After giving me that desired pain and imprinting his words in my head, he left my hand, threw the ice cube away, and walked out of the kitchen, murmuring something to himself about which I am not sure what it was. I strained my ears, trying to catch his words, but all I could understand was that he seemed to be angry with himself, abusing himself for something, maybe for helping me.
I was sure that if I got any late, he would punish me even more, so I decided to concentrate on the cooking.
I chopped, stirred, and cooked, trying my best not to mess up. Ansell came into the kitchen once to check on me, dressed neatly and looking serious, ready for his meeting. He was clearly giving a lot of importance to this ‘guest’ who was coming over. I didn’t want to upset him by making any mistakes, so I continued working diligently.
Finally, after about forty-five minutes, I had everything ready. The dishes were hot and smelled delicious. All it needed was to be served when the guest arrived. I was glared I completed the task in hand on time.
My palm was still burning so I rubbed a bit more of an ice cube over it. I had to take care of myself because there was no one around.
After a few minutes, the doorbell rang, and I was certain that guests had arrived.
Quietly, I approached the door, carefully peering through a gap to catch a glimpse without being noticed. I saw Ansell welcoming a man, and what surprised me was that he was smiling.
Ansell was smiling.
I have seen him smiling after such a long time. It is the same smile that used to flutter my heart, but I want him to cry tear of blood and feel all the pain that I have endured.
He walked him inside and motioned for him to take their seats, while the two of them talked. I stepped back before anyone, especially Ansell, could see me staring at them, and Ansell ended up getting angry at me.
Ansell has made me a slave. I never thought that fighting for my rights would make me end up in this situation. No matter how much I resist, I always end up doing things that he wants. I yearned for the days when I had control over own choices and decisions, the things I was never grateful for.
I never imagined my life would be like this. In fact, I never imagined that my life was going to take such a drastic turn.
Lost in my thoughts, I was suddenly brought back to reality as Ansell walked into the kitchen. I instinctively flinched, quickly moving to the side. Before entering, he never knocks or makes any noise that could inform me that he is around.
What else could I expect from a person like him?
“Seve the food and I expect you to behave normally and decently, otherwise, you would not like the consequences”
He gave me an order, his time was laced with a threat that made it clear disobedience was not an option. With his usual air of authority, he turned and started to leave. But I couldn’t resist mocking him silently, making faces as he walked away.
“You said something?” He asked, suddenly tuning back.
I was bit taken aback because I was not expecting this, but I soon compose myself.
“No!” I smiled, “Nothing” I blinked my eyes, “did you hear anything, masterrrrr?” I tilted my head, dragging the word ‘master’ to emphasize and irritate him.
His nose scrunched up and his eyebrows drew together, clearly not liking what I had just done. The expression on his face was priceless, a mix of annoyance and frustration.
But who cares.
He wasn’t liking his new name, and I am loving it. I am more often going to call him that.
Without further ado, I loaded the food onto the trolley and pushed it out to serve the guests. I reminded myself that I would have to behave as if everything was normal if I didn’t want to face the storms.
As I pushed the trolley out, I kept my eyes low. I have barely interacted with guests in my house, let alone served them, and here I am not sure what order I will get next.
Standing beside the table, I carefully placed the dishes, trying to anticipate any orders or comments that might come my way. The atmosphere was tense, and I couldn’t shake off the feeling that something was about to happen. I could feel the hair on my nape rising in anticipation.
Suddenly, a low whistle reached my ears, causing a shiver to run down my spine. My eyes immediately snapped to the guest. At first, I thought that I had been mistaken, but the smirk on his face and the lust in his eyes proved me wrong. I could feel goosebumps rising on my skin as his eyes moved down my body. I felt exposed, as his eyes were undressing me, scanning my body thoroughly.
What?
What types of clients does he have?
I turned my head to see if Ansell had noticed, and I was relieved to know that he had because Ansell’s eyes were narrowed at him and he was holding the fork to the point of breaking it, his jaw clenched tightly.
I expected him to say something to his important guest and ask him not to be so rude to me, but instead, his head snapped towards me, his eyes holding the same intensity.
“Serve the food and leave us alone as we are discussing something important” he commanded, his voice low and authoritative.
How could he stay silent when he knew the man’s intention really well.
When I wanted to give him a good answer, I simply nodded and returned to my work.
I served the food silently, acutely aware of the eyes on me. I could feel tears pricking in my eyes at the thought that I was letting some man violate me when I stood up for so many girls in my professional and personal life. The irony of the situation was lost on me.
I don’t know if he will be able to see me in the mirror or not when he he leaves me.
I tried to ignore his stares and focus on my work so tahtyi could get back to my room as soon as possible. The guest was well aware that his stares were making me uncomfortable, but it did not affect him. He kept his gaze fixated on me while I served all the dishes. As I moved, I felt a suffocating sensation, as if the walls were closing in on me.
Finally, when I was done, I immediately turned around, ready to go somewhere where I could breathe and he be away from these men.
But whom am I fooling? How could I forget that the stars have left my side? The guest, whatever his name may be, called me from behind, halting me in my tracks. I froze in place, my heart sinking.
“I would like to have coffee after lunch” he commanded, his tone demanding.
My foot… Coffee!
I was expecting Ansell to say something, but when he didn’t, I knew I needed to make him coffee or anything he asked for.
How could he just simply see his guests staring and humiliating me when, in the past, he didn’t like me getting close to even my made friends or them even staring at me.
I sighed heavily and made my way inside the kitchen.
I am not sure when I will be able to leave this hell. I longed for a simpler life, away from this suffocating environment, where I could breathe freely and be myself.
Desy’s words to me are still ringing in my ears. I can’t simply dismiss it. I still can’t believe my own brother did this to her.
I decided to make coffee after taking a much-needed five-minute break. I needed to breathe freely.
They had already eaten it by the time I finished making it. I poured the coffee into mugs, placed them on a tray, and walked to the dining area to serve the coffee so that I could return to my room and rest or at least have privacy.
The intensity of his gaze made my skin crawl, and I felt violated by his lecherous stare. It was as if he were stripping me bare with his eyes, and I wished I could erase the memory of this moment.
I wanted to punch him and make him blind for life, but my hands were tied. I am not sure if he would go blind if I punched him, but Ansell would definitely make me go blind if I tried to do anything like that with his so important guest.
“Mr. Victor, i must say that your selection is excellent. You have even chosen your maids with care ” the guest’s words struck me like a slap to the face, and I couldn’t believe he was openly objectifying me in front of Ansell.
My hands came to a half, and my head snapped in his direction when he held my hand. This was enough of me tolerating his bullshit.
“I am impressed” he clicked his tongue as his eyes moved up and down my body once again.
I was about to retaliate, not caring what the consequences might be, when the voice of Ansell boomed in the hall.
“She is not a maid!!”
Ansell stood up from his chair and lightly tapped hand on the table. When I looked at him, I noticed he was enraged.
Finally! He is aware that I am not his maid.
“Oh! I apologize, Mr. Victoria” the man expressed regret.
“OUT!!” Yelled Ansell.
“What?” He rose to his feet as if he couldn’t believe whya Ansell had just said.
“I said, OUT! Leave my house this instant!” He was literally fuming with rage, and I was loving it for the first time.
“What about the deal?” The creep asked.
“Consider it again. Mr. Orion, you are passing up a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Do not forget how many nights you worked on it…”
“Can’t you hear what I am saying? Just get out, I said!”
He threw the crockery from the table, and is shattered on the floor making a loud noise that not only frightened me but also flinched me at my place.
The man gave me one last look before leaving, but what scared me the most was that Ansell was now looking at me as if I was responsible for everything that had just happened, as if I provoked that man.
His eyes bore into mine, and I felt as though I was under a microscope. The intensity of his stare was unsettling, and I found myself shrinking back slightly, gulping down in horror.
God save me from his wrath.