Janetâs sharp gaze sent a shiver down the maidâs spine.
After a brief moment of astonishment, the maid jerked to Daran and cried, âMâMaster, she is threatening me!â
Daran raised an eyebrow.
Janet saw a fleeting smile in his eyes as though he was amused by their conversation.
Yet the next second, that faint smile was gone.
And he was back to being cold and indifferent again.
âMaster, you have to punish her! She is so disrespectful,â the maid pouted âHow did she threaten you?â Daran said coolly, âI didnât notice,â
The maid parted her lips like a fool, âBâ¦But you heard her saying that kind of stuffâ¦the sword training and how many rogues she killedâ
âShe was simply laying out the truth,â he said.
The maid twisted her lips in fume.
She wanted to say something else, but Daran cut her off, âGo take a shower,â
That meant that he was taking her to bed now!
The maid beamed and jumped off the couch, heading towards the bathroom.
She gave a disdainful look at Janet when she walked by and murmured, âBitch,â
Janet let out a snort internally.
The bathroom door closed with a thud followed by the sound of running water.
Janet took in a deep breath and turned back to Daran, âSo, master, if there is nothing else-â
âHold on.â
Daran leaned in and grabbed her chin, staring deep into her eyes, âI am going to fuck that woman tonight,â he said in a sullen voice, âDo you have anything else to say to that?â
Janet clenched her skirt, ââ¦You made a decision. Then that is it.â
âAnd you are fine with that?â
Janet lowered her eyelids and said nothing.
âLook at me!â he hissed, tightening his grip. âYou said that you didnât love me. Then whom do you love? Westin? You just met him for less than a week! We have known each other for years-â
âThen you can imagine the feeling of being betrayed by someone whom you have known for years.â
Janet rescued her chin from Daranâs grip and stood up.
âMaster, please allow me to excuse myself.â she said to him calmly, âAndâ¦have a good night.â
She didnât give Daran a chance to say anything else and walked out of the room.
Before the door closed up, she heard a loud noise behind her, as though the tea set was swept to the floor.
It was about dinner time.
Janet went down to the basement, thinking that maybe she should grab a bite before confronting Wendy about the room arrangement again.
She came to the dining hall and heard some loud cheering and laughter inside.
âWendy, you got a pair! Westin, time for the showdown! Show us what you got!â
Janet pushed the door a crack and found a large crowd gathered by the long dining table.
Wendy and Westin sat on the opposite side with some dice, cards, and coins on the table.
They were playing Texas Holdâem poker.
âWestin, if you have something larger than a pair, then you win. You can take all the money I have left and as promised-â
Wendy looked at Westin with a sheepish smile.
âI am going to give you a kiss.â
Westin raised an eyebrow.
Before laying his cards out on the table, he casually looked up and found Janet standing by the door.
âJanet!â
His eyes lit up and he stood up at once, âI have been waiting for you.â
He pushed his chair away and smiled at the astonished crowd, âYou guys have fun. I have something else to do.â
âButâBut you havenât shown your cards yet!â Wendy stuttered, âThe gameâthe bet-â
âI fold.â
Westin tossed his cards to the table and pushed all his coins across the table to Wendy, âYou win.
Congratulation.â
âYou are so close to winning!â one maid cried, âGiving up right now is such a pity!â âWell, I donât like to keep a lady waiting.â
Westin shrugged and waved his hand, âLater guys.
He walked up to Janet and flashed her a wink, âShall we? I have a surprise for you.â
They exited into the hallway.
Janet asked him where they were going but Westin looked all mysterious and just told her to follow him.
They walked down the long corridor.
Janet couldnât help but ask him, âWhat cards do you have back in there?â
âFull house,â Westin said in an offhand tone.
That was huge!
He would definitely win if he stuck around.
Janet gasped âYou are kidding! Then why did you walk away? You would have taken every penny out of Wendyâs pocket.â
âLike I said,â Westin gave her a gentle smile. âI donât like you keep you waiting. Not even for a second.â
More sweet talk.
This man really knew his way around women.
âPlusâ¦â Westin added, âIf I win, she will want to offer me a kiss. I donât want that. So it is better to lose some money and just walk away.â
Janet teased, âWalking away from a pretty girlâs kiss? I didnât know that you are such a gentleman.â
Westin chuckled deeply. His sexy, husky voice echoed in the hallway.
âWrong. I am not a gentleman. There is only one woman in this world that I want her to kiss me, and that woman is not Wendy.â
Janet felt her cheeks flaming.
She was glad that the hallway was dark, and Westin could not see the tinge on her face.
âSoâ¦â
Westin leaned in and whispered into her ear, ââ¦When can we play poker?â
Janet steadied her heartrate and said, âI donât know how to play poker.â
âIt is easy. I can teach you.â
âWhy? So that you can win all my money away?â
âNo.â he grinned, âSo that I can spend more time with you.â
This man.
He was impossible to resist.
Janet didnât know how to answer. While she was struggling with an answer, she heard Westin say, âThis is us.â
They were standing in front of a door.
âWhat is this place?â Janet asked.
Westin gestured for her to open the door with an encouraging look.
Janet turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.
She was stunned.
This was a nice, neat little room with a skylight right above the twinâsized bed. On the nightstand, there was a freshly picked bunch of red roses in water.
Janet was too shocked to utter a single word.
âSo. Do you like it?â
Westin pushed her into the room and closed the door.
âThe room is a bit small, but you get to see the stars and the night sky through the skylight. Oh, and I hope you are not allergic to flowers.â
â¦I am not.â Janet looked around the room. âDid you get this room for me?â
âYeah. Before you got here, I played a few rounds of poker with Wendy and secured this room for you.â
The last man who went through all these troubles to take care of her was her brother, Casper.
Janet turned around to face him and said, âThank youâ¦for all the trouble.â
A charming smile appeared on Westinâs lips, âIt is not a lot of trouble since I am pretty good at poker. But you look grateful, and I am going to take advantage of that⦠So yeah, you are welcome.â
Janet laughed, âDo you always say what you think out loud?â
âYes. I am a very straightforward man.â
Westin took a step forward, closing the gap between them, and cupped her face.
âAnd right now I am thinkingâ¦this is probably the right timing to kiss you.â