When I woke up the next morning, I was greeted with the sight of a new phone. Excited to finally have some of my freedom back, I opened the phone and checked its features. Of course, there were only three numbers saved; Mary, Sean and Lucas. I immediately called Mary and briefed her about all this chaos, carefully skipping the part where I was being kept locked.

“Holy shit Penelope, when are you coming back then? Boss was furious.” She exclaimed.

“I don't know yet. There are things that need to be taken care of first." I told her. Like how am I going to escape this place?

"And why did you change your number?" She asked. "You know I was worried sick."

"I can't tell you that. But just trust me when I say, I'll come back soon. Just let me figure things out." I said.

"Pen, just say Cheese if you're kidnapped and somebody is making you say those things." She said in dead serious voice.

"Don't you think the kidnappers would have put the phone on speaker?" I pointed out.

"I guess." She mumbled.

I was telling her about Sean Miller, the edited version, when Jenny came out of nowhere to call me for breakfast. I cut the call, brushed my teeth, did my morning routine and then after changing into a fresh pair of jeans and T-shirt, made my way downstairs.

The younger Miller brother was missing from the dining table, for which I was grateful to God. Sean was dressed in a white tracksuit, his hair wet and glistening, his eyes set on a newspaper. Is it pathetic of me to admit that he was hot?

"A hot psychotic jerk." My inner voice reminded me. Just yesterday, he had his hands wrapped around my neck, and not in a good way.

I sat down and poured a glass of orange juice for me. Soon, Jason came from the kitchen to serve him fried eggs direct from the pan.

"Hey buddy." I said to him and both pair of eyes present in the room turned to me.

Jason got conscious under Sean's inquisitive eyes. "Yes, Miss. Woods, do you need anything?" He said meekly.

"Um… yeah, coffee for me." I shifted nervously in my seat, realizing he didn't want to associate with me in front of him.

After Jason left, I poured some beans and a sausage in my plate and began filling my stomach. There was deafening silence sprawled in the room and it was killing me. I had been a talkative person my whole life so staying quiet isn't something I'm best at.

"Where is Lucas today?" I asked when curiosity got the best of me.

"You shouldn't stress yourself with his whereabouts." He replied without taking his eyes off newspaper.

"I was just asking. I might have forgotten how to eat without two threatening pair of eyes glaring me down." I whispered under my breath but from the way he kept the newspaper away, I'm afraid he heard me.

"Are you sure you're Woods daughter? He was a pretty sensible person. You on the other hand…"

"Complete your sentence, I dare you." I replied.

"You dare me? That's not a phrase I hear so often. Hence proven my point." He leaned back at his seat.

I stabbed the sausage at this. To be honest, I had always been hot-headed and him being a dick isn't helping either. But I still loved my life so I chose not to reply. Besides, I could see Thomas's giant shadow peaking from outside the dining room and I'd rather not start my day with the inverted view of his well-built derriere.

After the breakfast, he left for some work while I picked up all the dirty plates and walked into the kitchen.

"Ignoring much?" I said to Jason.

"We can't be friends in front of Mr. Miller." He said as he took the plates from my hand.

"And why is that?" I asked.

"Because I'm an employee and you… I don't even know what he wants from you." He said.

"Okay fine. I'll try to limit our interactions in front of him. Happy?" I asked.

"Indeed." He nodded.

"Now tell me friend, how can I entertain myself in this hellhole?" I asked him.

"Do you workout? There is a gym here." He asked.

"Last time I worked out was in PT class." I said.

"Uh… There is a library upstairs. You like reading books?" He asked.

"I read books for a living." I said in a duh tone.

"It's on the left of the staircase. You'll like it." He said and then got busy cleaning the kitchen.

Not wanting to disturb or distract him, I excused myself and then walked upstairs. I followed Jason's directions and turned left from the staircase. As I passed through the hallway, I once again came to the realization of how big this place really was. A mansion, in fact a huge palace. How rich were the Millers and how did they earn so much money?

The library was just as grand as I had expected. It had rows and rows of booking with hard covers, divided in different sections of fiction, non fiction, history, science etc. There was a small staircase to reach the books in the top shelves where more ancient books were being kept. This place was a book lover's heaven.

I stayed inside the library for many hours, discovering all the different books, making a list of ones I wanted to read. There were some empty journals at one corner. I took one to make notes about my readings in case I need it in future. I ended up picking "As I lay down" by William Faulkner and sat down in a solitary corner hidden behind wooden shelves.

It was about 3 in the noon when I felt my stomach grumble. Placing the journal and book in the bottom shelf, I stood up and walked out of the library, closing the door behind me.

I could hear some voices from downstairs, particularly a loud, obnoxious feminine voice. As I walked into the lounge, I saw a woman screaming at Jenny and the butler. The woman was tall and slim, with dusky skin and long blonde hair. She was dressed in a black mini dress, hugging her toned body, leaving her shiny legs at display.

"Don't stand here like an idiot. Go bring me an iced tea and you," she turned to the butler. "Call Sean. Tell him I'm here."

The woman then walked past me without noticing me and handed me her bag, as if I was there to serve her. Afterwards, she sat down on the couch and crossed her legs.

"Why are you still standing here? I said I want to be left alone." She said to me.

"Suit yourself. And while you are at it, here is your handbag." I said and put it on the ground.

"That's Dior, you idiot." She said, throwing daggers at me with her aquiline eyes.

"Oh, I am sorry I didn't realize that." I said and picked up the handbag, giving her a temporary sigh of relief before I chucked the bag at her. "Hold your freaking Dior."

Her eyes almost popped out of her deep set orbits. "This bag costs more than your entire existence. Do you even know who I am?" She asked, standing up.

"A bitch?" I said and I heard a gasp. I turned my neck towards the source of the voice and found Lucas standing near the doorframe. Sean was also standing there but with a little less shocked expression on his face.

Acknowledging the new presence in the room, the woman walked over to them and then placed a soft kiss at Sean Miller's lips. Her sight was already nauseous enough without having to witness the kiss between the two devils.

"What are you doing here, Hailey?" Mr. Miller said, placing his arm around her waist. "I've told you to always call me before coming." All three of them walked inside the lounge and seated themselves.

"I just wanted to see you." She said, grazing his arm while he sat there tight lipped. "And now that I'm here, who is this girl you've hired?" She said and they finally acknowledged me standing there silently.

"I am not a hire." I announced.

"Nobody you should be concerned about." Sean Miller said, ignoring me altogether. "She is a…." Yeah, explain to her. "A project."

Project?

"Whatever. Just tell her to be in her limits from next time." She said, staring at me from head to toe.

"She will." He said.

"Yeah right." I whispered under my breath and walked out of the lounge before they could insult me anymore.

"Who is this woman?" I asked Jenny as I went to the kitchen to take a snack for myself.

"Hailey Connor. She is Mr. Miller's girlfriend." Jenny said, trembling as she made the iced tea. "Her father is very rich and powerful."

"Sad he couldn't buy her some grace." I rolled my eyes. "Is she always this annoying?"

"Yes. And we'll have to get used to her. Mr. Miller is planning to marry her soon." She said and I rolled my eyes bitterly at this. Yes, Sean Miller wasn't an angel but why would he marry a bitch like her? Do guys actually find such women appealing?

"Whatever." I said and took out an apple from the refrigerator. "They both are probably made for each other."

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