Vincent looked up from his newspaper, his eyes raking over her.
She stepped back, as he picked up his fork and knife, cutting into his eggs.
He took a bite, his eyes never leaving the paper.
Then, he said, "Sit." It was a command, not a question while chewing.
Evangeline's eyes snapped to him.
She took a tentative step forward, her legs shaking with fear.
Vincente looked up from his newspaper,.
she gingerly sat down beside him.
"Leave", Vincente ordered the maids in waiting.
The maids, who had been hovering at the edge of the room, stiffened at the sound of his command.
They shared a quick, anxious glance before scurrying out of the dining room, closing the door.
Evangeline sat at the edge of the chair, her hands clutched tightly in her lap.
Her messy bun with strands of hair had escaped, framing her face, unruly mess that she had yet to fix.
Vincente tore a piece of bread from the loaf on his plate, holding it between his thumb and forefinger. He brought it to his own lips, his teeth sinking into the crust with a soft crunch.
Evangeline's eyes remained glued to her hands, as he chewed, her own hunger forgotten amidst the fear of what was to come.
He leaned in closer, his breath hot against her face, and whispered, "Open your mouth."
Her trembling increased, but she did as he demanded.
He brought the bread to her lips, already coating the crust with his saliva.
His blue eyes bore into hers, the intensity of his gaze making her feel like she was drowning.
She parted her lips slightly, and he pushed the bread into her mouth.
The warmth of his breath mingled with the scent of the bread, filling her nose and mouth with his essence.
As the bread touched her tongue, Vincent's mouth closed over hers, his tongue delving deep.
The bread was a mere pretext for this intimate dance.
His tongue explored her mouth, tasting her.
Evangeline felt the bread crumble between their lips.
His hand moved to the back of her neck, holding her in place as his kiss grew more demanding, his tongue pushing past her teeth.
She couldn't move, couldn't breathe, her cheeks are on fire.
Evangeline's eyes widened in surprise as he broke the kiss, a smear of bread crumbs and saliva connecting their lips.
"Swallow," he then said, licking his upper lip with his tongue.
She did as he said, the bread and his saliva sliding down her throat in a single, humiliating gulp.
"Eat your food," he said, his voice a low command as he wiped his lips with a napkin.
Evangeline looked at him, her eyes wide thinking about what just happened.
He tore off a piece of bread from his plate and brought it to his mouth, watching her flushed face with smirk.
She then picked up her own piece of bacon, her hand shaking slightly as she brought it to her mouth.
The smoky, salty flavor hit her tongue.
Vincente finished his food, then he took a sip of his black coffee.
She watched the muscles in his throat move as he swallowed.
"I'll take you shopping today after lunch," he said, while sipping on his coffee. "You'll need some new clothes."
Evangeline's eyes widened in shock, but grateful since she had to wear the same three old clothes repeatedly that was given to her from the mansion. "Thank you," she said feeling grateful to him with a soft smile.
Vincent looked at her, but said nothing and focused on his coffee.
After finishing his breakfast he left for his office.
Evangeline was done and helped cleaning the table with the maids even though they insisted she didn't have to.
Later around 12 in the morning, Evangeline found herself standing in the vast, walk-in closet that was more like a small boutique than a mere storage space for clothes.
The walls were lined with rows of designer suits of Vincente the hangers clicking softly as they swayed with her movement.
The smell of expensive fabric filled her nose.
Her eyes scanned over the racks where laid few dresses for her, looking for something modest and revealing.
So, she chose a simple black dress that fell just under her knees, with a high neckline and long sleeves that would offer her some semblance of modesty.
But then she realized she didn't have any shoes except for the ones she wore to the wedding, which was a pair of uncomfortable high heels that cauded her blisters.
The thought of putting those torturous devices back on made her wince.
With no other option, she padded her way to kitchen, her bare feet silent on the marble floor.
She found Clara in the kitchen, her hands floured as she kneaded dough on a large wooden counter.
"Clara," Evangeline called out, her voice small and unsure.
The head maid looked up from her dough at her. "Miss?," she said, wiping her flour-covered hands on her apron. "Is there something you need?"
Evangeline bit her lip. "I need to talk to Vincente," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Can you...can you call him for me? I ...don't know his number by heart."
She nodded, setting the dough aside and wiping her hands clean. "Of course," she said, her voice soothing.
She then went to the living room, picked up the phone from the living hall, Evangeline followed behind.
Vincent was in his office. He sat behind a massive oak desk, the surface littered with papers and files.
He picked up his phone from the desk with a sigh, the annoyed look on his face deepening as he saw Clara's number on the screen.
"What is it?" he barked into the phone.
Clara's voice was calm and collected,"It's Miss Evangeline," she said. "She wishes to speak with you, sir."
Vincent's eyes narrowed, his grip on the phone tightening. "What does she want?"
Clara's gaze flicked to Evangeline, who was standing by her side biting her lips.
"I will hand the phone to Miss..." Clara said, holding out the phone to her. "Here..."
Evangeline took the phone with trembling hands, her heart racing. "Sir...," she whispered, her voice barely audible.
Clara left for her work to the kitchen, giving her mistress privacy.
"What?" he snapped, his impatience palpable.
Evangeline swallowed the lump in her throat, her voice a mere whisper. "I... I need shoes, Sir."
Vincent's eyes flickered with irritation, his gaze shifting from the documents in front of him "What's wrong with the ones you have?"
Evangeline took a deep breath, her voice quivering. "They're... They're not comfortable."
There was a pause on the line.
Then, with a sigh that seemed, he said, "Fine."
He rubbed his face with his free hand, the sound of his palm against his skin.
"I'll send you some shoes before lunch." He said while signing a document.
Evangeline nodded, even though he couldn't see her. "Thank you," she whispered, feeling a small flicker of hope.
"Don't make a habit of disturbing me during work hours," he said, his voice a warning. "And...I expect you to be ready when I come for you." He hung up the phone with a sharp click.