“Ah, Ms. Emma,” she said, looking at me in a way that showed she was judging and approving. “The guests are waiting for you.”
Guests? I felt a rush of nerves. What did she mean? I had never been asked to serve guests before. I felt both excited and scared. “Which guests, Mrs. Luisana?” I asked, trying to sound calm.
“The ones Mr. Harrison invited,” she replied with a wink. “You need to be downstairs in the dining room in ten minutes.” She walked away, her heels clicking on the floor, counting down to my fate.
Panic rose in me. The dress was pretty, but it showed too much skin for serving guests. I felt like I was being led to danger, dressed in a way that invited attention. I looked at the tight fabric and realized it was more than just a dress; it showed my new role in this strange situation.
“But Mrs. Luisana,” I said, my voice shaky. “This dress… it’s not right for serving guests.”
Her smile grew. “It’s not just for serving, dear,” she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement. “It’s for their enjoyment.”
I felt embarrassed and a bit excited at that thought. “But Mrs. Luisana, I-I can’t…”
“Don’t worry,” she interrupted. “The master chose you for this. It’s a privilege.”
Her words sent a chill through me. This wasn’t what I expected when I took this job. But she made it sound normal here. I looked at the dress again, realizing it was beautiful but also a trap of my own making.
“But Mrs. Luisana,” I said weakly, “I can’t wear this.”
Her eyes narrowed. “Mr. Harrison was clear, Ms. Emma. You will wear this dress and serve his guests with a smile.” Then she softened. “Remember, it’s a privilege. He’s chosen you.”
I stared at the dress, my heart racing. The fabric was so thin it felt wrong, and the thought of serving guests in it made me feel exposed. But Mrs. Luisana spoke as if it was an honor, making me question myself. Was I overreacting? Was this just part of the job?
Taking a deep breath, I put on the dress. It fit closely, leaving little to the imagination. I felt almost naked.
Mrs. Luisana led me out, opening a door to a small room with a tray of wine glasses. “Take this, Emma,” she said firmly but kindly. “Go to the sitting room and serve it to the guests.”
With shaky hands, I picked up the tray. I felt like a scared animal stepping into danger. The dress reminded me that my job was not just to serve but also to entertain.
We reached the sitting room, where laughter and clinking glasses filled the air. Mrs. Luisana stepped back, giving me a push. “Remember, poise and grace,” she whispered.
I took a deep breath and entered the room. The laughter stopped as all eyes turned to me, their gazes hungry. My cheeks burned, but I kept smiling and focused on my task.
As I approached the dining table, I caught Mr. Harrison’s eye. His smug smile and intense gaze made my heart race with fear and anger. I felt the pressure of the guests’ attention, and as I reached to set down a glass, my hand slipped. The glass shattered on the floor, the sound loud and shocking.
Gasps filled the room as wine spilled everywhere. My heart raced, but seeing Victoria and Alex shocked me even more. They looked at me with mixed expressions-was it triumph or disgust? I couldn’t tell. The reality of my situation hit hard.
Victoria laughed, breaking the tension. “Oh, Alex, our little maid is clumsy, isn’t she?”
Her words stung. I looked at the broken glass and the wine around my feet. How could they do this to me? How could Mr. Harrison invite them, knowing what had happened between us?
The guests watched, their eyes shifting between the mess and me, while Victoria enjoyed the attention. Alex stood off to the side, arms crossed, observing with little interest.
“Oh, dear,” Victoria said, her voice sharp. “Looks like you’ve had an accident.”
Mrs. Luisana quickly came to my side, concern mixed with annoyance in her eyes. “Emma, clean this up now,” she whispered. “And apologize to the guests.”
But I couldn’t move, frozen by their gazes. Victoria’s laughter snapped me back. She stepped closer, her fingers brushing my bare arm, making me shiver. “What’s wrong, Emma? Cat got your tongue?” She gripped my wrist, pulling me toward the center of the room. The laughter grew louder, their eyes greedily checking me out.
With shaky legs, I stepped away from the table, the shattered glass crunching beneath me. The room felt dizzying, filled with lewd smiles. Victoria held my wrist tightly, her grip painful. “Dance,” she whispered, taunting me.
The music started, a sensual tune that matched my racing heart. I realized what she wanted-a show to entertain her and the guests, to prove I was obedient. My cheeks burned with shame, but anger swelled inside me. This wasn’t what I wanted. This wasn’t what Mr. Harrison promised.
Yet there he was, sitting quietly, watching without saying a word. It felt like I was part of a twisted story.
Then I snapped. I couldn’t take it anymore. I pulled away from Victoria, ignoring her grip. “I’m not here for your entertainment,” I shouted, my voice shaking with anger.
The room fell silent, the music fading. Alex stepped forward, surprised and concerned. He gently pulled Victoria’s hand from my hair. “That’s enough,” he said firmly.
I managed to break free, the guests staring in shock. Mr. Harrison remained unreadable, silent. I gathered my dignity and turned to leave, the dress clinging to me.
“Emma,” he called, his voice sharp.
Ignoring him, I hurried up the stairs, my heart pounding from anger and shame. I didn’t look back, focused on getting to my room, where I could hide.
“Emma,” he called again, more urgently. But I kept going, my legs taking me away from their eyes and smiles, each step leading me further from the nightmare.
As I reached the top, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was Alex. “Are you okay?” he asked, genuinely concerned.
I shrugged him off, trying to sound confident. “I’m fine. It’s none of your business.”
His gaze searched mine. “I know things are complicated here,” he said gently. “But you don’t have to deal with this alone.”