Amber followed Dante into his home with her head bowed meekly.
Back in the car, she really had no choice but to sign the contract, after everything settles down, she would have to ask her parents why they had let her go to the enemy like that.
"Kneel." Dante spoke to Amber, bringing her out of her thoughts.
She looked up to see him already seated on the couch, a cigarette in his mouth as he held a lighter up.
The protest she planned pushed back into her throat the moment she saw his glare at her through his glasses.
Without resisting, Amber went on her knees as she resisted the urge to wince at the coldness of the tiles.
Dante's house was something simple yet elegant.
There was a chandelier above the sitting area in the living room.
A brown carpet where the center table sat and the grey couches surrounding it.
Then not too far from the living room, was the dinning table that looked barely used, then a door that should probably lead to the kitchen.
"Ouch." Amber could not hold back her cry of pain when she felt something hit her, it was so sudden.
She looked at the floor to see a cloth in a plastic bag.
"So you feel pain?" Dante scoffed sarcastically puffing out his cigarette, this is the first time she had seen him smoke, it is surprising.
"No need to look around, there is nothing here for you to steal." Dante added referring to her looking around.
Amber wanted to say she didn't intend to do such but remembering the persona she upheld before him, she decided to keep shut.
"You are to wake up early enough to prepare my breakfast, and by the time I'm back from work, you should have dinner ready by then."
"The house should never be dirty, I like my things neat and in order, also no going into my room or study, doing so will incur my wrath."
Amber listened silently, biting her lip as hard as she could, just as she was about to speak, Dante's voice shut her up once more.
"Also you are no longer my secretary, from now henceforth you are dismissed, report to the cleaning department tomorrow."
Amber was stunned, "But-"
"You have no say in this, remember? You are mine from now, I decide what you do, say, or even eat, or else your poor parents have to pay the price."
"Oh before I forget, don't eat anything bought with my money, I don't care how you manage."
Saying his piece, Dante stood up and walked towards her, pressing the bottom of his cigarette on her cheek, using it to put it off.
Amber held her tears, pinching her thighs as hard as she could.
"What will you say?" Dante asked.
"Yes sir." Her voice coming as a breathless whisper.
"I didn't quite hear you? A week ago, you seemed quite bold confessing to what you did, now you can't bare the brunt?"
Dante asked, pressing the cigarette even harder, making Amber whimper.
"Yes sir." She called out again, trying as hard as possible to hold her tears.
"Good." Dante muttered, throwing the cigarette on her thighs on walking out.
He would never hit women, but there are other ways he can make her suffer.
Pausing his steps for a bit, Dante looked at his hands.
"I'm not going too far, right?" He wondered to himself, somehow his heart still reacted to seeing the tears she held in her eyes.
Just when he was about to turn check on her, Dante's phone rang, her brought it out to see it was Jake calling.
"Hey." Dante said coolly, "Come quick, your father relapsed again." Jake urged, cutting the call immediately.
Dante's eyes immediately watered as he glared at the door, why will he think he was going too far?
She didn't even feel half of the pain his father is going through at this moment.
Sprinting towards his car, Dante immediately got in and zoomed towards the hospital.
"Dad you have to stay strong for me, please." Dante muttered to himself as he sped through the traffic, he could hear the sirens after him, but he couldn't care less.
After Dante left, Amber opened the plastic bag to see a maid uniform inside.
Sighing, She immediately changed into it right there in the living room.
She couldn't anger him more by going into a room, if not, she would have preferred to take a shower before changing into it.
Amber looked over at the door and stared at it with determination, if this is to protect her family, then it's worth it.
Though she could feel her cheek throbbing with pain, she tried to ignore it the best she could.
Concentrating on the pain will take her no where.
Taking a leap of faith, Amber moved towards the door she thought to be the kitchen, hesitating at first before opening up the door, sighing with relief to see it was actually the kitchen.
She looked through the cupboards and picked out some ingredients to cook a simple dish.
Recollecting her demotion, Amber frowned as she cut the onions, why couldn't he just fire her directly?
If she works as a cleaner in the company, they work after everyone is gone, which means she will still be at the company when Dante is long gone, and yet, he expects his dinner.
It is pretty obvious he just wants to wear her out, seems the days ahead are going to be a very rocky one.
"I hope he'll let me go see my family." Amber muttered.
"They might be worried, how I wish I can call mom or dad." She would have loved to do that the moment she got out of the hospital, but before she could even stretch out her hand, Dante had collected her phone from the nurse.
As the contract stated, she will be shut off from using electronics when with him, honestly she understood him.
Once beaten, twice shy, he probably doesn't want to betrayed again.
After cooking, Amber placed the dish on the dinner, her tummy growling with hunger as she stared at the food drooling.
Using all her self-control, Amber turned her face and proceeded to go sit on one of the couches, unintentionally dozing off after a few minutes.