JOAN’S POV
The evening was busy but I didn’t mind. I wanted everything to be perfect. After everything Derrick did for me, I wanted to do something for him too.
I stood in the kitchen as I supervised the activities around me. Pans sizzled, knives chopped and I ticked all the boxes of everything we need.
“It’s going well, isn’t it?” Ms Sullivan asked with a smile as she walked out of the kitchen.
“Sure is” I called after her.
Tonight’s dinner had to be perfect, and I was determined to make it so.
“Careful with the sauce, Emily,” I said, pointing at the simmering pot on the stove. “It needs to thicken just a little more.”
Emily nodded as she stirred. The chef gave me a quick thumbs-up as he continued cooking. I laughed. When everything was finally prepared, I helped Emily and Sarah set the long dining table in the dining room. I made sure everything looked alluring to the eye. I even decorated the table with flowers.
“Thank you, everyone,” I said with a grateful smile once the table was ready. “This wouldn’t have been possible without all of your hard work.”
The chef grinned, wiping his hands on his apron “My pleasure, ms Joan”
Emily returned my smile “You did well too”
Even Ms Sullivan said something polite from a corner. Sarah rolled her eyes, muttering something under her breath before walking away. My chest tightened, but I quickly brushed it off.
“Don’t mind her,” Emily said softly as she began folding napkins. “She’s been in a mood all week.”
“I noticed,” I replied, trying to sound casual. “She’s always in a mood but it seems to be getting worse these days. But it’s fine. We all have our off days.”
Emily chuckled “Some more than others.”
“Tell me about it”
As I carried a tray of clean glasses back to the kitchen, a flicker of movement in the corridor caught my eye. I paused and my curiosity got the better of me. I leaned slightly forward to get a better view. Irene and Sarah stood a few feet away. Their heads were bent close together in what appeared to be an intense discussion.
It wasn’t any of my business, but something about the way they spoke in hushed voices made my instincts tingle. Irene reached out to grab Sarah’s hand, but Sarah pulled away sharply, glancing over her shoulder as though to check if anyone was watching. I quickly ducked behind the doorframe, holding my breath.
For a moment, I debated whether I should walk away, but my curiosity refused to let me. I peeked out again, just in time to see Sarah rubbing her wrist where Irene had grabbed her. Irene leaned in. Her expression was unreadable but clearly serious. She looked at Sarah with those puppy dog eyes of hers, intensely. She whispered something that made Sarah glance nervously around the corridor again.
Before I could make sense of what I was seeing, Irene grabbed Sarah’s arm and pulled her into a nearby room, closing the door behind them. I stood frozen in confusion.
What could they possibly be discussing that needed such privacy? Was something wrong?
The kitchen was calling, and I knew I should go back before anyone noticed I was gone. But as I turned to leave, my thoughts were filled with the strange interaction I’d just witnessed.
What was going on between Irene and Sarah? And why did it feel so… off?
I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever it was, it wasn’t good.
–
I had spent hours preparing for the dinner, ensuring everything was perfect. When I was done, I went upstairs to change. The black dress I had chosen hugged my body just right, and I paired with some red bottom Louboutin heels that Irene had gifted me a while back.
As I entered the dining room, my eyes immediately looked for Derrick. At this point, it was like second nature to me. He sat at the head of the table. His presence commanded attention effortlessly as usual. He spoke casually with his friends, holding a cigar in his hand.
I smiled at the guests as I approached, offering them drinks, making sure their plates were filled. I could feel Derrick looking at me throughout. I was careful not to look at him because I’d definitely not be able to control the butterflies in my tummy if I did. Still, I could feel his eyes on me.
One of Derrick’s friends leaned toward me as I filled his glass. “You know, Derrick’s a lucky man,” he said, winking as he glanced in Derrick’s direction. “You make the perfect addition to his life.”
I smiled “I’m the lucky one”
“You’re one lucky bastard, Derrick” another man said.
Derrick looked over at me then. I looked at him too. The rest of the world seemed to fade away as we locked eyes. It wasn’t just a glance; it was a moment of connection, a pull between us that I couldn’t explain. I didn’t need to. He understood. We both knew there was something more than just this thing between us.
“I know,” Derrick said.
My breath caught in my throat. That simple statement sent a shiver through me, one that I couldn’t control. I looked away, my heart pounding harder now. I needed to focus, I had a job to do, but all I could think about was how his words had made me feel.
The conversation around me continued, but I was only half-present, moving mechanically as I served the others.
Then, without warning, the lights flickered and went out. The room was filled with darkness. Everyone gasped in surprise.
“Damn it,” Derrick muttered “I’ll go check it out.”
I heard him move away from the table. The silence that followed was suffocating. I stood still, unsure of what to do. I told myself to stay put, but I started to feel anxious. I waited for what felt like an eternity. I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong.
I didn’t want to admit it, but I was afraid.
Lights didn’t just go off in this mansion. Something was off. I could feel it.
I started to get worried as the minutes passed and Derrick still hadn’t returned. I couldn’t stay there, not knowing where he was or if he was okay. I excused myself quietly, slipping out of the dining room into the dark hallway.
“Derrick?” I called out softly. No response.
A cold chill ran down my spine as I moved deeper into the house. The house felt different in the dark, scarier.
“Derrick?” I called again, louder this time.
And then, out of nowhere, a hand shot out from the darkness, grabbing my arm with terrifying force. My heart leapt into my throat as I was pulledbackward into a secluded corner. I gasped, struggling, but my attempts to break free were useless. The grip tightened, and I was pressed up against a cold wall.
A metallic chill brushed against my throat, and I froze. A knife. My stomach twisted as I realized who-or rather, what-I was dealing with.
“Don’t make a sound,” a voice hissed. I looked at the person. His face was hidden with a mask “Tell me the truth about your relationship with Derrick, or I will make sure everyone knows.”
The words were like ice in my veins, and for a moment, I couldn’t speak. My mind raced, my thoughts scattered in every direction. What was he talking about? What did he know? I was too terrified to think straight.
“I-I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I stammered.
The man’s grip tightened on my arm and his knife pressed harder against my throat. My pulse raced in fear, and the room seemed to close in on me. I could barely breathe.
“Don’t lie to me,” he snarled “Tell me, or I’ll expose everything.”
I swallowed hard. I was beginning to panic but before I could respond, a beam of light sliced through the darkness, blinding me for a second. The man’s hold on me faltered, and I saw Derrick, standing at the entrance of the hallway. His gun was drawn and aimed directly at the masked intruder.
“Let her go,” Derrick commanded.
The man hesitated for just a moment, but that moment was enough for Derrick. He fired, and the sound of the gunshot rang in my ears. The masked man staggered, but he wasn’t down. He moved toward the shadows, vanishing into the darkness, disappearing into the house before Derrick could fire again.
“Derrick!” I gasped. My whole body was trembling from fear.
“Damn it,” Derrick muttered, his eyes scanning the darkness. “Stay here. I’ll get him.”
I wanted to scream, to argue, to tell him not to go, but I couldn’t form the words. Fear had turned my body to stone. Derrick called out for his guards as he moved.
But I couldn’t focus on that. I couldn’t focus on anything except the terror that still gripped me, the feeling of the knife against my throat, the intensity of the man’s threats.
I was safe now, but something told me that whatever this was, it wasn’t over.