The Butler

Trisha fidgeted in the long plus leather seat.

Ryan, as before, was completely relaxed as they got closer to their destination.

Just what had she signed herself up for? It was one night, but here she was wearing a dress that would easily have taken an entire year’s worth of salary.

She had pearls around her neck, and the whole styling he had insisted on made her too nervous.

She couldn’t stop wondering what would happen if she messed it all up and ruined everything that he was working so hard for.

“You look worried. I’ve told you to relax, Trisha.” He gave her another one of his smooth smiles but this time it didn’t relieve the knots in her stomach.

“That’s not so easy to do. I thought you told me you needed an average every day, type of woman.”

She gestured to the sparkling silver dress. “I look like a princess, nothing like myself.”

“They would expect me to spoil my wife and make sure she is in nothing but the best.”

His perfect lips flattened for but a brief moment.

“Ah, how clumsy of me. I almost forgot the most important part.”

He put a hand into his suit and withdrew a small box. Trisha’s heart stopped beating as she saw him gently open it. “You need your ring, my precious wife.”

Trisha could only stare at him as he took the dainty ring and slid it over her finger.

It disturbed her how much of a perfect fit it was. A simple silver band, but the entire thing sparkled with diamonds and sapphires.

“Wow.”

“You like it?” Ryan smiled. “That’s very good news.”

He leaned over and looked beyond Trisha. “And look, it appears we’ve made it to my house.”

Trisha swallowed as she tore her eyes off the ring and looked up. “House?” She repeated her voice vibrating with nervous laughter.

“This is not a house, this is like an entire city block!” She struggled to not hyperventilate as she saw all the endless rows of lights of cars pulling up. “This is crazy.”

“Too late for turning back.” Ryan grinned at her. The door opened behind him and he put his hand in hers. “It’s showtime, Trisha.”

She wasn’t given much of a chance to respond as he exited the car and pulled her with him.

He helped her out of the car with such care and an unexpected warmth that hadn’t been in his eyes a few moments earlier.

Lights blinded her and she found herself leaning against him as he waved and made his way into the front doors of the insane mansion. 

“Welcome back, Master and Mistress.” A young man greeted them as he bowed.

He took Trisha’s hand in his and gently tugged her away from Ryan’s side. “Excuse me for a moment, Mistress, but there is something that requires your attention.”

Ryan nodded to the interruption and Trisha was separated from the only person she knew.

The stranger led her up a flight of stairs and to an unending hallway. “Who are you?” Trisha whispered. 

She had thought she had said the words too soft to be caught, but the stranger had sharp ears.

“Apologies, I did pull you away as soon as you got here. My name is Nakuni. I will be your personal butler while you are with us.”

Trisha stared at him. “But I’m only here for one night, why would I need.”

“Shh,” Nakuni scolded her with a wagging finger. “Mind your tongue, Mistress, we’d hate for the wrong ears to pick up anything out of the ordinary.”

Trisha nodded and dropped her attention to the carpet. She had almost ruined it for Ryan before they had even got started. “I’m sorry.”

Nakuni clucked his tongue and she glanced back up at him.

Once he had her attention he gave her a warm smile, his emerald eyes sparkling in the lights.

“You’ll never have to worry about apologizing to me, Mistress. Now, would you like a crash course in your responsibilities before we join the others?”

Trisha wasn’t comfortable as he leaned closer and she took a step backward in response. “I thought I just had to be myself?”

“Well, of course, that’s to be expected, but I just thought you’d like to know just what to expect from this evening.”

Trisha swallowed. He was staring at her with an intensity that unsettled her. It wasn’t a leer, just something in his eyes wasn’t quite normal. She couldn’t put her finger on it.

“Okay, I just want to get through this night. What should I expect?”

“The ones who you need to look out for are a group of three. They might be together or they might come up to you one at a time. You’ll recognize them upon sight, I assure you. They will all stand out at this event. " He shuddered just the slightest bit.

"Stick to the story that the Master has given you, and you should be fine with them. There are others at this party that aren’t the ones you should worry about. There will be all matters of famous persons here. If you could try to hold back any star-struck behavior it would be most appreciated.”

“You realize that you sound very confusing right?” Trisha demanded.

“Your warnings are far too cryptic, and I’m not going to fangirl over anyone, that’s not me. I’m more of a gamer girl, not a movie buff. I only knew about your Master because of my co-workers and their insane star-struck natures.”

“What do we have up here?” A new voice broke in and Trisha whirled toward the intruder.

Nakuni frowned his eye twitching. “Kanda, what are you doing prowling the hallways? Shouldn’t you be downstairs harassing the guests?”

The stranger smirked.

“It’s rare for you to have a woman in your company, Nakuni, I had to see what was going on for myself. Shouldn’t she be downstairs with everyone else? You’re going to give people the wrong idea if you have her all to yourself.”

Nakuni snorted. “As if anyone would assume such a thing of me. I am not you, Kanda. Is the Master looking for her already?”

“Nah, Ryan is busy schmoozing his guests. Our guests of honor haven’t been spotted yet. I’m sure she’ll be expected to be trotted out at that time.”

Trisha growled in the back of her throat and both men quit bickering to give her their full attention. “Will you two stop talking about me like I don’t exist?”

Nakuni bowed. “I’m sorry, Mistress.”

“And that’s another thing, my name is Trisha.”

“I can’t call you anything other than Mistress, please try to understand.”

“Trisha, huh?” Kanda smiled. “An interesting change of pace. Okay, Trisha how about you let me take you back to the party? I can even be your guide.”

“She is not going with you. Out of all the people here that I would agree to leave her with you are the very last.”

“I’m not that bad.” Kanda’s smile had turned into a glare.

“Trisha, don’t listen to this guy, he’s just a butler. He’s the least important person here tonight. Come on, I’ll introduce you to the best people to know. There’s a superstar model here tonight, it would do Ryan wonders to have you meet him.”

“Why would that help Ryan?” Trisha demanded with a frown. 

“It just helps sell the whole illusion.” He grinned again. “Come on, come with me, I don’t bite.”

“I told you no.” 

“I can make my own choice,” Trisha interrupted the two of them. “Just why does this guy know about me?” She demanded of Nakuni as she gestured to Kanda with her thumb. 

“Kanda is the Master’s best friend.” Nakuni frowned again. “Though I’m not sure why he’d ever had such riff-raff as a companion.”

“You’re always the charmer, Nakuni.”

Kanda held his hand out to Trisha once more. “Just come with me, okay? I’ll take you to Ryan, and I'll keep the wrong sort of people away from you.”

“You are the wrong sort,” Nakuni added with a sigh.

“If you do decide to mingle with him, just know that if you call me, I will find you, Mistress. No matter where you are, no matter what. My name on your lips shall always summon me to your service.” 

Trisha took another step away from Nakuni’s intensity again and with but another moment of hesitation she took a step closer to Kanda.

She had a feeling she could handle his personality much better than she could the strange butler.

“If you try anything, I promise I’m going to take my mouse and use it to strangle you.” She walked past Kanda’s hand and went down the stairs trusting him to follow her.

Kanda stared at her for a moment his mouth dropping open before he hurried to catch up while Nakuni snickered at he proceedings.

 This new Mistress promised to be an entertaining night.