As they approached the door, a butler with Asian features opened it and greeted them with a bow.
"Good evening, Kai. There's a suitcase in the sports car's trunk. It's Amelia's, my girlfriend. From today, she will be living here, and everyone must treat her as the lady of the house. Arrange her clothes in the empty wardrobe in my room. Inside the suitcase, there's also a laptop; place it in one of the changing room drawers. She'll find a more suitable spot for it later."
Kai nodded respectfully, glancing at Jason with slight concern.
"Sir, your sister will be arriving in six days. When she arrives, who will be the lady of the house?"
"This house is not family property; it belongs to me. Therefore, the lady of the house is Amelia. Now carry out the orders diligently."
Kai bowed deeply again before heading inside the house. As they climbed the stairs, Amelia felt a slight sense of relief. Even if it was a gilded cage, perhaps she could get used to living with such luxuries.
Jason didn't stop until they reached two large, finely carved mahogany doors. With a gentle push, the doors opened, revealing an impressive library. The room seemed to span two floors, with all the walls lined with bookshelves, except the wall to the left of the entrance. On that wall, there was a fireplace, currently unlit due to the summer heat, above which hung a dartboard. A bar with three stools stood beside it, and four armchairs formed a semicircle around the fireplace, leaving enough room for dart games if desired. Each armchair had a lamp and a small table, perfect for placing a drink while enjoying a good book.
In the center of the room, there was a luxurious billiard table, and to the right, four impressive desks. The ceiling of the room was a glass dome, allowing a view of the full moon shining brightly in the night sky.
"This is one of my favorite places in the house," Jason said, watching Amelia's reaction.
Amelia looked around, amazed by the room's grandeur and beauty. Every corner of the library seemed designed to offer a peaceful and studious atmosphere. The bookshelves were filled with both old and new books, covering a wide range of subjects. The leather armchairs and lamps provided a cozy feeling, contrasting with the impressive billiard table and the desks that suggested both recreation and serious work.
"It's… incredible," Amelia whispered, still taking in the wealth of her surroundings.
"I can imagine you have many questions and concerns," Jason continued, guiding her toward one of the armchairs. "Tonight, I want you to feel comfortable, and we can start getting to know each other better. I know all of this is new for you, and I'm willing to help you adjust."
Before sitting, Jason headed to the bar and began preparing a cocktail for Amelia. His movements were precise and elegant, revealing familiarity and skill in mixing drinks. Soon, he handed her a tall glass filled with vibrant colors.
"A 'Sex on the Beach' for you," Jason said with a kind smile, extending the glass.
Amelia took the cocktail gratefully. She watched as Jason served himself a whiskey on the rocks, the ice cubes clinking softly in the glass as he made his way to the armchairs.
"Cheers," Jason said, raising his glass.
"Cheers," Amelia replied, gently clinking her glass with his before taking a sip.
They sat across from each other, the leather chairs creaking slightly under their weight. Amelia felt the softness of the leather beneath her fingers as she held the glass; the cocktail was sweet and refreshing, helping to calm her nerves.
"What worries me the most right now is… understanding my place here," Amelia said, her eyes searching Jason's face for answers.
"Your place here is by my side, as my partner," Jason replied with a calm smile. "I want you to feel at home and take advantage of the opportunities this life offers you. There are many things I can teach you and many things you can discover on your own."
The library, with its tranquil and cozy atmosphere, seemed like a safe place to start this new chapter. Amelia knew she had a lot to learn and many barriers to overcome, but for the first time in a long time, she felt a spark of hope. With determination in her heart, she resolved that, no matter what happened, she would find a way to adapt and thrive in her new life with Jason.
Amelia sank into the leather chair, her body gradually relaxing as she took a deeper sip of the cocktail. The cold, sweet drink trickled down her throat, and the alcohol began to spread a warm tingling sensation through her veins. Her thoughts drifted, caught between the luxury surrounding her and the strangeness of her current situation.
Perhaps they could even fall in love with each other. When this thought crossed her mind, she took a longer sip of her cocktail, trying to drown out the confusion she felt. How could she be thinking about falling in love with a man?
"Why look for a…?" Amelia hesitated, not knowing how to define herself. A prostitute, a slave, a companion? "Well… me. Surely there are plenty of wonderful women eager to be with you."
Jason observed her with a penetrating gaze before replying. "Several reasons. I don't want social climbers. I'm curious to see to what extent your former boss's worms work. It's amusing to watch a straight man turned into a beautiful straight woman, willing to be sexually involved with me. I gain points with Inmaculada Montalbán for our business ventures. You're not aware of this, but in the end, she considers all of you part of her circle of friends." "I want to be your friend" echoed in Amelia's mind as she heard Jason's last words. "I can compel you to any sexual act. Finally, my sister is intent on marrying me off to her friend. When she arrives, maybe having you around will make her give up."
"In short: power, total submission, curiosity, and freedom," Amelia summarized, trying to be more concise.
"Yes, it sounds nicer that way," Jason replied, flashing a broad smile before taking another sip of his drink. "What else do you want to know?"
Amelia looked at her cocktail for a while, pondering her next question. "What's the scent and aura you mentioned at the restaurant?" she asked, her voice full of curiosity.
"Well played, but for now, I'll keep that answer to myself. First, I want to see if you meet all my expectations," Jason replied with a smile that left her speechless.
Amelia reflected on Jason's response as she held her glass. She knew there was more than what he let on, but she wasn't in a position to demand answers. Finally, she decided to ask something that had been troubling her from the start.
"Based on what you told the butler, we'll be sleeping in the same bed. Do I have to have sex with you?" A shiver ran through her body as she asked the question.
Jason took a sip of his whiskey before answering. "You will have sex, but in due time. For example, tonight, you'll undress for me and sleep completely naked beside me. It's possible that I'll caress you or even kiss you, but over the days, I'll be asking for more and more things. I'm confident that I'll take your virginity by your own will."
Amelia shook her head. She had seen how all the girls in the novice area seemed delighted with sex with men, but in her mind, it seemed impossible to voluntarily give herself to Jason. He was attractive, with a formidable appearance, and likely had a firm, well-toned body beneath that suit… She suddenly realized she was thinking of him with lust.
She looked at her drink. She had already consumed half of it, along with several glasses of champagne during dinner. It was definitely the alcohol—it couldn't be her own will.
"You look flushed. Is something wrong?" Jason inquired, smiling mischievously and charmingly.
The question made her blush even more. He had made her see him as attractive and had asked directly. Hyperventilating a bit, she finally dared to respond.
"I'm… starting to feel… It's probably the alcohol, but…" She couldn't bear it; she was acting like a cliché woman in front of her unconfessed love. She took a deep breath as Jason watched her, amused, and after exhaling, she answered, "Strange thoughts are crossing my mind, in which I'm seeing you as an attractive man."
She had said it and suddenly felt liberated. She hated seeing Jason with that amused smile, but it was the inconvenient truth.
"I'm flattered. As you said, it might be the effects of the alcohol. Don't worry, I'll only take your virginity if you give it to me willingly, and doing so under the influence of alcohol doesn't seem right to me. It would be different if you had said or written it before you started drinking," Jason replied, his smile becoming more and more charming to Amelia.
What she didn't know was that alcohol accelerated the worm's work in this regard, as it transformed alcohol into sugar, providing extra energy to the worm and allowing it to work more intensely on Amelia's brain. The worm didn't actually aim to turn her into a heterosexual woman; rather, it pushed her toward reproduction, which in humans translated into attraction to the opposite sex.
Amelia looked down at her glass, feeling a mix of confusion and acceptance. She knew her life had irrevocably changed, and although she didn't understand all the details, she was determined to find a way to adapt and maybe even find a way to thrive in her new reality.
The silence in the room grew heavier, only interrupted by the soft creaking of leather as they shifted in their seats. Amelia took a final sip of her cocktail, knowing that the night still held many unknowns and challenges ahead.
Amelia stood up unsteadily and approached the pool table. Her steps were wobbly, and her vision was slightly blurred by the alcohol, but she felt bold and ready to play.
"Shall we play? For every ball I sink, I get to keep one item of clothing. For every ball you sink, you get to take off one of my items of clothing. At the end of the game, if I win, I'll only take off my dress, and you'll reveal the secret of the smell. If you win, I'll remove one item for every ball of difference," Amelia proposed, trying to maintain her composure.
Jason, an excellent pool player, found the bet too easy, especially against a clearly inebriated woman. He smiled, assessing the situation, and decided to make the bet more interesting.
"Let's make another wager. If you win, I'll reveal what you want to know, but you'll still have to sleep naked tonight. If I win, not only will you sleep naked, but you'll also give me a kiss for every ball of difference," Jason said, his voice gentle but with a challenging tone.
Amelia, showing a sly smile, responded with an additional condition.
"Anywhere I want?" she asked, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. "But for that, you'll also sleep naked," she quickly added, covering her mouth as she realized what she'd just said. "Please, darling, could you make me another one of these?" she said, holding out her empty glass.
Jason accepted the glass with a smile, enjoying the turn the night had taken. He headed to the bar to prepare another cocktail while Amelia, with clumsy movements, set up the balls on the pool table. Jason watched her efforts with a mixture of amusement and resignation, hoping she wouldn't damage the table's felt.
"Can I go first?" Amelia asked, a mix of hope and nervousness in her voice.
"Ladies first," Jason replied, watching her intently as she prepared for her first shot.
The cue ball struck with so little force that it barely touched the other balls. Jason stifled a laugh and handed her the freshly prepared cocktail, then picked up the cue with confidence, contrasting with Amelia's clumsiness. With a series of precise and fluid movements, he began sinking one ball after another, giving Amelia no chance to catch up. The game ended quickly when he sank the black ball.
"You owe me eight kisses," he announced, setting down the cue and embracing her with a triumphant smile.
Amelia approached and kissed him on the lips, a kiss that lasted a bit longer than she had planned. "Now I only owe you seven. If you sink the rest without missing, I'll owe you fourteen," she said, her voice tinged with a mix of challenge and playfulness.
Jason raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Have you ever played pool?" he asked, amused by her attitude.
Amelia shrugged with a mischievous smile. "Yes, I know you won, but I'm giving you the chance to increase your winnings," she replied, her gaze fixed on him with a blend of challenge and attraction.
Jason smiled, appreciating her boldness. "I like the way you think," he said, moving closer to her.
The atmosphere in the library was charged with an electric tension, every move and word seemed laden with meaning. The moonlight filled the room, reflecting off the mahogany furniture and the glass-fronted bookshelves, creating an almost magical setting for the game they were playing.
Amelia felt the weight of Jason's gaze; each kiss she owed was a promise of something more. Her mind was clouded by alcohol and the situation, but part of her enjoyed this new game of power. She knew she was on dangerous ground, but she also knew she had to stand firm and find a way forward.
"Go ahead, Jason, continue. I want to see if you can sink the remaining seven balls without missing," Amelia said, her voice full of playful challenge.
Jason raised the cue and, with a confident smile, prepared for the next shot. The tension between them increased with every move, every ball that dropped into the pockets. Amelia watched him, her heart pounding. She knew that with every ball, the stakes grew higher, and the game more intriguing.