Employer

It was unbelievably amazing. Aria couldn't help but to adore the fancy statues on the pillars of the door frame. It must be designed by no other than the people behind the world-class sculptures in the Vasterian Fine Arts. Aria observed the spiral staircase at the center of the cabin mansion, up to the wooden ceilings.

She had gone curious how, but then, she realized it's all the design. Sometimes, they can fool you.

Prince walked to the side wing of the staircase, and Aria caught a glimpse of the ethereal living room.

Complete with cozy, peach couches, it dropped Aria's jaw right away. She never been inside a house as clean and as elegant as Prince's cabin mansion, and the moment she did, it made her like nobody. All of her clothes looked shabby, and it didn't pass as something good-looking.

Aria's always on skirts, and her loose blouse weren't even a top. Even so, Prince didn't mind her looks.

He sheltered her behind his back, taking care of her in a short while, as if they knew each other too well to be called as friends.

As Prince turned in a corner, Aria caught the pace, and trailed in his foot.

The long table welcomed her right away, and the extravagant glow of the chandelier made her stun in place, looking up, as if she's under a spell. Aria approached the chair, held onto it, and blinked several times.

Prince turned around, observing how Aria's face light up whenever a luxurious thing showed up. She's too innocent about the life Avery led, is this the result of her being on a countryside with nothing to do but to go to work and go home relentlessly?

Aria turned to Prince, asking, "How much is this chandelier?"

Prince raised his eyebrows, teasing, "Do you really want to know the price of that?"

He spent 2 million on renovating the cabin mansion and bought decorations in every corner of the house. Prince had swiped his card on a fortune, and it isn't bothering him at all. In order to carry out the plan, he had to do it. For the sake of ending his father's suffering, he'd do anything, even if it meant ending Aria's life.

He killed Avery, so why should he hesitate to swing the knife on Aria's throat when he finally let her fall in love with him?

Aria probed further, "Of course. I want to know how much this thing costs."

Prince snickered, saying simply, "5 digits, Aria. Guess how much is it."

With that, he turned his heel around, and went to the kitchen. Aria ran, and right when Prince opened the door, 5 of the cooks looked up from their stations. 5 pairs of eyes gawked at her as if she shouldn't be there. Prince smiled around, introducing, "Hello, I'm the master of the house, Prince Gomez."

He bowed his head down. The cooks continued to stir slowly, chop onions on the other side, and even peel out the scales from the fish while Prince resumed.

"And, this woman, she'll join the gardeners, and her name is Aria De Leon."

The cooks stopped from what they're doing. They paid respect for a split second, and Aria gave the energy back. She smiled, and Prince had to skim through the eyes of the cooks, whether they're here to plot a refuge for Aria De Leon.

They seemed unfazed by her presence.

"Good evening to all of you. Resume on what you're doing. We'll have a taste later."

Prince guided him out of the kitchen hall and motioned for them to the grand staircase. Aria followed him around, introducing left and right, shaking hands to someone friendly, or receiving a grim look, as if she didn't belong to this place.

All of the people around here seemed new, but Aria didn't want to raise the concern.

Maybe he's the new owner of the mansion, and when he tag someone along, Prince gotten an idea to introduce Aria as well. As they're done with the garden—where she would work to, and she's excited already—Prince led her upstairs.

No maids are allowed on the second floor of the mansion.

"Are you sure you don't want to get paid for working in my garden? I can wire you some money."

Prince stopped at the top, facing her. Aria smiled, clasped her hands together, uttering, "It's an honor to be in here in your mansion while you introduced me around. It's priceless. No money can actually show me this kind of luxury."

Prince pretended to care. All he does… is pretend. But Aria is buying it, so he got along.

"So does that mean I become an abusive employer who didn't even give you your pay slip?"

Aria chuckled. She shook her head, retorting, "Prince. I know you want to help me and that… I'm sorry for what happened earlier, at the house, with the sudden, panic attack. I was just… I don't want to stay there anymore. For a while, since it brought me back nightmares."

Prince wanted to show he's confused, and when he creased his forehead, Aria opened her mouth widely. She must have dropped something she shouldn't. Since Prince has fast ears, he asked, "Care for me to know about those nightmares you're talking about in that house?"

Aria cleared her throat, pretending to cover the devastation in her eyes with a smile.

"It's actually nothing, Prince."

Prince pressed on, "I think it's not. You wouldn't let me tag you along here with no reason. I sensed you're scared about something. Tell me about it."

Aria felt hopeless. Prince is a prosecutor, and if he tells or charged Bryce, she'd lost the father of her child. It's enough for him not to know anything about her past, and Aria didn't want to give in sooner. She fiddled with her hands, contemplating.

Prince tried to convince more, "Aria. I'm a prosecutor and a businessman, a CEO myself. I can press charges---"

"No, Prince. Please." Her defiant tone showed up right away. Aria isn't the type to put a mask on in her emotion, because it showed the moment it shifted. Right now, it's free of any. Aria was still confused about Bryce.

Prince had to make out a way for her to hate Bryce more and love him. In that way, they can both attack her.

"Why?"

Aria closed her eyes infuriatedly. She sighed heavily, and changed the topic, "Can I go to the bathroom first?"

Looking up at him, Prince watched as her eyes revolved around being puzzled and curious about what she's going to say. Aria wanted, but she's pulling back because of the consequences. When Aria doesn't want, she'd regret it and wished she had done it fast.

Prince tried to figure out what's in her mind now, but she's not the one he can read well.

"Over there." Prince nodded at the far end of the hallway.

Aria looked down, reassuring, "Let's talk later."

…

As she went to the bathroom, Prince made a call to Bryce.

"How's it going?" Bryce hushed. He must have run from the third floor down the lobby of the Supreme Court so no can hear him.

"Aria's starting to show up clues about you. Still, she didn't know we are close to each other. We have to remain that way, or else the plan will get ruined."

Prince checked the hallways, but Aria was still inside the bathroom.

"What would you do? Press charges on me?" Bryce had to see that coming.

"I think you have to face Aria sometime. If she pressed charges on you after I extorted the story out, you should end up missing. It's the best way to attack, Bryce. She's leaning on me for comfort today."

Prince had played the cards well. It's enough for them to finish the plan as soon as possible.

"Don't get too close to her or you'll fall in love. Look at me, Prince," he warned.

Prince scoffed. Now, he's getting an advice to the one who actually fell in love. He couldn't believe those words come out of Bryce's lips.

Prince rebutted, "Look at you warning me. You're the one who has a soft heart. Don't turn it on me, Bryce."

When he peeked at the corner, Aria appeared right away, drying up her wet palms on a tissue paper. Prince concluded their conversation suddenly, and hung up the call. He waited for a few moments, straightened up his hair, and walked right out of the guest room, closing the door.

Aria approached him. She smiled.

"Are you okay now?"

"Yeah, I'm alright."