His Beautiful Addiction

After lunch; Tiana walked upstairs; when she got to Nicklaus's room, she knocked lightly.

Nicklaus was sitting on the couch in the parlor working on his tablet when he heard a knock; he turned immediately to the door;

''Come in. ''

Tiana pushed open the door and stepped in, closing it after her. She had packed her hair up in a bun, so her face was clear to see.

Nicklaus felt her footsteps approaching, but his eyes remained glued to his tablet;

''Mr. Nicklaus, you sent for me. ''

Tiana said with an obedient voice, a little smile on her lips; Nicklaus lifted his head up immediately to look at her; a bit surprised.

He had locked her up for eight days and he expected her to be rude, but here she was calm and collected, like an obedient child.

Although she looked thinner, that was all; her face was clear, and her eyes bore no emotions, Nicklaus gazed at her for a moment, trying to decipher what she was feeling, but he couldn't tell, she looked so calm.

He pulled his gaze away from her and looked at a couch in front of him;

''Sit ''

He said, and she walked calmly to the couch in front of him and sat down, her hands on her laps; Nicklaus gazed at her for a while.

If he had not ordered her to be locked up, he would have doubted that she was locked up; because this woman in front of him did not look angry at all.

Clearing his throat, he put the tablet aside;

''I hope you've learnt your lessons... ''

''Yes Mr. Nicklaus, I've learnt my lessons and I assure you, nothing like that would ever happen again.''

Tiana replied, cutting him off. Nicklaus was stunned, his lips was still half-open;

Was she insane?

Did something happen to her back in the basement?

Nicklaus wondered as he stared at the small woman in front of him; there was something different about her, it was as though she was no longer afraid of him.

He stared at her for a while longer, and seeing that there was no obvious anger in her expression, he asked;

''Do you have anything to say? ''

Nicklaus asked; why was he suddenly getting uneasy? He wanted her to scream at him or cuss him, so he would have a reason to inflict pain but she was not doing any of those things, rather she was obedient.

Tiana was quiet for a moment, her eyes blank as though thinking about something;

''I want to look for a job, if you would not mind. ''

She said curtly, her voice low. Nicklaus was surprised.

That was what she wanted to ask?

Wasn't she concerned about that man anymore?

Or did she lose a part of her brain?

A week ago, she could sacrifice her life for him, but here in front of him, she didn't even bring him up.

He gazed at her for a moment, to be sure he had heard correctly;

Seeing that she would not say any other thing, he leaned back on the couch and asked;

''What do you need a job for? You have everything you need here. ''

Tiana thought for a moment; and picking her words appropriately, she replied;

''I'm sure I won't stay here forever, Mr. Nicklaus, soon, you won't be needing me anymore, I need to have something to fall back on, if you don't mind. ''

She replied calmly, her body not moving an inch.

Nicklaus watched her intently;

If she was pretending to not feel a thing, he needed to push the right button to make her flip;

And what other way to make someone flip if not by using what she hated the most;

''Okay, if that's what you want. I'll pay you to be my personal assistant then; ''

Tiana felt her ear stand erect at his statement; her whole body froze at a spot.

She knew what he wanted;

He knew she disgusted everything about him and making her his personal assistant, required her seeing his face every time, which would be torturing to her, and there was no way a sane person would agree to that, not after what he did to her;

But the question is…

Was she sane?

Tiana stared at Nicklaus for a moment, she did not say a word; and just when Nicklaus thought she would reject his offer, she said;

''Okay, how much is my pay? ''

The smirk which was almost on his face paled instantly; he did not think that she would accept his offer, he had expected her to react or disagree but she had shocked him,

She had not changed her sitting position; neither did her expression show any sign of anger, rather she was smiling!

Nicklaus fisted his palms, almost on the verge of exploding;

What is wrong with this woman!

He cussed in his head, but he did well to hide it;

''You know what you are getting into, right?''

He asked, crossing his legs, he raised a brow;

Tiana's lips slanted and her eyes narrowed at him;

''As long as you pay me, I'll do whatever you want ''

Nicklaus was amazed by her sudden audaciousness; but he was sure she was just trying to seem bold,

He knew her, she was just a weak, trembling soul, and she was trying so hard to mask it;

A smirk appeared on his lips as a thought came into his mind;

''Whatever I want? ''

He asked again and Tiana replied immediately without a second thought;

''Yes, Mr. Nicklaus, whatever you want. ''

''Alright then, I want you to strip yourself and go lie down on the bed. ''

He did not have any thought of touching her; he just wanted to see her reaction. But what Tiana did next shocked him.