Her Slave Contract

He is intimidating!

EZRA

"I accept it!" She said, barging into the room without any notice. The cabin is well lit up and everything looked right in place. Ezra turned to look to her side and found him right away.

He was sitting on his desk chair, his head gently resting in his arms with his eyes closed. Suddenly, the atmosphere felt peaceful and quiet as Ezra calmed down a little. It was midnight.

She slowly stepped closer to his desk, hoping he wouldn't wake up just yet. The soft curls of his hair fell on his forehead which made Ezra force herself to bury the urge of touching it. But it was powerful that it almost felt harmless. She moved her hand to his face and very carefully, she tried moving the strands of hair to get a closer look at his face. But she was hesitant.

He had sharp features with a chiselled jaw and nose. His skin was smooth and as his breath surfaced between them, she started wondering about him. Why did she feel like he wasn't a stranger? Why, despite his cruel words, she was here because somewhere within, she saw him as a way out?

What did she mean to him? Had he been waiting for Ezra himself until midnight? Did he want her to say yes that bad?

Ezra's hand still hovered around his hair as she leaned on the desk. Then, her eyes shifted from him to the shelves behind him. A stack of trophies and mementoes filled the racks. But through all of it, her eyes searched for something more concrete. That's when she found it. She found his name on one of them.

Axel Ledger. The name struck various unrecognised chords within her. So familiar yet so far. Who was this man?

She looked back at Axel who still had his eyes closed. Ezra couldn't help but touch his hair and push them away from his face gently. His soft hair parted and his eyebrows twitched a little. But before Ezra could react, Axel's hand shot out and he yanked her close by her shirt.

His hands gripped her collar, pulling her towards him as he sat up and looked at her. Shocked, Ezra struggled a little till her eyes met his. His expression looked like he was expecting someone else, maybe an actual enemy. She understood that, as he was in such a crucial position, he did have many rivals who would go to the point of even trying to assassinate him.

"I... I was just-", Ezra muttered, not being able to meet his eyes anymore.

He pulled on her collar again and made her meet his eyes. He was frowning with a guarded expression.

"If you dare try to touch me again, you don't know what I'll do to you," his voice was low and his eyes were so cold that it made her feel remorseful. She shook her head as his grip loosened. She moved back and stood straight. She tried to let it go but she didn't like the hate in his eyes when she didn't know the reason why.

"You've no reason to believe me.. but I came before midnight to tell you that I accept it. The time's up now and maybe you'll take that opportunity to taunt or laugh at me but yes, I am desperate. And to do what I have to, I need you," She said with an expectant look on her face.

Axel studied her face for a moment and stood up. He made his way to her and stood face to face with her. A smile played on his lips that shut her up.

"I'd have waited till you changed your mind. Whenever you needed my help, I'd have been there. Do you know why?" He moved in close as his lips trailed the way to her ears. He breathed her in and with his deep voice, he said the words that made her shiver. "Because I want to see you stoop that low. I'd love to take my revenge, however long it takes."

"Which revenge do you keep talking about? If it is about something my dad did, then-"

"Don't you remember that day 3 years ago? Was it that easy to forget what you did to me?" Axel yelled out, making Ezra flinch. She couldn't understand what he was trying to say but Axel was making her feel too scared to speak.

He let out a laugh that made him look pure evil. He was just laughing out of spite and not because he saw it as a joke.

"You're still trying to play games, huh? Come on, 3 years isn't long enough to wipe out what you did from your memory," he had an ironic look on his face but it was clear that she was setting him off.

Ezra realised nothing good would come out of it so she backed out. It was the best she could think of doing.

"I'll do it. I'll sign the contract and do what you want me to do," she said with a conflicting mind. She was embarrassed and deep down, unwilling to do something that would ruin her in ways she couldn't wrap her head around. She was giving herself up to a stranger after being disowned by everyone she had ever known. "Not like I have any other choice."

She was more scared than she liked to admit. But the hope she saw from all of it kept her from accepting the misery. When she looked up, she found him watching her intently with an unpredictable look on his face.

"Do you know what slaves like you call their owners?" He raised an eyebrow as the tension grew. She shook her head, trying to sew in the words till it comes out.

"Do... I really have to-"

"What will you address me as?" He added again, almost as if he was testing her. She let out a sigh.

"M-master," Ezra said, crumbling with embarrassment. Her head was down as she felt him lean towards him.

"Do you think this is foreplay?" He asked.

"What?" She snapped her head up.

"Sir.. you'll call me sir, understood?" He said, his eyes going cold once again. Ezra frowned a little, nodding. She understood that he doesn't let go often.

Axel Ledger was an uptight and rigid man. It was clear just looking at his face that smiling wasn't his thing, let alone being gentle.

He looked like he has never been in love.

"Follow me," he ordered at once and started walking out of the cabin without sparing her a glance.

Just as he was about to leave, she tried speaking but he turned to look at her at once. He fixed her with a glare.

"From now on, don't say a word until you're asked to," he said.

"Y-yes," she said but she looked up to his disapproving raised eyebrow. She sighed as she repeated, "yes.. sir!"

~

Axel walked in front and Ezra followed behind, trying to maintain a 5 feet distance between them. Even as they made their way down the elevator, she stuck to the corner because even if she was brave and sly, something about him just intimidated her.

All of the employees had left already because it was late so the huge office was empty. Their footsteps echoed as they left the hallway and exited the building.

A car turned up the moment he stepped out. It was a dazzling black Rolls Royce standing before them as the driver quickly opened up the car door. Axel got in but Ezra hesitated.

"Do I have to get in.. too?" She asked, wanting to stay away from him as much as possible.

"Can you walk the way?" The driver asked.

"What? Absolutely not-"

"Then get in. Don't create inconvenience," the driver said, clearly looking at her as nothing more than a slave. She looked back at Axel to see him sitting as poised and unbothered.

The fact that the driver had an idea that Ezra had agreed to being his slave made her realise that he already knew she would say yes.

Ezra stepped into the car and shut the door. She already missed being around her cars and riches. She still couldn't wrap her head around the reality that she has lost everything.

The car drove on, passing through the late city life.

"Can I ask a question?" Ezra said, breaking the insufferable silence as she turned her head to him. He sat without a reaction. "Can you hear me?"

He sat rock still without a word.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't supposed to talk without your permission," Ezra huffs, leaning back on the car seat. "Hey! Why's this so soft?"

The driver glares at her through the rearview mirror and she motions her hand as if she's sealing her lips. A few minutes pass just like that.

"I know I'm not supposed to talk but-", Ezra starts but suddenly, the car starts pulling over and her eyes widened. She feared she'd be thrown out. "Sorry! Won't happen again, I promise!"

The car starts driving away once again. Another few minutes roll by with Axel staring outside the window thoughtfully and Ezra getting progressively restless.

"Wow, this is suffocating. Hey, are you a robot?" Ezra tries to get his attention but he doesn't budge. "I'm kinda.. hungry."

She leaned into him till her lips hovered around his ear. She whispered a few words that made Axel finally look at her.

"If you made me your slave, won't you take care of me?" A flirty smile played on her lips at the thought of overpowering him.

"You might think this is because I'm attracted to you. But you don't know what you're getting into," he whispered back and the seriousness in his voice makes her shudder. She quickly withdrew herself back, avoiding him again.

She took a deep breath and leaned back, reflecting on everything she had been through in just a few hours. The sharp winds brushed across her skin, almost bruising it.

~

Ezra followed as Axel got out of the car and walked to the door of his grand mansion. She could tell he was much richer than her father.

As they stepped inside the huge door, she saw Axel motion to the lady who bowed to him courteously. Then, he started walking away, loosening up his tie. Ezra shook her head a little, starting to follow him but someone grabbed her wrist to pull her back.

"You.. come with me," the woman said, starting to drag her along. Ezra didn't complain as they walked past the golden corridors to a comparatively darker side of the mansion.

It felt like she was in a castle and she was being taken to the dungeons.

They stood in front of a white door as the woman unlocked it and then motioned Ezra to get in. She peeked inside and was immediately underwhelmed.

It was almost like a 3-star hotel room that was left unused for months. Ezra felt a little dizzy because she couldn't bear to live there. She wasn't used to it at all.

"Did you assign the smallest room to me? And.. is that dust I see?" Ezra complained.

"Just get in," the woman said coldly.

"Seriously, I cannot live here-" Ezra started again when she felt a rough jab on her back that made her fall forward, inside the room.

"Know your place, you filthy slave," the woman barked.