Amelia’s POV
I watched as Tracy struggled to comb through the Barbie hair which was already tangled, i sat on the couch already exhausted. Babysitting was not as easy as i thought it would be. natasha had left tracy with me since this morning, i was excited at first but now, i was getting exhausted from dress up all day.
Tracy finally managed to detangle the Barbie's hair, looking triumphant. She beamed at me, her eyes shining with pride. "Look, Amy! All pretty now!"
I mustered a smile, genuinely happy for her accomplishment. "Great job, Tracy! You're a hairstyling expert now."
She nodded enthusiastically, her curls bouncing. "Yep, Uncle Kai says I'm a pretty girl-maker."
I chuckled at Tracy's adorable attempt at expressing herself. "Uncle Kai seems to have a lot of faith in your talents."
She nodded again, taking a moment to arrange the Barbie in what she probably considered a sophisticated pose. "Uncle Kai is cool. He gives me chocolate."
I raised an eyebrow. "Chocolate, huh? That sounds like a pretty awesome uncle."
Tracy nodded vigorously, and then her eyes sparkled with mischief. "Amy, are you and uncle dating?"
I felt a flush creep up my cheeks. Sometimes, Tracy ask questions that makes me doubt if she was really 4. "Well, he's... he's my boss, Tracy. That's all."
She tilted her head, giving me a curious look. "But i want you two to get married."
I blinked, surprised by her candid statement. "Married? Tracy, you don’t just get married to just anyone."
Tracy crossed her arms, a determined expression on her face. "But uncle kai is not just anyone, if you and uncle kai get married, he would get you chocolates every day and i can also come here every Saturday so we play hide and seek together"
I couldn’t help but chuckle at her innocence, i love the way she few the world, very easy and carefree, and i wish i things were as simple as she thinks it is. I smiled as i pat her hair gently, it was already 8:50pm and kai wasn’t back yet, natasha had told me to put her to sleep by 8:30pm, but she has been waiting up for kai to return. The house was empty, it was just the two of us. All the workers had left since 7:00pm. That was something about kai that really baffles me, he only lets the workers stay during the day and leave by 7:00pm, i don’t know why but i’m guessing that he doesn’t like too many people in the mansion. Only carlos and the guards were allowed to live the estate. If he wasn’t so cautious of me escaping, i’m pretty sure i’ll also be given a free apartment within the estate and not have to live with him in the mansion. But when i think of it, i actually have no reason to run away, because i don’t have anywhere to run off to. I don’t want to move in with tasha and become a liability to her, and i can’t afford to rent my own apartment, not in an expensive city like New York. So far, i think i’ve been living my best life, eating free food and living rent free in a luxury apartment, i don’t even have to pay for anything i shop with my own money, except i’m not getting paid for all the time i risk my life all in the name of working for kai.
“tracy, you need to go to bed now, it’s already late” i said to her
“but uncle kai” she whined with a pout
“uncle kai will be a bit late today, he has a lot to do, but i promise to wake you up as soon as he comes back” i said with my fingers crossed behind my back
"Pinky promise?" Tracy asked, holding up her small finger, her eyes wide with expectation.
I hesitated for a moment, then smiled and hooked my pinky around hers. "Pinky promise," I confirmed, feeling a pang of guilt for making a promise I was sure I couldn’t keep.
Tracy seemed satisfied with our pinky promise. She yawned, a small hand covering her mouth. She scampered off towards the bed, a bundle of energy even at bedtime. I couldn't help but marvel at her innocence and the uncomplicated way she viewed the world.
As I tucked Tracy into bed and kissed her forehead, I couldn't shake off the thought of Kai. Where could he be at this hour? I hoped he was safe. I went to the kitchen and made myself some burger and got a glass of milk in the freezer. After having dinner, i headed straight to my room to sleep. Walking past kai’s room, i discovered that the door was slightly open. It was already a few minutes after 9 and there was no way kai would be back this early, and a letter was brought for him earlier today, i have been waiting to hand it over to him but it seems like i won’t be able to do that since i was already sleepy, maybe i can put it on his mightstand since the door was open. I headed straight to my room and picked up the letter on the nightstand and headed back to kai’s room. I pushed the door slightly and walked into his room, but i froze at a spot when i saw kai sitting on his bed and taking off his tie. He was back? when did he come and why didn’t i hear him driving in?
“uhmm….sorry, i didn’t know you were back” i said as i walked into his room
“what do you want?” he asked, not bothering to spare me a look
“a letter was brought for you today, i just thought i should keep it on your table, i never expected you to be home this early” i said
"Put it there," he said curtly as he finally took off his tie, leaving him with just a black tank top
I walked over to the table and placed the letter down, stealing a quick glance at Kai. He looked tired, the weariness evident in the lines on his forehead. He had just a black tank top and black pants on, and i could see his tattoos. Even though this wasn’t the first time i would be seeing him almost shirtless, i still couldn’t get enough of it. I could literally pay to see him this way each day of my life.
"Is there anything else?" he asked, his tone clipped.
“are you still mad at me?” i asked still standing beside the nightstand
“mad about what?” he asked as he finally looked at me, and for a moment, he paused, his eyes grazed through me from head to toe. There was something in his gaze that i couldn’t quite understand, the way he looked at me. i shifted uncomfortably under his scrutinizing gaze.
“about how my mom treated you” i answered suddenly nervous
“no” he answered, his voice cold as he looked back down, taking off his socks
“my mom has a mental condition, she is not always like that, you just happened to meet….
“you’ve said that for the 100th time since that day” he said with a hint of annoyance in his voice
Heat flooded my cheeks. I hadn't realized i had repeated myself so much. "I just... I don't want you to think badly of her," I stammered, feeling foolish.
"Trust me, Amelia, I wouldn't dream of judging your mother based on one encounter. Frankly, I'm more concerned about you." His eyes narrowed, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features.
"Concerned about me?" I echoed, confused. "Why?"
He stood up, towering over me in his tank top. The way his muscles tensed beneath the thin fabric sent a jolt of awareness through me, but I forced myself to look away.
"Because," he said, his voice low and dangerous, "you're playing a very dangerous game here, Amelia. What do you aim to gain by dressing up this way and coming to my room in the middle of the night?"
His voice sent shivers down my spine. That was only when i realized that i was in a lingerie silk nightwear the whole time. It wasn’t intentional, i was actually going to go to bed before i remembered that i had to deliver a letter in his room. And since i thought i was home alone, i didn’t bother putting on anything decent.
"this wasn’t intentional" I said, staring up at him to meet his gaze. " i didn’t know you were home"
He stared at you for a long, his gaze only made me more nervous than i already was.
“i’ll be on my way now” i said as i turned around as was about leaving when he pulled be back. his both hands rested on either sides of the table, trapping me in between.
“do you really think i can afford to let you walk out that door untouched after seeing you this way? You’ll have to finish what you started first” he said, his eyes pinning me down