The door to Marcellus' apartment binged open once he punched in the passcode, Claire and him entered in and well wasn't it a little too big of an apartment to live in for a single person but then again it's Marcellus Ambrose after all, nothing about him is normal that had been long- established.

"Are you planning to stand at the entrance whole day?" His annoyed gruff voice bought Claire back to present as her thoughts were preoccupied elsewhere.

He stood tall near the glass table drinking water with his suit's jacket hanging lazily on his left arm. His orbs partially gazing from the rim of the glass, monitoring her moves.

She rolled her eyes walking past him to the kitchen that was in the view, left side from the entrance. The interior of the kitchen was nothing but black, from cabinets to marbled platform it was all black which wasn't much of a surprise to Claire.

He followed her to the kitchen and kept the glass on the marble platform while she took another glass from the cabinet situated above the counter and filled the glass with water.

Gulping it down in one go she felt like her whole inside comes to life. Turning around she found him sitting on the metal stool bar in the kitchen with his elbow kept on the platform, his chin resting on his palm and his platinum ring on his finger glistening under the ceiling lights.

He kept looking at her with calculating eyes "what" she spoke suddenly getting conscious of herself as she shifted subconsciously on her feet.

"You are going to be a tough one" He muttered under his breath sighing but that didn't go unheard by her.

"I heard it" she snapped and in return he did what he is good at, he ignored her flawlessly.

"Let me show you around" He spoke getting up from the metal stool bar fixing his jacket, he walked out while she followed him to the main area from there he asked Claire to follow the small hallway. They came across the first door when Marcellus' phone blinked with a call.

He gestured with his hand to wait and went ahead to attend the call. Claire stood there nothing else to do, she gazed up at the ceiling then the floor. She started tapping her right foot on the floor, her arms crossed as she heaved a sigh.

"This is your room for the next six months, now you get in and I expect you to not disturb me I got some important work to look after" when he came back there was a sudden change in his mood, it was calm but not collected.

She frowned but Nonetheless asked "Your room?".

He stopped walking and turned around raising his perfect eyebrow, he took predatory steps towards her whilst she walked backward as her back hit the room door behind, he walked closer keeping his one hand on the door beside her face, he spoke "That is none of your concern, don't you dare go there" his tone calm with the hint of coldness, his breath fanning on her face.

After saying this he moved back, the corner of his lips formed a smirk. His one had still beside her face slides near her ever so slowly tugging a strand of hair behind her ear, his obsidian eyes staring right into hers light one as if daring her to go against him.

He sighs taking few more steps back before turning around to go further in the hallway. " I am not even interested in going to your room" she spat out after collecting herself back.

What does he even thinks of himself.

She heard his chuckle as he disappeared further into the hallway.

"Well I myself will take a tour around this apartment" She muttered to herself, walking back towards the entrance she started her tour again. Infront was the sitting area which had one big couch in L shape and two small on the either side with a glass table Infront and a 75 inches TV on the wall, next to the TV there was a small wooden shelf for books attached to the wall. Then from left side to the sitting area there was a kitchen, adjacent to it there was a small hallway where first room was hers which had an oak door.

Walking further there is another room locked.

Why is it locked?

She touched the lock the cold metal came in contact with her skin but only to be stopped my another pair of warm hands. "Stay away" He gritted, his palm rested on her palm

She moved back slightly confused, "I told you to stay in your room and don't touch anything unnecessarily" he snapped, his eyes turning a shade darker.

Does he have dead bodies inside that room!

Her breath got hitched at the thought of dead bodies being stored inside. "But I don't think he is that kind of a person or is he?" She thought.

What If he has a collection of barbie dolls inside and is ashamed of showing them to me?

Her mind visualized the most horrible yet humorous scenario of him being claded in pink frock with a pink hair band on his head surrounded by Barbie dolls and two of them in his hand.

GOD!

A chuckle escaped from her lips turning into a full blown laughter as she cackled visualizing everything. Tears rolled down from the corner of her eyes, her stomach started to hurt.

She bent down clutching her stomach while her other hand flew up to her mouth to muffle the sound of her laughter. After getting control on herself once her laughter slowly subsided , she caught him gazing at her with some uncertain look in his eyes.

Her eyes widened realizing ,he definitely thinks of her as some mentally retarded person who ran out of a mental asylum for sure.

"Listen i-" Claire tried to speak but he soon took few steps back away from her shaking his head.

"I am going" she quickly rushed back to her room and closed the door with a thud to protect herself from further humiliation.

Why am I like this? Ugh.

Probably after an hour or so Claire decided to get out of the room. She slowly creaked opened the door little to see if someone is out in the hallway praying he wasn't home yet, observing left then then once she was confirmed no one was there she jumped out skipping her way towards the kitchen only to halt her steps in mid.

There was a lady in the kitchen her back was facing her, from the back one could figure out she was an old lady because few strands of her hair were grey, her hair tied neatly in a sleek bun, as if sensing the presence behind her she turned around.

She passed a warm smile towards Claire "Hello my name is Maria and I am the house keeper" she introduced herself, she looked like she was in her late fifties as the corner of her ocean blue eyes crinkled, few wrinkles present on her forehead.

Claire nodded walking towards her "hello, I am Claire" she spoke softly to which Maria's lips stretched in a smile "I know".

"Anyways I was preparing for the dinner you tell me what you would like to eat and I will prepare it for you" She turned around to chop vegetables.

Claire walked in the kitchen then supporting her weight on hands she jumped up to sit on the counter " Well how about pasta for dinner tonight" she spoke as she picked up a raw carrot that Maria was cutting Probably for salad and put it in her mouth.

They both were having casual talks where Claire found out that Maria has been working here for 5 years well this explains how she knew passcode. Maria further told her how she treats Marcellus as her son and what all he did for her and her family during tough times.

Suddenly the door bell rang, " I will get it" Claire hopped down the counter whipping her hands on sweatpants she ran towards the entrance and punched the button when the door slides open.

There he stood with a loose tie, he held suit's jacket in one hand with his shirt's sleeves rolled till his elbow. His hair messy as If he have had ran his hand through them multiple times. The sight made her gulp.

Quickly coming back to her senses she narrowed her eyes " Didn't you know the passcode, why did you ring the bell" she questioned folding her arms.

"Why, does princess' legs hurt while walking to the entrance to open the door?" He taunted as he walked inside and lazily went to the kitchen to get a glass of water, while Claire fumed and stomped to the kitchen once she saw him leaving the kitchen. "Hey Maria is pasta ready?" She asked placing both her palms on the platform to which Maria nodded.

"Why don't you go home now I think it's getting late it's already ten past eight" Claire spoke.

Maria stopped wiping the counter and turned to look at her "but the serving-"

"Oh don't worry i will set the table, I think you should go it's getting late" Claire assured her to which she nodded smiling. "See you in the morning"

Claire quickly ran out to see if he was coming, well no.

She walked back and served pasta in two plates, after serving she picked up the salt from the cabinet and sprinkled it a little too much in his plate.

Then she picked up pepper and well here it goes. She accidentally sprinkled half of it.

"Now it looks good to serve" Claire muttered to herself when she heard the walking footsteps, she quickly mixed everything and placed the bottles back to their place. Picking the plates she kept them on table and sat on her chair waiting for him.

He entered the dining area and proceeded to sit on his chair which was opposite to hers'. He picked the fork but stopped as he caught her looking at him with anticipation, he raised his left eyebrow.

Claire shook her head looking down at her food quickly taking a bite in between she glanced at him to see if he ate and here it goes, he took the first bite.

His face morphed from grimace to horrified as his eyes got wide, he started coughing rigorously and his ears turned red while his eyes started to water.

He quickly picked up the glass of water gulping it down in one go, he took deep breaths his throat turned raw red and all this while she tried to control her laugh.

"Damn! Why didn't I bring my phone, should have recorded it", she thought to herself.

He found her chuckling his eyes shot daggers towards her "YOU" He snapped.

Claire's eyes got widened, she grabbed her plate and rushed towards her room shutting it close. She could hear him shouting but didn't bother to open the door.

That was a quick escape!

~~●●~~

Next morning Claire woke up with a slight knock on the door, "Wait" she groaned getting up, removing the duvet she stepped down the bed her feet coming in contact with cold floor, a shiver ran down her spine.

Claire padded her way across the floor and opened the door greeting Maria's face "Good morning" Maria smiled looking all fresh like a morning dew her hair as usual tied back in a sleek bun while Claire down upon herself, she stood there like a zombie who has been woken up "Good morning" she greeted back.

"Breakfast is almost ready" Maria informed and Claire nodded "I will be there in 30 min" she spoke closing the door as Maria turned around to leave.

Turning around Claire walked up to the closet where all her clothes were already set well apparently Marcellus' asked his men to do it before she came to his apartment. She took out clothes and went straight towards the bathroom. After 45 min she walked out of the room all dressed up in simple denim shorts paired with a plain black boat neck top, her hair tied in a ponytail.

She found Marcellus sitting on his chair dressed in his same boring office attire he looked all fresh with his hair gelled back, he was typing on his phone, upon sensing a presence he looked up at her and he rolled his eyes.

"Nice way to greet morning isn't it Mr. Ambrose" She mumbled, ignoring him she walked Into the kitchen, Maria gave her an apple to eat for meanwhile till the breakfast was getting ready to be served. Claire smiled at her taking the apple and walked back to the dining area.

As she entered the dining area Marcellus stood up and went inside the kitchen. Claire shrugged and started eating the apple.

He walked out with the plates, she looked at him suspiciously as he kept the plate of omelet and French toast with a glass of orange juice Infront of her.

Since when?

He moved back to his seat and started eating breakfast without glancing towards her. She cautiously took the first bite of toast, chewing it slowly she gulped, "It's ok, nothing bad in this"

Then she took a bite of omelet with the fork and it was way too spicy for a single bite.

She picked up the juice to drink and as soon as the liquid washed down her throat she started coughing, it was so salty that it couldn't be drink any further. She spat it the next moment.

Looking up at him she saw him smirking leaning back to his chair.

How dare he!

"MARCULLES!" She screeched getting up, if glares could kill he would have been six feet under ground by now.

He stood up unaffected as if he didn't plan all this " Have a good day princess" he said walking towards the entrance.

"HAVE A WORSE DAY" she screamed out only to hear him chuckle. Maria ran towards Claire with a glass of water and she drank it in one go.

You are going to pay for this!