Taming of the beast - Completed.

Chapter Five

At last, the call Riyad had been waiting for. Only a handful of people had his personal number, his staff, and certain businessmen. No family. He contacted them, not the other way around by different channels. Untraceable ones.

"Emily? When do I send your niece home?"

"No, please, I beg of you, don't send her home," Emily pleaded from the other end of the phone. "I need you to keep her safe." The line went dead.

Slowly Riyad replaced his phone onto the desk. That had been the last thing he had expected. What a strange request. Why should he? Yet something in her voice had triggered at him. A pull and he still needed someone to cook. He balked at the thought of bringing someone new in. At least she was trying. He will give her that and was leaning the routine, so would give her more leeway. She wanted time off.

Maybe she needed a different contract, one they can make together. She would also need to be paid. They were heading towards a different path than he hadn't foreseen. He had a feeling he mightn't see Emily again.

Would she really sacrifice her own sanctuary for her niece? He can only hope this doesn't come back and bite him on the rear-end. Then again, he had no idea how Callie was going to react. One can never be sure.

She had put a vase of flowers on his tray for goodness' sake.

What he is supposed to do with someone like Callie Carson?

He had let his guard down the other day and wouldn't let it happen again.

Not just for his sake but for her own. He couldn't let her into his dark, bleak life.

****

Ever since sharing lunch with Riyad, he had become more distant than before if possible. So no second chance of that walk in the woods with the boss. He wouldn't offer again. Callie only went to choose a book when he went for a walk, since he wouldn't even talk to her, waved her away as in dismissal, making her days gloomy.

She didn't even have the heart to clean up anymore, mainly went to bed early and read. No more sex books for her. Although most of the books in the library were classics, history, and textbooks, she guessed they also came with the house. She didn't see Riyad dragging all those books here.

Remembering she had a pack of cards that she had taken with her for the flight, Callie brought them downstairs, where she played solitaire between scheduled times, when not reading, just staying out of his hair. Sometimes Charles stayed and shared coffee with her at the table while she prepared breakfast.

She noticed Charles running a finger over her pack of cards that she kept on the table, handy. Smiling, she crossed over with two cups of tea, placing one down at his side, while taking her seat. "We should have a friendly game one night."

"What did you say?" Startled she spun around in her seat, swallowing hard at his dark, piercing eyes, and Riyad's clenching jawline.

She jerked to her feet. "Nothing, I mean, just when he was free."

Riyad stalked across. "Leave us," he snarled at Charles

"She meant no harm," Charles stated softly.

"Charles." Leaving no room for arguments.

Standing, Charles walked out, leaving his untouched drink behind, and then Riyad turned slowly towards her, like a big dark looming form. She stepped back, eyes widening, heart pounding. "You have no idea what you have done. This is why you stay away from everyone else. Just do your chores, nothing else, or you are out of here, got it," he hissed.

"I don't understand? It was only a game of cards, for goodness sake." Her chin trembling, eyes shimmering.

"Not to him."