Agatha’s POV
When I saw the scar on his chest, the first person I thought of was Mikhail.
‘His father abused him when he was young with a cigarette butt.’
My mind was drifting far away while buying groceries in the Supermarket.
It was surprising to meet Mr. Adam. But I couldn’t help thinking about what Sebastian and Dominic talked about before.
[“Why don’t you forget Agatha? She’s not in our league anyway. I heard that she was living like a beggar after her father's death. We don’t need a beggar in our circle, Sebastian. Didn’t you hear what happened to her and Mikhail? They broke up and…”]
I didn’t hear the rest of it because Mr. Adam covered my ears.
Although I hate Mr. Adam, I was sincerely thankful.
It would be so unbearable for me to hear how Sebastian answered Dominic. He was my precious best friend. But I knew staying away from him was the best choice.
‘I can’t meet him now in this messy situation.’
I shook my head and tried to focus on my job.
‘Sir Lanceil will go home today. Better cook his favorite food so I can gain points.’
It was already dawn when I arrived back at the condominium.
Using the card key, I opened the door. I was carrying the groceries bags when the malty scent reached my nose.
‘Smells alcohol.’
My eyes automatically went to the living room, where the smell came from.
When I arrived, I saw a man lying on the sofa.
At first, I thought it was Sir Lanceil who came back home drunk. But now. The man has different hair color, build, and height!
“W-Who are you?”
I dropped the bag of groceries and grabbed the big carrot as my weapon. I didn’t know how stupid it was until five seconds passed.
And now, I regret it.
The man with heavy eyelids, and reddened cheeks, stopped humming. Then, he looked at me.
When I saw his face, I recognized him right away. Eyes that resembled an eagle’s; they were rounded and sharp, with his pointed nose, heart-shaped lips, and brown skin.
‘He is Lanceil’s younger brother, Vincent.’
Brett showed me Lanceil’s family picture, and that’s how I saw this guy. But as far as I can remember, Lanceil’s brother was in Hawaii.
Why is he here?
“Who are you?” his raspy voice asked the same question I asked before.
Slowly, I put the carrot down.
“G-Good evening. I am Sir Lanceil’s maid.”
“Maid?”
He looked around as he sat up. Then he nodded his head. “Ahhh, that’s why the house was so clean. Lanceil got a maid, I see. Anyway, where is Lanceil?”
I looked at the clock on the wall.
‘Lanceil will go back soon.’
Thinking that, I peered back at Vincent and answered his question, “Your brother will be back soon. I think he’s on his way home now.”
He pouted his lips and leaned his back on the couch. “Okay.”
As I stepped forward, the smell of the alcohol grew stronger. It made my nose scrunch.
‘I should stay away from this guy, especially when he’s not in the right mind.’
“Do you want some honey and water? It’s good to relieve hangover.”
Vincent didn’t say a thing. His handsome face only stared at me and made me feel so uncomfortable.
‘I guess I should just let him be.’
“If not, I’ll go on my way and do my job,” I said.
I picked up the groceries bag and the fruits and vegetables which had fallen on the floor.
Trying to avoid making eye contact with Lanceil’s brother, I walked towards the kitchen.
“You knew me?”
His question halted my feet.
Slowly, I looked back.
His sharp eyes, which resemble an eagle’s, scrutinized me from head to toe. Then, an impending grin follows.
“Even if I am not sober, my memories are clear. Ever since you walked inside, I never introduced myself,” he said. “But you knew that I am Lanceil’s brother. That’s weird.”
My eyes grew bigger.
‘Damn. I made a mistake! How should I handle this?’
Should I tell him I saw his picture from Lanceil’s picture frame?
No.
Lanceil never displays a picture in his room.
No matter where he looked at it, he’d know that I approached Lanceil after doing a background check.
Vincent stood up. He walked sluggishly because he was drunk, but his eyes locked on mine as if he was staring at his target.
They said, 'First impression lasts.' When I was looking at him walking towards me with such a devouring gaze, I knew he was a bad deal.
“Actually, I… ahh!”
Too fast.
His actions were faster than my mouth.
Vincent pulled me closer.
Thud!
The groceries fell on the floor again. He spun me, making me dizzy as I thought the world whirled around me.
Abruptly, I found myself lying on the sofa where he had laid down before. The spot he left was still warm, so my back felt the heat beneath. But when I looked up and saw him above me, my hands turned cold.
The warmth behind me wasn’t enough to calm my shivering body.
“What is your purpose for approaching my brother?” he asked.
His voice was far from before. It’s demanding an answer, and I might regret it if I failed to give one.
‘Brett. This mission is impossible. It’s not been that long, but someone already caught me!’ I complained to Brett since I needed someone to take the blame for my idiocy.
“Do you want to seduce him now that his wife is dead?”
What?
Wait.
What did he say?
I repeated the words inside my head but still struggled to digest the shocking information.
And because I was too startled, my mouth opened and asked, “Sir L-Lanceil had a wife before?”
Vincent thinly narrowed his eyes and chuckled. “So, you didn’t know.”
I did not!
How come Brett didn’t tell me about this important information?
“You didn’t intentionally approach my brother, did you?” Vincent asked.
My eyes went back to him. I tried to get my hands from his grip, but he was strong. Vincent pinned my wrist over my head, and my legs were under his thighs’ supervision. I was locked.
“Sir. Please let me go,” I said while glaring at him. “I know that you are drunk. But doing this to an employee is a crime. I can sue you.”
He grinned at me and released a short laugh.
“Then do it. Once you do, my brother will kick you out of this place,” he warned.
That…
I can’t let that happen.
Lanceil is my only hope. Without him, I cannot terminate my slave contract with Brett.
“Since you didn’t say anything, that proved me right,” Vincent whispered.
I was about to reason, but suddenly he bent down and kissed my lips.
I didn't have the time to realize what the hell had just happened. Only my heart reacted faster than my brain. It beat loudly inside my chest, banging.
I tried to escape, but he grabbed my nape, pulled it, and kissed me roughly above the sofa.
“Ump!”
He prodded my mouth open, and his tongue slid through the seam of my lips.
As if I was shocked by the tremendous amount of electricity, all of the hair on my skin stood on its end!
‘This shit!’
I bit his lips, and fortunately, he moved away.
As soon as he moved away, I pulled my hand and slapped his face.
Pa!
He stopped and slowly held the cheek that I slapped.
Still trembling, I was catching my breath with tears in my eyes.
Then, he looked back at me.
“Everyone called me the idiot brother. But I knew you had ulterior motives for him. If you ever do something to Lanceil, I will make sure you’d regret it. It won’t end with just a kiss, Miss.”
I don’t know if I should feel frightened at his last warning or the fact that he knew I had ulterior motives for Lanceil.
The real deal is that this guy would bring trouble to my mission.
“What…?”
The voice made my heart drop.
When Vincent and I tilted our heads, we saw Lanceil staring at us with a deep scowl.
“What the hell is this?” Lanceil asked.
‘I knew it. I am in big trouble.’