Chapter 5 The Menancing Warning

Jasmine’s P.o.v I woke up to the sound of a gunshot and I ran out to see what was happening. Since my room was upstairs; I got lucky to see the outside view of the building through the balcony. I tried to scream at the view of what I had seen, but the other view left me frozen. “Clean this mess right now,” I heard Mateo say to one of his men, and in no time, the poor man’s dead body lying on the ground was removed from his pool of blood. And even though it was in the early morning hours, the scene's impact cannot be neglected or overlooked. I had just witnessed a cold blood murder by someone I had thought to be just a businessman and gullible enough to make a crazy deal with. “Well, as for you, I hope my coffee is ready or else...I’m sure you wouldn’t like what just happened to repeat itself except of course I’d probably be the only one doing the watching.” Mateo said as he turned to enter the mansion without even looking up and then it dawned on me that I was the one he’d been talking to. I fidgeted nervously as I hurried down to the kitchen to prepare Mateo’s coffee. My hands trembled slightly as I measured out the coffee grounds and poured the steaming hot water into the cup. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the air, but it did little to calm my racing heart. As I worked, my mind kept drifting back to Mateo’s ominous warning. I couldn’t help but pray to God for protection from this man turned psycho. It wasn’t as if I hadn’t seen some red flags in him especially after the night at the auction, but I needed to play along. Besides, the contract I had signed with him still stands and so there was nothing I could do. Desperation made me do it even without thinking it through. I thought he would be a kind gentleman by giving me those options, but what I had just experienced proved otherwise. I had made a deal with a Psycho! I tried to push the thoughts aside, focusing instead on the task at hand. But my nerves were on edge and I found myself jumping at every little sound. The creak of the kitchen floorboards, the hum of the refrigerator, the ticking of the clock all seemed amplified, making me feel like I was walking on eggshells. Just as I was finishing up the coffee, I heard the sound of footsteps behind me. I spun around, my heart racing to see Mateo standing in the door way, his eyes fixed intently on me. He stood towering over me, his presence making the kitchen feel small and claustrophobic. “Ah, excellent,” he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “I see you’ve managed to prepare my coffee without too much trouble.” I swallowed hard, trying to keep my voice steady. “Ye...yes, Mateo. I hope it’s to your liking.” “Mateo? Where are your manners?” he corrected. “I...I’m sorry, Mr. Mateo.” I immediately apologized. Mateo’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over me like a cold wind. “I’m sure it will be,” his gaze fell on the coffee and his voice, a menace. “After all, you wouldn’t want to disappoint me, would you?” I felt a shiver run down my spine as Mateo’s words hung in the air, thinly veiled that left me feeling shaken and uneasy. I knew that I had to tread carefully around him, and one wrong move could spell disaster. I took a deep breath and tried to compose myself, but my hands were still shaking as I handed Mateo his coffee. He took it from me, his fingers brushing against mine, sending a jolt of electricity through my body. “Thank you,” he said in a low and husky voice. “I appreciate your...efforts.” I nodded, trying to avoid eye contact, but Mateo’s gaze was relentless. He was watching me, studying me, and I could feel his eyes burning into my skin. I knew that I had to get away from him to escape the suffocating atmosphere of the kitchen. But as I turned to leave, Mateo’s voice stopped me. “Wait,” he said, his tone very commanding. “I’m not finished with you yet.” I froze, my heart sinking as I turned to face Mateo. “Wh...What do you need?” I stuttered, trying to keep my voice steady. Mateo’s icy blue eyes seemed to bore into my soul, his gaze piercing and unyielding. “I need to know that you understand the situation,” he said with a low and menancing voice. “You’re here to serve me, to cater for my every whim and I hope your mission here doesn’t exceed that or else...” He left the sentence hanging, the implication clear. He has emphasized on it enough. I am now trapped at the mercy of a ruthless and cunning man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted. But what does he mean by my mission here doesn’t exceed what I am here for? “I understand,” I said, trying to keep my voice firm. “I’ll do whatever it takes to serve you.” Mateo’s eyes narrowed, his gaze sweeping over me like a cold wind. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said, his voice laced with sarcasm. “Because if you do...” He paused, his eyes glinting with menace. “Let’s just say that you wouldn’t want to face the consequences.” As I stood there, frozen in fear, Mateo’s expression suddenly changed. His yes seemed to gleam with amusement, and a sly smile spread across his face. He dropped the coffee I had prepared for him, and prepared another one himself. “I’m very sure your father would be so proud raising a daughter like himself,” he smirked whilst stirring at his coffee with his gaze fixed on me. “Obedient girls’ are hard to find these days. However, I hope you standby that. Don’t you ever change, you hear me?” His words hung in the air and were filled with a heavy threat that left me shaken and uneasy. “Hmm,” I nodded and managed to say. He finished the coffee he had prepared and turn to leave but said something before finally leaving. “I’d soon be on my way out for an urgent business trip and you may leave after cleaning the mansion. I’d let you know when next I’d be needing your service. And I wouldn’t warn you to keep quiet about what you saw today. I just hope you and your entire household will be ready to face the consequences.” I watch from the balcony as Mateo and three other men in black tuxedo drove out of the mansion in three convoys and heaved a heavy sigh of relieve. I immediately got to get the cleaning done and as I finished, I began to prepare for home. My mind reeled back to what I had experienced in the mansion today. There’s no way I’m staying two years with that psycho! I have to find a way to break free from him.