Chapter 52 Blackmail

Chapter 52 Blackmail
KAITLYN

I stare at the tea the woman has made, my fist clenching. I haven't touched it since she dropped it and walked away. The only thing on my mind is Philippe's last words, and what gets me so worked up over it is the urgency in his tone.

I sigh loudly and run my hand through my hair, then get up from the chair.

I shift the chair back and stagger towards the door, unable to keep eating.

“Ma'am, are you okay?" The woman calls as I step out of the dining area.

I force a smile on my face and nod.

“Yes, I just don't feel like eating anymore," I mutter, leaving a chuckle at the end of my words.

With those doubts in her eyes, I know she doesn't believe me. I just hope she minds her business and does not probe further.

I begin to walk towards the stairs, but pause and turn around.

“I need to see Ana, I promised her I'll come today," I say.

Her eyes dim, and she tilts her head to the side, studying me for any sign that I am lying. I hope she doesn't find one because I am shamelessly lying right now.

I want to smile as wide as possible, but that shit isn't going to work either. Instead, that will even expose me more.

The way she's staring at me is getting under my skin. It's fucking creeping me out, and I can't even stop her. It feels like she has more power than I do in this house.

“Did the master agree to this?” She asks.

My lips part and slam shut, my hands growing cold.

Shit! This is taking a turn I don't want. I need to come up with a response quickly!

“Uhm… yes? He permitted me to go anywhere I wanted…” I pause and notice the hesitation in her eyes.

This woman won't let me go. I know that for sure.

I curse under my breath, lowering my head as I think of a way out.

“The master said you're not safe,” she blurts out, and my belly churns.

“Well, he said I can go anywhere as long as I go with the driver," I snap, my hands flapping in the air.

She still doesn't believe me!

I sigh again and draw closer, gulping hard.

“If this is about that Giovanni bastard–”

“How did you know about him?" She gasps, her eyes widening in dread.

My head tilts to the side, and I scoff loudly.

“Because he kidnapped me!" I reply.

She sighs and begins to walk to the kitchen, her warning eyes fixed on me.

“You should be careful of him; he will harm you if he finds you,” she warns.

I grip my dress, my heart tightening as that message pops up in my head.

Why does a man who wants to harm me suddenly reach out a hand of alliance? This is still crazy to me, and I need to find out more about this Giovanni.

“Can I go now?" I ask, but she doesn't respond.

I huff loudly and begin to march to the kitchen, but she comes out before I can get in.

“Can't I go now?" I ask again.

I sound like a little girl asking her mom for permission to go out and play.

Her shoulders slump, and she shakes her head, crushing my hope.

“I can't…”

“Hold on!" I raised my head as something hit me.

I draw closer, my eyes staring deep into hers.

“How did you know about Giovanni?" I ask.

I can see shock flash across her eyes as her jaw drops.

“What?" She whispers in a shaking voice.

The name of Giovanni seems to bring fear to her, and I can't place why, since she claims she knows little about him.

“Giovanni. You know him, don't you? More than I do," I mutter again.

Her lips part and slam shut, and a scoff escapes her mouth.

“I don't know what you're talking about!" She spits out and tries to walk away, but I grab her hand and pull her back, a vicious smirk dangling at the corner of my lips.

“You do know what I'm talking about, Auntie. I bet Nikolai doesn't know this, too, does he?" I ask.

She gasps loudly and snatches her hand out of my grip.

“Get your hands off me, child. What do you think you are doing?" She grouses.

I chuckle and pull out my phone. If she can't let me go, then I'll have to do it the hard way.

“How about I call Nikolai and tell him that his trusted caretaker is a traitor," I say.

Her eyes bulge out, and the blood drains from her face so badly that I begin to feel guilty.

“Traitor?" She scoffs and shakes her head, still afraid.

I grin and lean closer, waving the phone in the air.

“Do you have an idea of what Nikolai will do to you if he finds out? He will hang you upside down and have your intestines pulled out," I say.

She cringes back, shivering at my words.

“Why are you doing this all of a sudden?" She asks.

I straighten up, finally getting to a clear path.

“Because I want to leave," I shrug.

She chuckles and shakes her head.

“It's called blackmail, I'm blackmailing you, don't you get it?" I say

She sighs loudly and sinks into a couch.

My lips stretch into a grin as I stare at the defeat in her eyes. She has finally given up because I threatened her with Giovanni.

I guess that makes me right after all. She might turn out to be a traitor at the end of the day.

A quick, sharp knock sounds on the door, and I turn my head towards it.

I need no one to tell me that it is Philippe.

I glance back at the woman and grin even widely.

“I need to go. Don't worry, I'll be back before Nikolai returns…” I pause and lean forward

“And I'll keep your secret safe too," I whisper.

She gulps hard and narrows her eyes, looking away.

I chuckle and trudge to the door, then pull it open.

“Hey!" Philippe sighs and steps back, breathing heavily.

“Did you run from the garage?" I ask, amused and confused at the same time.

He sighs again and swings his head around before taking my hand.

“Come on, quick!" He snaps and begins to pull me to the garage.

“Hold on, Philippe, what's going on?” I ask.

“We'll know when we get there," he says. He is throwing me into more confusion with his weird behavior.

I want to ask more questions, but I keep quiet and just let him drag me to his car.

I was expecting the guards and drivers to be in the garage; surprisingly, no one is here.

What's going on?

He pulls the door open and nods for me to get in. I stare at him for a minute before hopping in.

If not for the trust I've had in Philippe for years, God knows, I won't agree to this surprise outing.

“Just don't freak out when we get there," he says as he roars the engine to life.

My eyes dim in question at his words, but I say nothing.

No matter what happens, Philippe won't hurt me. He will never hurt me,
but I suspect whatever he is about to show me will.

As he drives out, I stare at the large entrance door of the house and find her standing there. Her eyes are on the car with anger in them, and a phone is pressed against her ear.

She is calling someone, and I know it's about me. What if it's Nikolai… or worse… Giovanni?