A tall young man leaned casually against the black BMW, one hand in his pocket, the other scrolling through his phone. Under the streetlight, his features sharpened, defined jawline, sculpted nose, and dark, cool eyes that carried a natural sense of authority.
He was very handsome.
Amelia stared, forgetting how to breathe for a moment.
Today might've been one of her worst days… but it had just shot up the list of best days, she screamed internally.
Sensing her gaze, the young man lifted his head. His eyes landed on her, assessing her briefly, then drifted back to his phone.
"You Amelia?" His voice was deep, smooth enough to melt sanity.
Amelia nearly clutched her chest. His voice… She screamed in her mind.
"Yes" she replied, trying to sound composed.
"Get your bag."
Amelia blinked. "D-Did he send you?"
One brow rose, his face unreadable. "'He?" he echoed. "Are you close enough to Aldric to call him that casually?"
"N-No! Not close at all!" she waved her hands quickly. "I just… Give me one minute!"
Without waiting for his response, she dashed inside her building, heart pounding.
Inside her tiny apartment, she grabbed her bag then froze.
"My diary."
She tossed pillows aside until she finally spotted it on the bed. Hugging it to her chest, she slipped it into her bag and rushed back down.
When she returned, Liam was already in the driver's seat.
Amelia tapped lightly on the window.
The glass lowered with a soft whirr. "Can you open the trunk, please?"
He pressed a button without a word. The trunk popped open.
Amelia placed her bag inside, closed it gently, and got into the car.
The moment she sat, the interior scent hit her, clean, expensive, masculine. She straightened up immediately, as if the seat itself demanded elegance.
The ride was silent.
Liam's cold aura filled the car like winter air. He didn't speak or glance her way, eyes fixed on the road with a focused, almost stern expression.
Amelia sat stiffly, hands folded over her bag on her lap, gaze glued to the window. She didn't dare breathe too loudly.
City lights faded behind them as the car continued. The streets grew quieter… darker.
Soon, they turned onto a more secluded road leading toward the mountains.
Amelia's heart skipped.
Why are we going this far? Isn't Aldric supposed to live in the city?
Her fingers curled nervously. She gathered her courage. "Um… M-May I ask where we're—"
Before she could finish, Liam's eyes flicked to hers through the rearview mirror.
Cold. Sharp. A silent warning.
Amelia instantly swallowed and shrank into her seat like a scared kitten. She stared at her knees and did not utter another word for the rest of the ride.
The car continued up the winding mountain road, cutting through a thick veil of mist. Amelia's heart thudded as the headlights swept over ancient trees and towering stone walls. It felt as if they were entering another world entirely.
A few minutes later, the car slowed to a stop before a massive iron gate. Without a single sound, it slid open almost as if it had been waiting for them.
The BMW drove in.
Amelia's eyes widened as a grand villa emerged from behind tall hedges, majestic, secluded, and intimidating. The mansion was enormous, elegant, surrounded by manicured gardens glowing under soft golden lights. It didn't look like a home. It looked like the private estate of someone untouchable.
The car parked.
Liam stepped out without a word and walked toward the entrance. Servants bowed as he passed. He didn't acknowledge them, didn't even slow down. His expression remained cold and distant, as if this level of luxury was simply… normal for him.
Amelia got out, hugging herself against the sudden chill. This is where Aldric lives? She felt painfully small in the face of such wealth.
She retrieved her bag from the trunk and stood frozen, unsure whether to follow or wait. The mansion was grand, silent, almost sacred. Even the night breeze felt expensive.
Liam vanished inside without once looking back.
Amelia stood awkwardly next to the car, gripping her bag strap. Do I go in? Wait here? What if I choose wrong and offend someone? Her pulse quickened.
Just then, a middle-aged man in a neat butler's uniform approached. He bowed politely, his voice calm and courteous.
"Miss Amelia, please come inside. We've been expecting you."
Amelia nodded and stepped inside.
The moment she crossed the threshold, her breath caught. The foyer opened into an enormous living space, high ceilings, crystal chandeliers, polished marble floors, and a fireplace crackling at the far end. A long dining table stretched across the hall, elegant enough to serve royalty.
Her head turned left, then right, eyes wide. This is someone's house? It feels like a luxury palace…
A soft cough echoed.
Amelia froze and slowly turned.
Aldric and Liam were seated on a large velvet couch, as though they had been waiting for her. Aldric sat upright, posture regal, aura cold and commanding like a king on his throne. Liam lounged beside him, casually scrolling through his phone.
Ameila narrowed her eyes at Liam. So you just abandoned me outside to guess what to do? Heartless iceberg! she ranted silently.
As if sensing her thoughts, Liam lifted his gaze lazily and met her eyes. Before she could look away, Aldric's gaze followed hers and darkened slightly.
"Amelia." Aldric's voice was low, steady. "Come here."
She swallowed and walked toward them. As she approached, something fluffy flicked into her peripheral vision. Right beside Aldric.
Amelia stopped.
A tail.
A very large, fluffy tail.
What kind of cat has a tail that huge?
Trying not to panic, she forced herself to move closer.
"Sit" Aldric said, patting the space beside him.
Amelia moved to sit, but before she could lower herself, the "cat" behind her rose to its full height.
Her blood ran cold.
Tail… fur… massive head… enormous paws…
"T-That's—THAT'S A TIGER!" she shrieked.
Without thinking, she jumped forward and threw herself into Aldric's arms, clinging to his neck as if her life depended on it.
"Please! Get it out of here!" she begged, trembling. "Please!"
Liam finally reacted with a quiet chuckle.
"Weakling" he muttered.
Aldric's chest vibrated with a small laugh. He raised a hand and signaled calmly. "Butler Noah, take Moon outside."
"Yes, Master" the butler replied, guiding the massive white tiger out of the room.
Amelia stared, still wrapped around Aldric as the tiger padded away. "I-It lives inside the house?" she whispered, horrified.
Aldric nodded as if it were the most normal thing in the world. "He's harmless, unless provoked."
Harmless? Aldric nearly fainted.
Then… she felt something beneath her shift.
Only then did she realize, she was sitting on Aldric's lap.
Her face turned scarlet. "S-Sorry! I didn't mean to—"
She tried to get up, but Aldric's arm around her waist tightened, keeping her firmly in place.
Liam watched, brows raised, clearly entertained.
Aldric lowered his head slightly, his face near her neck. His warm breath brushed her skin, sending a shiver down her spine.
"What perfume are you wearing?" he asked quietly.
"N-No perfume" she stammered.
Aldric hummed and inhaled again. "Mm. Then this is your natural scent."
His arm tightened a fraction. Amelia's heart pounded so loudly she was certain he could hear it.
"I—Um—Wh-When do I start working?" she blurted, desperate for a distraction.
"Anytime" Aldric said.
Her eyes lit up instantly. "Then… can I start now?"
Aldric tilted his head, studying her. "You're not tired?"
"No! I'm fine. I can do anything" she answered quickly.
Aldric's eyes gleamed with desire as he began unbuttoning his shirt, revealing the defined muscles of his chest. Ailin watched, transfixed, as he took her small hand in his large one and guided it down to his belt buckle.
"What are you doing?" she asked innocently, her brow furrowed in confusion.
Aldric's smirk grew wicked as he brought her hand to rest on the prominent bulge straining against his pants. "Continuing from where we stopped, my little mouse" he said.