My Angel

CHAPTER 23: DARING

Ayla's pov~

I was almost half asleep when I heard a knock on my door. My eyes snapped open and
I sat up with a start, my heart racing.

"Ayla?" I heard Maddie's voice on the other side of the door.
I closed my eyes in relief and brought my
hand up to my chest, trying to calm my rapidly beating heart.

"Yeah. I'm coming," I called out, my voice
heavy with sleep.

"Okay. Hurry. It's almost time for lunch."
I bounced out of bed and quickly fixed my dress and hair.

Opening the door of my bedroom wide, I
saw Maddie leaning against the door. She smiled when she saw me.

"Hey there, sleepyhead"

I smiled and shut the door.
"Let's go. Mom is waiting for us," Maddie
said as she grabbed my arm and started
pulling me down the hall.

As we headed for the stairs, I didn't see
Alessio or his men anywhere.
Viktor, Nikolay, Phoenix, and Artur were
always with him wherever he went. They were his most trusted associates.

Artur was the only one who seemed
friendly. Maybe I thought so because Maddie was with him.

Nikolay always glared at everyone. I didn't think he even knew how to smile. The only time I heard him talk nicely was with Lena, probably because she is the mother of house.
Nobody talked harshly to her or even tried to be rude. Even Alessio.

As Maddie and I stepped off the last stair, saw Alessio coming in, followed by his men.
They were whispering quietly.

When Alessio made eye contact with me, his mouth froze. He stared at me, his eyes unflinching as he took me in.

And then, his lips twitched in that smirk
that I hated.
Looking away, I followed Maddie to the
kitchen. Time to work. Food was served and I was about to retreat back into the kitchen when someone stopped
us.

"You and Maddie stay back this time," said one of the other maids, a girl named Lila. For every meal, two of us had to stay back and serve if the men needed any help. For the last two days, Maddie and I had escaped that duty.

"Okay," I said.
Maddie scowled. She hated it, and I hated it too. Only because I had to be where Alessio was

"Ayla, pass me the garlic bread." Alessio's demanding voice penetrated my mind. My head snapped up and I looked at him, confused.

"Huh?"
"I said pass me the bread," he repeated,
sounding annoyed. Maddie was standing closer to it.

I looked back at Alessio, but he was staring at me expectantly. He raised an eyebrow when I didn't move. Turning my head, I swallowed and then nodded at Maddie. Her eyes widened in amusement.

"Maddie, can you please give Alessio the
bread? You are closer," I said as softly as I could, my voice quiet.

Her mouth fell open in shock, and from the corner of my eyes I saw all the men staring at me with amused expressions. I couldn't believe it either. I had just gone against Alessio and did it in front of his men.

As soon as the words were out of my
mouth, I regretted it.
Maddie's mouth snapped shut and she
chuckled under her breath.

Before l could change my mind, she grabbed the basket and walked over to Alessio at the other end of the table. Placing it in front of him, she said,
sounding almost sarcastic, "There you go, Alessio. Your hot, crispy, buttery garlic bread. Enjoy."

Alessio took his eyes off me and glared at Maddie. She smiled wide and then sashayed away.

She was playing with fire but she knew that Alessio wouldn't do or say anything to her.