❅ The Agreement of the Beast

After two hours..

She closes the shop and sighed heavily. She wondered if she should  hire someone to take care her pets. They might gonna die from starving and messing their cage. And moreover, there's a week that she wasn't able to take care the pets and stay at the mansion for awhile.

After locking the shop, she kept the key the on her pocket and hesitate when something brushed her finger inside of it.

It was the check earlier.

One million.

I can't take this much. Maybe, I should return this once I met him again. She said thoughtly.

She begins to walk on her home which is only few miles away.

She noticed a black car infront of her house, wondering if it was Harley going to fetch her soon.

But who would take care the shop?

Now, this things makes her frown even more.

A beep sound snapped her out from her thoughts. She forgot her legs already brought her on the front of the car near at her home.

The front door of the car opened, revealing the driver with black glasses and open a door for her.

She saw a familliar face inside the car,  Harley that made a smirk, and patted the seat next to him, welcoming her to seat.

Lina couldn't help and roll her eyes and get inside.

She forgot to change new clothes and prepare due to her delay going home early where she got lost on her thoughts and leaving her frozen from what was dawned to her this previous hours. She wanted to scolded herself but she already knew she was too late to prepare.

She rubbed her palms in nervous.

"You don't have to worry about the clothes Miss. From a mansion we're  going, everything is prepared." he said as if he answered her thoughts making him amuse from her actions, seemingly teasing her to stay her out from being nervous.

She flushed even more.

"I didn't say anything!"

She retorted.

Harley chuckled.

Lina gazed worriedly at the shop that they had passed by which makes Harley glanced at her and think deep in thought.

"It'd be taking care of." he said softly.

"I'm sorry what?" she looked at him, confused.

"I meant to say, it'd be taking care of. I hired someone to stay for your shop for awhile."

She gleamed in joy. "Really?"

"Yes, indeed."

"I thought I would hire someone for it."

"I can't let a lady to work so hard with this fragile hand of yours." He grins.

She frowned at his words-he seemed complying it in a different meaning.

"I think I can handle all of it by myself." she scoffed and crossed her arms.

He laughed again.

Why is he keeps laughing much? This is creepy.

"And Oh! I forgot..Can I take the half of the million? I can't take this much." she handed him the check politely.

" Well, it's not nice to refuse a gift. All girls would love this piece. " he refused to take the check in return.

"But this is kindness. I'm okay the half of it." she frowned even more.

"Oh look, we're almost there." Harley scratched his head, his eyes avoiding her from doing something further. And yes, he distracted her where she is now clinging the window like a child.

She take a first glimspe of the mansion as the black limousine crested an upwards sloping road.

As the driver opened the door, the massive mansion appeared from her sight, gaping her mouth widely in awe.

"We haven't in mansion yet, and you're already drooling." Harley guffawed.

Ew. No! I wasn't. She cringed thoughtly.

She gazed up at the mansion as we approached it. Although, it was modernly build, it designed looking so old - a hint strange patterns around the walls, the towering gables, oriel windows and ceiling. The windows were covered, with diamond bevelled glass.

And Oh, there's a cat symbol at the center, where it plays its swirling tail. Above the brass-studded door, a bas-relief spelled out the name of the House — Isharislynkia. A beautiful word sounds it came out from a fantasy. Never had a name that seems extraordinary.

The gigantic door were opened by two butlers, and here she is, so tiny standing the middle of it.

She swear, she was wearing like Cinderella, that wore ragged clothes that seems out of this place. And a part of her, feeling Belle visiting a strange castle with a beast that goes to kill her.

She wearing a midnight blue skirt, with a pale long-sleeved white blouse, that rolled up from her arms.

Still, it seems out of this place.

"Are you alright?" he asked, his voice softer than before.

Lina was suddenly breathless, a shiver that she couldn't explain calling out from her. Harley lifted his eyebrow, and she remembered how to speak again.

"Yeah, I think sort of fine." She nervously mumbled, feeling like an idiot right now. Girl, grow up. You're not in some kind of fairy tale you used to read in wattpad.

The girl glanced around excitedly and zoned out again..

Harley cleared his throat.

Lina snapped out of her thoughts and raised her eyebrows at him questionedly.

"I prepared your room upstairs. The owner which is my partner and I, we'll be heading out to town in a week. And makes sure you don't break many things here. And also, the pet cage will be open at 8pm. He'll be your responsibility when it escape. Tata! Goodluck Miss Lina! " Harley winked at her and exit the mansion, made a short farewell before she opened her mouth to reply.

The door shut behind her.

It was only her- alone..

With the beast.