Chapter 19
**** MELINA P. O. V ****
THE NEXT DAY
I heard the curtain slide along its rods as I was sleeping.
“Get up and shine, little girl!” As the sun shone on my face, I heard Agnes say.
“Agnes, stop it.” I said that I was putting the duvet on my head.
“Wake up sleepy head!” She laughed as she yelled and jumped on the bed, making me do the same.
“What?” I asked with a tired pout on my face.
“Today is Monday. Master isn’t going to be here today, and the Emerson’s Mother is coming to visit. I’m so glad.” She said something, and I sat up and brushed my hair behind my ears.
“So everything was a dream. I am still in hell.” I said groaning.
“Yes, baby girl, we’re still in hell!” She said laughing.
“Is that supposed to make me laugh?” I looked at her with sleepy eyes and asked.
“Of course. Master will not be at home Monday through Friday because he has to work. We’re all happy, because at least we won’t be scared every day until it gets dark.” She said and I nodded rolling my eyes.
“That’s making sense. What about Emerson’s Mother, though? How fun is she?” When I asked her, she got up.
“I’m sure she’d like her. She is kind and caring.” She spoke.
“Really? And she let them do all this crazy stuff?” I asked with anger.
“Men are always going to be men. I have seen her try to change their minds many times, but they just don’t listen.” I sighed when she said it.
“They did, of course.” I said yawning.
“She did more than just talk once, though. She saved some of the servants a long time ago, before I came here.” She spoke.
“Really? What Went On?” I asked.
“She did everything she could to protect them, including turning her back on her son, but they were so angry that they wanted to get back at Master by hurting his mother.” She spoke.
“Seriously? What were they thinking? That is a sentence of death.” I said and she nodded.
“It really was a death sentence. He found out about their plan before they could carry it out, and then he killed them all.” She said and I nodded.
“I knew there would be killings.” She smiled when I said it.
“What would you have done if you were in their place? Getting another chance to live a normal life.” She spoke.
“Of course, I’ll take it and run away. I won’t try to get stupid revenge or start a fight I can’t win.” I said and she nodded.
“I guess I’m not the only one who wants to get the hell out of here at the first possible chance.” She said, “Take a look around,” and I smiled.
“So, what’s on the list for today?” I asked her as she got out of bed.
“We’re getting ready for their mother to come. So, I have to clean everywhere and do the dishes.” She spoke.
“It sounds like fun. Doing the dishes.” I said, and she laughed and looked at me.
“I’m not going to take you to the kitchen.” She spoke.
“Why? I’m supposed to sit here and keep looking for ways to help, right?” I asked.
“Yes. Since you aren’t a maid yet, you shouldn’t be doing things that maids do. If you try to talk me out of this, you will put me on the edge of death again.” I sighed when she said it.
I want to do something, though. I said with my mouth down.Contentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!
“That’s up to Master to decide.” She spoke.
“Yes, only I can make that choice.” We could hear Jason from the back.
Agnes moved away quickly and lowered her head.
“Good morning, sweetheart!” He said hello in a mean way, and I rolled my eyes.
“Good morning, sir or madam.” I also said it in a funny way, and he smiled.
“I’m going to leave now.” As Agnes walked to the door, she said.
“You would, yes.” He answered by looking around the room as if he had never been there before.
“So, what do I owe this unwelcome and unexpected visit?” He smiled when I asked.
“You seem quite happy today.” I smiled at what he said.
“The best thing I’ve ever felt is knowing I won’t see you for more than 10 hours every day.” I said smiling fakely.
“That makes sense.” He said, and I happily agreed.
“Today, you’re coming with me to the office.” When he said it, my mouth fell open.
“What? Why?” I was shocked.
“You can’t just do nothing here, so I’ll keep you busy at work.” I shook my head when he said that.
“Why can’t I just stay here and help the other people in the kitchen?” I asked.
“Because you aren’t a maid.” He said looking at me.
“At least, not right away, but later. I should get in shape.” I said and he nodded.
“I’m taking you with me.” He said he was headed for the door.
“Be honest, you want me by your side.” I told him, and he just shook his head.
“There might be something more important.” He said.
My mind kept coming up with ideas for what I could say to him to change his mind. I don’t want to be with him anywhere. I can’t stand to see his mean face everywhere.
I said, “Wait!” as he reached for the door.
“Why can’t I stay with your mom? You don’t want her to be bored while she’s here.” I said.
“And what makes you think that?” He asked looking at me.
“Because… They are afraid of her and can’t talk to her. But I don’t fear either of you or her, so I can stay with her.” I said.
“And why should I put my mother in your hands?” He asked, his eyes getting bigger.
“Because she begged you to let me go, but you were too stubborn and wouldn’t. I don’t dislike her in any way.” He sighed after I said it.
“Fine. You can do what you want.” He said that, and then he left the room. Sitting on the bed, I sighed.
I was glad I wouldn’t have to go out with him or at least see his face for a long time.
**** HARRISON P. O. V ***
“We can’t just kill Jason, though. It isn’t simple.” I told her, and she nodded as she walked toward me with a cup of coffee.
“I know. So, our plan would have to be very well thought out.” Putting the cup on the table, she said.
“The only plan was to take her away from that party right then and there.” I said taking small sips of coffee.
She asked, “Against her own will?”
“Her will doesn’t matter to me because she isn’t thinking straight.” I said angrily.
“She has her head on straight. She knew what it would mean if she took one of Jason’s girls.” I looked at her when she said it.
“That is the last thing she should be thinking about. At least, she should have come with us. I would have sent her away from here. To a place where he could never find her.” She sighed after I said it.
“What if she didn’t want to come to begin with?” She looked at me and asked.
I asked, “What do you mean?”
“You said that Melina has been living in the orphanage for 21 years. She wanted to travel and see the world.
Do you not think that she got everything she needed from Jason?” She did.
“No way! She doesn’t love him. I could tell from her eyes. She wasn’t happy about being there.” She sighed after I said it.
“I know. But we need to go back there to find out for sure. It’s Monday now.” She said smiling.
“So?” I asked looking at her.
“Jason is at work, you dumbass.” She said something, and I nodded and looked into space.
“That is correct. What about his brother, though?” He asked.
“He shouldn’t cause us any trouble. We act like we’re Melina’s friend. And I’m sure she’d help because she wouldn’t want us to die.” She said it, and I smiled and nodded.
“Then we can persuade her to come along.” I said.
“Exactly.” I laughed at what she said.
“You are a genius Nina.” She smiled when I said it.
“Of course I am.” She said with a smile as we both looked at her.
“Right, so we’re going there today.” I said and she nodded.
“We act like we don’t have any plans. We go like regular people who are going to see friends.” I stood up when she said.
“We better get preparing now.” I said and she nodded. I walked to the room that Nina had set up for me.
I’ll find you, Gracie. I promise.
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