Chapter Seven

Two weeks into being William's personal maid felt like an eternity in hell.

He had kept true to his word in making her life miserable. He had stopped making her do unnecessary jobs for Katies's sake, but he was still hostile towards her. She knew she could not make things any easier, since fulfilling simple instructions was particularly hard for her to obey. Just like this morning, she had added lots of sugar to his coffee even after he had told her several times to never put sugar in his coffees or tea. She had only thought he would make her drink it, since it was his latest way of torturing her.

"I am trying to treat you like a normal human being, but you do not want that," he had told her before he left the house that morning with Katie.

Venting to Sarah had done her no good at all. All the maids blame her for being rude to him at his welcome party.

"You cannot treat people like that, even if you do not know them!" Was what they always told her.

The only advantage she could see was the improvement in her mother's health.

The Reeds' eldest son, Kelvin, was making the stay harder than what Williams was already making her go through.

The whole Reeds family had left the mansion for different reasons. Mister Reeds had traveled out of the country for a business meeting, Missus Reeds had gone shopping. Katie and William left together but didn't mention where they were going. Missus Grace had gone with Missus Reeds, Sarah had used the opportunity to go see some of her friends and also Emily's mother, and all the other maids did something similar.

Emily had wanted so badly to do something other than stay in the mansion alone, but William was making her clean and sanitize every corner of his room after he caught her placing used gum under his table.

She was halfway through the work when she heard whistling. 'Kelvin,' she scoffed.

Kelvin noticed the sounds in the room and pushed open the door. "If it isn't the maid who thinks highly of herself," he said sarcastically, leaning on the doorway.

Emily stood still, not daring to breathe. "What do you want, Kelvin?" Her voice broke, betraying the confident front she was putting on.

Kelvin strolled with his hands in his pockets. "Nothing really much you see, I just need five minutes of your time."

Emily could hear her heart beating dramatically against her chest. 'How do I attract these maniacs? I got fired because of this kind of boss, and I am here again,' she scolded herself.

I glanced at the open door. I wasn't sure I could outrun him, but if I distracted him, I could get to Mark--William's driver's place on time.

Kelvin seemed to read her thoughts and snickered. "You cannot outrun me, Emily, I could beat you in a race even if my eyes were closed."

Emily didn't listen; she figured she had to try her luck. Kelvin effortlessly picked her by her waist and dropped her on William's bed. "This will be fun," he mumbled, removing his belt. Emily's heart was beating hard in her chest. This was not the first, the second, or third time someone had tried to take advantage of her. She tried to stand, but Kelvin pinned her to the bed.

"Why do you want to make this more difficult than it already is?" He whispered in her ear.

Memories of the self-defense classes she had come across on YouTube flooded her and, without thinking, she hit her knee hard on his groin.

Kelvin fell to the side moaning in pain. She quickly took the opportunity and dashed through the door. She ran as fast as she could till she was in Mark's arms. She held him for what seemed like an eternity, crying. Mark didn't ask what happened, he let her cry while he stroked her hair and whispered comforting words now and then.

After half an hour of crying she narrated the whole thing to Mark, who wasn't shocked, just angry and sad.

"Mark, why does it look like I am boring you?"

Mark squeezed her hand. "You are not boring me, it's just that this is not the first time something like this has happened. At least you are lucky you got out," he said, his voice was distant.

"Has this been happening?"

Mark nodded. "I had a friend. She was harassed time and time again. When her parents took the matter to court and then lost, Kelvin claimed she seduced him. She killed herself a few months later."

Jane's heart soured at the look on Mark's face. "I am sorry," she mumbled.

"Don't be." His smile that always brightens her day was back.

"So why do you still work for them?"

Mark looked at her as if it was obvious. "For one, there are not many decent jobs out there, two, the Reeds pay well, plus my father was Mister Reeds' driver before he died."

Emily nodded. "I guess William will just get mad at me again because there is no way I am going back in there not when that maniac is let loose," Emily grumbled.

Mark pulled her into another hug. "By the way, why does William hate you so much?"

Jane gulped. "It must not be just me he hates, right?" She looked at Mark, hopefully.

Mark chuckled. "Sorry Emily, but it seems like he took in special hatred for you. Did you do anything in particular?"

Emily sighed. "Just one tiny mistake, and he is making me pay all my life," he grumbled.

Mark resumed cleaning the cars and what he was doing before Emily ran into his arms crying. "Tell me about it!" He ordered.

Emily rolled her eyes and narrated the story, rolling her throughout the story. "I mean I understand that I made a mistake, but that was because I did not know. But then he is taking everything a little too personally. I do not see what all the other girls see in him. No wonder his fiancé broke up with him"she added, biting her nails.

Mark looked at Emily and grimaced. "I think the main reason you cannot stand each other is that you are so similar."

Emily groaned out loudly, stamping hers on the floor. "Why does everyone keep saying that?"

"Maybe because it's true,"Mark muttered.

Emily rolled her eyes.

Emily spent most of her afternoon with Mark talking about as much as they could.

One by one, people began to fill the mansion again. Emily thanked Marked for keeping her company and went back inside when she was sure the mansion was safe. Marcus scolded her for not doing what he had asked her to do. She did not bother telling him what happened to Kelvin. "They are all the same,"was her reason.

Sarah and the remaining maids, except Grace, mourned with her, and they all promised that none of the maids should ever be left alone in the house again.

The next morning, Kelvin was no longer the guy who was trying to get Emily laid; he was the guy who hated her. Emily couldn't care less. She went through her day with less stress than usual. William still made her life hell, but with Kelvin hating her, it was easier to serve William without having to look to see if he was around before leaving or going into a room.

Katie and Emily's friendship and her mother's treatment were still proving to be the best thing to come out of the hell she was facing in the mansion.

"I think you stepped on Willy real hard this time," Katie had told her. "He had never been this hostile to anyone except Kelvin, of course."

The name 'Kelvin' made her form a small fist with her hand. "I despise Kelvin," Emily blurted before she could stop herself, Katie had that effect on her. Emily held her mouth immediately and apologized. "I did not mean it that way!"

Katie chuckled. "Of course, you mean it like that, and I support you, Kelvin is something else."

Emily thought of telling Katie about the incident that happened the day before but decided against it.

"So, any special guy?" Katie's question took Emily by surprise. She had been so consumed with paying the bills and her mother's health she hadn't taken the time to think about her life, men in particular. "No."

Katie raised her eyebrows. "Why?" The question was short, straight, and direct. Emily gulped. "You can say I have not met the right one yet."

Katie's smirk sent chills down Emily's spine. She knew what she would say was irrational, but she waited to hear it.

"Have you considered my brother William?"

"No,"was the natural response Emily found.

Katie frowned, clearly hurt.

"I do not mean it like that," she began. "It's just that William and I will be starting a world war, it's like keeping two male lions who want to be king in the same place," she explained.

"I guess you are right,"Katie mumbled, still not pleased.

That night, Emily dreamed of William. The next morning, she was eager to go to work but, she wasn't sure what to expect, but in her dream, William was nice. It was still early when she opened the door to their family room.