Page 68 of In Love with a Ruthless Man

“N-no, I’m not.” Fawn scowled as hard as she could, but Igor’s next words proved that it did no good.

“I shall tell the master you’re pleased at being called his very special lady—-”

“No!”

“Very, very pleased,” Igor interpreted her protest as such.

“Igor, you’reevil, too!” And before the prince’s right-hand man could torment her further, Fawn rushed inside the bathroom and slammed the door shut behind her.

She squeezed her eyes shut.

She wasnotpleased at being called the prince’s special lady.

She was not!

And yet her cheeks remained flushed as she stepped into the tub, which was filled with hot, rose-scented water.

Evil prince, evil right-hand man, this was definitely the house of evil!

Fawn took her time bathing and only stepped out of the tub when she was absolutely sure her cheeks were flushed from the steam and not from anything else. Coming out of the bathroom, Fawn was surprised to see Paula bent over the bed.

“Paula—-”

The brunette turned around, Fawn’s pajamas in her hands. “Hi,signorina.”

Fawn blinked. “What are you doing with those?”

“Readying it for you?”

“What?” She rushed to the other girl with a shake of her head. “You don’t have to do that—-” Fawn stopped dead at her friend’s suddenly grim look. “P-Paula?”

“I thought Igor was joking, but I guess not,signorina.”

“W-what are you talking about?”

“The prince specifically chose me to be your personal maid,signorina.”

“I don’t want that!”

Paula’s lips pursed in visible disappointment. “And here I thought you were still my friend,signorina.”

“You are,” she insisted.

“Are you speaking the truth,signorina?”

“Yes!”

“Then...why don’t you want me as your personal maid?” Paula took a step towards her. “Why don’t you want me to have this amazing promotion—-” Paula took another step forward, “—-which pays more for less work?”

When Paula closed the distance between them, Fawn did her best to resist the urge to lean back, asking weakly, “A-are you saying you w-want me to be my personal maid?”

Paula smiled sweetly at her.

“Oh. Umm. Okay?”

“Yay!” Paula pulled her up. “I knew it, you’re still my friend,signorina.” She gave Fawn a quick hug. “Now, I’ve readied your pajamas, and once you’re done, please go to the master’s room, he’s waiting for you there.”

Evil bullies.It was all Fawn could think as she watched Paula cheerfully attend to her task. That was the exact term for it, and this house was full of them.

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