Skit.

Miranda picked up the call when her phone rang.

"Hello?"

"It's me!" A cold and indifferent voice came through from the other end of the line.

"What's the matter?" Miranda asked.

"What's the matter? What time is it now?"

"It's… eight o'clock."

"Don't you think it's still early now?"

"Yes, it's still early."

"Come home in thirty minutes. Even if you have to crawl, you should have been back home by now." He hung up the call.

"Miranda, you're back." The moment she entered the villa, Emily greeted her.

"Miranda! I gave you thirty minutes to come home. You're one hour late!" Richard's cold voice resounded through the house.

"Sorry! I ran into my old friend. I chatted with her for a while." Miranda apologized but her voice is flat.

"Go and cook. I want dinner to be ready in half an hour. Don't let me down this time." Richard then turned around and went back upstairs.

After taking a shower, Richard decided to go downstairs. He saw Miranda setting the table, placing the three dishes she prepared. 

Miranda, who observes him silently, amused her, watching him like this. Richard's face remains expressionless, but a glint of excitement exhibits in his eyes. Richard was done eating, and he finished even the last piece of Calamari.

-------

Amid her deep sleep, Miranda smelt a different fragrance, one that was distant yet familiar, like the one given off by the bedsheets. Besides that, there was another nice-smelling scent.

With the fragrance nearby, as well as a strong presence and laughter that solely belonged to a man, Miranda opened her eyes

Her eyes suddenly fluttered open and at the same time, her gaze collided with the dark orbs of a man.

"You… Why're you here?" She sat up.

"You're asking me why I'm here. Well, This is my room" Richard cocked his brows.

"Psycho!" Miranda said and she came down from the bed. She wanted to leave the room as fast as she could. She went towards the door when Richard spoke, "The room is locked, Miranda."

Miranda was slightly terrified and she wanted to run away from him as fast as she could. "Richard, Don't be so petty. Act like a gentleman." Miranda announced and forwarded her hand to open the door when she was pinned against the door by Richard.

Both of her hands were pinned against the wooden door by him. They were glaring at each other when Richard leaned closer to Miranda's lips. "Why do you annoy me so much?"

Miranda yelped when Richard lifted her suddenly. She struggled in Richard's embrace when she was thrown on the mattress.

Richard pulled Miranda's leg, pulling her towards him. Hovering over Miranda, he spoke. "This is the best way to end the mother's inspection on us. Trust me if you ever acted recklessly then I will not spare you." Richard said in quite a threatening tone.

"Get away!" Miranda snapped.

Richard leaned his face closer to mine after saying this. She could vaguely feel his warm breath, causing her skin to tingle all over.

"You shall pleasure your husband as well," Richard said with a smirk.

Miranda sheepishly smiled. "Dream on!"

His expression froze momentarily, but his wicked smile resurfaced in no time. "But I know all your weak spots."

Miranda hastily averted her gaze to conceal her emotions.

Richard moved from over Miranda's body and turned away his face.

"Who is inspecting us?" Miranda asked.

"Why did you think Mother send George to stay here for some days? You fool!.... Just sleep" Richard said lazily.

Miranda was pleased that Richard did not do anything to her.

She dragged herself towards the corner, turning to the wall not wanting to be close to Richard. "Do not leave tonight if you do not want to spend another night with this psycho man" Richard pronounced. His eyes were closed as if he would fall asleep anytime.

---

Miranda was the first to wake up. When her vision finally cleared, she was so scared to her wit's end. She lay sleeping in Richard's arms, on his bed, under the same blanket and he was holding her close to him. She gulped the scream that wanted to escape from her throat and tried removing his arms, slowly but surely resting from her waist.

Lifting her leg slightly up, Miranda almost jumped out of bed when she found Richard had woken up. Meanwhile, Richard was thinking about what Miranda was doing. He bored his cold gaze on Miranda who pulled her leg back. "What are you doing?" Richard asked in bewilderment in a threatening tone.

Miranda stepped back when she was entangled in the carpet. Unable to balance herself she fell on the ground earning laughter from Richard.

"Why are you playing skit in this early morning?"

"Ho! Ho! It's not funny at all." Miranda shot a glare at Richard.