"you can call me Mary. You must be starving, I'll bring breakfast right away, after you have had a bath".
"Thank you"
Mary nodded slightly as she turned to leave. She knocked on the door and someone on the other side opened it, it wasn't Joe, but another guard.
Mary paused, then look at Red
"Would you like something to change into?, Something more comfortable?", Mary gestured to the outfit Red had on.
"Yes, please".
Red very much appreciated the considerate offer, she did not mind at all,she didn't realize how uncomfortable she felt right now in her dress.
Mary left and Red was alone, once again, wondering what the day was going to be like?, What was in store for her today.
.
.
.
After a while, Mary had returned back to the room assisted by another maid as they carried a huge basin of hot water, new towels, tooth brush, hair brush,soap and other necessary essentials she might need. After they had left, Red hastily shed her dress, yearning for the soothing relief of steaming hot water on her tense muscles. As the fabric slipped away, she noticed the temporary pressure marks her tight dress had left on her skin, particularly around the top of her breasts and shoulders.
She slid into the hot tub, exhaling and sighing loudly, as she sank deeper, enjoying the feel of the steamy water on her body for a while, before she proceeded to washing herself up.
When she was done, she returned back to the bedroom, wrapped in a towel. There was a t-shirt and loose shorts neatly laid out on the bed; Mary must have come back and kept them there for her.
On a nearby table was a breakfast spread consisting of freshly baked croissants, a bowl of sliced strawberries and blueberries, a small teapot of steaming French press coffee, and a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
She didn't realize how hungry she was until the sweet, delicious aroma of freshly baked croissants wafted through the air, her belly began to growl.
She hurried over to the table, snatched a warm croissant, and took a bite,she couldn't help but moan from how soft and delicious it was.
Trying to multitask, she attempted to eat while getting dressed.
But soon, she found herself in a comical predicament when the door burst open, catching her off guard.
Frozen, mid-task with a croissant in her mouth and her hands awkwardly positioned on her zipper.
Aiden walked in, also caught off guard by the sight that welcomed him.
Adding to the already funny scenario, the flaky pastry crumpled down her chin.
They just started at each other, shocked.
His gaze lingeried, taking in the hilarious scene, before a hint of mocking smile played on his lips.
Really?, Red thought to herself.
Why is the universe so against me!!.
Aiden's POV
I laid awake all night, I hardly slept but this time around it was different,worse.
I have never made reckless decisions based on my emotions. My mind was racing with uncertainties and doubts. Was I having second thoughts?, was making a proposal to a thief reasonable and sane?. The deal I proposed to Isabelle Aisling weighed heavily on my mind all through the night.
I was driven by a desire, a desire to prove a point, to assert my dominance over this stubborn, wild, captivating and strange woman.
I recalled the way she challenged me, vexed me, the fire in her eyes, and the way her lips felt against mine.
I thought about the deal I had proposed, about the terms I had laid out, the expectations I had of her,and the outcome I hoped for. Was it reasonable? Was it fair? Or was it just a cleverly disguised attempt to exert control over her?, Because she had challenged me?.
No. I pushed aside the doubts, telling myself that I wasn't one to back down. I had proposed the deal, and I would see it through, I wasn't going to look like a fool.
But as I lay there, on my bed, I couldn't shake off the feeling that I was in over my head, that Isabelle Aisling was going to be more trouble than I had bargained for...
...
I stood at my window, staring off into space as i sipped my coffee. I was an early riser, I was already dressed and ready for the day,my mind focused on the tasks ahead of me at the office.
But first, I had a pressing matter to attend to.
Isabelle Aisling.
I had left her in Joe's hands,to keep an eye on her yesterday. While I returned back to the party; my mind racing ever since then. I had spent the better part of the evening pondering the implications of what I was planning to do.
The contract was already ready, by the morning and I needed Isabelle to review and go through the terms before signing it, so that this process could be finalized as soon as possible. I checked my watch, it was still very early, she might still be sleeping, I'd wait another hour. There was no rush.
She wasn't going anywhere
I smiled to myself taking another sip of my coffee.