chapter 17 Guilding the Don

It had been a week.

For a whole week, I was the private maid to none other than Alister Mancini.

Maybe if I ever get out of here I can publish a book about Alister. I'd call it " Guiding Don Mancini "

I guarantee it would be a bestseller. Although, I would probably get killed before I can even hit the publish button.

The entire week consisted of me basically spending most of my time in Alister's room. I couldn't complain since I absolutely adored every little aspect of the place. I polished very single detail before carefully placing it to where it belongs despite the fact that Alister would probably not notice. He didn't spend much time in his room. The only time he would return is after dinner when I would give him the massage.

In fact, I would argue I spent more time in there than he does. It was getting harder and harder to work when there was nothing to clean. I would often find myself staring at the dark wall so the time would pass by quicker. I would think about my situation and my not so bright looking future. I would try and concentrate on those thoughts because if I had free time my mind would automatically make my thoughts go to Sarah. And I'm not ready to cope with that.

However, I preferred it that way. Whenever Alister was around, my panic started to swell in my throat and the tension was apparent between us. I still got nervous everytime I had performed the massage but overtime it got less nerve wrecking.

Outside of the room nothing much has changed other than some snarky and envious comments from the maids in my quarters.

Even though a private maid gets no extra treatment, she is still considered a higher power in the maid's eyes, especially to the ones that work in the kitchen.

All in all, life has been better. Even though I still had to keep an eye on my back, I felt safer now.

I haven't heard from Cullen. I spent the entire week praying I would never have to see him again. He was a violent man, no doubt and I bet he wouldn't be too happy with me just abandoning my position.

But it was the Don who asked me, surely he would understand.

It was the morning and as per usual, the room looked untouched. The only detail that seemed out of place was the bed and the office desk.

Alister was not here as expected, which was comforting in a way. Although Alister didn't seem to mind me being in the room at the same time as him, I didn't want to risk anything.

——

The hour passed quickly. It took around half an hour to clean out the desk and make the bed but much to my disappointment, there was nothing else to do.

Since I was a maid, sitting down on the positions of the Don could get me killed, so I found the nearest corner and sat down there as I looked for any place that I would be able to clean.

Somehow my thoughts went to Sarah. I didn't think about her that often anymore. I was a horrible friend.

I don't even know how she died. I found her in the quarters which meant this couldn't have been a lord. If it were, they wouldn't care enough to follow them into the room since they could just kill them on the spot without any consequences.

I had thought about her doing it herself. It's not like we didn't think about it. It's all we could think about but that was just a way to know that there was an out. Most of us didn't actually considered it. Even if she was suicidal, it still wouldn't explain how she got the gun.

My thoughts got interrupted by the slam of the door. I didn't realize at first. That was until a voice interrupted my memories.

"What are you doing?"

I quickly snapped back into reality and looked up to find Alister. He looked his usual grumpy self but didn't appear to be in a bad mood.

"Aren't you supposed to be cleaning?"

His question frightened me but his tone of his voice didn't seem to increase and was only intimidating because it came from him.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm s-so sorry! It's j-just that e-everything w-was already clean and I-I didn't know what else to do. I k-know that's n-no excuse to me doing nothing, I-I just r-really w-went over everything t-twice, I-it won't happen a-again." I rambled pleadingly and it felt like I couldn't breath for a second.

He stared at me and his eyebrows flinched under his glare.

I was trying to find my breath again as he slowly studied me from head to toe.

And as soon as he entered,he left. Well, he left to his office.

I stood there with wide eyes, my breath choking me and my body unable to move.

I'm so fucking stupid. I should have gone over everything again. I can't believe I could be so idiotic. I'm so fucking dumb. I deserve to die. Why am I so-

"Come here."

The voice resonated from the other room. The office.

I paused for a second. Not for long however because the next thing I know I follow the voice until I approach the open door.

Alister was sitting in front of his desk, reading some documents that my eye sight did not reach.

I visibly tensed at the sight. I didn't know what was going to happen. Was he going to punish me?

"Sit down."

My eyebrows should up in surprise as he uttered the words.

I looked next to his desk to find a modern looking white sofa.

I gulped and looked back at the Don who didn't seem to notice my confusion.

"Sit down?" I asked to find validation for what he was asking from me.

"I don't like to repeat myself." He said without taking his eyes off the document he was currently signing.

"I-I can't sit down." I tried to explain but was unable to find the correct words.

His eyes left the paper to stare back at me.

"You can't sit down?" I heard his voice touched probably angry at being disobeyed.

"Do you have some kind of a leg problem?"

"N-no b-but-"

"Then do as I say."

I nodded my head even though everything felt wrong. I wasn't supposed to have the privilege but of sitting down next to the Don.

I gulped as my legs hesitantly led me to the expensive ve looking sofa. I sat down on the edge as far away from Alister as I could possibly go.

Seconds passed by, minutes passed by.

Everything was quiet excluding the silent chatter of the papers as Alister went through them. I studied his facial expressions. Based on how he reacted, I would guess what could have been written on the file.

There seemed to be something bothering him. It was troubling him and I knew he didn't know how to say it out loud. I've seen that expression on my face countless of times.1

"What would you like to do?"

I nearly fidgeted off my seat when his voice reached my ears. I stayed quiet digesting the information trying to figure out if I heard right.

"W-what?"

"You said you had nothing to do since everything is cleaned. What would you like to do?" He delivers his speech without a quiver but I could swear I heard a twinge of worry that he dismissed so quickly, I thought I had missed it.

"I H-hope I didn't sound u-ungra-"

"Just answer the fucking question."

I shut my mouth immediately. I don't even dare try not answer, but the answer to the question seemed foreign.

"I don't know." I said finally.

He lifted his gaze up to meet mine. His eyes were filled with curiosity but it was hardly seen as his entire e present resembled evil.

"You don't know what you like?"

"I n-never really had a c-chance to do anything." I explain and try to keep my answer as steady and simple as possible and I bend down my head in game, hoping he will just let it go.1

For a few seconds, I though he would but he sighed and left the room. He returned shortly after with a pen and paper.

Shock filled my features as he rested the object in front of me.

"You can draw something, I guess."

————

I tried to refuse. I tried to tell him I was okay with just doing more cleaning. But that man was the most stubborn person I had ever seen.

My heart warmed as he left me the pencil and paper even after he left. I wasn't sure what to do at first but soon developed a natural pattern as I tried to draw the objects around the office.

I payed attention to every little line and shading. I didn't want to make Alister think he did the wrong thing by lending me this.

In fact, this was the nicest thing anyone had ever done for me.

Upon returning, I gave Alister a massage and then exited the room.

The freaked as it shut behind me leaving me at the long hallway.

The way down was way easier than the way up so I could easily move along.

Just as soon as I reached the 14th floor, I felt a hand wrap around my arm.

I froze.

Suddenly I felt my back hit the wall and I couldn't keep my eyes stapled to the ground anymore when I felt a dangerous presence close up on me.

So I looked up.

"Hey kitten."

Cullen.