My Vampire Beloved Husband
Chapter 114: Under His Command

Chapter 114: Under His Command

Rylan fell silent, his piercing gaze fixed on Rose. His expression unreadable, he didn’t say a word, just stared into her eyes. The weight of his silence was suffocating, wrapping around Rose like a thick fog.

She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, each beat sounding louder than the last. She tried to stand her ground, but her words seemed to catch in her throat. She could almost feel the tension in the air, thick and oppressive, as though the very room itself was holding its breath.

Rose, now visibly nervous, shifted her weight from one foot to the other. She didn’t want to show weakness, didn’t want him to see how much his stare unnerved her, but her body betrayed her. Her palms grew clammy, and a cold sweat formed on her neck. Despite her best efforts, she couldn’t shake the feeling that she was in a battle she couldn’t win.

Then, finally, Rylan spoke, his voice laced with mockery, each word deliberate and cutting.

"It’s really funny how you have nowhere to stay. You’re practically homeless, yet here you are, blabbering nonsense in my house."

His words hit like a slap, stinging Rose more than she expected. She opened her mouth to respond but immediately closed it again. His words were harsh, but they were true.

She had nowhere to go, nowhere else to turn. If he wanted, he could kick her out without a second thought. He had every right to do so. She was at his mercy, and the realization hit her like a punch to the gut.

Swallowing her pride, she remained silent. She bit her lip, fighting the urge to retort, to say something—anything—but she knew it would only make things worse. She had overstepped before, and now she had to live with the consequences.

Rylan continued, his tone indifferent, as if he were discussing something trivial, something that didn’t matter.

"Fine. If you want to stay in the main bedroom, you can."

Rose’s eyes flickered with a spark of hope, but she quickly smothered it. She knew exactly what he meant. The bed was his, and despite her earlier complaints, she couldn’t possibly ask him to leave it. Not after everything.

"It’s fine, Mr. Rylan," she replied, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "This place is very comfortable. Cozy, even. Wow, look at the view from this tiny window—so serene. Doesn’t look like a dog’s house at all."

Her words were soaked in mock cheerfulness, but there was no mistaking the sarcasm. She knew it, and Rylan surely did too. Her tone was biting, the words almost too sweet, laced with venom.

Rylan stared at her, his expression one of incredulity. His brows furrowed slightly, a flash of disbelief crossing his face. What was wrong with this woman? A moment ago, she seemed rational, even intimidated, but now she was acting completely irrational, aggravating him with every word. He couldn’t make sense of her. Did she really think she could get away with mocking him like this?

Without another word, he turned to leave, his patience thinning by the second.

But before he could take a step, Rose, driven by a sudden surge of courage—or maybe desperation—grabbed his arm, stopping him in his tracks.

"Not that I care or anything," she said, trying to sound nonchalant, as though she wasn’t bothered by anything he had said. "But... about this housekeeping job—what does it entail?"

Rylan smirked, clearly amused by her attempt to hide her curiosity. She was pretending not to care, but he could see right through her. He had always been able to read people easily, and Rose was no exception.

"As I mentioned earlier, you’ll be my housekeeper," he replied, his voice calm, almost casual. "You’ll clean the apartment, prepare breakfast, lunch, and dinner."

Rose’s eyes widened, her mind racing. Cleaning, cooking? She could barely boil water, let alone prepare meals. Her mouth opened to protest, but the words got stuck in her throat. She knew better than to argue now. She had no choice but to accept. Her pride was one thing, but her survival was another.

Rylan continued, as though he hadn’t noticed her internal struggle. His tone remained matter-of-fact, as though he were listing out mundane chores.

"You’ll also wake me up every morning and prepare my bath."

Rose clenched her fists, fighting the urge to lash out. This was too much. But what could she do? She had no bargaining power, no leverage. All she had was this job, this opportunity. She had to keep it together. Breathe, Rose. Don’t let him see you lose it. Just breathe.

She inhaled deeply, exhaling slowly, trying to suppress the frustration building inside her. Her hands trembled slightly, but she forced herself to steady them. The idea of helping him with his bath—of serving him in such an intimate way—sent a rush of unease through her, but she would deal with it. She had no choice.

"And your pay," Rylan added nonchalantly, as though the amount meant nothing to him, "is five hundred thousand dollars a month."

Rose’s jaw dropped. Her eyes widened, and her heart skipped a beat. Was he serious? Five hundred thousand? She could barely wrap her mind around the figure. Her pulse quickened, and for a brief moment, all the irritation she felt toward him was forgotten, replaced by the shock of what he had just said. Five hundred thousand? A month? She was going to be paid that much for doing his dirty work?

Her hands shook, but she tried to maintain her composure. She forced herself to appear calm, though the excitement bubbling inside her was almost too much to contain.

"You can’t be serious," she whispered, more to herself than to him, her voice barely audible.

Rylan smirked, leaning in slightly, his eyes gleaming with amusement.

"Do I look like I’m joking?"

The challenge in his tone was unmistakable. Rose blinked, her mind racing. The job sounded simple enough—at least on the surface. But there was one glaring issue: she couldn’t cook. Not to mention the fact that the very idea of serving him in such a personal way made her uncomfortable. But she couldn’t admit that. Not when the pay was this good.

She swallowed her pride. "I... I can handle it," she muttered, her voice hesitant but firm. "I’ll figure it out."

Rylan chuckled, a dark, knowing laugh that made her skin crawl. He seemed to find her resolve amusing, as though he could already see her struggle. He leaned in closer, his lips curling into a teasing smile.

"As for assisting with my bath," he added, his voice lowering, almost a whisper now, "that part’s optional. Unless... you want to."

Rose’s eyes widened, her stomach flipping. Her breath hitched in her throat as she stared at him, barely able to believe what he was suggesting. His words hung in the air, heavy with implication. She could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she quickly looked away, her mind reeling.

"You’re unbelievable," she muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, the shock evident in her tone.

Rylan chuckled again, the sound rich with amusement and something else—something darker. He leaned in just a little closer, his breath warm against her ear.

"Mind what you say, Rose," he warned, his voice low, a subtle threat beneath the surface. "You wouldn’t want to ruin this opportunity, would you?"

Rose shivered slightly, but she refused to let him see how much his words affected her. She was caught between fury, trapped in this strange, uncomfortable dynamic with a man who seemed to delight in making her squirm.

And then he finally spoke, his voice almost casual. "I’ll prepare the contract."

Rose’s head snapped toward him, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. A contract? For a housekeeping job? Her gaze locked with his, and she saw the glint of amusement in his eyes. But there was something else there too—something darker, more calculating. Her stomach churned as she processed his words.

"Excuse me, mister," she said sharply, her voice filled with disbelief. "This isn’t a business deal. We’re simply talking."

Rylan smirked, unbothered by her irritation. "Who knows?" he said, his voice smooth and dripping with sarcasm. "Knowing you, you’re the kind of person who could easily... do the unthinkable. It’s only smart to have proof."

Rose could hardly believe what she was hearing. A contract? Just for a housekeeping job? The absurdity of it all made her blood boil. But she couldn’t show him how angry she was. Not yet.

"This is ridiculous," she muttered under her breath, her tone laced with disdain.

But before she could say more, a thought struck her. She had to know exactly what she was getting herself into.

"Would this be a full-time or part-time position?" she asked, her voice barely hiding the unease she felt.

Rylan’s smirk widened, and for a brief moment, Rose thought she saw something akin to amusement flicker in his eyes.

"Oh, that reminds me," he said smoothly, his voice carrying a hint of satisfaction. "The payment I mentioned earlier was for part-time. Full-time pays $1,100."

Rose’s eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly. Was he serious? That amount of money was no joke. She blinked, her mind racing as the enormity of the offer settled in. Full-time? That was more than she had ever imagined she could make in a year.

"So," Rylan continued, his tone almost casual, "tell me, which would you prefer? Though I suggest you pick part-time."

Rose narrowed her eyes, catching the subtle challenge in his tone. She straightened her posture, a spark of determination lighting up her chest.

"It’s fine," she said firmly. "I’ll choose full-time."

Rylan’s smile deepened, though it didn’t quite reach his eyes. His expression was unreadable, but there was something unsettling about it. If only she knew what full-time truly entailed.

"Fine," he said with a nod, his voice calm but laced with an air of finality. "You’re hired."