01: This was it!

This was it!

I took a deep breath, the crisp morning air clinging to the edges of my nerves as I stood before the imposing gates of Dominic Hall’s Mansion.

If all ran smoothly, this would be the new place I would work at. A shift in my life. 

I pulled down and readjusted my blouse, exchanged glances with my reflection in the polished metal of the gate, and pressed the intercom button. The gates creaked open, revealing a whole different world. The Mansion loomed ahead, it’s grandeur intimidating yet enticing. 

I stepped onto the manicured path; it felt like I was walking in a dream or an unreal place. This place was fantasy-like. 

“Name!” A male voice barked the second I took more than 2 steps into the yard. 

Frightened, I hurriedly looked around to see the owner of this male voice. I turned around and found a male guard standing there under some trees next to what appeared to be his little shed or building thing. Stanley. That was the name stitched and sewn neatly on his blazer. 

“Harper Holmes”, I replied finally after analysing this tall man. 

“What are you here for?” he questioned 

“I- I… I am here to see Dominic Hall - Mr. Dominic Hall,” I answered nervously.

He was quiet. Just staring at me from head to toe. It was as if he had scanners in his eyes.

“Sign here” he finally stood up and handed me a clipboard. 

Geez, why did we have to sign in? Was this an office or something?

I grabbed the clipboard from him and quickly wrote down my name, arrival time, and signature. I scanned the paper and saw about 2 other names on the list. Ladies. Maybe other maids also applied for the job and were there for the interview. I handed him the clipboard back and continued walking down the path. 

As I approached the entrance, the towering double doors swung open. The cavernous foyer echoed with the clicking of my shoes against the marble floor. The mansion seemed to hum with stories of luxury and privilege, each piece of furniture and artwork holding a chapter of a life I had only glimpsed in my dreams. 

I was now in the living room, or what appeared to be it. The living room was large, with huge couches, a huge TV screen as if it was from a cinema hall and all these beautiful house plants to cover up and hide the empty spaces. 

I did not know what to do. I wanted to walk around the house a bit more and familiarise myself with the place, but then again, I did not want to be lost. He knew my interview was scheduled for this time, and even though I was about 10 minutes late, I would have expected him to be the one to pick me up from the gate or at least be waiting at the main door, but instead, he was nowhere in sight. I sat down on one of the couches and waited impatiently for this billionaire to appear. 

After some 5 minutes, I stood up and walked around. I decided to start by checking out the mansion. I tried to knock gently on each door. I opened the first door I reached and found that it was a very small bedroom. Very small and plain. Zero effort was put into it. I closed it slowly, walked to the next door, and opened it and found that it was a very small bathroom. It was just a shower, a sink and a toilet. It looked as plain as mine from my crappy apartment. 

There was not much to look at downstairs. There were not as many doors as I had expected, but after seeing the plain bathroom, the next door I opened, which was next to the kitchen, appeared to be the pantry. It had all these cool cereals and foods stacked and neatly placed like he was some serious perfectionist. 

The next door was wide open, and I managed to peek into the room and see that it was his office. No one was there, but the chairs were left as if people had been there not too long ago. I wanted to go in and sit down on the chair to wait for him to come back to the office so that we could do the interview, but then I did not know how he would react. But my intrusive thoughts took the best of me, and I tiptoed my way into the office. I looked around on the shelves and saw all these huge files labelled with years on the spines. 

I walked towards the desk and saw a paper with a list of names, including mine. There were about 6 names in total, including mine. The first 2 names, which were above mine, had ticks on them. Mine had a question mark next to it, and the ones that followed mine did not have any ticks or, stars or question marks. 

Geez, so everyone had applied to be his maid? And was he cancelling on me? 

I peeped over and saw a folder with the name ‘Sadie Evans’ and a passport-sized photo of a blonde girl. 

This name sounded awfully familiar, but the face did not ring a bell. I scratched my head as I tried to place where I had known this name and face. I put the folder back down, and I looked over to the other side and saw my application form with my passport photo. The ugliest passport photo was attached to it but I needed to submit something quick enough. 

I grabbed Sadie Evans’ folder again and pulled out her application form to see what skills she had or if she was a potential threat.

Just as I pulled it out and started reading through it, I heard a door open, and then I heard footsteps. I quickly bent and hid myself under the table while holding Sadie Evans’ paper. 

From a small crack, I could see some feminine feet, with bright red nail polish on each toenail, walk into the office and then stop right at the desk. I wanted so badly to shove my face right through up to the closest bit of the crack to get a better view of the face that matched the familiar name. 

Was it his girlfriend? Was it his wife? Did he have a friend over? 

I held my breath so that the person would not hear me and find me hiding there in the office, snooping around. Then, through the same crack, I saw the person walk out of the office again, and then I heard the other door close. I slowly got up from behind the desk, quickly put Sadie Evans’ application form back into her folder, and tiptoed out of the office again.

I decided I was going to continue my exploring, at least on the first floor, while I waited for Dominic to appear. I continued to walk around and found another door. I slowly opened it, lest I find that lady in there. It was just a toilet and sink. Simple and small. Perhaps it was the one used when or if he ever got guests. I finally turned and saw one more door. It was the last room I had not gotten a glimpse of since my arrival. 

It had to be explored. 

I grabbed the handle and slowly twisted it open, and there it was. Something I was not meant to see. 

I stood there as my jaw hit the floor and my eyes wide open -astounded and gobsmacked.