeth.