Chapter 21

Maya’s P.O.V

When I got back to the mansion last night, I hadn’t been at all anticipating to see Mr. Duke, much less be grilled by him about my whereabouts! It was outrageous that he had the audacity to get angry at my going out with Leslie when he himself had made it abundantly clear that absolutely nothing could exist between the two of us.

And yet, there he was green with envy and red with rage. I wish I could have captured a video of our little encounter because it was pure gold. For the first time, I felt emboldened in his presence. Last night was a testimony to the fact that he was definitely affected by my proximity. I felt his body tremble at my touch and it boosted my ego to know I had that effect on him.

Oh, how the tables have turned.

Last time, it was he who had made me feel like that but now I had the reigns in my hands. I wanted to send him into overdrive and give him a taste of his own medicine. I had very much wanted to kiss him senseless but my pride wouldn’t allow me to do that. He played me hard last time and this time around I was the player rather than the playee.

Take that, you arrogant yet handsome douche!

Alas, I got to enjoy my fifteen minutes of fame but knowing just how impulsive, hard headed and proud Mr Duke was he wasn’t going to let me off the hook that easily. I had unknowingly dug my own grave with that stupid move I’d pulled, but in the end it was worth it. And I even got to feel his washboard abs on my fingertips, something I’d been dying to do since I watched him working out in his home gym. I mean, it isn’t every day that you get to feel a man’s muscles, right?

With a sigh of contentment, I got out from under the covers and stretched lazily. It was the first time in a week that I’d woken up quite early because the grouch of the house was back and that meat my boring routine of serving him his breakfast and dinner was back. Not going to lie, I’d become accustomed to his absence but I guess all good things must come to end eventually.

Twenty minutes later, I was sporting a white ruffled top paired with denim jeans and some white old converse shoes I’d had since forever. My hair still had the curls from yesterday and I combed it a bit and kept it untied. Going over to the door, I grabbed my phone and made my way to the kitchen. As usual, Matt and Ann were already bustling around doing whatever it was they were meant to do.

Matt was frying some eggs and smiled at me when he noticed me approaching. “How was your night out in the town, lass?” he beamed at me with a cheeky grin.

I chuckled before taking a seat on one of the barstools. Last nights events quickly ran through my mind. Oh, how on earth had I managed to be so bold? That was so damn embarrassing and I shouldn’t have done that. I shook my head before giving Matt my undivided attention. “Not too bad. London isn’t as enlivening as Malibu but I guess one could say it is kind of fascinating,” I commented casually and he laughed, before setting the pan aside.

“Oh, you should have seen Meredith yesterday. She was acting like a scorned witch, going about with a huge frown etched on her face. And I’m pretty sure I heard her implying that you were on a mission to seduce every man on this estate, including Mr. Duke,” Ann spoke lowly with merriment pirouetting in her eyes.

I face palmed. Typical Meredith to go around tarnishing my name like that. I wish I cared though. “She can say whatever the hell she wants about me but that won’t change the fact that she’s a bitter, single and unpalatable wench,” I remarked in a bored tone and both Ann and Matt laughed boisterously.

I had been expecting to hear Mr. Duke’s footsteps by now given that about thirty minutes had passed. Ann had gone to sweep the other rooms; Matt was arranging food stuffs in the pantry and I hadn’t seen Meredith yet. Maybe he had overslept and was still getting ready to come down for breakfast. After all, it was a weekday and he needed to leave for work before eight. It was only quarter to seven, so I decided to pass the time by watching Tik-Toks.

Another half hour passed and he was still nowhere to be seen. That was when the devil’s apprentice walked into the room and upon noticing me, she sneered in my direction. “Hey, do you know if Mr. Duke is up yet?” I asked her calmly and she made a noncommittal sound in the back of her throat.

“Why don’t you go up to his room and check? It is your job to serve him, right? Well, go and do it,” she droned unpleasantly and I felt slightly nervous at her words. Go upstairs and actually knock on his door? After what happened last night? Hell no!

I shook my head vehemently. “No way. Why don’t you go and check if he’s up? I’m not going up there!” I shrieked in trepidation.

She narrowed her eyes at me. “Why do you sound so apprehensive? Is there something that happened between the two of you?” she accused rather than questioned, crossing her arms with a harsh glint in her eyes.

Screw this and her. I’ll just go up there myself. I don’t need to be interrogated! I huffed out loud before rising from my seat and exiting the room. Bounding up the stairs, I took a turn towards the room I never thought I’d ever stand before. Raising my hand to knock on the door, I inhaled then exhaled and let my knuckles do their magic.

No answer.

I did it again about three times, and still there came no response. Gathering courage from a forbidden place, I grabbed the door knob and slid the door open. This was probably a bad idea but his lack of reaction kind of unnerved me. I mean, was he okay? I was met with bright sunlight streaming into his territory.

Three words could sum up the room; sophisticated, modern and imposing. Shades of grey dominated the design- the matte grey accent wall, the grey ombre rug and the wispy grey curtains. Its wide windows, light-toned wood flooring and glass walls kept the room light and airy. It was insane how simple yet classy this room was, and organized too. Yet again, Mr. Duke just seemed like he had OCD or something, so this was highly expected of him. Everything seemed to be intact, like nobody had been in the room at all. So, where the heck was he?

His cologne faintly wafted in the air, reminding me of his dominating presence. Being in his room was so exciting. I really ought to have left there and then when I realised he wasn’t in here, but you know me and how I just don’t think things through. So, against my better judgement, I walked over to his vanity dresser which was sparsely opposite his bed. There was a bottle of cologne that had a label reading Creed Aventus. I uncapped the lid and took a sniff. Damn, who knew power, strength and success could be contained in just a 16.9 oz bottle?

“What do you think you’re doing?” A voice boomed from behind and I was so startled that I almost dropped the bottle. I think you could already guess who the voice belonged to.

He grabbed the bottle out of my hand and returned it to its rightful place. That was when I spiralled around, I was not expecting to see him half naked with nothing but a black towel hanging dangerously low at his waist. His abs were glistening; it didn’t take a scientist to deduct that he’d just come from taking a shower. Then why hadn’t I heard him?

When he caught me ogling his physique, he smirked at me. “Are you enjoying the view, Maya?” he mused and I looked away in mortification. Caught like a deer in headlights. How am I ever going to live this down?

He moved a step forward, whilst I moved a step back. “Well? Explain yourself,” he demanded and I gulped softly. Dammit Maya! Why didn’t you just go back downstairs when you didn’t hear a response when you were knocking? Now this fine beast of a man has you accosted and you know he will get you back for what you did last night!

“I-I w-w,” I stammered heartbreakingly. It seemed that my ability to talk had gone on vacation and he appeared to find this comical. He moved closer, and as expected, I moved back but I unfortunately reached my limit of backing up space since I felt the hardness of the wall behind me. Cornered like a freaking mouse! Could this get any worse?

He made it into my personal space and placed his hands on either side of my head on the wall. “You must have a flair for trouble because 1) you just barged into my room and 2) you were snooping around my stuff and almost dropped my thousand-dollar cologne. Do you know what I can do to you for raiding my privacy?” he whispered huskily, his warm, minty breath fanning against my face. It made no sense how instead of being fearful for my life, I wanted him to carry out his threat.

Somebody book me an appointment with a psychiatrist because this girl has officially lost it!

“What will you do to me?” Ah, my vocal cords are up and running again but surely those words hadn’t come out of my mouth. Had they?

He dipped his head so that it was resting in the crook of my neck. “I could do this,” he said lowly and then placed a lingering kiss on my exposed shoulder. I bit my lip in order to smother the traitorous sound my mouth was about to emit and clenched my fists at my sides.

Okay, this was so very wrong. I know why he was doing this but there really wasn’t a logical explanation as to why I was freely allowing him to do this to me. I’d slapped, punched and kicked men for less so why was this son of a hamster not shying away with a dent in his face from my glorious knuckles? Well, for starters he’s kind of technically my boss and last time I checked, employees don’t hit their bosses. Secondly, I was just enjoying this way too much. Seriously, what the hell is the matter with me?

“Or?” I prodded breathlessly and his removed his head from my shoulder and stopped at the side of my face where he caught my earlobe and flicked it with his tongue. I whimpered at his sensual action and my hands immediately flew to his chest. This was nothing compared to what I had done to him, no, this was much worse! I was caught between craving and iniquity. If he kept this up, I might just be inclined to rip that towel of his body and-

He chuckled darkly before his eyes met mine again. “I could do things to you that would make you fear ever going to sleep again because you would dream about them every night. But,” he said with a resounding tsk and then strode away from me and turned to amble away. “I need to get dressed. I’m sure you know where the door is. I’ll be down soon,” he threw imperturbably from over his shoulder, as though he hadn’t just seduced me.

And just like that, the smug bastard had gotten his revenge. I bet his face was practically glowing with a self-righteous smirk. How could you have been so weak and let him take advantage of you like that? Is this how I’d made him feel yesterday? If so, it was a very horrendous feeling. I shook my dazed stupor away and started for the door. I guess we were now even but one thing was for sure.

There was something going on between us and it was too late to back out now.

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Sup pips. How was the weekend? Mine was incredibly bland but peaceful. Are we looking forward to the week ahead?

I know you were waiting for this chapter and...the revenge part.

Theodore really knows how to rile someone up, doesn't he?

What did you think about Maya's reaction? Was she too calm?

How would you have reacted in such a predicament?

Next update is on Friday!

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Best,

Deetronite.