ROLAND'S MANSION

The supervisors were still unable to voice out their complaints for months even when their salary was barely substantial enough to purchase expensive groceries for their families in the local market but they found the need to soon after they were called to a meeting at their boss fancy estate one eventful day when the bright afternoon sun hovered in the bare sky above the lush mansion situated on a hilltop aloof from the roaring tidal waves of the ocean and the bar beach where coconut trees populated the western oceanside and were all seated on the couch in the living room, murmuring amongst themselves while they await the boss who had gone for a short business trip to the main city for him to finish off a deal with another firm requesting much needed logs from his sawmill in order to sustain his firm from the brink of collapsing due to poor conditions ravaging everywhere in the country and was expected to be back from his trip that same afternoon though some of his henchmen were left behind to safeguard the estate during his trip away from his house including his property and to keep a close watch on any form of intolerable behaviour from the farmers in his absence.

Headed by Sean’s father, the men kept on with the discussion amongst themselves which was getting a bit too personal and somehow frustrating for two men standing beside the entrance, armed with licensed pistols which they kept sheathed on their braces while they gazed on bluntly at the engrossed six men chattering to one another without caring about guards eavesdropping on their conversation that seems to be taking their complete attention as they sat comfortably under the resplendent bright light emanating from the chandelier dangling above their heads and ignored the dry hot humid atmospheric wind brewing into the house from the open windows.

Even the glossy rays of the bright red lamplight emanating from several lamps hung on a loop on the smooth wallpaper below some portraits at every corridor within the whole mansion including the upstairs rooms, which radiated upon the luxurious cubicle whence the men were present especially two priceless antiques exquisitely crafted to fitted the redness of the tranquil household. They knew that they were being watched by the two men but they chose to ignore them and kept on debating on important matters concerning the fate of themselves and the workers which they planned to discuss with the boss when he will arrive as promised few hours from the time they were allowed to set foot in his estate that he had left in the hands of his wife only to oversee affairs of the household rather than his office which he temporarily left in the trusted hands of Sean’s father to management effectively while he was away on his trip.

As for his two children, his wife had instructed them to keep on with their education in spite of the hardship of their family coping with the harsh conditions the town faces and had told the servants to see that they were taken care of each time they come back from school in a black Chevrolet assigned to a driver to be driving them home from school every day but on the day of the meeting, his children didn’t leave home for school since they were given a break from schooling following a recent case of burglars breaking into the school premises in the night with the aim of pillaging important assets owned and financed by the local authorities in response to the failure of the local administrative officers to cater for the needs of the people dwelling in the coastal towns.

Though the incessant murmurings amongst the impatient visitors kept them from boredom, some of them were getting frustrated with the passing hours without setting their eyes on the boss whose long absence was beginning to make the men a bit anxious and apprehensive about the anticipated arrival of the owner of the mansion.

A man with a white hat and dressed up in a clean red T-shirt , in his late thirties spoke his frustrations first soon after he got bored listening to the quiet complaints of the other five committee members.

"I can't wait anymore for the boss, William",

He said peering at Sean's dad with a serious look across his face and glanced at the guard standing at the door behind him who returned his gaze with a blunt expression.

"Thomas, be patient and keep calm. The boss will soon be here",

"That's what you told us few hours ago and where's he now, huh?",

Another quick-tempered fellow questioned.

"He's on his way coming. Maybe he's stuck in traffic",

"Or maybe he's not coming back today like you told us he would",

"Believe it or not, I simply delivered his message to you all",

William replied in his defense.

"Then he should have been here by now",

A third man in the group supporting the idea of returning back home, remarked.

"Come on, fellas. I have no idea what's taking him so long to get back home",

"Surely you don't know if he won't be able to make it to his mansion after spending two weeks away from his family",

"Are you sure that you got his message before telling us to meet here in his own house instead of the office?",

A fourth amongst the agitated men asked placing his fingers on the left side of his lower jaw and rested his back on the sofa, facing adjacent to the rest of the men including the head foreman.

"Yes, I did otherwise the guards wouldn't have let us come in here",

"True. That means they too knew of the day he would arrive",

"Of course, but they didn’t tell us nor did they say anything Goddamm thing about it",

Thomas rejoined taking another look at the guards and lowered his head below the couch when he noticed that the guard was watching him as well.

"He must have instructed them to keep quiet about it without us knowing the entire time when he'll return to take his place at the office",

"Why would he do that when his wife doesn't seem to know about it?",

The fourth man inquired looking squarely at his coworker in a sort of way that read total doubt of his co-worker's speculation and adjusted himself closely when he noticed that the other man gestured at him to come close enough to listen to his soft whisper.

"It's just a hunch but we all know that the boss must have told them to watch us and the workers the entire time he wasn't around to supervise the farmers like he always does",

"Most likely plausible, indeed",

"We just have to wait for some time till he gets here. Besides, we really need to get him to accept some of our demands",

William retorted with more confidence.

"But, Aidan. it won't be that easy",

"Jameson's right. You know he isn't that simple to convince",

"I know that but we'll do our best to ensure he obliges to reach a good solution for this dilemma",

"What happens if it's not enough? Last time, we failed to get him to agree to our terms and now……",

"Would be different if we all come out strong with one voice",

"And force him to comply even if it means losing our jobs",

Thomas added, looking quite ecstatic about the whole demanding process and turned his gaze upwards at the upper stairs alongside the others, above their heads in response to a small noise of a door creaking slightly they heard emanating from one of the rooms upstairs, only to see a young girl dressed up in a black anorak that shrouded her hair including her baseball cap and blue jeans stealthily approaching the handrail of the staircase above on the left side of the parapet without paying much attention to her father's guests who have already been attended to by the servants helping her mother out in the kitchen to provide a delicious meal for the guests sitting down on the sofa in the parlor around some refreshing drinks laid on the glassy table instead of the dining room whence four chairs stood on both sides of a longer table.