KASMINE.
I searched his eyes for any form of understanding, but there was none. All I saw was a cold, unfeeling man. It felt like I was standing before a stranger... Someone who fed on control.
"Kester!" My voice cracked, raw with desperation, as I tried to twist out of his iron grip. It was useless. He didn't even flinch, his smirk widening as he watched my futile struggle. His calm, collected demeanor only made my panic worse.
"I'll do anything you want. I swear. Just let me go," I cried.
Tears rolled down my eyes.
He tilted his head, "Anything?" He asked so casually, and I nodded frantically, my mind spinning.
"I'll never miss work again," I choked out, the words tumbling over one another in my desperation. "I'll never disobey you, Kester. I'll do your laundry. I'll cook for you... I'll do anything... anything. Please. Just don't do this to me."
Tears streaked my face, my chest heaving with sobs. The thought of my mother seeing me like this, of her finding out what was happening, shattered me. She would be devastated if she ever saw me with a man, let alone my stepbrother. It'll break her poor heart. She would never forgive me.
"Anything..." he murmured, his gaze a bit distant as if lost in his thoughts.
"Yes. Yes." I whispered.
I heard my mum opening Kester's room and calling out his name. My room would be next, and she was just too close to opening my door.
"I noticed you've been locking your door a lot lately," he said, his tone casual, but his eyes told a different story. They pinned me in place as his fingers traced a lazy path down my cheek, "I don't think you'd want to lock it tonight. Would you, Kasmine?"
My throat closed, my breath catching.
"I—" My voice faltered.
I wasn't stupid. I didn't expect him to explain what he meant.
That was him saying, 'Kasmine, keep your door open tonight.'
But it terrified me. I didn't think it was something I'd like to do. What if he... What if...
He leaned closer, his lips brushing my ear as he whispered, "What happens if you lock it? Hmm? Shall we find out?"
I had begun locking my door after I saw the things I had seen in his room two days ago. It was my own little way of shielding myself from him.
"Kester..."
"I guess we don't have an agreement, then," He said and dipped his head to kiss me, but I nodded quickly.
"I'll leave my door open tonight. I swear. I will." I replied in a hurry, my eyes darting from him to the door, my chest heaving.
The knock I anticipated came. I flinched.
"Kasmine?" My mum called as she attempted to open my door.
"I swear to you, I'll keep my door open," My voice trembled.
"Good girl," He said, stroking the side of my face as if he wasn't even in a hurry. His gaze lingered on me for a moment, the intensity in his eyes making my skin prickle. "See you tonight, then," He added softly. But why did his words sound more like a threat than a promise?
"You should answer her," he said, his voice low and amused as he picked up his jacket heading towards the bathroom, "Wouldn't want her to worry about you."
He paused at the bathroom door, glancing back at me. "And don't forget, we still have work today. I'll wait in here as long as you need," he said with a wink before disappearing inside, the door clicking shut behind him.
I knew what Kester meant. It was simple: 'Get her out of here so I could leave.'
The knock came a second time. "Kasmine? Are you in there?"
My voice was shaky as I called out, "Yes, Mom. I'm coming." I cleared my throat, securing my towel properly around my chest. But as I stepped away from the wall with my legs unsteady, Kester's words kept haunting me, reminding me of the chaos he'd unleashed if I ever went against him at any point.
I wiped my lips hastily, trying to erase any evidence of what had just happened.
Taking in a deep breath to calm my obviously trembling hands, I unlocked the door and pulled it open.
"Oh, Selene! Mum!" I feigned surprise, hoping I acted it out properly. "How? I mean... You didn't even inform me," I hugged her. And somehow, I really did need that hug. My nerves were a mess.
"Are you okay, honey? You seem a bit..." Her eyes hovered over me for a moment, and my heart skipped several beats, "Tense." She added, but I rolled my eyes.
"I am fine. Just the internship and all," I breathe out a sigh, "Let's get you some juice," I said, closing the door behind me.
"No, baby. I don't need anything. Let's just go inside," She waved it off and made to open my door, but I stopped her instantly.
"No!" I shouted before I could even stop myself, "I mean... Yeah. But I also want a glass of juice. Join me. We have a lot to catch up on," I didn't give her the chance to protest before pulling her with me.
Mum was young and beautiful. She had me when she was twenty-two. And the goddess had blessed her with beauty and an amazing, ageless body. That's something I always pray for. To an extent, Selene answered those prayers. I looked just like my mom.
"Why aren't you in the office already? Is this how you've been behaving? And your brother lets you do as you please?" There she goes. Nagging again over nothing.
I rolled my eyes as I took a sip out of the glass of juice before leading her upstairs to my room. With the delay tactics I used in the kitchen, Kester should have had enough time to leave my room already.
"Kasmine. This is past eleven!" She pointed out, and I scoffed.
If only she knew the other reason for the delay... If only she knew my brother had almost fucked me if she hadn't arrived just in time to save me.
"Mum, I already told you before, I..." My words stuck in my throat when I pushed my door open and took in the sight before me.
"Hello, mum. Welcome to our house."
It was Kester.
What the fuck was he still doing in my room?