The plane felt as though it was going down.. we must be landing.
Aurelio, for the last thirty minutes didn't say a word, as his eyes shifted back and forth from me to the window. I really want to know what happened last night, but I'm almost afraid to ask. We sat in silence for another ten minutes before the door finally opened.
He got up rather aggressively from his seat, and I debated whether I wanted to be alone with him in the car. It's a much smaller place than this plane. It wouldn't take much for him to strangle me. When the attendant came to get me, I exhaled deeply, following him to the door.
My head was still throbbing and I felt kinda weak while walking, like I would fall any second.
"Ma'am?" A man, I'm guessing another attendant held out his hand for me to take. When I reached the ground, I felt an immense amount of weight on my chest. I dreaded the walk to the car and it only felt heavier the closer I got. I shouldn't be this fearful of him but I am..
Gary opened the car door for me and I quietly thanked him, climbing inside of the tight space. Aurelio stared out the window, once again being stuck in silence. This has been the longest ride of my life. Time escaped me, but it had to be at least an hour since we left.
Where the hell were we going.
The sun kissed my face gently when the trees weren't hiding it. Upon opening my eyes, they widened to twice its original size. A huge, and I mean gigantic house came into view, protected by an at least ten feet tall, black metal gate.
"Wow.." I couldn't help but comment. The front yard was beyond elegant, filled with bunches of white rose bushes, and a freaking fountain. I was so amazed. This house is literally bigger than the group home I was staying in, and that was built to house a hundred kids. Not to mention the vast amount of land surrounding it.
I wonder if it has a hundred bedrooms in there..
Of course not, idiot!
I sat quietly while a man, dressed in all black, carrying a rifle, walked to the car. Gary held something out for him before waving back to the small shed-like building. The gate immediately parted afterwards, and Gary cruised right on in. He stopped directly in front of the house, and again I couldn't help but gawk. Aurelio opening and closing the door snapped me out of my thoughts before Gary opened mine.
"Thank you." I responded, not breaking my eye contact from the house. I felt so out of place walking up the stairs, getting closer to the beautiful maroon doors. They were already open as Aurelio went inside.
"Welcome home sir." I heard at least four voices speak up.
"Welcome ma'am." They spoke in unison to me.
"Um, just Rose or Rosie." I smiled politely.
"Kitten!" My eyebrows furrowed as Maria walked over to me. Why is she calling me that? She hooked her arm with mine, turning to all of the staff, I assumed, dressed in similar maroon suits.
"This is Carmen and Jaxon, the maids but Jax prefers, housekeeper." I nodded as she went down the line. "Lola, my assistant cook, because of course being the head maid is a lot of work, and this is Mino, the gardener." They all smiled and bowed before leaving us. The dark-haired girl, Lola, eyes lingered on me a little longer but I ignored it.
"Who's he?" I referred to the man, who I can see through the back glass doors. He was coming out of the pool and the water dripped off his body so perfectly as if he was shooting a cologne commercial.
"That's George, Gary's brother, they're the in house security, but just pretend he's another resident staying in the house. Come, let me show you to your room!" She gushed excitedly. We went up at least two flights of stairs before walking down the hall to a maroon door.
The thing I noticed about this house is that it has a maroon, gray, black, and white color scheme. Must be his favorite colors.
She opened the door and I was immediately amazed. It had the same color scheme but it all molded together perfectly, creating the perfect room for me. This room was bigger than the group room I shared. The curtains were white, sheer, and the carpet was a soft light grey.
No eating in here, that's for sure.
I walked over to the closet and it was huge, bigger than the one at the penthouse. My things were already hanging up and color sorted, I kept walking to the back and found an empty shoe closet but that's beside the point. I have a freaking shoe closet. There were a pair of shoes, the ones I've had, but I bet the other spaces will be filled before the year is over.
When I exited the closet, Maria stood in the middle of the room with a single cupcake and candle in the middle.
"Happy Birthday Rosie!" She smiled warmly, handing me the cupcake. I swallowed back the burning in my throat, reaching for the sweet, staring mindlessly at it. "What is it? Is it the wrong icing?"
"No, no, it's fine." I chuckled sadly.
"Okay good, because I didn't know what icing to put on the cake."
"Cake?" I questioned.
"Of course, cake, it's not a birthday without one."
"That's not necessary really."
"Nonsense, you only turn 19 once. I mean you can't go out but you should at least be celebrated."
"Trust me, I'm the last person that needs to be celebrated today..." I tried to brush the conversation off, desperately.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I lied. She gave me the look a mother would give her child when she knew she was lying. "I just don't celebrate the day of my birth."
"Why?" She tilted her head. I cleared my throat, and took a deep breath before answering.
"My mom died giving birth to me.. today just reminds me that I took away her life." I look down, feeling a tear slip from my eye.
"I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have asked." Maria's face softens as she rubs my back.
"It's fine.."
"No, it's not.. you know you can't blame yourself for that. I'm pretty sure she's living in peace, watching you and seeing you here, alive." Yeah, like I haven't heard that a million times.
"Thank you, Maria."
"No problem.. okay so no cake, and I will take that." She took the cupcake, with the candle that was more than halfway melted onto the cupcake. She walked to the bathroom and soon after, I heard a flush. Meanwhile, I admired the white marble theme and still couldn't believe that it was mine.
"So, what's the run down about this place?" I asked, changing the drab subject.
"Nothing much really," she chuckled. "Everyone here is friendly for the most part, well I don't know about Lola, you have to watch out for her. She's um... her and Aurelio sleeps around, well have.. I don't know how much that'll change with you guys- erm, your situation." I nodded knowing what she was referring to.
"Who's the oldest between Gary and George?" I changed the uncomfortable subject.
"Gary. He's Aurelio's right hand man, not just his driver." I thought so.. Gary's too buff to just be a driver. "George just turned 21 last month." I hummed in response. All kinds of thoughts were running through my mind but then it came to me that Maria called Aurelio by his name.
"You called Aurelio by his first name."
"The manor is a lot freer than the penthouse."
"And why did you call me Kitten?" I raised a brow.
"Aurelio has ordered the staff to call you Kitten or Ma'am, I just advised them to say ma'am.. I don't know how you would feel about the new name. Maybe down the line Aurelio will give you the choice to let them call you Rose, which is kinda doubtful." Down the road.. "Did I say something wrong?"
"No.. I just miss home, I miss my best friend."
"Well I might have only known you for a couple weeks and though I'm six years older, I'll be sure to make your time here as comfortable and homey as it should be. You can think of me as an older sister." She smiles warmly, side hugging me.
"Thanks Maria."
"Anytime. Well I should be making lunch, I'll let you settle in." She gives me one last smile before exiting the room. I went to the window gazing at the huge backyard. My eyes wandered until they landed on George. He was sitting by the pool, soaking in the sun and tanning his perfect sculpted body.
"ROSE!"
"What- uhmm.. I mean sir?" I quickly fixed myself.
"I've been calling your name for five fucking minutes straight!"
"My actual name, or the one you gave me?" I don't know where all this confidence came from but it quickly shrunk with each step he took towards me.
"It does matter what name I call you, you answer me the first time."
"Yes sir, do you need something?" I tried not to sound irritated but this is too much, this isn't school and I'm not a kid anymore.
"You're sleeping with me."
"Why?" It's not like I can just run away again, I don't know where the hell I am. Adding that to the fact of there being nothing around here for miles.
"What did I say about questioning me?"
"Why am I even here!?" I yelled.
There goes that confidence again.. that bitch needs to shut up.
"You clearly don't need me when you have Lola!" I spat. I can't believe I just said that. For a second, I thought I saw steam coming out of his head but maybe that's just my imagination.
"Who are you to question me and what goes on in MY DAMN HOUSE!" He's right, who am I to question him. I quickly lost the attitude, bowing my head.
"Sorry." I muttered. He chuckled but I didn't dare to look up. Not that I had a choice because he lifted my chin forcefully.
"Soon kitten, you will learn that it's only room for one alpha in this fucking house and it's not you! I've been very lenient and considerate, but you're making it very hard! You need it to be in my room before I go to sleep."
"Yes sir." My head went back down, and I felt tears pooling in my eyes. Fuck I don't want to cry... I blink them away fast and my eyes focused again on the blood of Aurelio's shirt that he has yet to change. Just as he turned to leave I spoke up. "Wait! Umm.. can I call Hayden?"
"No."
"But I-" I sighed knowing now is the time to come clean.. I didn't want Hayden to worry about me. "I overheard you talking about Sacramento.. I tried to run away.."
"Really?" He asked sarcastically. I bit my lip, which really hurts for some reason, but I sucked it up before finishing.
"I called Hayden and I don't want him to worry about me because I didn't show up." I rubbed my hands together waiting for him to answer.
"One call and you get five minutes." What is this jail?
"Thank you." He didn't say another word before finally leaving. I sighed, throwing myself on the bed behind me. Maybe I made a mistake agreeing to this.