Chapter-16

JANE

I woke up with an extremely dry throat and a sour taste in my mouth. Morning sunlight filtered through the little gap between the blinds, marking a new day, but my heart was heavy.

My hands and legs felt like they were being held down by something heavy, making me want to stay coop up in the bed all day.

I turned to my side and skimmed my hand over the empty spot where the sunlight fell in a thin band, trying to take in the warmth that seemed to lack in my life at this point.

I wanted to cry, but I couldn't. My tears had dried after crying the whole night. A few hours after Dom left, Adessa came to my room.

My heart clenched as Dom's devastated face filled my memory and I shut my eyes, in an attempt to stop his face from slipping away from my vision.

It still felt like a dream. I was able to see him, touch him. When I left with Rosario, I never thought I'd be able to see him again. Not that I should. But I couldn't help what my heart yearned for.

Adessa said she was here to check on the maid who came to my room yesterday. She was feeling unwell. After checking her, she decided to check on me too.

Despite my repeated attempts to stop her from feeding me the medicine, she forced the tablet into my mouth and kept it shut until I gulped it down.

I opened my eyes to a knock on the door and my stomach churned. I sat up hastily and rested my back against the headboard before pulling the blanket up to my chest.

The door opened slowly and the maid from yesterday walked in, making my shoulders relax.

"Good morning ma'am," she greeted with a warm smile and I forced a smile too.

"Good morning," I replied softly.

"I have made breakfast. Should I bring it here or are you going to freshen up first?"

"Oh. You didn't have to. I can make breakfast too. What else will I do sitting in a room all day?"

"It's okay, ma'am. It's my job. I make breakfast for sir everyday," she spoke politely, with her hands clasped in front of her.

"Oh, are you a chef?"

"Yes ma'am. I am the head chef. I love to cook and my son works here too. He is the capo." Her smile brightened as she spoke about her personal life.

It warmed my heart to know at least someone was happy here.

But then her smile vanished suddenly.

"Uh-sorry ma'am. I didn't want to bore you."

"No, no. I'd love to hear more about you. There's no one to talk to. And please, don't call me ma'am. You're like my Mom. Please call me Jane."

She hesitated, her eyes darted around the room as if she was uncomfortable.

"But…sir…"

"Don't worry about it. I am asking you to call me by my name. He won't decide what I'd like to be addressed." I couldn't hide the animosity in my voice as I replied.

"Okay," she said with a small smile and this time, I passed her a genuine smile.

"Are you feeling alright?"

She frowned before replying.

"Yeah. I am completely fit and fine. Thanks for asking." She walked towards the window and slid open the blinds, letting the sunlight bathe the whole room in a warm glow. "So, do you want to have your breakfast now?"

"Uh-where is he?"

She looked back at me with an unreadable expression before getting back to arrange the cushions on the couch.

"He's not home yet. I think he was out the whole night."

"Oh." I let out a puff of breath.

Thank God, I won't have to see his disgusting face in the morning.

"Okay, then. I'll get freshen up real quick and then I'll come down. It's depressing, sitting in a room all day." I climbed off the bed with a renewed energy

"Okay. Hurry up. I'll make your bed." She came and stood by the edge of the bed.

"It's okay. I can do it. You are a chef. This is not your job." I held her hand as she bent down to grab the sheet.

"Actually, the head of the staff is not around for a few days." She smiled and moved to grab the sheet while talking, "So in his absence, sir has asked me to do his job."

"Oh. But still, it's not your job. You should just supervise, right?"

"Yeah. But only I am allowed to enter his room and now yours. So, it is my job."

A feeling of disappointment washed over me as I realised she was one of his trusted employees. Anyone who was trusted by him couldn't be a good companion.

A sense of detachment settled in between us and I walked to the balcony, overlooking a well kept garden, full of colorful flowers.

A monster like him didn't deserve so much beauty and serenity around him.

"Oh. So, he trusts you."

"In a way, yes. He trusts my son, who is his capo. So, he trusts me too. My husband was his father's capo and he was killed in the war with the D'Amicos six years ago." My heart raced and my ears perked up as I whirled around to look at her.

She looked up from the glass vase she was dusting and passed me a sad smile.

"My son took over after that and has been his most trusted man since then. So, he trusts me too."

"War? What was that about?" I asked and grimaced mentally at the curiosity that was obvious in my voice.

I need to be careful.

"Your room is done. Now go, and freshen up. I'll set the table. It's getting late," she replied instantly, as if she didn't hear my question.

She exited the room while I stayed rooted to my spot, processing the new piece of information.

What's this all about?

There was a war between both the families six years ago but neither Dom nor Rosario told me about it. Why?

...…

I ate breakfast, lost in thoughts as I stared at the distance while the staff was busy with their jobs silently. The only noise came from the clinking of the utensils in the kitchen where Matilda was, with two more cooks.

I asked the head chef her name after coming down for breakfast and she said it's Matilda.

She had served me waffles with a generous amount of cream, strawberries and blueberries as toppings. But everything tasted like grass.

It wasn't about her cooking. I had lost my appetite since I came here and nothing I ate tasted like they should.

A click of shoes dragged me out of my thoughts and I saw Rosario walking in with a menacing look on his face that sent a chill down my spine.

The fork dropped with a clink on the plate and I sat up straight. Pushing down a shiver that was about to consume me, I clasped my hands tightly to keep them from trembling.

I couldn't show my weakness in front of him.

Stay strong.

He stopped in the middle of the mansion and looked around with blazing eyes until his gaze stopped on me. The whole staff stood still, even the clinking noise in the kitchen stopped.

"Did someone who shouldn't have been here slip in last night?" His voice boomed and this time, I couldn't stop the tremble in my hands.