Someone kept knocking on the door nonstop in the morning, which woke me up. I got out of bed, rubbed my eyes, and walked over to the door to open it. Dominic stood outside, scowling at me. “Hello Dominic, what is it?” When I asked him, I covered my mouth because I hadn’t brushed my teeth yet.
“Did you forget to set your alarm clock? It’s almost seven o’clock, and I need to eat breakfast before eight o’clock!”
Hurriedly, I went outside and head straight towards the kitchen. I searched for ready-to-eat food or something that could be heated through a microwave. “Your meal with being ready in twenty minutes,” I assured him.
“Alright,” he said. “I’ll be in the living room while you cook, so just call me once you’re done.”
Dominic was almost by the door when I realized that I needed to tell him something. “Hmmm, Dom? Thank you for allowing me to stay here temporarily. I thought that you were going to kick me last night,” I told him.
“Just behave all the time so we won’t have any problem,” he replied.
I just smiled at him and let him go to the living room as he initially planned to cook for his meals before I proceeded to the kitchen. When he agreed to me stay with me stay last night, he informed me that he loved to have fish almost every day, so I began learning about fish recipes. Before going to bed last night, I tried to watch as many videos as I could.
I told him that his meal would be ready in twenty minutes, but I had to thaw the fish first. When I finished cooking, I immediately called Dominic to come and eat. He was fast, so maybe he was really starving. “I hope you will like it,” I said.
“Fried fish?” Dominic asked while his eyes were glued on the golden-brown fried fish on the serving plate.
“Yeah, isn’t it perfect? Just look at the color!”
“Perhaps you should add some onions and tomatoes into the dipping sauce,” he suggested.
“Oh right, hold on.” I returned to the kitchen and chopped the onions and tomatoes. I should add some chilies into the sauce, so I chopped some red chilies and put them in. “Here,” I served it.
All of a sudden, Dominic slapped the table with his fist. I was shocked by the loud noise and almost spilled my coffee on the floor. “What is this?”
“You dipping sauce for the fish,” I replied.
“It’s hot!” He complained.
“Yeah, because I put some chilies into it.” For a moment, Dominic glared at me before he demanded another serving with no added chilies. I tried to be cool about it, especially when I discovered that he couldn’t eat anything spicy.
After breakfast, Dominic said that he had some business to attend to and I should behave. I just nodded my head in agreement, but something bothered me. “How about your women? Who will cook for them?”
“They do it by themselves, don’t worry.”
“If I am one of them, I will never agree to your sadistic rules. Like they were there to keep you company, but then you can’t even provide them with some luxury,” I complained on behalf of his mistresses.
“If you are so concerned, then why don’t you work for them while I’m gone?” He implied that I should go there and became the women’s servant.
“No way!”
“See? You are just good with words, but you are irresponsible too. Don’t forget about our agreement last night,” he reminded me.
“With nagging and reminded coming from you? How can I forget?”
“I didn’t nag at you!”
“You did,” I insisted.
Dominic tilted his head in annoyance before he left, but his eyes warned me all the way to be a good girl or else he would do what he intended to do since last night.
I was relieved to be alone when he left home. There will be no more scowls or glares. Without him, the house was quiet, and it reminded me of my own home, my friends, and everyone else in Belleview. I’ve already missed them, but even if it’s just for a month, I needed to be firm in my rebellion against Richard Vera.
During the entire day, I didn’t lift a finger but just watched the television. Occasionally, I would peek on his women to check on them. They looked happy and contented, so I just focused on my own business. I was so engrossed in the television show that I failed to hear when the main door opened and someone came in.
“How does it feel to sprawl on my expensive sofa, Marian? You are here to work, and yet you’re just loitering around like a pest!” He scolded me.
“A pest? That’s harsh, Dom. I was trying to chill while being alone,” I reasoned out.
“Chill? You don’t have the luxury to be chilling on my property! Did you do my laundry?”
“I’ll do it tomorrow,” I answered.
Dominic didn’t say another word and just threw the paper bag into my lap. “It’s your uniform, so you can start wearing them tomorrow,” he announced.
“A maid’s uniform?”
“Yes, do you have a problem with that? But, wait, did you expect me to shop for your clothes?”
“Not really, but I didn’t expect that I’ve got to wear it,” I said.
“It’s normal for workers to have a uniform,” he said. “By the way, I’ve already eaten my dinner, and there’s food in the car too. So just go and get it,” he ordered.
On the way to the garage, I concluded that my boss was the most arrogant jerk that I had the misfortune to meet. He was beyond redemption, but unfortunately, he’s the only person who could help me at the moment. The option to leave was available, but I wouldn’t take the risk of going out because I knew that my father has already sent several people to trace my whereabouts.
After retrieving the food that he took out from a fast-food restaurant, I happened to see him again in the living room. I wished that he would go to the other part of the house and gave me peace. “Dom, is it okay if I’m going to borrow your phone or computer? Mine was broken,” I lied because I couldn’t believe it while hiding.
“Why?”
“I’m going to shop online for some clothes,” I replied.
“You have your uniform!” He insisted and implied that shopping for clothes was unnecessary.
“Am I going to wear it 24/7?”
“You have no money for shopping, Marian.”
“You have to be an advance for my salary,” I informed him.
“Are you fucking serious?” Dominic growled furiously that I dared him to pay me upfront.
“Serious as fuck,” I replied with a curse word. Did he believe I couldn’t curse like him? In his dreams!