Scared of the dark

~Ariel~

I met his gaze, finally making my decision.

"I'm sorry for all the troubles I've caused. I don't want your money. If you want me to leave, you just have to say so. You don't have to pay me off" I said.

His expression didn't change. He glanced at his watch then me.

"I don't want to see you when I get back" He said and walked away from me. I hit my head with a groan. How could I have gotten myself fired in just two days?.

I went to my room sullenly. What do I do? He said he doesn't want to see me when he gets back. I wanted to hope he would come back tomorrow so I could think of the next step to take but I couldn't.

I picked my unpacked bag and dropped it on the bed. I didn't even get to stay long enough to unpack. I felt miserable.

Honey whimpered and I smiled sadly at her.

"You're sad too, right?. We didn't even get to stay for a week" I told her. "Now I believe I have ill-luck. How else would you explain someone like me being mistaken for a model's girlfriend".

I fell on the bed and groaned. How do I tell Mrs Moore about this? What do I even say?. Her son fired me?.

I got off the bed and found my way to her room. I knocked repeatedly but I got no reply. Is she not in?. I prayed she wasn't. I was hoping to leave easily with less explanations.

After knocking for five minutes, I decided to leave but the door opened just then. I cursed my luck once more.

"Oh Kim dear! I'm sorry I kept you knocking for so long. Do come in, I was hoping to speak with you anyway" She easily smiled at me.

I returned her smile and walked in. Her room was simply magnificent. This people must be swimming in money. Most of the items in the room were made of gold.

I waited for her to ask me to sit before I did. I sat as carefully as I could so I wouldn't ruin her couch.

"You can sit properly, Kim. The couch won't swallow you up, I promise" She chuckled and I blushed. I shifted in a bit.

"Uhm... ma'am...i-i actually came to tell you I'm l-leaving" I said, avoiding her gaze. As warm as she was, I couldn't make myself comfortable around her. There was still some inner dread.

"I see...and my son has nothing to do with it?" She asked. I looked up and met her suspicious gaze.

"No. I-I don't feel l-like working here anymore. I'm sorry" I bowed.

"Innocent enough but I don't believe. What did he use to blackmail you?" She asked and I shook my head immediately.

"He really has nothing to do with my decision, ma'am" I tried to convince her.

"Was it money? It has to be. Hmm... that's silly child. Tell me the truth Kin, did he offer to pay you off or anything? I won't let you leave if you keep lying to me" She stated.

My palms felt sweaty. How do I get out of this now?. Maybe I should just tell her the truth, she'll probably let me go then. At least that's what she's saying.

"Yes. He offered me money and I accepted it" I told her. She narrowed her eyes at me.

"Really?". I nodded and she shrugged. "I really don't care if you took it or not. You are not leaving. He will have to deal with it".

My eyes widened. No! No! No! This isn't how it's supposed to go. I was hoping she would look down on me as a gold-digger and send me away.

"But I...."

"It's my turn now. How old are you?" She interrupted.

"Uhm... twenty-one" I replied. She nooded and wrote it down on a jotter I didn't notice until now.

"Where did you finish high school?" She asked. I bit my lip.

"I didn't g-go" I felt embarrassed at my own response. She looked up from her jotter with surprise.

"You didn't? Why?".

"I-I couldn't afford it" I said lowly.

"I'm so sorry dear. You don't have to worry, we will take care of all that. I arranged for your shopping, that is why I wanted to see you. Nancy will take you to the mall and I want you to get anything you like. She'll take care of your wardrobe but feel free to make a choice" She said and my jaw dropped.

I didn't know whether to be happy or not. I was supposed to leave and she was making it hard. It hurt that she was only doing this cause she thought I was Canaan's girlfriend.

The thought made me sad and scared. What will he do when he comes back to meet me?. I wasn't sure I wanted to know. Infact, I wanted to do nothing other than bury myself in a hole and never come out.

"I appreciate the gesture ma'am but I'm not in any relationship with..."

"Save that for later. Go and get ready, Nancy will be here in a few minutes" She cut me short. I wanted to protest but she gave me a stern look. I bowed and quickly left the room.

"You're dead meat, Kim. Dead meat!" I told myself repeatedly as I walked down the hall.

Just as she said, Nancy came few minutes later and took me for shopping. My guilt wouldn't let me pick a thing.

When we got home, I was only too relieved to get to my room. The maids brought the shopping bags to my room and Nancy took her to put everything away. I really wonder how much they pay her for this.

"I beg to leave now, ma'am" She bowed to be and I almost laughed. If only she knew she was in a better position than I was. I should be the one bowing not her

"Thank you, Nancy. Have a great day".

As soon as she left, I moved to my window. I sat on the armless chair and stared outside, resting my back against the wall.

I stared until I fell asleep. By the time I woke up, I saw a line of cars driving towards the mansion. Is he back?.

Sleep vanished from my eyes immediately. I jumped off the chair and moved away from the window. I ran to the door and locked it.

I knew I couldn't hide from him in the morning but I wanted to hide today. I wasn't prepared to see him. I wasn't prepared for his reaction.

I sat on the floor beside the door. What if he has spare keys? This was his house after all. I didn't want to consider the possibility either.

I sat down there for hours but nothing happened. Then there was a knock and my heart stopped. I didn't move.

"Kim? Are you in there? Kim?" Mrs Rose called from outside. Oh!. I stood up and opened the door.

"What took you so long?" She asked, stepping in.

"Uhmm...I was s-sleeping" I replied.

"You missed dinner again but I kept yours" She started but I quickly spoke, "I'm not hungry".

"Nonsense! I am not going to let you skip dinner two nights in a row. Get down there and pick your dinner now" She ordered.

"You d-don't understand. I..I am really n-not hungry. I don't have an appetite" I said desperately. I couldn't go down. What if I bumo into him?.

"I will decide that. Move".

"Please don't make me..." I pleaded.

"Kim!" She snapped and I rushed out of the room quickly. I looked at the giant clock on the wall. 10pm. He came back around seven. He'll probably be in his room working.

The thought brought me a little hope. I hurried downstairs, glancing around for any signs of him. I reached the kitchen and found a plate of food, covered. I picked it quickly but just as I was about to leave, I heard footsteps.

I quickly ran behind the kitchen island and hid.

"No..."

"....you can't keep making me bend to your will...."

".....I don't wish to see you...."

"..... I'm tired. Let me be....."

I heard the fridge open and my heart drummed heavily against my chest. It closed and I held my breath. Please leave. Please leave.

I heard his retreating footsteps and I almost released a sigh of relief when the light went off suddenly.

A scream escaped my lips and I dropped the plate I was holding as I panicked. I was scared of the dark. My eyes burned with tears as I tried to find my way out. Then the light came on and I froze in shock.

He was right there staring at me. Can beer in one hand and the other on the light switch.

"You?!"