I smell...Fear.
Gladys POV
'This wasn't how I imagined their reaction to me,’
I stood behind a pillar watching how the girls ridiculed the sister. I wonder who told them the master left sister's room last night?
I didn't tell a soul about what I saw that night. Could it be that someone else was there with me?
“What's the commotion about?” I asked, tired from watching them insult the master's guest.
I could see the burn mark on her arm. How did it get there?
I moved my gaze from her to Mia and quickly got the gist of everything. They planned this.
…
“Ma'am, w-we do not know what you're talking about,” Their voices echoed in the hallway and I sighed.
“Gladys, dear,” Miss Eleanor called calmly.
“Yes, ma'am?” I answered.
“I want you to escort sister Liora back to her room,” She instructed.
“Understood,” I replied, then turned to the sister. I saw her glancing outside the window and followed her gaze.
That part shows a clear view of the master's pool. If my guess is correct, the master should be with his mistress now.
“Huh? What's that?” My mouth fell open when I saw a guard running towards the master. He whispered something to him before leaving in a hurry.
Something's not right.
I watched closely as the master got out of the pool walking towards the annex. Yeah, he named it that because that's the place some of his shady business takes place.
'And anytime the master visits that place. It means uninvited guests were coming -”
“Ma'am, some guests are visiting tonight,” I announced without alerting sister Liora.
Miss Eleanor gave me a short nod and I nodded. I'll return the sister to her room and come over to ask what's to be done.
“Please sister, come with me,” I said, gesturing for her to leave. She smiled at me then followed me.
A few minutes later ~
“Is something wrong, Gladys? Your face is very pale. Are you sick?” She asked, after entering her room.
I snapped out of my gaze to see I was standing in front of her door. Goodness, Gladys, why act this way when you knew it would only fuel her curiosity?
“I'm fine. I was wondering what master guests would eat tonight.” I cracked a smile on my face and hoped that was enough to stop her from asking questions.
“Oh, isn't that the chef's job?” She asked.
I blinked, “Yeah it is, but… the guests coming over today are different. Anyway, I've said too much. Please take your rest and if you need anything… You know what to do,” I smiled at her, then turned to leave.
“Gladys?” Her soft voice came behind me and I stopped. “Can I come with you?”
I gulped, as what I feared happened. I exhaled softly then turned sharply to her.
“Unfortunately, you can't sister.” I smiled, and the smile on her face slowly disappeared.
“I see.” She answered, then turned her back. “I won't disturb you anymore.”
I nodded then quickly left the place before she could ask more questions. I walked through the hallway and saw that Mia and her lackeys weren't there.
“I know the perfect place they will be at this hour,” I clenched my hands tightly as I quickened my pace.
I wouldn't want to miss a good show.
…
“You still haven't answered my questions, Mia.” Miss Eleanor's calm voice was the first thing I heard immediately after the door to the punishment room opened.
It was hard to get to this place. Someone has to pass through the guards on security and enter the prison room, which was located underneath the penthouse.
The master made sure everything was in this place. Spa house, garden, pool, beach, prison for maids like Mia, and much more.
The only thing that's missing in this place was… a bank.
“I-i really don't know. W-we-” Mia's trembling voice echoed in the room, before it got cut off by a sharp slash sound.
“Ahhhhhhh!” Her bone piercing screams echoed in the huge room. I swept my gaze around the two large tables in the room.
Different punishment tools were on the table and some of them had blood marks.
My gaze went to Mia, whose arms were tied up to the ceiling, and seated a step away from her was Miss Eleanor.
I closed this distance and stood at a spot where I could watch everything. Miss Eleanor had a long, bloody chain in her right hand, and on her left hand was a red handkerchief.
No, a RED handkerchief.
“I'll repeat my question, Mia.” Miss Eleanor calmly announced. “Who told you the master is a dog?”
“No one! I-i assumed everything! Please, I am begging! Ahhhhhhhhhh!” She screamed frantically and wiggled.
I scoffed at the sight before me. There was nothing she could do. The only way to get out of that chain that tied her arms up was after Miss Eleanor was done with her.
And… that won't be happening anytime soon. Miss Eleanor slashed down at Mia's legs and the girl's scream filled the room.
The chain wrapped tightly around Mia's legs before it got pulled back with force, causing some blood to spill out.
“That hurts,” I muttered, covering my mouth in feigned fear.
“Since you don't want to make this easier for both of us. I'll do us the favor and beat the answer out of you.” Miss Eleanor stood up from her seat and walked around Mia.
She stopped behind the girl.
“W-wait ma'am! Please don't do this! I'm sorry for what I said! I will change! It's a promise! I promise that I will… Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh!”
The chain sank into her feet before it got pulled back forcefully. It went down again, again, and again and again.
And all that sang inside this quiet room was Mia's bloody screams. The two maids at the side cowered in fear as they witnessed the brutality before them.
Tsk, fools.
Did they really think this place was some playhouse where they could do anything they wanted?
'Not only did they make the master appear like a dog. They also disrespected his guest by calling her a slut!’
‘I wonder where they got that courage from.’
“Gladlys,”
I snapped out of my thoughts.
“Yes ma'am?” I answered, walking toward her. She threw the chain on the table and wiped her hands with a clean handkerchief.
“I want you to take it from here.” She said, “The master has some guests visiting tonight, and I fear that the night won't be peaceful. You saw the guards on patrol while coming down here, right?”
“Y-yes ma'am. I did,” I replied.
“Good. It's to show you how serious the situation is. And while taking care of these fools, I want you to leave them crippled and unavailable.” She threw the handkerchief, then turned to the door.
“When you're done meet me in the quarter,” She added before leaving.
I nodded then turned around. The scornful expression on Mia's face was nowhere to be found, and all that was left on her face was… fear.
“Seeing the fear on your face gives me pleasure, Mia,” I commented, walking towards her.
I grabbed the chain and pulled it down causing her to pull down to my eye level.
Yes, this is how you look at fear.
“This expression suits you more,”