PEARL
Ivan was a man of few words. He barely talked and sometimes I didn't know which was scarier - him talking or him keeping quiet. My mind went to grandma who was sick in the hospital, would she notice I was gone? This question kept repeating itself in my head.
After about a forty-five-minute drive, we arrived at the Lannister mansion which of course was Ivan's. Once the car was parked, Ivan didn't give it a second thought or a minute before getting out of the car and leaving me behind. I was inches away from crying, why was this happening to me?
“ Ma'am, we're here. You can get down now,” a middle-aged man who I presumed to be Ivan's butler opened the car door and stretched out his hand towards me to assist me out of the car.
“ Thank you,” I appreciated him and he simply responded with a nod. I walked close behind him as I followed him into the mansion, I didn't want to get lost.
“ Sir, should I show her to her room?” The butler inquired from Ivan who was already walking upstairs.
“ You shouldn't bother yourself with such a petty duty, the maids can handle that,” he scoffed as he looked over his shoulders and glared at me, making me flinch. I knew my stay here would be a rough one I'd have to overcome or endure.
“ Erm... Alright,” the butler didn't bother to go against him especially not in his angry state.
“ Get the maids to help her with a shower and dress her up in something more suitable,” he said before disappearing into the rows of rooms.
“ Yes, sir!” Multiple female voices echoed and before I knew what was going on, about five maids surrounded me.
“ Come on, let's get going,” one of them said and I followed them upstairs to my room, or rather, the room he had arranged for me. Getting there, I took a long hot bath - the steam from it seemed to clear my head.
“ Let's get this over with, I'm not your maid,” one of them folded her arms the moment I stepped out of the bathroom. What was with the sudden change of attitude? I mean, one minute ago they were acting nice and all.
“ I can't believe we have to give an Omega, princess treatment,” one said in disgust.
“ Talk about the scum of the world,” another rolled her eyeballs. I quietly sat down trying my best to ignore whatever comments they were passing. They began applying light makeup on me while going ahead to slander me right in my presence.
“ How did someone like you manage to get the attention of Alpha Ivan?” One asked in contempt. None of them hid their hatred for me.
“ I would have said you got into his pants but then again, I doubt you have what it takes to,” one scorned. She seemed to be the one in charge of the maids they sent to cater for me.
“ I have no idea why Alpha Ivan would favor someone as low and unimportant as you,” one lashed out like she had been waiting for the opportunity to get into a word battle.
“ Don't you think he's also acting odd?” Their leader gossiped.
“ What? Who?” They all inclined their ears.
“ Alpha Ivan of course,” she rolled her eyes.
“ What do you mean by he's acting odd?”
“ Ms. Jade just died and yet he's bringing in another lady to replace him, don't you think that's a bit weird? I mean even if he didn't like her, he didn't have to move on so fast,” she gossiped.
“ Let's not talk about the Alpha like that unless you really are okay living a miserable life,” one of them advised. I didn't know where the rude maid got her effrontery from because I was terrified of Alpha Ivan and I think everyone is. He's not the type to think twice before putting someone in utter misery and I was one of the unlucky victims.
No matter how hard I tried to beg and explain that I wasn't the one and that I could never harm my best friend, everyone refused to believe me.
“ Isabelle, you can handle her, right? I don't think it's necessary for all of us to be here to help her out. Besides, she doesn't look rich enough to have been used to maids helping her dress up,” their leader, Molly laughed and her minions joined in. After they had their fair share of mockery, they left and it was like the eggshells and sharp air I was breathing became normal like it should be. If they treated me like this because I was an Omega, what would they do to me if they found out I was the prime suspect for Jade's death?
“ I don't think you should mind Molly much, she's always like this,” Isabelle sighs. Was she comforting me right now?
“ I'll try not to, thank you,” I forced a smile.
“ I'm Isabelle and you can talk to me if you have any questions or well, just looking for someone to confide in,” she smiled so sincerely at me. She had been quiet all the while to the extent that I didn't notice her much when we first came into this room - my room.
” I'm Pearl,” I returned the gesture.
“ You know, Alpha Ivan is not as terrifying as you think,” Isabelle narrated as I had asked her but I was indeed curious to know what she had to say the moment I heard Ivan.
“ He's cold and strict, yes but I'd say he's a diamond in the rough if you know what I mean,” she continued as she helped me with my zipper. “ He's just experienced lots of things in his life which made him the way he is, I doubt he would have been like this if not for certain misfortunes,” she seemed sympathetic towards Alpha Ivan. The last feeling I thought anyone would have toward him.
“ Do you have any idea why he's asking for me?” I inquired. He had ordered the maids to dress me up and send me to his room.
“ I don't,” she averted her eyes from mine in a rather suspicious way like she was hiding something. Not wanting to pry, I knew I would only be able to find out once I got there.
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