Tainted Innocence

C H A P T E R 1 2

Leilani

I woke up drenched in sweat. Flashbacks from my dream kept playing in my head over and over again. But it wasn't a dream. This was real.

***

"Mama!" I called out but no one seemed to hear. I walked downstairs the steps creaking under my weight. The front door was wide open and I heard my papá talking with a man.

Well less talking and more arguing. My eyes glanced over and there was mamá but something was off, she looked sad. "Mamá!" I shouted her name but soon something pulled me back and slapped a hand over my mouth. I turned my head and it was Matteo.

I motioned to say something but he shook his head and pointed to his ears indicating that he was trying to listen. "You can't have her!" I heard Mamá suddenly scream but Papá shut her up by raising his hands.

This part wasn't real.

The men papá was outside arguing with suddenly stormed towards me, snatching me away from Matteo. I yelled for Mamá and Papá but they didn't put up a fight. They just stared at me. The same way they did when they shopped me to Ms.Kuznetsov voice.

***

I shuddered as my dream replayed in my head. Suddenly I checked to clock beside my bed and realized that I overslept. Oh shit.

I stumbled over my own two feet trying to get out of bed. This is my first time oversleeping since I arrived here. This was not a good thing. I had never been subjected to Ms. Kuznetsov consequences and I didn't want to start now.

I hurriedly put on the closest piece of clothes I could find before wetting my hair and slicking it into a ponytail. It was so frizzy and my curls wasn't defined but I didn't have time to think about that.

I rushed downstairs my work boots making loud noises announcing my arrival before I could.

Ms. Kuznetsov head whipped to me. "Look who finally decided to show their face." She dusted her hands off on her apron as she stepped closer to me.

"Oh you're lucky I'm so busy today or I would've went up there and dragged you down myself, Глупая девчонка." (stupid girl)

I squinted my eyes at her using Russian against me. And she looked at me back. We weren't saying any words but our eyes spoke for us. Suddenly Alexei entered the kitchen clearing his throat.

It has been two months since I stumbled into his room. Upon remembering this I felt my face feel hot so I turned around to avoid looking at him. " Ms. Kuznetsov, your guest is on the way."

Ms. Kuznetsov eyes widened. I had never seen her look so frightful. Her eyes scanned my appearance. "Oh my goodness the guest! And you're not even freshened up!"

She brushed me upstairs and told me to fix my appearance. Gosh I didn't know I looked that bad. Considering this was guest and the first human interaction I would have— other than Ms. Kuznetsov, Alexei, and him— I decided to put a little more effort in my appearance.

I put on a tank top and a cardigan over it because I didn't want to show too much. I paired it with some low rise jeans- with rhinestones on the back of course—and sandals. When I got to my birdnest of hair, I let out a big sigh.

I decided to twist it into two pigtails with curly pieces framing my face. This was simple enough. Finally I stepped out of my room and made it downstairs.

I heard a deep and familiar voice in kitchen. I couldn't place where I heard this voice from before until I entered the kitchen and there stood Elias Devereux.

He looked real good today. His hazel eyes lit up when he saw me. He snapped his fingers twice trying to figure out my name before I saw the recognition on his face, "Leilani."

My names had never sounded so good before. Ms. Kuznetsov cut her eyes at me and Alexei looked uneasy. "Mr. Devereux" I breathed out.

"No need for formalities. You can call me Elias or-"

"No she will call you Mr. Devereux." Ms. Kuznetsov flashed me a sharp smile.

"Leilani, why don't you be a doll and fetch our guest here some refreshment." Ms. Kuznetsov said this with a sickly sweet smile on her face. It made me want to throw up the way her wrinkly face co shift like that.

I scrambled through the pantry as they moved to the living. I couldn't help but wonder why he was here. Suddenly I felt eyes on me and turned around only to be meet with captivating hazel eyes. What the fuck was his problem? Was there something on my face?

We just continued to stare at each other for a bit until Ms.Kuznetsov said something that dragged his attention away from me. I snapped out my daze and continued preparing their charcuterie board.

Once I finished I delivered it to the living room. Mr. Devereux looked very impressed and Ms. Kuznetsov the opposite. "Leilani, this is very good. What type of cheese is this?"

They way he said my name as if he was tasting it in his tongue. Tasting me on his tongue. Alexei cleared his throat once again snapping me out of a trance. He's been clearing his throat a lot lately I hope he's not sick.

"So Ms. Kuznetsov do I have any chores today?" I asked awkwardly. Anytime I said or did anything Elias eyes were on me so intensely. He had me squirming under his gaze.

"Yes, actually-" Mr.Devereux put his hand on.

"Come on now, Sasha. I want Leilani here to keep us company, I'm sure she's a nice girl." He said with a charming smile. On the other hand Ms.Kuznetsov face twisted up she let out a force smile but her eyes screamed at me to politely decline.

I forced a polite smile and plopped myself down in a far corner of sofa,sitting on the edge, ready to get up at any moment. Mr.Devereux , of course ,is watching the movement—studying my every move. And Alexei is watching him.

"So, Leilani," Mr. Devereux say, his hands tracing the edge of his glass. "how are you liking it here at the Kutnetsov Manor."

I perked up at being addressed. "Oh it's fine. Quiet. Different from what I was used to back in Beaufort for sure."

Mr. Devereux hummed "Different is good. It's not so bad to try new things. Get your hands dirty, don't you think?" He finished his sentence by taking a sip from his glass,hazel eyes trained on me.

I heard a cough in the background and my eyes trained back on Alexei, he had his arms crossed, staring pointly at Mr.Devereux.

Suddenly Ms. Kuznetsov perked up, " Oh Leilani, I am quite thirsty. May you go fetch us some tea please?"

Once again she smiled that sickly sweet smile that I hated. She was trying to get rid of me I knew it. Mr. Devereux shook his head, "Cmon Sasha let her stay. She is way more interesting than tea."

Suddenly the tension in the room rose even more and I didn't need to look at Ms.Kuznetsov to understand her warning. It was loud and clear.