Mohandia and her group were shocked by my boldness. They didn’t expect me to speak with such authority. The real surprise came when I stepped forward, looked Mohandia directly in the eyes, and made it clear that I wasn’t backing down.
Mohandia remained silent for a moment, trying to muster the courage to challenge me again. But it was obvious-she realized I wasn’t bluffing.
“I’ll say this once, and it won’t be repeated,” I said, my voice firm and unwavering. “In the next fifteen minutes, if your portion isn’t done, you’ll have yourselves to blame for your behavior!” I gave them all a hard, angry look before turning and walking away to check the other portions.
As I walked off, I could feel the fear in the air. Mohandia tried to stand tall, but I could tell my words had shaken her. Her eyes flickered with uncertainty. The rage on my face was enough to keep both Liza and Kaitlyn from even speaking to me. They could sense that I wasn’t in the mood for conversation.
The morning work went on, and the time to inspect the completed tasks arrived. Just as I was about to begin my inspection, I noticed Ma’am Elena and the chief maidservant Morgana approaching. I immediately stopped in my tracks. The presence of the two most powerful women in the night walker pack made the air thick with tension.
We all bowed our heads in respect, especially for Ma’am Elena. Her authority was undeniable.
“Kimberly, carry on with what you were doing. We’re not here to interrupt,” Ma’am Elena said, her voice calm but commanding, accompanied by a gentle smile.
I was caught off guard by her words. I had expected them to take over, but instead, they were giving me full control. Nervousness crept over me. Could I really do this under their watchful eyes? My hands felt shaky, but I took a deep breath and reminded myself, *You’ve got this. Stay calm and make it work.*
I moved forward, starting the inspection. Most of the groups had worked well. As I moved from one portion to another, I kept my composure, even though I could feel Ma’am Elena and Morgana watching my every move.
When I approached Mohandia’s group, I saw the tension on their faces. They were clearly worried that I would find fault with their work. They likely feared punishment, knowing they had challenged my authority earlier. I could almost hear their hearts racing as I walked around their portion, inspecting every detail.
I paused, letting the silence linger for a moment longer than necessary. Then, with a quick signal, I indicated that their work was acceptable. Immediately, I saw the relief wash over them, especially on Mohandia’s face. She had been bracing herself for the worst, and now she could breathe again.
Once I finished inspecting all the portions, I returned to Ma’am Elena and Morgana to give them my report.
“The work is complete, and everything is in order,” I said confidently, standing tall.
Ma’am Elena gave me a small smile, then asked, “Throughout today’s work, did you find anything challenging or notice anyone acting rebellious?”
Her tone was casual, but I knew she was fishing for information. She wasn’t looking at me-her eyes were scanning the crowd of maids standing behind me, likely waiting for me to mention Mohandia and her group.
I hesitated for a moment, then smiled. “Thank you for the opportunity to work with such a great team. I must say, they’ve all been cooperative. As for any challenges, there was nothing that I couldn’t handle on my own.”
My voice was calm but firm. I wanted her to know that I had the situation under control, and I didn’t need to run to her for help every time something went wrong.
Ma’am Elena and Morgana exchanged glances, and I could tell they were pleased with my answer. They dismissed us, allowing all the maids to return to their quarters before breakfast.
As I began walking back with the rest of the maids, I suddenly heard my name.
“Kimberly!” Morgana’s voice called out, sharp and direct.
I turned quickly, my heart skipping a beat. Morgana and Ma’am Elena were both standing there, and I knew this wasn’t just a casual conversation.
I walked over, wondering what they wanted from me.
“Good job today,” Ma’am Elena began, her voice calm but with a serious edge. “But I have a question for you.”
I nodded, signaling that I was ready to listen.
“We’ve been observing from a distance,” she continued. “We know exactly what happened between you, Mohandia, and her group. So, tell me-why didn’t you report them?”
Her eyes locked onto mine, and I could feel the weight of her question. She wasn’t just asking out of curiosity; she wanted to see how I would handle such situations in the future.
I took a deep breath before answering. “I didn’t think it was necessary to involve you, ma’am. I didn’t want Mohandia and her group to believe that only you or Morgana could punish them. They need to understand that I have authority as well, and I can handle them without always escalating the situation.”
Ma’am Elena’s eyebrows raised slightly, intrigued by my response. She tilted her head, clearly impressed. But she wasn’t done yet.
“So,” she said, “how do you plan to punish her?”
I hesitated for a moment. “I’m not sure yet, but I know her arrogance and ego are enough to break her down. I’ll use her own pride against her. She’ll eventually come around and start acting properly with everyone.”
Ma’am Elena smiled, clearly satisfied with my answer. “That’s a strong strategy,” she said. “We’ll be watching to see how this unfolds.”
I nodded, feeling a sense of relief. “Thank you, ma’am,” I said.
“You may go now,” she ordered, dismissing me.
I turned and began walking back toward the maids’ quarters, my mind racing with everything that had just happened. I was about halfway there when I heard Ma’am Elena’s voice again, calling out loudly.
“Clean up good tonight! The chief maidservant will come pick you up later this evening.”
Her words echoed in my ears, and I froze. Where was she taking me? What was happening later that evening? The shock of her statement left me wondering if I was dreaming.