It was my first day carrying out my duties as the leader of the maids. I had barely settled into the role, and already, I could feel the weight of it.
We were all gathered in the open field for the morning assignment of tasks. The chief maidservant, Morgana, stood in front of us, her eyes scanning the crowd like a hawk searching for prey. I stood among the other maids, hoping I’d go unnoticed, but I could feel her eyes land on me, and her face immediately hardened.
“Kimberly, step out of the line and come over here!” Morgana’s voice cut through the air, sharp and irritated.
Startled, I quickly stepped forward, my heart pounding as I walked toward her. As soon as I reached her, she grabbed my arm and pulled me aside, far enough that the other maids couldn’t hear our conversation.
“What do you think you’re doing, standing with the others like that? Is this how you’re going to show leadership? Is this how you’re going to command respect?” she hissed, her voice filled with frustration.
I was taken aback. I hadn’t done anything wrong-at least, I didn’t think I had. But seeing her anger made me realize that I was expected to act differently now. I had to carry myself like a leader.
“I… I didn’t mean to disrespect the position,” I stammered, trying to find the right words. “I thought-”
“Thought what?” she interrupted, her voice stern. “If you’re afraid of leading or if you can’t handle this responsibility, tell me now. Don’t waste my time.”
Her eyes bored into mine, demanding an answer. But I wasn’t going to let her or anyone else think I was weak.
“I’m not afraid of anyone,” I said firmly, straightening my posture. “I can handle it. Just tell me what you need, and I’ll do it.”
Morgana’s stern expression softened, just slightly. I saw a hint of approval in her eyes, and for the first time, she smiled-a small, rare smile.
“Good,” she said, her tone shifting. “From now on, you’ll be responsible for assigning the tasks. I’ll be here to observe, but the decisions are yours. And if anyone disrespects you or tries to undermine your authority, deal with them. Understood?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I replied, feeling a surge of confidence. I wasn’t alone in this. Morgana had my back, and that was all the support I needed.
“Thank you for trusting me with this responsibility,” I added, trying to convey my gratitude. “I won’t let you down.”
Morgana nodded and motioned for me to follow her back to the field where the other maids stood, waiting.
“Today, I’ll handle the assignments,” she said quietly as we walked. “Watch how I do it. Starting tomorrow, it’ll be your job.”
I nodded in agreement and glanced at the faces of the maids. Some of them were watching me, their expressions hard to read. I could already sense the resentment brewing in some of them. They were probably wondering why I, someone so new, had been given such authority.
Morgana began handing out the tasks, and when she finished, I noticed that I hadn’t been assigned a group. Confused, I approached her.
“Ma’am, I don’t have a group to work with,” I said cautiously, unsure if I had missed something.
She looked at me with a knowing smile. “You’re not supposed to work like them anymore. Your job is to supervise. Make sure everything is running smoothly.” She paused for a moment, then added, “But always follow your instincts. Do what you think is right.”
With that, she walked away, leaving me to figure out how to handle things on my own.
As I moved through the field, inspecting the groups, I noticed that some of the maids worked diligently, focused on their tasks. But there was another group-one that seemed to have no intention of working.
It was them-the group of troublemakers I had encountered in the canteen. I could see them standing around, laughing and talking, their tools abandoned at their feet.
My heart sank. I had hoped they wouldn’t cause trouble today, but clearly, I had been wrong. I walked over to them, trying to stay calm.
“What’s going on here? Why have you stopped working?” I asked, keeping my voice steady.
They ignored me. It was as if I hadn’t said a word. I could feel the tension building, but I wasn’t going to back down.
Liza and Kaitlyn, who had been working in another group, noticed the commotion and rushed over to stand beside me.
“Kimberly, let it go,” Liza whispered urgently. “It’s not worth it. Let’s focus on the others. They’ll eventually come around.”
But before I could respond, the leader of the group, Mohandia, stepped forward. She was tall, intimidating, and carried herself with a smug arrogance that made my skin crawl.
“We’re not working,” she said flatly, crossing her arms. “And there’s nothing you or anyone else can do about it. In fact, I forbid you from reporting this to anyone.”
Her words dripped with hostility, and I could feel the other maids behind her watching, waiting to see what I would do.
I clenched my fists, trying to control my anger. I wasn’t about to let her walk all over me, but I knew that starting a fight wouldn’t solve anything either. I took a deep breath and stepped closer to her, meeting her gaze head-on.
“And who exactly are you?” I asked calmly. “Who are you to tell me what to do?”
“I’m Mohandia,” she said, her voice filled with contempt. “And you’ll be answerable to me from now on.”
I couldn’t help it-I burst into laughter. It wasn’t planned, but the absurdity of her statement caught me off guard.
Mohandia looked taken aback, clearly not expecting my reaction. “What’s so funny?” she snapped. “Do you think I’m joking?”
I stopped laughing and looked her directly in the eyes. “If you keep barking orders like a dog, I’ll treat you like one. Now, back to work.”
Her face turned red with anger, and for a moment, I thought she might attack me. But I didn’t flinch. I stood my ground, waiting to see what she would do.
“I dare you to move an inch towards me,” I said softly, my voice low but firm. “You’ll regret it if you do. This isn’t your pack to control.”
She hesitated, clearly uncertain of how to proceed. The other maids around her were watching closely, and for the first time, I saw a flicker of doubt in Mohandia’s eyes.
I stood there, watching her, my heart still thumping. But I knew I had won this round.