I'm...ready

She was tongue-tied.

Seconds passed by with the utterly lavish yet spacious room immersed in silence, but their orbs ogling directly at each other.

Tessa's dilated continuously in shock, with those plump lips of hers quivering a bit.

Who…was this man for fuck's sake?

Yes — he has saved her twice within a day; from the thugs, and from that vile emotion known as despair that nearly consumed her due to her house burning to ashes.

Yet…she felt there was something more to him — how did he know her house in the first place? And her name, it was quite disbelieving, but she hadn't told him her full name.

“H-how do you know my name?”

Surely, that wasn't the sole reason Tessa was visibly confused — Doreen could tell she was trying to shift the main subject of their conversation.

He had no intention of speaking irrelevantly with her — he must, no, he needed to watch her performance on a grand stage.

Her graceful moves captivated his eyes, although they were from clips — the amount of awe that'd overcome him whenever he'd watch the Gracious Angel's live performance would be… immeasurable.

Doreen had to feel that thrill.

The close contact between them was broken as he took a step backward — his soothing fingers departing from her face, and strangely, Tessa felt odd.

Even though memories of their intercourse were… faint, her body would be damned to forget the way his hands explored her body.

The feeling was… otherworldly!

“Like I said, you can show your appreciation towards me by being a ballet dancer. Okay, Miss Tessa?”

Just like Tessa failed to respond to his request, Doreen ignored her question and then advanced closer to the lengthy window frames.

He parted them and then walked onto the balcony. As the wind aided in shutting it, Doreen stood on the balcony, his bewitchingly mesmerizing eyes staring at the star-filled sky.

“I need to watch her do it — even if it's just once. It's fucking with my head.” He pulled out a stick of cigarette, and a lighter then commenced smoking.

Back in his room, Tessa was still rooted to a spot — she had so many questions running through her head.

Why? Just why does he insist she's the Gracious Angel? And…

“Be a ballet dancer again? I…” She ran out of words and then let out a sigh.

Knowingly, she had nothing else to say to him — a man like himself stuck by their words. If she ever wants to leave a good impression on the one that aided her the most, and during her worst, she has to decide.

Fortunately, Tessa was able to locate her room without Doreen's personal assistant's help, Klaus.

The instant she shut the door, her back kissed it before gradually sliding downwards. There on the carpet she sat with knees hugging her chest, and blue eyes unintentionally getting teary.

“I'm… confused about what to do.” She muttered then shut her eyes — although it was momentarily, those unwholesome memories rushed back in, and it got her shivering a bit in fright.

“Gracious Angel…why can't I bury you completely? Why's it so hard!”

★

★

“I slept so well last night, Tony! Truly, the air, the rich breath is so… different!” Such a foul utterance elicited the lips of Mary.

For one that wasn't welcomed warmly by the Williams family, she didn't give a fuck. She was just plain gleeful that she was now a part of it.

Their glares, or sneers weren't going to affect Mary — she was born to swim in riches, and Tony, her dearly beloved, had made that possible.

It was a matter of time before he'd marry her, and then not even the devil's rate of callousness would match her spending habits.

“I'm glad you did babe.” Tony, coming towards her, fully dressed, attempted to place a kiss on her cheek, but she was quick to withdraw.

“Don't even think about it! Are you blind? — want to ruin my makeup with your fucking kisses or what?”

Mary was rude and impersonated, and not even Tony was spared her toxic obnoxiousness.

“Don't be a bitch.” He scoffed, visibly annoyed, and done with her makeup, faced him then winked coquettishly.

“Your pregnant bitch.” She chuckled and once again, checked out her outfit through the full-body mirror.

The room given to them was borderline…. Glamorous. Everything about it reeked of wealth, and to Mary, this was something she deserved.

Not that low-class bimbo that Tony was with.

“Shall we head down for breakfast? I'm not going to the Ballet Academy without eating."

He already walked out of the door, and she hurriedly grabbed her jacket. Mary's outfit was… slutty — a chic bikini top, and cargo pants with a jacket on; was that appropriate wear for a supposedly pregnant woman.

Regardless, Tony knew it'd be pointless and time-wasting talking to her about it, so didn't even bother to.

The staircase clothed in a stylish white carpet was fucking spacious, so bout three or more individuals could ascend or descend onto it simultaneously.

“Breakfast? Tony, don't bullshit me. We need to leave now — I would rather not be late!” She gnashed like a banshee from behind, and unknowingly, he did an eye roll.

In the living room and seated elegantly on the leather cushions were his mother, and dear sister, Deborah.

“Mother good morning.” Tony greeted out loud as his feet stopped while Mary didn't.

“Let's go already, Tony.”

To say she was disrespectful would be an understatement. Mrs. Valentine silently, but irritatedly watched her walk out of the mansion, and towards the compound.

“That's the whore you brought back as a wife? I'm so shocked.” Debby the teenager with her phone in her hand spoke with unmistakable sarcasm in her tone.

Her brown eyes were pinned on the screen yet was certain her brother was annoyed.

“Debby, Mary's a bit…”

“Mannerless?” Mrs. Valentine could no longer within her anger, then spat angrily and boisterously.

The medicated glasses that rested on the bridge of her nose reflected her rage, and he gulped down emptiness.

This wasn't good — it hadn't even been up to a day since he returned yet his mother was already angry.

“Mo-mother, please. Mary's not that bad!”

“Quiet boy! That brat can and will never be among the Williams. Once she gives birth, you're getting rid of her. It's either she goes or you both go. Understood?”

*

Marching furiously towards the limo with the parted door and could see Mary seated comfortably in it.

Excitement and glee were plastered on her heavily makeup face, and it made her oblivious to Tony's presence.

Yet when he grabbed her cheeks with a hand roughly due to fury, she became aware. Pain surged through her cheeky flesh, but couldn't tear away from his tight grip.

“To-Tony, let…let…”

“Shut the fuck up, Mary!” He practically growled, stupidly enraged, then added pressure to his hold. She winced out in pain, yet he didn't stop.

“Listen here, Mary, you are not. And I mean you will not kill my last fucking opportunity to be accepted by my family again because of your shitty foolishness!”

Without waiting for a response, pushed her face away, and Mary's eyes turned glassy in pain.

“Screw that…” she muttered, then diverted her gaze elsewhere — the car had begun moving, headed for the Ballet Academy.

“I can't wait!”

•••••~••••

That morning, she didn't wake up because of a blaring alarm that'd signify to begin breakfast preparation for Tony.

Nope — on that night, Tessa slept like a duty-free infant. She slumbered for so long, and when she woke up, there was a knock on her door.

A maid surprisingly was in the penthouse, and she kindly served her breakfast. It wasn't her first time being served, but it was for a very long time.

Tessa wasn't done eating before Klaus placed his knocks on her door.

“Master Doreen instructed me to bring you clothing. Sadly, I don't know your clothing preference so just bought a few.”

One would assume a few were possibly one or two outfits, but Klaus raided an entire boutique.

“So? Did she find anything appealing?” Doreen cladded in a formal suit, a gray one that unexpectedly complimented his ghastly attractive eyes, could be seen standing at the staircase's base.

He was about to head for work, yet a large part of him desperately wanted Tessa to come down, and request a ride to the Ballet Academy.

Klaus, also dressed in his usual outfit with a car key in his possession, was uncertain about what to say — the previous night, Doreen had given him one of his credit cards.

Both were unaware of Tessa's fashion sense, but his Master instructed him to buy any female clothing in sight. It was ridiculous — Doreen was ridiculously rich, so it wasn't shit.

“Uh… Miss Tessa didn't say a word, Master Doreen. She's…”

“Mister Doreen?”

That sweet feminine voice belonged to none other than Tessa.

He glanced at the staircase and descended in a causal cotton armless gown with a slit at the left with a cotton jacket on was Tessa.

Her hair was held in a bun and without a shred of makeup on, Doreen was perplexed on how any could be so… enchantingly beautiful.

“Wow…” Klaus helplessly gawked at her as his eyes widened — now he understood his Master's attraction towards her; Tessa's beauty was blinding.

Despite the awe her appearance caused him, Doreen remained expressionless.

Surprisingly, their clothing was gray — they were like a couple.

“Good morning Mister Doreen.” She did a light bow once both stood close.

Her eyes were lifted to meet his plain gaze, and her lips twitched — should she change her outfit?

She simply selected any since there were so many choices to make — who knew she'd end up matching with him?

“Morning Miss Tessa. Your night?”

“Was wonderful, thanks to you. And… I know it's much to ask, but might you be chanced to drop me off at the Ballet Academy in W Estate? I'm… ready."

For the first time during their encounter, Doreen's lips stretched into a genuinely happy but small smile.