Punish Me Instead

"That bloody s*x maniac!" Maggie nagged.

"Calm down Maggie. She was just complimenting me," Sam said sweetly.

"Hell, she was! She knows how to use that sugar-laced tongue of hers. She goes about seducing women. Even married women."

"She did not know I was married."

"She did not regret her actions when she found out."

"Alright. I promise to tell Desmond when I get back to the mansion. Now let's talk about something else," Sam said.

Maggie had been ranting about Brad since they entered her room. It was apparent they had personal issues.

The three girls were sprawled on Maggie's bed. Sam had been surprised at how comfortably the servants lived.

Though it was a single apartment, it was well furnished. The bed was not small; it had air conditioning and a big desk. The kitchen and bathroom were sizeable.

Back at Fred's house, she would've killed to have a job like that.

Sam felt Ann's body bump into hers as she hugged her from behind.

"I missed you." She said quietly.

Sam giggled.

"It's only been a few hours, Ann."

"Baron said we must not be seen anywhere around you," Ann whined.

"Don't worry, girls. I'll fix him."

Maggie, who had been frowning from her ranting, smiled.

"How are you going to do that? Baron is as hard as a nail." Ann said, concerned.

"Well, I am as straight as a stick," Sam said, staring at Maggie.

Maggie understood after a few seconds.

"Oh! I only meant that regarding your sexuality, mistress. You know, you like men, so you are straight. "

"So she's twisted or bent."

The maids giggled.

"No, she's gay." Ann corrected

"You impudent maids!" Sam feigned indignation. "Laughing at your mistress! Baron thought it right to demote you."

They laughed.

"What's that in the box, mistress?" Maggie asked.

She had noticed Sam clutching that box when Brad was harassing her, but she had been too furious to be curious.

"It's just some gifts from him," Sam said cheekily.

"Can we see it?" They chorused in excitement.

"OK. Be good, girls. I don't want anything to get smashed."

She handed the box to them. They kept it on the bed and opened the lid. They both gushed.

"These things are expensive. "You are a lucky girl!

Ann's gaze snapped to Maggie.

"Unfortunately, I don't know how to use it."

"You don't?! I don't mind teaching you at all."

Sam giggled.

"You must love this kinda stuff."

"So, are we all going to ignore the fact that Maggie here just called the mistress girl?" Sam asked dramatically.

"Did I?" Maggie frowned.

"Yes."

"Girls. It's fine." Sam said sweetly.

"That mistress thing is a little too heavy."

"You mean I can call you gurl?" Maggie asked.

"Mmmhmm."

"Can I call you sis?" Ann asked.

"Yes, Ann. Call me sis. "You are my friends."

The two maids looked at each other and then squealed.

"We don't only get to be the mistress's maids, we get to be her friends." Maggie gushed.

They squealed again.

"You're welcome. Now! Now! Let's get back to the phones."

"Alright. The first thing any sane person does when they get a new phone is..."

Maggie paused and looked at the other girls mysteriously.

"Call my mother?" Sam said.

"Have it anointed," Ann said.

"What? No Ann! Sign into a social media platform!"

"How is that of most importance?" Sam asked.

"It's what all the chicks are doing."

"How does it work?"

"You just post pictures of yourself and get likes."

"Likes?"

"It shows how many people think you are cool. To like, someone has to tap the like button, then you get one more like."

"That's it?"

"That's it. The names vary from platform to platform. For some, it's hearts. People who like you will follow you. I'll show you."

Maggie took her through the process of signing up and also showed her how other things were done. Since Sam couldn't read, she paid attention to every detail and saved them in her memory.

All night, the three friends surfed the internet, watching videos. Sam did not even realize when she dozed off.

Early in the morning, when the sun had not shown up, the maids had woken her up, and she had left the servants' quarters in a fuss.

She gingerly pushed the big front door. It's a good thing it never made a noise. She crept into the sitting room like a thief. She went up to her bedroom and went to bed.

As soon as rays of light began to creep into the sky, Sam hopped off the bed and took a shower, then hurriedly got dressed, but immediately after she went out the door, her stomach grumbled. She'd forgotten to eat.

She hurried to the dining room to have a quick meal but only found a few maids cleaning it.

The fact that they worked so noiselessly impressed her. They would wake up early to finish their chores before the masters woke and do it so noiselessly that they did not disturb their sleep.

She took a seat anyway.

"Excuse me."

She called the attention of the maids.

"When will breakfast be served?" She asked.

"In about an hour." A maid responded.

Sam groaned. She was already feeling dizzy.

"But I can fix you something before breakfast if you want."

The maid suggested indulgently.

"That would be wonderful! I'm about to die! "

The maid smiled and left.

Sam pulled out her phone from her pocket to while away the time. She opened the camera as Maggie and Ann had taught her.

Her eyes widened at the state of her face.

She put the phone down and raked her fingers through her hair.

"You were supposed to do that in your room."

Sam was startled by the voice. She did not expect him to be up this early.

"Mr. Desmond."

He took his usual seat opposite hers.

"Why are you up so early?" He asked, leaning back in his usual sophisticated pose.

"I had a nightmare." She said, and I immediately felt stupid.

"You did not have dinner last night. You did not spend the night in your room."

Sam looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Where were you?"

"I was... I was out admiring the sun and moon. No, the pool! "

"Lies." He growled. "Don't let me ask you twice."

"I was at the servants' quarters!" She forced it out, closing her eyes in dread.

Desmond was silent. When the outrage she expected did not come, she opened her eyes dreadfully.

She noticed that Desmond was in the same relaxed posture, but she caught a glint of anger in his eyes. His jaw clenched.

"Call Baron."

A maid hurried out to do his bidding.

Sam's heart sank into her stomach. How did Desmond know she was not in the mansion? Did he send for her in the night? Was he keeping tabs on her?

Now he had sent for that grumpy wizard. Only God knew what was going to happen to her.

Shortly after, the maid that had left to fix Sam something brought in a mug of milkshakes and kept it in front of Sam. She bowed to Desmond in greeting and moved back to the side.

Sam subtly watched as the content in the mug swirled slightly from being stirred earlier, forming a light foam in the middle.

Sam salivated while imagining how creamy it would taste in her mouth.

Her stomach grumbled. She did not dare pick up the mug as Desmond was looking at her unblinkingly. She was so hungry and the milkshake looked too tempting to resist.

Her hands crept from her lap under the table towards the mug. Immediately, her fingertip touched the cup, and it was snatched from her. She looked up in surprise.

Desmond was already lifting the mug to his lips. He took a slow, long sip while maintaining eye contact.

As much as it pained Sam to watch him drink her milkshake, she couldn't look away.

When Desmond brought the mug down, his upper lip was coated in cream. Sam panics at the urge to lick it right off with her tongue. Just how hungry was she?

She did not know if she was craving the milkshake or the lips.

Desmond's tongue crept out of his mouth and licked the cream off.

Argh! She groaned quietly. What a tease! She thought.

Baron entered, followed by the maid who had gone to fetch him. He was perfectly oriented as if he hadn't just gotten out of bed too early.

"Good morning, Master."

"Excuse us."

The maids hurried out.

"My little wife here did not sleep in her room yesterday."

Desmond said, still holding her fearful gaze.

"How do you suggest we punish her?"

Sam's heart sank.

"I will think of something."

'Of course, you will think so,' Sam thought. It would be unlike Baron to make that decision on his own. He would need to sit down and think of the very worst.

"I suggest you fire those two maids."

Sam's eyes widened with panic.

"No."

"It shall be done," Baron said dutifully.

"It was not their fault! It was mine! " Sam explained frantically.

Desmond cocked his brow in interest.

"It was I who went there to meet them."

"If they weren't here, you wouldn't have gone to meet them," Desmond said.

"You may leave, Baron."

Baron bowed and left.

"Mr. Desmo..."

"Desmond." He corrected.

She had forgotten he had told her to call him Desmond.

"Please punish me instead." She said quietly.

"You want me to punish you..."

She nodded. He paused thoughtfully.

"For two weeks, you are not to step out of the front door. If you do, you will be fired."

Sam sighed.

That was fair. She could handle staying inside for two weeks. The house was quite spacious and she would have her friends with her. Would she?

Desmond got up with the mug in hand and headed for the door.

"Mr. Desmond! Sorry... Desmond. "

He turned.

"Can Maggie and Ann resume their work?"

He gave her a clueless frown.

"I just told you they were fired a minute ago."

Sam's face fell.

"But you agreed to punish me ins..."

"And I gave you your punishment. Just like you wanted."

Sam's mouth hung open for lack of words to say as Desmond left the room.

Such a despicable creature! Sam thought.

Shortly after he left, she was served breakfast. Though she was eager to taste something moments ago, her tongue could barely taste the food as she ate. The guilt of costing Ann and Maggie their jobs bit at her.

In the end, she left the half-eaten food and went to her room. It felt too quiet now without them. At that time of the day, they would have argued a hundred times already.

Since she did not have a personal maid now, she could now go back to being in control.

She sat down in the mirror and began to brush her hair. The girls used to do that every morning and by bedtime. They said it helped to keep her hair from tangling.

The brush brushed through her hair smoothly, unlike then when she had to struggle till her scalp nearly came off. The frequent brushing helped

When she was done, she braided her hair in two French braids and hopped into bed.

She heard a light knock on the door. She frowns in thought. Did Desmond change his mind? Had he sent someone to come and call her?

She hopped off the bed and to the door. Sadly, her guess was wrong. It was not any of her maids. It was not Baron. It was the maid that escorted her to the servants' quarters last night. The maid bowed slightly. Sam let her in and shut the door.

"Have you had breakfast, mistress?" She asked.

When Sam nodded, she went to the wardrobe and took out the laundry into her basket, then left.

Sam got back into bed with her phone. She logged into her Instagram and scrolled through numerous posts.

Since she couldn't read, her exploring was limited to what she could remember of last night's lesson, but Sam craved to do more. She wanted her pictures on the phone too. She was more than certain that people would like her very much.

Scrolling further, she saw a picture that stole her breath. Could men be so beautiful?

The man had blond hair that stopped almost at his shoulder. His eyes were as blue as the ocean.

The most important features on his face were the soft curves of his jaw, nose, and lips and the upward tilt of the outer edges of his eyes. All this made him look almost feminine.

She tapped on the heart.

"This is worth liking." She smiled.