His Devious Rule

Alvin was busy rearranging his whole month schedule and canceling some appointments, visiting excavation sites, and his auction banquets due to the Young Mommy at his place. He wanted to be double sure her life won't be in any kind of danger before he steps away from her even for a day.

His mobile rang on the desk grabbing both men's attention. Alvin answered it on speaker while his long fingers danced on his keyboard swiftly while typing an email.

There came the butler's voice, [Mr. Matthews, President Collins is here to visit you. He is requesting to see the lady. I have stopped him as the lady is in your bedroom.]

No one is allowed inside his bedroom without his permission excluding the butler and the housekeeper. There is another exception - The Young Mommy who hadn't realized it was Alvin's bedroom.

'The lady.' He stood up to check on 'Little Kitten.' ignoring his uncle for a moment. He shut the laptop and responded to the butler as he grabbed his mobile, "I will be there."

He walked towards the door without looking at his shocked friend. Ean's jaws were again down hearing, 'The lady is in your bedroom.'

He sprang to his feet and went behind him asking his questions, "Hey, who is that lady? Did you get yourself a feisty girlfriend? Oh no… Did she seduce you? Caught your attention? Why did you bring her home? Alvin…"

'Thud.'

Ean snorted when Alvin shut the bedroom door behind him without answering. 'I will ask Uncle Bernard.' He grunted again and went downstairs.

-----

In Alvin's bedroom,

Alvin's eyes fell on the tray that was on the tea table near the couch. He was satisfied to see Young Mommy had a healthy appetite. When his eyes fell on the bed, it was empty and his steps ceased.

He sensed the room temperature low and glanced at the white translucent drapes fluttering to the wind. His eyebrow propped up thinking she might have escaped from the balcony. 'Didn't she learn her lesson yet?'

He made his way to the balcony and caught the little white frame keeping her face against the sun. The rays of dusk painted her pink face in colors of orange. The air was taking the liberty to brush her smooth skin and sweep her silky hair away from her face. Her long lashes occasionally trembled, her soft petal-like lips were slightly parted, tempting him to take a peek at her full face without disturbing her.

She wasn't extravagantly beautiful that could race any man's heart. There was beauty in her simplicity. She was like warm morning rays of the sun and soothing colorful rays of dusk that could relax him yet excite him.

She was breathing deep and long as if enjoying her time at his place. She was a treat to his eyes. He would have enjoyed his sight for a little while if the cold wind hadn't kissed his skin and woke him from the daze.

Shifting his gaze, he caught her bare feet, standing on her toes. His brows tugged tightly and knocked on the bay window for her attention.

Anya stood on her feet and turned to the door. Her relaxing face morphed into a scowl when she faced him. After eating, she was feeling sleepy more than ever. She exited the bedroom and a maid requested her to go back to bed and sleep. When Anya still tried to leave the room, the young maid was reduced to tears and requested her again to take a rest or else she would lose the job.

Anya knew how hard it was for underprivileged families to make a living. With Alvin as a dictator of the maid, Anya sympathized with the maid and melted instantly.

Returning to the bedroom, she was checking out to find an escape but the sleepiness didn't leave her. So she was using the sun rays and cold wind to ease her after spotting the escape path.

"Does the Princess need a lullaby to sleep?" He mocked her for not going to bed.

Anyway, she scowled at him, "What did you add to my food?" After eating, she thought the drug effects would be reduced, indeed she wasn't dizzy anymore but the sleepiness worsened.

Alvin observed her little face and noticed that she was sleepy. She stifled a yawn and glared at him accusingly. "I drugged you this time." He scoffed.

Anya: "..."

She realized she was overreacting and he did nothing with food. 'Probably I ate a lot. Argh, a full stomach makes the brain dull.' It would be risky to jump to the lower floor in sleepiness.

"Lend me a car, I need to leave." She asked directly. He had no reason to keep her in the mansion when he wasn't even aware he was the biological father of her son.

Alvin leaned on the bay window crossing his arm over his chest. She had learnt her lesson and didn't run on her feet. Good. But, "Is that the tone to ask for help?" He questioned as if he was going to let her leave.

Anya pursed her lips. She was never an impolite girl but she couldn't be polite with the people who tend to take advantage of kindness. Anyway, hoping he had no reason to bully her, "Could you please lend me a car?"

Alvin hummed hearing her pleasant voice tickling his ear but he suddenly started glancing right and left, then inside the room and out. He questioned continuing to irritate her, "Did you speak to the wall?" He pointed his chin to the wall.

Anya glowered at him, "Alvin Matthews, you are going too far." He didn't recognize her so how could he just bully an unknown lady? He was so infuriating.

His lips curled to a taunting smirk that she craved to wipe off from his arrogant face. He mused, "Don't you think my name flows so smoothly on your lips?" His Little kitten stumbled to the little pit he dug for her. She was smart but not shrewd enough to play him or understand his petty tricks.

Anya's face stiffened hearing him. Why didn't she know he was so cunning? She felt like a little lamb falling on her face. 'Argh, not again.' At this rate, 'I will end up revealing my identity... Probably he is already digging up my details.' She guessed.

Nevertheless, she didn't leave her bearing and glared at him fiercely while thinking of an alternative plan.

The feisty lady wasn't going to be gentle so soon and he wasn't in a hurry to dig into the responses to his questions. He mocked her again for her sweet request, "I didn't know you were craving to die in a road accident."

Anya was about to counter but pressed down her anger. 'Who am I arguing with?' She knows he will have his way with everything. She toned her voice and sounded indifferent, "Where is this place?"

Alvin could guess she was asking to escape on her feet and to confirm if she needed a vehicle to flee. He promptly responded, "Hill Valley." He saw her face lose its color in disappointment.

Hill Valley was the most prestigious regency on the outskirts of the city. Without permission, no one was allowed inside excluding the residents or permitted people. The monthly security and maintenance cost of each house costs her yearly income. Calling them rich was an understatement.

So hailing the taxi or getting a private vehicle into the regency was just a dream. Unless somebody pities her on the road and gives her a ride to the city. Even if she managed to walk away, she will have to walk for hours to get out of the regency.

'If I need to leave on my feet, I should get rid of sleepiness. Argh… And I need better clothes too. I will just steal from his wardrobe.'

She tried to be smart, "Since you saved me, I won't pursue you for breaking into my house..."

Alvin cut her off, "Interesting way to escape."

Should I kick him in the balls again?' She clenched her teeth, for being seen through before she could even finish.

She tried again to outsmart him. Her head dropped and she started sulking as if she was going to burst into tears.

Alvin: "..."

He could see her clenching teeth, probably gritting too. However, her sullen face somehow worked to put his arrogance at bay. His voice was magnetic and calm when he took a step and tugged her inside. "Take a nap, we will talk later." He had a lot to ask about the situation at her work and Harper.

Anya already learnt her body should be in condition to fight him and the weather. So she was willing to listen to him. But she didn't like him touching her or holding her again and again.

Arguing with the stone wall is better than him. So she obediently followed him and saw him lift the duvet and turn to her. He was silently commanding her to get on the bed.

His actions reminded her of her father. Her father used to drag her to the bed so that she could catch some sleep instead of staring into the screen all night while she used to repeat, 'Five minutes, Dad, I will sleep.'

She suddenly missed those days. Care-free, spoiled, irresponsible days. Now she has a little one to take care of and be a good mother, a lovely friend to her son and partner in crime.

She got into the bed, pulled the duvet but sat up in a jerk, "I need to make a call."

Alvin recalled her son, "Your son?" Then he briefed what was going on in the city, "It's not safe for both of you. Harper's men are tracking every detail about you... Where are your son and parents right now? I will arrange for their stay." He genuinely wanted to make sure they were safe for her sake.

,m Only Anya knew how her heart shuddered for a second hearing 'Your son.' By his expression, she knew he was normally mentioning it. Being relaxed, "You know I have a son and he is with my parents. You didn't mention a husband so you are also aware of my marital status." She patiently elaborated so that he couldn't bring up an excuse and then questioned, "Then why don't know my name?"

Alvin looked outside without answering her question. When Linus was orally giving the details to Alvin, Linus mentioned 'Young Mommy,' He didn't bother asking name so he knew those details except her name. He realized she was also noticing his words and behavior just like him.

Anya continued, "If you are…"

He cut her off, "Keep speaking, I won't lend you a car."

Anya pouted. She would anyway get to know his motives once she gets out of his place. So she slid under the duvet and mumbled the response to his question about her son and parents, "I sent them to a safe place yesterday." Only her father was aware of the risk she was in so he pretended to her mother about planning a trip and left quickly.

Alvin couldn't understand why she was hiding about herself from him. She wasn't saying her name or about the family. He felt like an idiot for not checking her name. "They could be traced." He tried to scare her.

He heard her faint voice coming under the duvet, "I erased all the traces." He sensed the confidence in her tone.

Since she was so sure, he didn't comment more. "Don't you think you got too comfortable in a man's bedroom on his bed?" He loomed over her, pressing his palms on either side of her.

He was expecting her to fluster, anyway, he saw her fold her leg, lifting her knees under the duvet. She reminded him how she kneed him sometime back and warned him to stay away.

He wasn't annoyed seeing her comfortable, he was curious and tried to dig another pit but she jumped. She pulled the duvet to her nose and opened her eyes to make sure he understand her. He awkwardly coughed to clear his throat as he raised his hands showing he won't do anything to her. "Rest." His voice was unexpectedly assuring and calming.

Despite indicating as she will knee him, she somewhat trusts him that he might bully her but he won't do anything to hurt her.

How does it matter if she rests there or different room when the whole mansion belongs to him?

She woke up on his bed so acting as if it was a sin would be a little overboard. More than that, she had confidence in herself. She will just break his third leg and flee.

With a determination to escape, she was closing her eyes when he helped her with the duvet to avoid suffocating, then he closed the bay window, pressed a button to cover all the blindfolds, then he turned on the faint lights in the room.

Her eyes followed him involuntarily. She remarked in a low voice, "You are surprisingly good at taking care of others." It was a genuine compliment.

Five years ago, he was the worst at caring about anybody including himself. He used to make her solve computer software problems without letting her grab lunch. She always had to get water or juice for them to stay hydrated. Even to bring those, she was using the restroom as an excuse. The insensitive jerk wasn't even noticing she was replacing empty bottles with new ones.

Alvin turned to her hearing her voice. Well, not just her actions around him, he was also surprised by himself. Nevertheless, he kept it in his own way, "A curator knows how to treasure his precious." And he was an expert curator.

He glanced at her again. He wasn't sure why he was fond of her to the extent he was willing to get his hands dirty and put himself in danger. Internally sighing, he left to meet Bernard.

Unromantic, inexperienced Anya Owen, was grumpy. 'Do I look like a painting to you? A lifeless ugly doll in a museum? You are a short-tempered, insensitive heartless jerk who should be kept in a museum. Hmph.'