Chapter twenty-one

Madam Sarah

I sat on my office chair as my client sat on the opposite side of the desk going on and talking about business. In case you want to know, we’re business dealers. People say we kill, steal, and do all sort bad things, but then, I don’t care, as far as it fetches us money.

“So Mr. Clarence, how may we help you this time ?” I asked our latest client. Mr. Clarence is wealthy enough and doing business with him has always been pulling in a lot of money for us, he is a high end client.

“There is someone I want to be taken care of and I would like for it to be done as soon as possible” he said sternly but he had this happy expression on him.

“You know that killing people is risky business Mr. Clarence, so the pay will be very high” I responded even though I knew what his reply to that would be.

“I’m ready to pay you anything. As far as it gets ‘her’ out of the way, I’m ready” he said and passed an envelope along to me, I opened it and found a cheque.

“That’s a cheque of $100,000. I’ll do more if only you can get her out of the way” he said and I smiled.

“Ok, but then, this is not the charge though, this is just an incentive to get me motivated to accept the job, and I’m very ready to get her out of the way Mr. Clarence. So can I get her picture and

any other information you might have on her?” I asked, I have already worked out those to give the job to and how to have them execute the target.

“Of course here’s her picture, she could become a major pain and torn in my flesh, I need her done in fast and clean and untraceable” he said adding another note with the picture, I saw the address and a work schedule scribbled out on it, damn, this man must really want the woman out of the picture, for him to have even done so much groundwork on the target, I thought with delight.

“We aren’t going to fail you on this” I said smiling after he gave me the items, I do love a client that is eager to spend to achieve what he wants, money is nothing but a servant after all.

“Thank you very much Madam Sarah” he said stretching his hand which I took in a handshake. “You’ll hear from us” I said as he stood up smiling and then he walked out of my office.

I glanced at the picture again and saw the beautiful smiling woman, she was really beautiful and the smile was cute and innocent, it’s just so unfortunate that she’ll be dying soon.

I picked up my phone and dialed the number of the handler to the cheapest assassin I have on my payroll, the guy and his cohorts make the scene of death look like a burglary gone wrong, hence why they are cheap, they get to be as messy as they want but then, they are very intricate that the deed can’t be traced back, I do believe it’s time for a raise for them though.

** Victor

I watched Layla as her expression changed the moment I told her about the launch party. I couldn’t think of any other lady going with me to that event, it has to her, she is just perfect and I know she is the right one that I can take along with me to the party, my heart has chosen to be with her, and right now, the huge gap in our status won’t allow for that to happen, so now, I have to work on bridging that gap and making her see that we could definitely work out.

“Sir… I don’t understand what you mean by I should go with you to a launch party.” She said all flustered and surprised.

“Why don’t you understand Layla?” I asked, it was pretty simple wasn’t it.

“I mean… you have Ms. Bayley or you can take your sister there” she said looking directly into my eyes, a challenge, she wanted to read my reaction to what she had just said.

“But you’re my personal maid! You’re supposed to always follow me anywhere I go.” I said without looking away from her, I changed the response she must have been expecting though which must have been something like “I want you not them”, I know how to handle challenges very well.

“I know sir but… I’m not supposed to follow you on occasions like this, this is a social event after all, those that should be seen with you should be those of high standards and integrity” she said looking away sadly.

“Why do you think that way Layla?” I asked softly, last thing I want is for her to develop an inferiority complex, that is if she hadn’t already and if she has, the last thing I want is to stroke and fan it’s embers.

“Well because I’m too wretched by all means and I don’t even have designers clothes to wear. I would definitely cause you to be embarrassed I mean, it will be definitely be a mistake to take me along with my wretched status, besides what would people say about me going out with you?” She said still looking away.

“Hey, you’re not wretched okay? You are of the exact perfect status because you are working hard to change your situation, people can say whatever they want to say, you really shouldn’t be bothered by that, please just come with me” I pleaded. Gosh! I’ve never done this in life before, I’ve never had to beg a lady for anything before, it was a new experience, scary even, but in this situation, it was the right thing to do.

“What about what I’m going to put on?” She asked slowly giving in and I could see colors rising to her cheeks.

“I’m going to provide all you need okay? don’t let that bother you either.” I said to reassure her. “Alright, fine” she said finally smiling happily.

“Is that a yes?” I asked and she nodded “Oh, Thank you so much” I said happily as well and I moved in to hug her tightly whilst lifting her off the ground.

“Sir…” I heard her called and I released the hug, slowly placing her back down.

“Uhm, I’m really sorry. I was just carried away by my happiness” I said, I was joyous, like I’d won something I didn’t ever think I could have won.

“It’s okay Sir I understand” she said and smiled beautifully “Okay sir, can I take my leave now? Or is there anything you want so I can bring it for you?” She asked twirling slightly on her feet.

“Just get me a glass of cold fruit juice please ” I said, I needed to celebrate my victory, but I wasn’t going to do it with wine, not when I’m still cross with the one inside of me.

“Hmm, now that’s different from your usual wine, to be honest, I thought you couldn’t take anything else except wine” she said smiling at me.

“Yeah, I know right, but then recent activities have made it so, can you please get it for me now?” I asked and she nodded and left.

Wow… I can’t believe I just spoke with my maid as if I was talking with my sister or rather a friend, special friend…

**

Layla

Wow! I’m so happy right now and I don’t know the exact reason because there were just so many, Is it because Victor apologized to me? Or the part where he ask me to follow him to the party he is to attend? Or the hug even?

I can’t believe he hugged me that way, like two lovers that are just seeing each other again after a long while. Oh and the way he talked with me, it seemed as if I wasn’t even his maid. This is just too much for me to hide in my heart. I must definitely tell Martha about it but first, let me go and get him his fruit juice.

OhMaGawd, OhMaGawd, I feel so good…

*

The next day

Today is the day that Victor and Olivia's parents were coming back from their business slash pleasure trip. Actually, it was announced yesterday by Olivia at dinner. Everyone that is a servant in one way or the other got very busy.

Most were in the kitchen, Some were cleaning the compound and others were re-arranging their master’s or mistress’ rooms. I was actually in Victor's room. As his personal maid, I’m supposed to be the one to arrange his room.

I really can’t wait for tomorrow to be here so I can walk with Victor at that launch party, I’ll have his attention for most of the night after all, or so I hope. At the very least I do know that it will be so much fun. But then, my heart is really troubled right now. What will Olivia say when she finds out that I’m the one going to the launcher party instead of her friend? I could already envision the type of tantrum she’d throw at such a development, at least she is not mandated to be there, only as a formality if she chooses to be, and if she does choose to be there, then I guess she can take her best friend along as her plus1.

Sometimes though, I feel like I don’t know exactly who to obey in this mansion anymore. They all want to push someone from one end to another end all in the name of working for them, me? I’m just going to keep on obeying Victor because he was the one who employed me and not Olivia and definitely not her lapdog, Bayley. Olivia is just so full of herself that you’d have a hard time believing that she and Victor are actually siblings.

I was done cleaning the room in no time so I walked out of the room with a bucket of water and the mop stick inside and as usual I went to dump them in the janitor’s closet. I was walking through the passage back to Victor's room when I saw the passage that led to the secret room where he said I shouldn’t come close to. What was really inside that room? My curiosity suddenly spiked up.

I’m so curious to know about it but what can I do? I’m just a maid in this mansion and I can’t go beyond my boundaries. I stared at the passage for the last time before leaving. I don’t think my curiosity would allow me to not go to find out what is there.

I walked back to the main passage and as I got there I bumped into Sally, I remembered her name today. Damn I almost forgot that a bitch like her is still living in this mansion with me.

“Are you blind?” She yelled the instant our bodies made contact, you’d actually think she was expecting us to bump into each other and as such she had prepared the insult for that very moment.

“No… you’re the one who’s blind” I fired back as well, I wasn’t going to allow her show me up anymore.

“I can see you’ve grown broad wings” she said with an angry face, I don’t think she has any other facial expression other than that of anger though, I mean, I’ve never seen her in any other mood except the bitter and angry mood she’s always on.

“I should be the one telling you that Ms.” I said voice dripping with sarcasm and the little amount of spite I could muster.

“Don’t let this dumb skull of yours make you to think that I can’t deal with you even if you’re Victor's personal maid” she said with spite, enough spite for both of us, she was dripping with spite.

“You can do nothing okay? Stop threatening me, all you’ve got are empty threats” I retorted right back to her, if any of the older or senior staff caught us exchanging words as such, we’d be in trouble, but then, if she could afford it, then so could I, I have the upper hand after all.

“I don’t say what I can’t do or won’t do” she said moving her face closely to my face, exactly the way neighboring rivals would do in a fight.

“You can’t do jack shit, not any more than a dead rat can do” I said to her looking and feeling so angry as well, gosh, she was actually getting to me.

“We’ll see to that then” she said and was about walking away when a message notification came into her phone, she opened it casually, maybe she thought that I’d walked away or couldn’t see it from the angle I was, but I saw it super clearly.

The message stated : 'Sally be fast with that mission, we don’t have much time. Mr...' that was all I was able to read before she walked away totally oblivious to the fact that I’d gotten a glimpse of the message.

Now that message got me troubled, what mission was she here for? Why does she keep threatening me? Is she more dangerous than I thought she actually is? I must find out what her mission here is. I’m going to seriously monitor her movement this time around, thank goodness I have the powers to back me up, I’ve started using the grimoire to learn as well. It’s definitely gonna come in handy. Immensely.

*

Mr. and Mrs Lockwood arrived and everyone had to go stand outside, waiting for them to come out of the car, since they are the masters of every maid and servant and guard.

My mind wasn’t at rest over the Sally issue all the while we were doing the welcoming though, what if she’s trying to hurt one of the Lockwoods? I know that not all of them are exactly good people but then they don’t deserve to be hurt in any bad way.

When I came out of my thoughts, we were done welcoming them and they already walked inside while the servants trouped after, most went back to their posts and duties though.

“I know you guys will be very hungry after your trip. So I had many meals prepared before you guys arrived, so you’d be able to eat whatever you want” Olivia said playing the sweet angelic daughter.

“Oh my baby girl, you really are so wonderful, caring and thoughtful, you’re a lucky catch for any man” Mrs. Lockwood said and winked at her daughter.

“Thanks mom, you flatter me. I’ve missed you both though, really bad” she said pouting like a twelve year old and hugged her parents.

“Ok, Ok, so can we get to the dinning now, and where is your brother?” Mr. Lockwood asked after scanning about for his son.

“Sure dad, uhm, Victor should be joining us anytime soon” Olivia said and we all walked to the dinning with maids attending to each of the Lockwoods as they settled down for their meal, since Victor wasn’t there, I just remained standing beside where he was supposed to be seated.

“Heyoo family!” Victor announced as he entered the dining and went to his parents for welcoming hugs, “I’m so sorry I’m late, hope I didn’t miss anything?” he asked.

“Oh no son, not at all, come, join us to dine” Mr. Lockwood said gesturing Victor to take his sit, it seemed to me that Victor was favored by their father and Olivia by their mother.

“Thanks dad” he said and sat down while I started to serve him his meal. They started eating and talking and laughing and it reminded me of when my own dad was still alive. This was what we used to do together as a happy family, all the more reason for me to ensure that they are not tampered with in anyway by any person, who knows maybe I’ll adopt Martha’s duty of protecting the Lockwoods.

They finished eating and the other maids cleared the table while we the personal maids left to our quarters. I walked into my room and discovered my phone was ringing. It was Landon calling. Gosh! I hardly get to call them and I thought probably he’s missing me, that’s why he called.

“Hello kid brother” I said smiling as I picked.

“Hello sis, mom… mom…” I heard his shaky voice at the other end and the smile on my face drained off my face immediately, that wasn’t the voice of someone missing another person, it was the voice of someone that had been crying bitterly.

“What’s wrong with mom? Did anything happen to her?” I asked as the feeling of dread overcame me.

“Layla, I, came back, fr, from school to meet mom lying in her a pool of her own blood, mom is not breathing Sis” he said crying and I choked.

“What do you mean by mom is not breathing?” I asked with my heart beating really fast while I struggled to get my breath back

“Layla, mom is dead” he said and my phone fell from my hand