A Hurt So Sweet Volume One (Elite of Eden Falls Prep 1)

She crosses her arms and I furrow my brows at her.

"Belle, do I need to remind you who you work for?" I ask her sweetly. "It seems to me like you're forgetting your place. I'm sure my father wouldn't be very happy to hear about this."

She sneers at me, and I raise an eyebrow, demanding she answer me.

"I'll see if he's free," she mutters, sounding displeased.

"I'll come with you," I purr.

She hesitates, then practically runs out of my room and attempts to lock the door behind her. I let out an outraged cry and burst through the door before she can lock me back in.

I half-walk, half-sprint down the hallway until I reach my father's office. The door is closed, but I can hear voices coming from inside. He's talking to someone.

Belle catches up with me, trying to catch her breath. Her eyes are panicked as they meet mine.

"Please, Miss Lily Anna," she begs, but I interrupt her by holding up my hand.

"I t

old you not to call me that," I hiss at her. "It seems like you can't even follow simple instructions. Just leave me to speak to him alone."

"I can't do that," she admits, biting her bottom lip, her eyes darting around the hallway. "Please, Miss, don't go in there."

"Why not?"

I don't get why she's so fucking worried. Even if my father's in there with someone, it's probably just one of his business associates. And I have every right to talk to him. Some maid can't order me around. Nobody can.

I knock on the door twice to the sound of Belle's groan, then open the door and walk inside my father's office.

What I see makes me recoil in disgust.

"What... what are you doing?" I ask, my voice shaking with terror as I take in the scene unfolding before me. "What are you doing to her?"

My father looks up at me, and I barely recognize him anymore. He's changed into a different person. His gaze is crazed, his pupils incredibly dilated. His body is vibrating, and the veins are standing out on his forehead and forearms. The sleeves of his oxford shirt have been pushed up, exposing inches of toned flesh.

Before him, my new friend, Mignonette, is splayed out on his desk. She's leaning against it on her belly, her arms held behind her back at the wrists. Her maid uniform is pulled up, exposing her naked butt which is blooming with bruises and redness as far as I can see.

"What the fuck?" I cry out again when nobody answers me. "What is happening?"

My father smirks, giving Minnie's ass a firm slap that makes her yelp out in pain.

"Get yourself together, girl."

She shoots up, and I realize her mother is watching this. I turn over my shoulder while a burning-up Minnie smoothes her dress and fixes her hair.

"You knew about this?" I ask her, feeling outraged. "What he's... making her do?"

She stares at me with a cold, unyielding gaze.

"She's my daughter," she bites back, defensive. "And he pays us well. I know what's best for her."

"She's seven-fucking-teen!" I cry out, rushing to Minnie's side and taking her trembling hand. "Are you okay, Minnie? Do you want me to do something?"

I wonder whether Brazen knows about this.

"What now?" my father finally speaks up, his voice bored. "I'm busy.”

His nonchalant attitude is making me gape at him. He doesn’t even care that I caught him.