I went back to my bed and laid on it, my mind racing with the events of the night. The anger and humiliation were still fresh, but there was something else, something that confused and frustrated me even more – the way my body responded to Mr. Harrison’s touch, his possessiveness. It was like I was torn between two worlds, one of anger and betrayal, and another of desire and submission.
I knew I couldn’t stay in the mansion much longer, not like this. But where would I go? Who would take me in, knowing what I had become? I had no family left, no friends. The thought of leaving Mr. Harrison, of never feeling his touch again, brought a strange ache to my chest.
The days that followed were tense, the air between us thick with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. I went about my duties, but my mind was elsewhere, always replaying the events of that night. Alex’s smirk, Victoria’s cruel laughter, Mr. Harrison’s gentle touch in the aftermath.
And then, one evening, a new guest arrived at the mansion, a man who bore a striking resemblance to Mr. Harrison. He was tall and broad-shouldered, with the same piercing eyes and dark hair, but there was something different about him, something that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end. The maids whispered among themselves, their eyes lingering on him as he moved through the grand halls.
“Woah, Mr. Luca is here,” Rachel whispered to me as we passed each other in the hallway. “He’s Master Harrison’s older brother.”
My heart skipped a beat, but I forced my expression to remain neutral. “Is that so?” I replied, continuing to dust the shelves as if it was the most important thing in the world.
Mr. Luca’s arrival had an electric charge to it, one that I couldn’t ignore even if I wanted to. I went about my work, my movements precise and efficient, as I had been trained. I avoided eye contact with him, focusing on the polishing of silverware and the arranging of flowers. I didn’t care if he was Mr. Harrison’s brother; to me, he was just another guest in this twisted masquerade.
Days turned into a blur of cleaning and serving, my mind numb to the leers and whispers that followed me. I had perfected the art of invisibility, my body moving through the mansion like a ghost. Mr. Harrison had kept his distance since the confrontation, and I found myself both relieved and disappointed by it. The silence was a stark reminder of the chasm that had opened between us, a chasm filled with unspoken accusations and unrequited desire.
Mr. Luca’s presence was like a storm cloud looming over the mansion, casting a shadow on everything I did. I could feel his eyes on me, the weight of his gaze a constant reminder of his power and the control he could exert over me. Yet, I didn’t care. I had my own battles to fight, my own demons to conquer. His brother had taken enough from me already; I wouldn’t let him do the same.
I moved through the mansion with a newfound determination, my steps silent and swift. I avoided Mr. Harrison’s quarters, his touch a memory that still lingered on my skin like the ghost of a lover’s caress. The guests didn’t matter, their lewd comments and knowing glances just background noise to the symphony of anger playing in my head. I had become a master of indifference, my mask of servitude never slipping no matter how much I wanted to scream.
But even in my solitude, I couldn’t ignore Mr. Luca’s presence. It was as if the air itself was charged with electricity whenever he was near. I felt his gaze on me, a silent challenge that made my skin crawl. Yet, I held my head high, refusing to let him see the turmoil churning inside me. I didn’t give a fuck who he was, what he thought of me, or what games he and his brother played. I had a job to do, and I would do it with the same cold efficiency that had earned me the respect of Mrs. Luisana and the fear of the other maids.
One afternoon, as I bent over to collect a fallen napkin, I heard the sound of footsteps approaching. I tensed, expecting Mr. Luca, but it was Mr. Harrison’s voice that broke the silence. “You’re getting quite good at avoiding me,” he said, his tone light, but his eyes searched mine, looking for something.
I straightened up, keeping my gaze on the table. “I’m just doing my job,” I replied, my voice even, my eyes never meeting his.
Mr. Harrison stepped closer, his presence a silent command. “Emma,” he said, his voice low and amused. “You know what I’m talking about.”
I swallowed hard, my cheeks burning. “I’m not avoiding you,” I lied, my eyes still on the table. “I have work to do.”
Mr. Harrison chuckled, the sound sending a shiver down my spine. “Always so focused on your work,” he said, his voice a warm caress that made me want to melt into it. “But it’s not just your work that needs attention.”
I didn’t dare look at him, my heart pounding in my chest. I knew what he was implying, and my body was responding in ways I didn’t want it to. “I don’t know what you mean,” I murmured, my voice barely audible.
Mr. Harrison stepped closer, his hand brushing against my arm. “You’re playing dumb aren’t you” he said, his voice a low murmur that seemed to resonate through my entire being. “You know that.”
I shivered, unable to ignore the heat that his touch brought. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.
Mr. Harrison leaned in closer, his breath warm against my ear. “Your body does,” he murmured. “It remembers.”
I couldn’t deny the truth of his words. My heart was racing, my nipples pebbled, my core growing wet at his nearness. But I had to fight it. I had to remember the humiliation, the way he had let me be used by his friends. “I’m not yours to command,” I said, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice.
Mr. Harrison stepped back, his eyes searching my face. “Is that what you think?” he asked, his voice softer now, a hint of confusion in his eyes. “That I see you as nothing but a… a whore?”
I flinched at the word, my eyes snapping to his. “Isn’t that what I am?” I whispered, the question a knife to my own heart.
Mr. Harrison’s expression softened, his eyes searching my own. “No, Emma,” he said, his voice a gentle caress. “You’re so much more than that.”
The words hit me like a sledgehammer, cracking the wall of anger I had so carefully built around myself. Was it possible that he truly saw me as more than just a plaything? A spark of hope ignited in my chest, a warmth that I hadn’t felt in what felt like an eternity.
But since you said you don’t know, please clean up properly because my fiance is coming.
“Your fiance?” I whispered, my eyes wide with shock.
Mr. Harrison nodded, his expression unreadable. “Yes,” he said, his voice firm. “Mr. Luca is my brother.”
The revelation hit me like a ton of bricks. Mr. Luca, the man whose gaze had haunted me since he arrived, was Mr Harrison’s brother I already knew that. But Mr Harrison has a gf? This was news to me. My mind raced as I tried to process this new piece of the puzzle. How had I not known? Why hadn’t he told me?