With the coat off, she moved to his shirt, her eyes avoiding his.
The room was filled with the sound of her own ragged breathing and the rustle of clothing as each layer was peeled away.
Then untyied his tie and took it off. Then,
Her trembling hands reached for the buttons of his shirt, her eyes focusing on the task at hand.
As she undid each button, she could feel the warmth of his skin beneath.
The shirt fell open, revealing a chest that was toned and muscular.
"Why did you stop?" Vincente's voice boomed in the silent room as she stopped.
Evangeline looked up at him, her hands hovering over his belt. "I... I didn't mean to," she stuttered, her voice shaking with fear.
Vincent's eyes narrowed, "Continue," he said.
Her trembling fingers found the buckle of his belt, and she worked it open with trembling hands.
The the leather slid through the loops, now time to unbutton his pants she hesitated but decided to do it closing her eyes.
But the sudden pain in her wrist as he caught her hand in his tight grip made her gasp.
"What are you doing?" His voice was low and dangerous, his eyes dark with a mix of anger and something else she couldn't quite identify.
Evangeline looked up at him, her own eyes wide with shock and confusion. "You... you told me to....," she stuttered, her hand was hurting.
Vincent's grip loosened, and he released her hand. "I did," he said, his voice harsher than before. "But I didn't expect you to do it so eagerly."
Evangeline took a step back, cradling her sore wrist.
His words made her feel like a whore. She felt disgusted. But again he told her to take off his clothes.
Tears in her eyes, Evangeline looked up at him, the confusion on her face mirroring the tumult in her soul. "What do you want from me?" she whispered, her voice trembling.
Vincent ignored her question, his eyes cold and deadly.
He then turned away, his footsteps echoing in the grand suite as he strode towards the en-suite bathroom.
The sound of running water filled the silence, and Evangeline was left alone.
After few minutes, he yelled from the bathroom, "Evangeline!"
Her heart skipped a beat at the sound of his voice.
"Bring my clothes from the closet and lay them out on the bed," he ordered, the sound of water splashing against the tiles.
Evangeline nodded. She hurried to the walk-in closet, her eyes scanning the rows of designer suits and shirts.
The casual clothes were tucked away in the back, hidden from the formal garb that filled the rest of the closet.
Evangeline pulled out a crisp white linen shirt and a pair of tailored beige trousers.
She laid it out on the bed, smoothing out the wrinkles with gentle strokes.
After that she left the room, her mind racing with thoughts of escape.
She had noticed earlier that day, as she was walking down the hallway lost in her thoughts, that the backside of the mansion was unguarded.
The realization had struck her like a lightning bolt, and she had vowed to use this knowledge to her advantage.
As she made her way downstairs, lost in thoughts of freedom, Evangeline rounded a corner and suddenly bumped into someone.
It was Sara, the maid who had shown her kindness since her arrival. Sara's eyes widened in surprise, a stack of freshly laundered towels in her arms.
"Oh, Miss Evangeline, I'm so sorry," she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine concern. "Are you okay?"
Evangeline shook her head and replied " yes...I'm sorry. I was so lost. Are you OK? "
Sara nodded, a knowing smile playing on her lips. "It's alright," she said, her voice soothing. "You look tired. Is there anything I can do to help?"
Evangeline's eyes searched Sara's face, looking for any hint of malice or deceit, but she found only kindness. "No, thank you," she murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. "I just... I'm just not used to all this."
Sara's expression softened, understanding flickering in her eyes. "It's a lot to take in," she said gently, setting the towels down on a nearby chair. "If you ever need anything, you know where to find me."
Evangeline took a deep breath, her heart racing as she took a step closer to Sara. "Sara," she whispered urgently, her eyes pleading. "I need your help."
Sara's smile faded, and she leaned in, her eyes searching Evangeline's. "What is it, Miss?" she asked, her voice low and cautious.
Evangeline took a deep breath, her eyes shimmering with unshed tears. "I need to leave," she whispered, her voice shaking. "Please, help me to escape tomorrow. I cant do this. I dont want to marry him. Hes scary ..please....i miss my mom..she must be worried sick. She doesnt even know my own grandmother sold me...." she said in one breath.
Sara's expression shifted from concern to surprise, and then to a flicker of understanding. "I knew something was wrong," she murmured, her eyes darting down the hallway to ensure they were still alone. "But it's dangerous, Miss Evangeline. If sir Castellanos finds out..."
Evangeline's eyes grew desperate, her voice rising slightly despite her efforts to keep it hushed. "Please, Sara," she begged, her hands clutching at the maid's arms. "I can't marry him. I can't spend the rest of my life here being his slave in the name of his wife."
Sara's gaze softened, the creases around her eyes deepening as she searched Evangeline's desperate face. "Alright," she whispered, her voice thick with concern. "But we must be careful. If we're caught..."
"I know," Evangeline cut her off, her eyes shimmering with hope. "But I can't stay here. Not with him." She took a shaky breath, her hand clutching at Sara's forearm. "Please, tell me a way to escape from the back of the mansion...."
Sara's eyes searched the corridor, ensuring their conversation remained a secret. She nodded, her expression a mix of worry and fear "Alright," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "But we must be quick and quiet. The gardener, David, he sometimes leaves the back gate unlocked around afternoon to leave trash after cleaning."
Evangeline's eyes widened, a spark of hope igniting within her.
She gripped Sara's hand, her knuckles white with the force of her desperation. "Tomorrow," she whispered fervently. "After lunch, then...."