"Jonathon, I have something very important to tell you," Renz began. Jonathon sighed.
"What is it, Mr. Wolfenbarger?" he asked. Renz squeezed Lena's panties in his fist, safely hidden in his pocket.
"I am no longer interested in collecting money from you, Jonathon," Renz replied. Jonathon began growing angry, and his pale, wrinkled face reddened.
"What is it that you want from me? I am an old man, I am tired and I am weary!" Jonathon exclaimed. Renz raised his hand, hoping to silence the man before he himself changed his mind about this uncharacteristic path he was about to go down: compromise.
"What I mean is...I have decided to cancel what you owe. But I realize that I am not the only lord you are indebted to, and your estates and assets are still very vulnerable. I would like to help you," Renz continued. Jonathon stared at him open-mouthed.
"I thought I explained to you that Lena is not for sale," Jonathon replied curtly. Renz did his best to keep his features composed, and feigned an expression of dismay.
"Lena? Oh, that maid...my words were merely the impulsive musings of a man noticing a pretty face. I meant nothing by them," Renz said. Jonathon eyed him suspiciously.
"She's also much too skinny for my taste," Renz added. Renz observed Jonathon, noting the way his face shifted as thoughts went through his mind. He didn't seem fully convinced, but he did seem satisfied with the answers Renz gave him, for the time being.
"You've truly had a change of heart, Mr. Wolfenbarger?" Jonathon asked. Renz nodded.
"I have. I know that you and my father had a longstanding relationship of a much more...amiable nature. I wish to honor his legacy," Renz replied. Jonathon's expression softened.
"Your father was a very good man, indeed," Jonathon said. Renz smiled, a perfectly composed lie across his face. He tried not to grimace at the memory of the man he knew not as father, but as the violent Johann Wolfenbarger.
"That he was," Renz answered. For the first time, Jonathon smiled.
"I am certainly not as cunning of a businessman as he was...and I realize I do owe you a great deal...you truly have no further interest in acquiring the money?" Jonathon asked. Renz chuckled.
"The sum you owe would seem as mere pocket change in comparison to my other debtors. Money does not mean very much to me anymore, Jonathon," Renz replied truthfully.
"Money and power are supposed to be the most important things to a business man. What is important to you, then? Love?" Jonathon asked, chuckling on the end.
Renz thought for a moment, unprepared for the question. Money didn't mean anything to him anymore. Power didn't mean anything. Love, especially, didn't mean anything to him. These ideas were fleeting, empty, and ephemeral.
But the passion he felt for Lena, the very tangible, magnetic pull his body exhibited towards hers, was attraction in its purest form. It was animal instinct. It was as if every aspect of Lena had been specifically designed to tempt his every desire. He didn't know how long the feeling would last, but it was strong enough to pursue, at least for the moment. That was important.
"I'm sure I will discover that soon enough," Renz said eventually. Jonathon nodded thoughtfully.
"I hope you will. You will not be a young man for much longer," Jonathon replied. Renz couldn't help but laugh, looking at the nearly decrepit man that was calling him old.
"I suppose that is true. Back to business, however...I thought I might extend my stay. I wouldn't want to ruin this week's festivities, but I believe we should have an additional few days to discuss how we are going to repair your assets," Renz said. The older man's eyes filled with joy.
"An excellent idea! An additional week, at least, for us to make plans?" Jonathan queried. Renz nodded, trying to quell the thrill he felt shoot through his body at the guarantee of at least an additional seven days inside of Lena.
"An additional week sounds splendid," Renz replied.
And splendid it would be, Renz thought as he wandered around the dark and quiet manor. He decided against retiring back to his suite, for he knew that he wouldn't be able to sleep. He was far too excited. But beyond the feeling of excitement was something stronger...relief. He was relieved to know that he could still enjoy Lena for seven days on top of the five he already had remaining with her. He'd found a way to buy more time with her. Surely, after twelve days of having her body, he would be able to get her out of his system.
In the back of his mind, however, Renz knew that twelve days would not be enough. He had never been a man to settle for less than what he truly wanted, and what Renz wanted was Lena, as his property, completely independent of Sterling Manor. He wanted to own her.
Renz knew he needed to find a way to take her away from Jonathon, permanently. But the old man had an unusual attachment to the young maid, and had expressed strange protective behavior that puzzled Renz.
Acquiring Lena would be difficult, but Renz was ready for the challenge.
Lena didn't sleep that night. Her eyes were raw and puffy from her tears, and her body felt more sore and tender than ever. The soreness, however, had nothing to do with Renz's rough grip and forcefulness upon her flesh. This sensitivity was from the climax she'd experienced on top of him that had shaken her to her very core. Lena stayed in the same fetal position, not because she was in pain, but because her body felt so...contented. She was worn out from physical bliss, and she lacked the willpower to move. There was no denying that what she'd experienced tonight was definite pleasure, and she hated Renz for drawing it out of her.
It was only when the rays of morning light began to illuminate her small room that Lena began to feel tired. Groggily, she resisted the sudden urge to sleep and crawled off of her bed.
Lena sat in the kitchens for breakfast with the other chambermaids in a daze. She was aware of the inquisitive eyes on her, the whispers about her, but it wasn't enough to inspire her to care. She couldn't force herself to smile and put on a bright face. She was simply too exhausted.
Lena knew how dreadful and disheveled she looked. She was fully aware of the dark circles beneath her eyes, the paleness of her skin, heightened by the darkening bruises upon her neck. She knew she looked frightened and tired. And she knew that the fellow chambermaids, the women she'd grown up with, were concerned about her. She felt a pain go through her chest at the thought of these women discovering the truth about the whore she had allowed herself to become.
She gathered a small amount of boiled meal in her spoon and brought it to her mouth. She separated her lips and felt the pull of her cheeks, and was instantly reminded of precisely what she had done with her mouth the night before.
"Just use your tongue and lick me."
She heard his voice in her mind with such clarity, it was almost as if he'd spoken directly in her ear. A chill went up her spine at the memory of his low, powerful voice. The spoon slipped from her fingers and dropped heavily in her bowl, spilling meal all over the table.
She swallowed hard, suddenly shockingly aware of the newly sensitive flesh at the back of her throat. Her cheeks reddened as her distractedness and clumsiness began reflecting on the faces of the other chambermaids. They were watching her. They were judging her. They knew exactly what she was doing at night.
Lena's heart pounded in her chest as she frantically searched the faces of the other maids, paranoid that they somehow did know about what she had done with Renz.
"Are you all right, Lena?" someone asked. The voice sounded far away, not truly there. It might have been Marie, or maybe it was Isobel. Perhaps even Margarite. Lena felt distanced and detached, and the only thing that was real was the beastly memory of what she had done with Renz.
"Dear lord, I think she might faint." That voice sounded even more distant and unrecognizable. Lena's heart pounded faster in her chest as the maids continued staring at her inquisitively. Her head felt heavy, and suddenly the room felt very hot as her anxiety increased exponentially. A sweat broke out across her forehead, and Lena put her hand on the table, in an attempt to steady herself.
"Quick, catch her before she falls!" a frantic voice shouted.
Lena slipped off of her stool and tumbled into a realm of unconsciousness.
"Lena? Lena, dear?"
Lena opened her eyes, surprised to find Marie staring back at her.
