STOLEN
1604 Words
[... And so she sealed a pact with the devil...]
NUEVO LEON
Rio drew in a deep breathe.
The room she’s expecting to woke up and laid her eyes weren’t the same office, where she was brought in. The cushion, where clothes were shred by haste has been replaced by a large bed. It’s a king size bed, much softer, and comforting, but she haven’t had any idea how did she end up there. The walls intricate by curves and engravings she wasn’t familiar with. However, to her expense, she wasn’t oblivious about the pottery and ceramics made by Ru-ware. She saw them on the news. How suddenly it attracted a dense crowd auctioning million dollars and more.
[Fun fact: A tiny Ru-ware brush washer has become the world’s most expensive ceramic after it was sold at Hong Kong Sotheby’s for a record-breaking price. The brush washer from the late Northern Song (960-1127) went to auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong this morning and the bidding started at HK$80m. It was hammered down at HK$260m at 10.58 a.m. (Hong Kong local time), after an intense bidding war that lasted 20 minutes. It was sold for a sky-high price of HK$294m (US$37.7m) with buyer’s premium, breaking the previous world record set by Chenghua ‘Chicken Cup’ in 2014 (So, 2017)]
On the centre, a chandelier hangs on its full glory. It glitters, the spark in reminder of the diamond ornaments that surrounded it remarkably. The room enriches of pearl and gold parched up her throat.
‘Where am I?’ She thought.
All of a sudden, the two wooden double doors were pushed open. The pointed nose, dark eyes and lips that curve up on a straight line strangely is what caught her eyes. It belongs to a woman, who is on her mid-30’s. She’s in full black from head to toe, a cardigan concealed her arms and a skirt reaching below her knees paired with shoes that a woman of her age would fancy. She was pushing a trolley. For a moment, her silhouette reflected back from the vast stainless steel tea urn that stood there on top alongside with a single cup and a kettle.
She stop onto the foot of the bed, where Rio could see her clearly.
“Mr. Del Fierro ordered me to bring you some tea.” Her tone is bland. She gestured towards the trolley, before reaching out to prepare. “I have brought Earl Grey to start your day, Ms.”
[Fun Fact: Earl Grey tea is one of the best-known tea blends on the market. Traditionally, it’s a simple blend of black tea and oil of bergamot. Other tea bases are also used, including green tea, oolong, and rooibos. Bergamot oil is derived from the rind of a fruit called the bergamot orange, commonly grown in Italy. In England, Earl Grey tea is widely considered a “posh” drink, due to its namesake. In contrast to this perception, the practice of adding bergamot to tea originally began as a means to disguise lower quality tea. These days it is done purely in the name of good taste. Earl Grey tea has long been popular, but limited minerals and nutrients in tea suggest minimal health benefits (WebMD, 2005)]
“But uhmm... I am more of a coffee person.” Rio doesn’t know how she would address her, but it’s true. She prefer coffee rather than tea as it taste differently for her.
What she said did not stop the woman from her preparations.
“Tea would help to lightened your mood.” Instead of, the woman said. “Here, just give it a try.”
Rio, left with no option carefully reach out for it.
“Thanks.” The small cup feels hot again her skin, yet not enough to burn her. It feels heavy. She noticed the line of gold and recognize it from one look. This made her feel fuzzy. Everything deems to revolve around fast, and it’s taking a toll on her.
She took a small sip.
“As you know I am working for Mr. Del Fierro.” The woman begins. “My name is Emilia, and I’ll be your lady in waiting. Do not hesitate to tell me everything that you need.”
“Can I ask where Mid—I mean Mr. Del Fierro was?” She bit her lips.
The woman ignored her addressee. Her stuttering were neglected, but Rio is already embarrassed at how she can bravely call his name. Midnight. With reddening cheeks she tried to hide, Rio brought the tea cup on her lips. She pretended to take a small sip, although it taste bland and mild, something that churned her stomach now that she remember she haven’t had eaten anything yet.
Fair enough, her stomach growls loudly. That shut Emilia’s mouth. Her head whipped to where Rio was. Their eyes meet.
“I—I’m sorry!” Rio quickly apologize and hangs her head low.
“There’s nothing to get apologise of for something normal.” Emilia pointed out. “Get dress, I’ll wait for you outside. I’ll inform Mr. Del Fierro that you are awake already.”
“Right. Thanks.” Rio whispered softly.
She heard some clink and clanks, a wheel rolling towards the door until Emilia’s footfalls disappeared even on the room itself. The door were shut closed, and she was left there alone. The moment she was, Rio sharply rose from her bed. She began to fumble right there and then, hoping to find her phone. But her efforts were all put in vain, when she failed to find it. Her chest grips with worries. She could feel that Malcolm is already wondering where she was. Now that she did not told him about what has been happening currently on her life.
Perhaps, she could ask Midnight about it? Unsure, she straightened her already crumpled night dress. Seeing her reflection onto the vanity mirror that stood erect and high, elegant and poise, realization hit her that she couldn’t recall that she had this clothes. But should Rio wonder anymore? The thought of Midnight running his finger and eyes, while he dressed her vividly made her blush visible. She quickly brushed it off, and regain her composure.
I—it may have been one of the maid! Rio assured herself.
Long before she fix her hair, and trotted—a little hesitant to where she could meet Midnight again. The man who drove her night restless, and every fibre of her drawn towards him.
When she stormed out, Rio felt a sense of unreality that settled over her, as if her body were moving on its own accords, as they set off, moving quickly down the enormous staircase. It was vast, and huge. To where her eyes laid screamed fortune beyond what she could imagine. No flaws smudge, impeccable, and unblemished walls and ceilings stretched overhead and down below. A feeling of flabbergasted washed over her that Rio were glued on her feet. She saw Emilia, but what she least expect were the meaning of what she told her, the word ‘waiting, ‘ not outside her door, but towards the staircase.
Rio’s face were mask of disbelief, when she get closer at her. But before she could opened her mouth, Emilia already turned her back away from Rio.
“Mr. Del Fierro is on the dining area, Ms.” Said she, before moving to where it could be, leading Rio.
Her shock did not end there. When she made her research that Midnight is a billionaire, she did not presumably foresee herself getting there to where his foot were set. As they pass by, some of the maid dressed on their uniform stop on their tracks, lined up on a row and bow their heads.
“Good morning, Madame.” In unison, they sync. Nobody daren’t questioned who she is, nor lifted their head until she can no longer see their silhouette.
Her jaw drop. She felt awkwardness crept through, but Rio shut her mouth.
She almost lost her balance, when Emilia suddenly came into a halt. Thankfully, her reflexes were much of a big help for her.
“We’re here.” Emilia announced. She sidestepped and move, so that Rio is able to see the long table on the centre of the dining room. It appeared more like a banquet, but nobody were present except of the male, whose orbs trained to where Rio was. It was intent, full of intensity, and if her mind were playing tricks on her, Rio could assumed that she can see a hint of longing.
She gulps.
“Mr. Del Fierro is waiting.” Emilia, whose head same as the others were hangs low uttered, when she noticed that Rio isn’t moving an inch. She remain on the same spot, not tearing her eyes off from Midnight. “He do not fancy waiting, Ms.” Added Emilia.
“O—oh, right.” Her heart drummed inside her chest.
Rio coaxed herself. She was trying to calmed her nerves as the thud gets louder and louder each steps she took to walked near, where her seat was. Her eyes landed to the vacant chair next to Midnight, and the plate presumably without a doubt belongs to her. So close to him, and so her palms began to felt clammy and sweaty.
Rio gulps, but one thing run across her head during that time.
Is she....really making the right decision?
When she sat beside him, Rio knew that she may have or she may have not.
@cycy
- Writer
