"I'll talk!" I quickly stop him from doing whatever he was about to do with his phone.
Richie raises an eyebrow, clearly amused.
"You sure?" he asks, his voice dropping a bit.
"Yes, I'm sure!" I respond, feeling my heart race.
"Alright then." He smirks and steps closer, making me nervous.
"I... I'm Nare," I stammer, hoping this won't be the end of me.
"Nare, huh? Interesting name. So, tell me, why are you always so scared?" Richie's tone is playful yet laced with curiosity.
I swallow hard, unsure how to answer him.
"I... I've been through a lot," I say quietly, my eyes cast downward.
"Like what?" Richie presses, his voice softening for a moment.
"Things I can't really talk about," I murmur.
Richie's eyes narrow as he watches me closely.
"Fair enough," he says, his voice now cold again. "But don't think you're getting out of here that easily. We're locked in, remember?"
I look around the room in a panic, realizing that the automatic lock isn't going to let us out without help.
"How long do we have to stay here?" I ask, hoping he knows the way out.
"As long as it takes for someone to open the door," Richie replies, his smirk returning. "But we could make the best of it, don't you think?"
I blink at him in confusion.
"What do you mean?"
He steps closer, and for a moment, I feel an odd sense of unease mixed with curiosity.
"We could talk," Richie suggests, his gaze intense. "You seem interesting. Not like the other maids."
I look at him warily, unsure of how to respond.
"I... I don't know what to say," I admit.
Richie laughs softly, the sound rich and dark.
"Don't worry, Nare," he says. "I'm not here to make things difficult for you. But I can't help but notice how different you are."
I step back slightly, instinctively avoiding the intensity of his gaze.
"I'm nothing special," I reply quickly, lowering my head. "I'm just a maid here, nothing more."
He watches me for a long moment before nodding slowly.
"Alright," Richie says, his voice softening a bit. "But remember, not everyone here is as they seem."
I look up at him, confused by his cryptic words.
"What do you mean?" I ask.
He doesn't answer immediately, but after a long pause, he turns and walks toward the far corner of the room, his back now to me.
"It's just that sometimes, things aren't as simple as they appear. But you'll learn that soon enough," Richie mutters, his voice low.
I don't know what he means, but I feel a sense of foreboding creeping in.
A silence falls over us, and I can't help but feel uneasy. This isn't just some random encounter. Something is off, and I don't know if I'm ready to uncover it.
But I have no choice but to wait... to see where this strange situation leads.
The hours tick by slowly, and eventually, someone arrives to unlock the door.
I don't say anything to Richie as I leave the room, but I can feel his eyes on me the entire time.
What did he mean? What did he know that I didn't?
For now, I have no answers. But I have a feeling my life is about to change, in ways I could never have imagined.
"Should I stare back or run away??
What if Mhesha catches me???
Oh God, what do I do???
Because Sir Rich is coming closer to me!!!"
Mhesha is not going to take it lightly if she finds out.
I breathed in and out, holding the knob lightly. Even if it wouldn't open, it should at least be my shield for now.
Rich stopped moving closer when he noticed I was visibly shaking. Then, he went and sat on a low pub chair.
I was a little bit relieved.
I turned back and met him staring at my hands, the way they rested on the knob.
"Nanare, you're just wasting your time. If only you knew how opportuned you are," he spoke slowly. My heartbeat subsided a little.
"How am I opportuned?
How did he even get to know my name?"
I wondered, terrified.
"You're a twin," he said and loosened his red bandana.
"Nooo, don't find out about me!!
Finding out about me will only cause me and my twin more troubles!"
I spoke back. He kept quiet and rubbed his temples.
"Why is it that you're always scared whenever I'm around you?
Is my wealth too pronounced? Am I too harsh or what?" he asked. I didn't even know what to answer him.
"Or should I tell him about Mhesha and Lisha?"
I closed my eyes, not knowing what to say.
When I opened them, I met him standing in my presence.
"Appa, stop!!!
Sir Rich, don't take off your rings and expensive wristwatch!!"
I mumbled. He wasn't answering.
"Nare, let me get you educated.
I don't want to disappoint my dad and the entire citizens of India at large. Just let me educate you because of my movie script!!
I promise nothing will come between us in the course of doing that.
No intimacy,
No relationship between us!!!
Just make my script complete!!"
Sir Rich started begging me. I felt cold shivers running down my spine. It felt exactly as if ice was dropped on my skin pores.
I opened my mouth to say something, but my words were floating.
"Don't worry, I will protect you!
No one will find out that you're with me," Richie said, making another big bang recreate itself in my memory.
For a start, I realized he was standing in front of me and was even holding my hands.
"How soon??"
I hijacked my hands from his grip.
"I'm not interested!!!
I'm not doing it!!
It's not my wish, neither is it where I belong!!"
I replied.
I rushed to the door — it was still locked.
"I know this is a trap for you to get me...
I should come and... be... appearing in your... scripts!!!
What if wicked villains come running to get me...?
We can't fool everybody!!"
I said. He kept quiet and wasn't saying anything.
Just then, the door opened.
A cute young guy came in; it looked like he came looking for Sir Rich.
"Sir, is it going the way we planned?" he asked Rich.
"Alberto, it's not. She's more strong-headed than I thought. She's not gonna allow me to use her for ENCHANTED," Richie replied him.
The guy faced me and sighed.
"Nare, do you know this is an opportunity for you?!
With Richie begging you, it's an even greater opportunity!!"
he said. I dropped my head down.
"If that's the case...
Richie, you need to put all hands on deck because KD (another Diamond member) is now in India, probably wanting to take your rightful possessions.
You need to trend smarter now because the whole of India is now at your feet!!"
Alberto said. Richie wasn't saying anything.
Alberto faced me; I looked away.
"I understand you and your plight, but this is still not the end of the world!!"
he said. I nodded my head negatively because I still wouldn't agree.
Me that I'm still recovering from the beating Mhesha and Alisha gave me!
"I'm not doing it!!
I'm not even interested a bit!!"
I lied and quickly made my way to the door.
"Are you sure you're not interested?"
Richie's voice came up in a soft whisper.
I didn't reply.
"Rich, I'm sure she has made up her mind," Alberto said.
"I'm not asking you, I'm asking her!!"
Richie said bluntly and stared at me.
"Are you interested?"
he asked, waiting for an answer.
"Nothing is gonna happen to you!!
You will be staying in the Enchanted Mansion!!
I will buy many clothes and expensive things for you!!
Anything you wish for will be yours!"
Sir Rich started begging me.
"Nare, please!!!!!
100 zillion is not a small money, not to even talk of the fame and popularity that will follow!"
Alberto said and went on his knees.
"Say yes!!!"
Alberto pleaded.
"Hunnnn...
I'm not sure I will cope...
What about my twin sister?"
I asked.
"Mhesha won't do anything to her!!"
Alberto replied, still on his knees.
"Okay... yes!"
I finally breathed out.
Alberto stood up while Richie slammed his forehead and exchanged puzzled glances with Alberto.
The two smiled.
It seemed they understood each other better.
"Okay, follow me!!"
Rich commanded.
Like a fool in Christian doom, I followed him, forgetting that I had issues with Mhesha.
He took another direction that would lead to the last floor.
"Sir, this is not where I passed earlier. It's this way!!"
I objected.
"All the same, just follow me!"
he ordered.
I stopped and didn't follow him.
"How do I tell him that I don't know how to climb long stairs??"
"Any problem?"
he arched his brows.
"Nothing!"
I replied and managed to get to where he was with shaking legs.
"Sorry, my legs are not as strong as yours," I said.
He nodded and took my hand.
"Your walk is taking long. Should I carry you?" he asked.
"No!"
I replied and climbed the stairs slowly till we got to the last floor, straight to the parking lot.
Beside his car, a red car was parked.
As we got closer, the person in the other car stepped out. He was wearing spectacles.
On his clothes was inscribed KD.
He smirked at Richie.
"Richie, it's never written in the Diamond rules to speak nor walk with commoners, not to even talk of using them in what we do!!!"
he said. Richie blinked his lashes.
"I belong to the Miles, not the Diamonds...
I only bear Diamond in my name because the Indian citizens felt that's what it should be!!
They really look up to me and hold me in high esteem!"
Richie replied. KD couldn't say anything.
"Nare, meet me in the car!!"
Rich ordered.
"If you know who you are, follow him!!"
KD seethed.
I didn't move.
It just felt as if my feet were glued to the floor.
"Nare, I'm talking to you!!"
Rich stretched forth his hand.
"Okay sir!!!"
I replied and walked closer so I could take his hand.
I was quick to fix my hand into his.
"Not so fast!!!!"
KD shouted and separated me from Richie by yanking my left hand.
Richie wasn't saying anything;
he just smiled.
I knew right from time that this was the beginning of trouble.
I just pray it won't last long...