Roman's intense gaze locked with mine, his eyes reflecting a mix of disbelief and displeasure as he saw me for the second time that day. My palms grew sweaty, and my heart raced as memories of the disastrous workshop flooded my mind. Who would willingly engage with someone who had humiliated them so profoundly?
The anger between us was palpable, and I struggled to understand when it all began or how it had escalated to this extent. He was turning me into someone unrecognizable, igniting a baseless hatred within me.
"Have a seat," he commanded, motioning to the cushion opposite him, already claiming the luxurious seat for himself.
I couldn't bring myself to comply. I pivoted on my heel and uttered, "Excuse me, there's been a mistake," desperate to escape and never return. No amount of money was worth enduring his degrading treatment.
The scars from my school days were enough, and I was unwilling to let him turn me into his scapegoat for discipline. He seemed flawless, while I felt inadequate, and I knew it wouldn't be long before he lashed out at me and discarded me like trash. It was better for me to refuse to engage. I needed to flee for my well-being. I refused to accept this treatment.
As I turned to leave, Leah approached, her expression shifting as she noticed the dark cloud hanging over my head. "Hey, what happened?"
"Where's Jul-" Her words caught in her throat as she caught sight of Roman lounging on the cushion, not even acknowledging her presence.
"Roman," Leah's voice lowered subtly, and as he turned his gaze to her, she quickly averted her eyes, a nervous chuckle escaping her lips.
"I was expecting to see your brother, Julian. We had a discussion, and he mentioned that he's the one in charge," Leah explained, expressing her surprise at Roman's unexpected presence. She was aware of the conflict between Roman and Carol, as Carol had confided in her, and she was not comfortable leaving Carol in Roman's care as the employer. If it had been Julian, she would have felt much safer.
"Unfortunately..." Roman drawled in a leisurely manner as he began twirling a pen between his fingers, his eyes lingering on Leah before sharply darting over to me. "He had somewhere important to go and begged me to do this for him."
Leah couldn't conceal her unease in Roman's presence. Carol was right to be nervous in this place, and Leah shared the sentiment. As I stood to the side, a frown of confusion creased my brow at Leah's words. Julian and Roman were siblings? I would've never guessed. Maybe that explained why I saw him entering Roman's office that day. But they looked nothing alike. I would've never thought that they were related, let alone brothers.
"I wonder what you're doing," Roman inquired with a subtle tilt of his head, his relentless piercing gaze fixed on me, "Sitting or leaving?"
Glancing at Leah, I silently sought her guidance. I longed to find an employer who treated their employees with kindness, unlike Roman. However, my heart yearned for Julian, and I desired to get closer to him. Taking a deep breath, I settled in front of Roman, maintaining a composed posture. Leah sat by my side, and together, we fell into a tense silence, observing Roman with apprehensive gazes.
Turning to Leah, Roman's voice dripped with mockery as he addressed her, "Is there a specific reason as to why you're here? Or are you applying for the position of a maid too?"
Leah offered a brief smile and shook her head. "I was thinking of chatting with Julian, but unfortunately, he isn't here."
"Then?" Roman's gaze flitted from her to the door, implying that her presence was unnecessary. And he needed her to leave at once.
Sensing the unspoken dismissal, Leah stood up and swiftly exited the room before things could take a turn for worse.
I watched her leave, noticing that she didn't immediately depart the cafeteria but instead positioned herself in a spot from where she could observe the unfolding interaction between Roman and me.
"Protective friends, huh?" Roman remarked, leaning over the table to inspect the files laid out before him.
"You're quite talkative today. Please, let's get done with it," I spoke in a low voice, though I was certain that he heard me. Roman remained silent as he began scanning through the files. Abruptly, he tossed one in front of me, creating a sharp noise as it landed on the table.
Curious, I reached for the file and began reading its contents.
'Contract agreement,' I read, and a dryness settled in my mouth. Was I biting off more than I could chew?
I hesitated, contemplating whether I should have pursued a less legally binding opportunity, perhaps like a simple contract, considering the potential repercussions of violating it. Their family seemed to hold a prominent status, and I knew they wouldn't be lenient if I were to overstep any boundaries.
As I skimmed through the documents, I couldn't help but acknowledge a slight sense of relief.
"Maybe this job isn't as daunting as I initially thought," I silently mused.
The position entailed tutoring a little girl in addition to managing the household for at least five hours. I was also tasked with overseeing the residence's upkeep and promptly reporting any unusual thing.
As I continued reading the contract, I realized it wasn't overly demanding, and maintaining order within the house was something I excelled at. The property shouldn't be large, and I estimated that I could efficiently complete my duties before returning to my dormitory.
However, this arrangement meant that I would have limited daytime hours for studying, as the dormitory enforced lights-out at 10 PM, mandating everyone to retire for the night. I nervously bit my lip, determined to devise a schedule that would accommodate all my responsibilities without falling behind.
Upon reaching the section detailing remuneration, I was taken aback by the generous monthly compensation they were offering. The prospect of earning a substantial sum, possibly around $30,000, caught me by surprise. As I lowered the document, I found myself locking eyes with Roman, his gaze piercing and intense.
"Is this real?" I inquired, my voice tinged with skepticism.
His lips parted slightly, and he seemed bemused. "What?" he asked, a hint of impatience in his tone.
"The money you're offering—" I began, but he cut me off with a dismissive tone.
"I'm not offering you anything," he clarified, his voice dripping with condescension. "Julian is your employer; I'm just filling in for him today," he pointed out, his tone leaving no room for argument. I swallowed nervously, feeling a sense of unease settle over me.
"Is the money Julian offering real?" I rephrased my question, trying to hide my uncertainty. His lips curled into a subtle smirk, amusement glinting in his eyes.
"Have you never seen such an amount in your life and are now surprised when you come across it?" he retorted sharply. "Yes, it's real. Julian doesn't deceive," he added with finality.
"Okay, then," I said, trying to sound composed as I leaned forward on the table, preparing to affix my signature to the documents in front of me.
As I reached for the pen, I felt Roman's gaze bore into me, his expression darkening. His astonishment was palpable as he observed my eagerness to sign without fully understanding the implications. Wasn't it necessary to inquire about the job responsibilities before committing? I could sense his silent disapproval as he pinched the bridge of his nose.
"Are you satisfied with the amount of work expected from you?" he asked, his tone laced with skepticism.
A nervous chuckle escaped my lips. "Yeah, I can handle even more," I replied, my confidence masking the uncertainty gnawing at me. Little did I know that this decision would soon become a source of regret.
Roman scoffed softly as he watched me hastily sign the documents. He couldn't fathom my desperation for money, to the extent of disregarding the potential impact on my life. He doubted whether I would be able to juggle this job and my education, knowing the heavy workload that awaited me. Despite his reservations, he recognized my unwavering determination to seize this opportunity, even at the cost of disrupting the balance in my life.
I slid the stack of signed papers across the desk toward him. "Are we finished?" I inquired. He gazed out the window, offering no response to my question. I pursed my lips, grabbed my bag, and prepared to bolt for the door.
"There's one condition," he announced as I turned to leave.
"Don't ever get in my way. Don't pursue anything that might draw us even a breath closer" he cautioned.