Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 36: Back to him [2]

Chapter 36: Back to him [2]

Beep.

The gate opened automatically. Knox cautiously stepped inside, glancing around the whole area. The front yard was almost as large as a baseball court. Knox grimaced upon seeing the long path before him.

There was an elevated bean-shaped swimming pool on the left side with pool parasols lined with lounges underneath; a garden grotto on the front corner next to the gates, a small golf course on the right side; and on the middle where Knox stood was a cobbled pathway wide enough for a car to pass, decorated with street lamps on and square-shaped bushes on both sides.

From his position, the small image of the mansion from the distance was already tiring his knees out.

"I should have borrowed Athan’s car if I knew this damned place would be this big. But then he’ll ask me where I’m going...haa..."

Just going in and out of that place will consume his time already. The Saturdays and off work hours he should be spending with his son will be wasted on pacifying that man.

Luis forwarded him the schedule he needs to follow while serving Azrael. There are new sets of rules and warnings, which he memorized so as to not upset the cranky master of that mansion.

Finally, he arrived at the entrance door. The house was a four-story building made up mostly of steel and transparent glass, and it spans as wide as a basketball court.

When Luis gave him the address, he was surprised to see it wasn’t a unit in an expensive apartment complex or a penthouse in an exclusive residential building, but a villa in a high-end and exclusive subdivision.

"Maybe this will be their house..." Knox murmured, imagining Azrael’s marriage life with his fiancée. He suddenly didn’t want to come in anymore. He breathed out loudly and was about to press the doorbell again but before he could do, the metal door already clicked and slightly opened.

He walked in and couldn’t help but be amazed at the contemporary designed interior. The first floor was an open plan. Just a few steps in from the entrance, he could already see the spacious living room, the sparkling dining room, and the kitchen.

An L-shaped staircase in the living room, and a man standing at the last step, wearing a grey tee shirt and loose-fit black sweatpants, with his hands in his pockets and eyes on the entrance.

Knox froze. Azrael tilted his head and ran his eyes on his entire figure, from his toes back to his face without speaking. After that, he walked and sat on the armrest of the U-shaped grand sofa, crossing his feet, and without pulling his hands.

"You’re late," Azrael looked at his Rolex, "More than five minutes."

Knox inwardly grumbled and answered, "I arrived on time. It took me more than five minutes to walk from the gates to here."

"Then, next time, run," Azrael answered sardonically. He cocked his head toward the kitchen and grumbled, "I’m hungry. Cook. I want my meal within thirty. I want a full course."

Knox gaped with disbelief, "You expect me to prepare that within thirty minutes?!"

"You can’t?" Azrael asked while nodding his head, "Then, let’s see in court."

"If you agreed to let me compensate you with money, then, sure, I’ll see you," Knox replied with a hopeful look.

But the man before him seemed to enjoy seeing him suffer, so he smirked and shook his head, "I see the little omega bragging his money now, huh. Horace must be paying you well for your services."

Azrael chuckled, his eyes looking at Knox maliciously, hiding the glint of anger that ignited from his own words. He stood and walked to Knox who flinched from every step he took. At last, he stopped just a step away from Knox and dropped his chilling gaze at him.

"I’m already being lenient with you, aren’t I? Your job here is to cook for me, clean the house, and do errands. If you can’t even do that, then why do I have to continue with this agreement? I could just simply throw you out. I’m sure you can just stay at least six months in jail, surrounded by lowlifes that will go wild at just a whiff of your scent."

Knox bit his lower lip. He repressed the urge to hurl back a reply and just quietly stood there, glaring at Azrael.

The alpha leaned and grabbed his chin, "Stop spreading your pheromones everywhere, little tiger. I don’t like it."

He let Knox go and sat on the stool at the breakfast nook, and gawped at Knox, waiting for him to take action.

Knox clenched his trembling hands. It was already hard for him to restrain himself from throwing his body to Azrael, but because the man was unaware of their incomplete bond, he couldn’t tell him directly to stay away from him.

Knowing Azrael, he would probably bother him more if he said that.

’Five months. I only need to do this for five months,’ Knox calmed himself.

He walked to the kitchen and opened the freezer. The first thing he did was to check if there was anything in his refrigerator except bottled water and canned beer. Thankfully, there was something inside other than drinks.

He prepared Azrael’s full course meal while ignoring his intense gaze boring into him. He was uncomfortable and edgy, but Azrael did nothing and just watched him silently.

"What the hell is this? Are you kidding me?"

Knox frowned. Azrael was poking his masterpiece while glaring at it like it was something disgusting. He lifted his head and expected an answer. Knox cleared his throat and spoke, "A full course. A chicken sandwich spread for the appetizer and chicken soup, braised chicken wings for the main course, and sliced and sweetened boiled eggs for dessert."

Azrael glared at him. So, he added, "Chicken and eggs is all you have, besides drinks."

"I have a pantry."

Knox, "...you didn’t mention. You were watching me since the beginning and you didn’t even care to tell. I’m done preparing your breakfast, so I’m going to clean the house now."

Azrael grabbed the sandwich and took a bite. His face contorted from the sourness of the leaking mayonnaise spread inside. He swallowed his food and drank water. His eyes glazed over the unheard dessert of sliced boiled eggs drowning in oyster sauce sprinkled with freshly chopped chives.

"Can you even call this a dessert?" He grouched and pushed the plate away. Then, he stood from his seat and ordered, "Follow me."

"You’re not eating?" Knox asked, glancing back at the table as he followed Azrael behind.

The man sneered. He guided Knox to the back of the house where the service areas were. He stopped by the door and pushed Knox inside.

"Do the laundry first. I want them clean and dry before lunch."

With that, he spun and walked away, leaving Knox in the middle of two mountains of white sheets, curtains, clothes, and even rags. He scratched his head and sighed exasperatedly. Even when he was living alone, he had never piled and washed that many clothes!

He picked one shirt and slightly smelled it.

"This shirt smells brand new."

The clothes weren’t dirty at all, even the linens looked clean and smelled okay. He segregated the clothes and started throwing them on the washing machine, took them out once they were all dry, and then folded them in and set them aside.

He repeated the same routine, unconcerned of the time passing. Once everything was finished, he tidied the area and left. His phone rang and his Athan’s number was registered.

"Where are you? I heard from Franz you left Knoa at the café again. Did you go on a date?" Athan said as soon as he answered.

"No. I just...have to do something today. But why did you call? Is there something you need?"

Athan went silent. Knox furrowed his brows in wonder. He heard Athan sigh from the other line. Then, he spoke after a while, his voice laced with hesitation, "About tomorrow’s dinner. The family will get together, so I...uhm, asking if you’d like to come."

Knox’s gripped the phone tightly. He forced a smile as if Athan could see him, "My presence will probably just ruin your family’s dinner, A."

"You’re family as well, Knox. Besides, I asked him if you could come, and he didn’t refuse."

Knox’s smile crooked, "But he didn’t say anything either, right?"

Athan went speechless. So, Knox continued, "You know I would just get ignored, and I don’t want Knoa to be subjected to their...curious gazes."

Athan sighed, "I see. It’s a pity. I just thought you’d be able to help me lighten Althea’s mood. You know she likes you and Knoa, she was just...having a hard time these days."

Althea was Athan’s older sister who just got divorced from her husband. He felt sad, but he was reluctant to bring Knoa into that household. "I’m sorry, A."

He ended the call and stared at the door blankly for a few minutes. When his eyes strayed to the side where a wall clock was ticking, his eyes widened after noticing the time.

He needs to prepare lunch! Knox hurriedly ran to the kitchen. He abruptly stopped after seeing that the plates on the table were cleaned. Everything was eaten and not a crumb was even left.

He slowly walked closer to check if there was a cat or a mouse that managed to enter and devour his food, but his eyes caught another thing instead.

From where he stood, only the slippers above the armrest of the sofa in the living room were what he could see. Knox carefully trod over and witnessed Azrael’s sleeping face.

He was breathing soundly while his arms folded above his chest, and his feet that still wearing slippers were crossed and resting above the armrest.

"He really looks like a nice person when he’s asleep," Knox murmured. His feet unconsciously moved and stopped before Azrael. He stared at him freely, his eyes tracing the contours of Azrael’s face.

Unknowingly, his pheromones inflated and flowed out. Azrael stirred in his sleep, and Knox jolted from his sudden groaning. He frantically took a step back and dared to move away. However, his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip, and before he knew it, he was yanked forward, and a strong arm wrapped around his waist.