Taking Control

It was late at night, and Anna sat in the room that Damien had assigned her. It was located at the far end of the mansion. She wondered if he had chosen this room to keep her out of sight, so they wouldn’t cross paths too often. A few hours had passed since his mother left. When the housekeeper came to call her for dinner, Anna realized she would have to eat alone because Damien had asked the maid to bring her food to her room.

Anna ate slowly with her heart heavy. When she returned to her room, she couldn't sleep or  rest. Her mind was filled with thoughts she wished she could avoid. She paced back and forth, trying to clear her head. Then, her thoughts turned to Damien. Unable to stop herself, she left her room to find him. Standing outside his door, she tried to push it open but it was locked from the inside. She felt restless, knowing he might be in a bad mood and she was probably the last person he wanted to see. But despite that, she needed to check on him because wished to know if he was okay.

After a moment, Anna heard a faint sound of a guitar. At first, she thought she might be imagining it but then the familiar tune became clear and it was accompanied by Damien's soft voice. She sat outside his door with her back against the wooden door and her chin resting on her knees as she hugged herself.

Two people who had once loved each other deeply were now back in each other's lives, yet instead of happiness, their reunion was marked by pain. She could not understand how they had to suffer more. Were eight years not enough? After about half an hour, the guitar music stopped along with his raw singing voice.  She heard the light click off and eventually, Anna also made her way back to her room. She was tossing and turning in bed for most of the night with no sleep coming to her.

When Mrs. Luna came to wake her, she found Anna already awake. She hadn't managed to rest properly. She fell asleep only briefly before waking again at dawn. Well, sleep was the last thought on her mind.

As she was coming downstairs for breakfast, Anna asked, "Mrs. Luna, is Damien joining us?"

Mrs. Luna replied, "The master already left, Madam. He usually leaves early in the morning, around six."

"Oh," Anna responded, trying to mask her disappointment. She pushed her food around on her plate while struggling to eat. Curiosity got the better of her and she asked, "Did he have breakfast?"

Mrs. Luna shook her head gently. "No, he usually doesn’t. Master doesn't like eating this early and mostly he skips breakfast."

Anna frowned, her concern growing for her husband. She knew Damien's medical history well. All about his allergies and more importantly,  his diabetes. He shouldn't be skipping meals like this. A rush of worry overcame her but she found herself utterly helpless. How could he neglect his health so carelessly? His recklessness and the disregard for his health scared her deeply.

Mrs. Luna added, "The kitchen usually prepares lunch for him. I send it over an hour before noon."

Anna nodded thoughtfully before asking, "Can I help you with preparing his meals?"

When Mrs Luna agreed, they headed to the kitchen. She decided to make a healthy and balanced lunch for Damien. She worked carefully while considering every ingredient as he was allergic to many things. When she was finished, she looked at Mrs. Luna with a satisfied smile on her face. 

"Mrs. Luna, please pack it just the way he likes," she said. 

Anna understood well just how stubborn her new husband could be. If Damien noticed the slightest change in the way his food was packed, he would know she had made it and given his current feelings toward her, he might refuse to eat it out of pure spite. She couldn't help but scoff internally at the thought. If she wanted to make sure he was properly cared for, she needed to be smarter in handling his ego.

As she prepared to leave, she said, "Mrs. Luna, I want you to prepare breakfast for him every morning, starting tomorrow. I will wake up early and help. We have to make sure he doesn’t leave the house on an empty stomach."

After breakfast, Anna decided to take a tour around the house. She was going to be living here and she wanted to make some changes to make it feel like home. This mansion looked so cold and fake that she wanted to give it a more homely feeling. While walking through the house, Mrs. Luna explained, "Master Damien mentioned that you can make whatever changes you wish to the property, ma'am, but his room and study are off-limits."

Anna nodded, suppressing a smile. She decided to first turn the cold and imhumane living room into a space that felt warm and inviting. Though she had only arrived yesterday, she didn’t hesitate to make bold changes. She knew this was her home now and she intended to make it reflect her comfort and personality a home has. 

The day passed with Anna familiarizing herself with her surroundings and the household staff. She began taking responsibilities from Mrs. Luna who had been managing things for years. Anna did not shy away from asserting herself as the new lady of the house. She took charge of the staff to ensure that things ran smoothly. It was apparent that the staff had grown somewhat undisciplined over time with Damien's frequent absences and Mrs. Luna's kind nature. 

Two maids who were openly disrespectful towards her were dismissed. .

One of the maids who was furious at being fired, spat out in anger, "We will see how long your confidence lasts! You think you are the madam of this house? You don’t even share the Master’s bed! We all know who the real madam is! When Miss Spencer comes back, we will see who is in charge! Hmph!"

The reference to Regina didn’t go unnoticed by Anna. She could sense the staff here had been planted by Regina and they had a sense of loyalty to this other woman. How predictable her step-sister was once again! 

Anna wanted nothing more than to slap the maid across the face, but she held her composure and let out a sweet smile instead. “Yes, why not? When your Miss Spencer returns as Mrs. Callahan, we will see who is in charge. But for now, I, Anastasia Callahan, am throwing you and your little crew out of my house. And if you would d like, you can seek employment at the Spencer House. If you say, I can even give Harold Spencer a call to hire you to lick Regina’s little precious ass!”

Oh, was Anastasia afraid of using curse words? Not at all. She was far too straightforward for that! After surviving on the streets, she knew what it took to make a place for herself. Elegance? That wasn't going to provide her with a peaceful life. She didn't believe in the pretence of elegance and manners. Life had taught her the value of speaking candidly and fighting for her place without any sugar-coating.

Anastasia settled herself on the living room sofa.  She gave them a clear and direct warning– if they wished to stay in this house, they had to be loyal to both Damien and her. If anyone failed to meet this simple condition, they would find themselves without a job, just like the others.

She sighed. Although she controlled the household, what about the man she married? He was nowhere to be reached.