CHAPTER 35
The knock came once. Sharp. Precise. Intentional.
I looked up from where I sat on the edge of my bed, my fingers still loosely wrapped around the book I hadn't been reading. The silence that followed the knock stretched just enough to make something in my chest tighten.
"Come in," I said.
The door opened without hesitating.
It wasn't one of the maids I was used to. Not even María. I faced one of Nina's friends. She stood straighter and colder like she had been sent, not assigned.
Her eyes found mine immediately.
"Alice Ramírez," she said through her nostrils.
The sound of my full name landed heavier than it should have.
"You're required downstairs," she reported.
A pause.
"Required… by who?" I asked, already knowing the answer.
"Mr. Montoya," she replied sharply.
I closed the book slowly, placing it beside me before standing. No rush. No hesitation. But something had already shifted.
"Now?" I asked.
She didn't blink.
"Of course," she answered briskly.
The walk down the corridor felt different. Not longer. Just… louder.
Every step echoed. Every corner felt watched. The usual quiet of the estate had changed into something else. Something expectant. Like something had already begun, and I was only just stepping into it.
By the time we reached the main hall, I didn't need to be told anything. I felt it. The moment I stepped in, conversations dipped. Not completely though. Just enough.
Eyes turned. Some subtle. Some not . And there she was. Nina. Of course she was here. Where else would she have been? I almost rolled my eyes.
Her gaze slid over me slowly, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips like she had been waiting for this exact moment.
I ignored her. My attention moved forward. And stopped. Mr Montoya was seated. Not at the head of the table. But close enough that everything still revolved around him.
His posture was relaxed. One arm resting against the chair, fingers tapping once . Slow and deliberate.
His eyes were on me. Not a surprised look. Nor a curious one. Just… waiting.
"You're late," he said. No I'm not, I argued within me. Why'd he always say that?
I didn't flinch.
"I was called," I replied calmly. "Not scheduled."
A flicker flashed in his eyes. Not quite of amusement. But something close.
"Mm," he hummed.
A tray was placed on the table beside him. I didn't look at it.
"You'll serve," he instructed.
The words were simple and clean. I let out a small breath.
"Sir, that's not my role," I replied bemused.
His gaze didn't shift.
"It is now," he said flatly.
Silence followed. Thick. Expectant. Behind me, I could feel it. Attention sharpened, people pretending not to listen while listening to everything. I stepped forward. Not because I accepted. But because I understood.
I picked up the tray. The first few steps were the hardest. Not because of the weight. Because of the eyes. Every movement felt watched. Measured. Judged.
I moved to the first table. A man I barely recognized glanced up at me, then at the tray, then back at me again.
"Thank you," he said.
Too polite. Too deliberate. I nodded once, placing the plate in front of him. Behind me, a quiet murmur rose.
"She's really doing it…"
"Didn't think she would."
"She'd be acting to high and mighty. This should teach her."
I kept walking. Next table. Another plate. Another pair of eyes. Another silence that said too much.
"So it's true," Nina's soft voice said
I didn't turn.
"Didn't take long," she added lightly, just loud enough for the people nearest to hear.
A small laugh followed. I moved past her. When I reached Mr Montoya, I paused. Only for a second. The tray was still half full. He didn't move. He didn't reach for anything. Just watched.
I lowered my gaze briefly. Not submissive, but controlled. I set the remaining plates down beside him. Our eyes met. Just for a moment. Something flickered there.
Not anger. Not satisfaction. Something quieter. Something worse. I moved away. When the last plate was serv. I moved away. When the last plate was served. I moved away. When the last plate was served, I stepped back. There was nowhere to go. No instruction. No dismissal. Just… space.
"Stand and wait," Mr Montoya instructed. He hadn't raised his voice. I turned. He hadn't even shifted position. But the word cut through everything.
Ever since the break in, I had gotten bolder. Mr Montoya must have noticed and that explained why he'd dedicated himself to making my life a living hell. Suppose things went south here, I would have an opening in Mr Fernando's villa. Or so he made me believe.
Mr Montoya? Mr Fernando?
I couldn't disper who was more dangerous. Mr Fernando was nice enough but a sixth sense told me it was all a farce. With Mr Montoya though, I knew where I stood. Or maybe not.
I had to find a leverage to own my freedom. Surely the East wing study held a variety of answers. Problem was, it was now heavily protected. I'd sworn to myself at Mr Fernando's villa that I'd rather work as a spy for my own end than trust Mr Fernando with any information.
"Alice," a deep voice called out from far away. I blinked. Mr Montoya's eyes were on me.
"You know there are times for fantasy traveling. Now though, isn't that time," I said calmly. I recalled his last instruction before I'd zoned out.
I didn't move immediately.
"For how long should I stand and wait?" I asked.
"Until I'm satisfied," he said. His gaze settled on me.
A few heads lifted. Subtle. Curious. I felt the weight of it. But I didn't argue. I stayed where I was. Standing. While the others sat. Time stretched Conversations resumed. Laughter, low and controlled. Cutlery against plates Normal. Too normal.
Like I wasn't even there. But I was. And everyone knew it. Every now and then, a glance would flick my way. Quick. Curious. Judging. Nina leaned toward someone beside her.
"Any second now," she murmured.
I heard it. Of course I did, she wanted me to. I didn't react though. And through all of it, I felt him. Alex hadn't looked away. Not once. Not from the moment I started. Not now. Not ever. I lifted my chin slightly. Just enough.
And met his gaze again. There it was. Clearer now. Not anger. Not punishment. Observation. He wasn't breaking me. He was watching to see if I would break.
"That will be all," the words came from him suddenly.
Every one stood up automatically. Every one of the staff. Chairs scraped lightly. Conversations loosened. The moment, whatever it had been, ended for everyone else.
But not for me. I didn't move immediately. Then I turned. And walked out.
"Alice," he called. His voice followed me into the corridor.
I stopped. Closed my eyes briefly. Then turned. He was already there. Closer than I expected. Of course he was.
"Shouldn't Doña Esperanza be supervising instead?," I asked with a forced calm voice.
"Not really. I wanted to watch you…..suffer," he said the last bit with a smirk.
"You like to watch me suffer?," I asked just to be sure I'd heard right.
"Of course," he replied.
And that was it. The moment the hatred for my boss was born.
"You wanted freedom," he continued to speak. With no anger. No edge. Just certainty.
"This is what it looks like," he completed.
The words settled between us. Heavy. Measured. Deliberate. I held his gaze.
"No," I said quietly.
A pause.
"No," I said quietly.
A pause.
"That's not freedom," i countered. Something shifted. Small.
But real.
"That's control," I added. "You just renamed it."
Silence. His eyes didn't leave mine. But something in them changed. Not darker. Sharper.
"You didn't break," he said.
I tilted my head slightly.
"You didn't try hard enough," I taunted. He tried to break me by embarrassing me amongst the staff. Too bad… for him.
That did it. Not a reaction. Not quite. But something in his expression stilled. Like I had stepped into something without permission. Or maybe exactly where he wanted me to. He took one step closer. Not threatening. Not soft. Just… deliberate.
"You're either very foolish," he said slowly, "or very calculated."
He'd said this before. I didn't answer though. Didn't want to.
Because I didn't know which one I was anymore.
"Go to your room," he said finally.
A command. Simple. Final. This time, I didn't argue. I turned. And walked away. But something had changed. Not just in him.
But also in me. Because now I understood. This wasn't about punishment. It wasn't even about control. Not entirely. It was about attention. And the moment I held his gaze and didn't break… I had it.
And somehow that felt far more dangerous.