punishment

"Don't give me that look. You did not expect me to let you run around in my home like a wild goose, did you?" Raymond scoffed at Sophie's dumbfounded stare. 

Sophie blinked, then turned to look at the old butler and maids standing on the side silently.

'Was this a rule imposed on them by him?'

She thought to herself.

"First rule that you should always keep in mind, do not ever get distracted when I'm talking to you" Raymond's cold voice drifted into her ears and yanked her focus back from wandering around.

She instantly became slightly flustered. How was she supposed to follow that rule when it was almost impossible to not fall in a daze when she was around him? This was too harsh, she wanted to protest.

"Two, never interrupt me while I'm speaking" Raymond lifted two fingers while saying this. His movements were so smooth and stunning. He looked so mind-boggling in that boss pose. His red eyes laid upon her with a stern and uninterested glint. His thick eyebrows were relaxed and explained how calm he was. Sophie was on the verge of getting lost in his handsomeness, she was tempted to reach for his face and get a feel of its wonders.

But his frightening cold voice squashed all those thoughts.

"Never annoy me or keep me waiting, punishments are inevitable if you do," Raymond added with a wicked smile on his face.

Sophie could feel that Raymond had a different meaning to that line. Though it might sound as simple as not irritating me, Sophie did not know what his tolerance limit was. Was he easily irritated by everyone or was his usual cold self his normal self? She would get to explore those things eventually but about getting punished. What sort of punishment would he give to her? 

"And lastly, do not ask me for love. I am too busy for such fantasies" Raymond said with utmost seriousness.

Sophie was left speechless. Did he seriously need to stress the love part that much? Why was he so afraid of falling in love, or was it that he was not afraid but just did not want to fall for anyone? Just what on Earth did he experience that made him like this?

He was handsome beyond reason, extremely wealthy, and had so many big figures looking up to him. He was the dream of every woman. But why was such a person afraid of loving someone?

She would have concluded that he did not want to have feelings so he could switch women easily, but she knew that he was not a playboy. Though she did not know much about Raymond yet, she was certain that he was not the type to pick women left and right because of his stern and distant personality.

Sophie caught the sight of Charles and the others smiling helplessly at her. She looked at them in confusion, 'did I do something wrong?' she thought to herself.

Sophie suddenly felt a cold piercing gaze directed at her. The feeling made her body tremble slightly and she wanted to run away. She was cold in an instant under his chilling glare.

She turned her head stiffly only to find Raymond who was staring at her with a dark expression. He was angry, no doubt about that. Her only concern however was how did she suddenly anger him? She was not even doing anything. Or did her mere presence irritate him? No, that was not possible. He would not have brought her here if he was easily irritated from seeing her. Then why was he suddenly looking so scary?

"I just gave you the rules and you already broke two at the same time. What can I say, you are talented" Raymond's voice was as stern as that of a military instructor, and his face as cold as a block of ice pulled from the Ice age.

Sophie could not help but gulp when his red eyes settled on her own eyes. She wanted to look away but was unable to as she felt compelled to look into his eyes.

'I broke two rules at the same time? When? How? Which rules?'

Seeing Sophie's clueless eyes, Raymond took the task of bringing her out of the Oblivion.

"I told you not to ever get distracted when I am talking to you. Your thoughts clearly wandered off while I was still explaining the rules to you, and I got annoyed. So, do you have any objections?" Raymond muttered softly.

His sudden change in tone sent a chill over Sophie's body. She somehow preferred his cold and stern way of speaking. This sudden softness made her feel like she was in danger.

Her thoughts instantly began to run wild again. She broke his rules and he was going to punish her. What sort of punishment would she receive? Was he going to ask her to accompany him to his room? Or was he going to…spank her for breaking his rules?

She began having weird imaginations about the types of punishment she would get. Unknowingly, her face had already become as red as tomatoes and her eyes turned funny.

Raymond's lips twitched upon seeing this. Without being told, he could already guess what this clumsy girl was thinking in that unreliable brain of hers.

"Are you done?" He snorted.

Sophie jolted and looked at his face, and seeing the disdain in his eyes, she knew for certain that she had been seen through.

Redness crept from her neck to cover her ears. She stared down at the dining table, too embarrassed to look at his face.

"I-i will a-accept any punishment… you want to give me" She stuttered with great difficulty. 

Raymond gazed at her for a few moments before turning to look at the maids on the side.

"Pack these up. She will be eating out today" He said indifferently.

Even the maids were taken by surprise by the sudden order but did not dare to make him wait. They swiftly began to pack up the delicious food from the table.

Sophie jolted with shock. Why were they taking the food away? She had yet to even try one!

She stared at Raymond with sad puppy eyes. She had not eaten anything aside from breakfast, and it was already 6 pm! 

Her sad eyes did not make Raymond bulge from his decision.

"That is your punishment for today" He harrumphed coldly.

(AN: leave comments if you want me to continue writing)