Chapter 3

Brenda's POV

I had just survived a ghastly car accident, though I couldn’t decide if it was a blessing or just life prolonging my torment.

The driver, intoxicated and speeding, lost the cop chasing us, but the car tumbled twice.

I escaped with minor scratches, but the two men in the car were covered in blood. I didn’t even check if they were alive—I couldn't afford the cop to catch up with me.

I crawled out of the overturned car and sprinted into an alley, stopping only when I saw the gate of a mansion opening for a luxurious vehicle.

Hearing the police siren growing louder, I slipped into the compound unnoticed behind the car.

I hid in the shadows and watched as a man with an aura of authority stepped out. Suddenly, he turned in my direction and barked, “Step outside now!”

Trembling, I emerged with my hands raised.

His stern voice demanded, “Who are you, and what are you doing here?”

At first, I didn't know where to start, but with another shout from him, I nervously explained everything—my father’s murder, the chase, and ending up there.

I couldn’t see his expression in the dark, but he stayed silent for some moment and I just concluded he would eventually kick me out.

To my surprise, he ordered his guards, “Let her stay in the guest quarters tonight. Watch her.” Then he turned to me and added, “You leave by morning. Am I clear?”

“Yes, thank you, sir,” I muttered.

He left, and I was escorted inside.

At dawn, I left as instructed, wandering until I stumbled upon another big house—The Grayson's. I accepted an offer to become their housekeeper, not knowing that I had walked into even greater trouble.

*****

It was meant to be a quiet night if it weren't for the pattering of the rain on the roof. But that was the least of my problems.

It was almost midnight when I walked back into the room assigned to me with a tired gait. I shut the door and locked it. Shutting the door at least tried to help me shut out the world, but it could not shut out Vanessa's noise.

Her room was next to mine, and her loud intermittent laughter felt like torture as it robbed me of the tranquility I needed to pull myself together.

Well, I tried to ignore her.

It had been a long and tiring day.

Finally moving away from the door that I reclined against, I slouched to the bed and slumped into it.

I let out a sigh of relief when I figured that Vanessa's phone call must have ended, because I couldn't hear her voice anymore, and even the rain had stopped.

Just when I thought I could finally get some rest, a knock came on my door abruptly.

Everyone else in the house, including the other maids, must have retired to bed. So I knew it would be no other person but Vanessa who had been so intent on making my life more miserable than it had become since she set her eyes on me.

My gaze flicked to the wall clock and I exhaled an air of frustration.

But I just left her room some moments ago after she had given me loads of work to do for her, I thought.

Another knock jolted me from my reverie and I clambered out of bed immediately.

Before I could open my mouth to say a word, Vanessa's voice pierced in sharply. “Open this door now,” she shouted, “before I make you live in regrets.”

Inwardly, I wondered what more regret would be worse than losing my dad and finding myself in this house where I'm treated like trash.

I was almost at the door when she shouted. I increased my stride to cover the little gap between me and the door.

As I opened the door to reveal Valerie's face, I was greeted with the same scowl she had worn all day when she set her eyes on me, a testament to how much she abhorred me.

“Did I give you the permission to sleep yet,” she asked.

I was confused by her question.

“Answer me when I'm talking to you,” she snapped.

“You waved me off, signaling that I could go,” I replied.

“Then this shows how dumb you are to assume that because I never did. Come to my room and tidy it up immediately,” she said.

For a moment, I thought that I didn't hear her right. Maybe my ears were starting to malfunction.

“You heard me, you still have stuff to do. Follow me to my room at once,” she commanded like a queen.

Then it occurred to me that I actually heard her well and I managed to protest.

“But I just left your room not too long ago. Besides, it is past midnight. Past bedtime. When do I get to sleep if I don't sleep now?”

“Well, that sounds like my own problem, Vanessa sneered. “You walked into this house all by yourself. Nobody forced you, Remember?”

Just calm down Brenda, I told myself inwardly.

Truly, my parents employed you. And even as you are still answerable to them, I call more of the shots now. You have become my personal maid.

“I would rather leave and beg for money on the streets than to fully become your personal maid,” I said to her defiantly.

Like a maniac, she broke into a fit of laughter that only left me in bewilderment.

I couldn't remember ever being a comedian. What was so amusing to her?

Then she collected herself, resuming her cold demeanor.

“Fine,” she said. The next thing I knew, she poured the wine that remained in the glass cup she was holding onto my clothes.

I knew she had pushed me to the point where I would lose it. But before I could open my mouth, the barrage of words that were getting ready to be spilled died on my lips when I heard a loud shattering sound on the floor.

I looked at her hand to see that she wasn't holding the cup she held before, and when I narrowed my gaze down to the ground, I saw the shards of the broken mirror scattered on the ground.

My rage and shock had outweighed the sting that I felt on my legs until now when I suddenly felt the sting. I looked to see that a small shard of the glass had pierced my skin, causing a tiny amount of blood to seep out.

“That's a baccarat glass cup and it's worth over $3000. Oh! Telling you the name is just a faff because a pauper like you can't relate.”

Despite my pain and anger, I almost laughed at her delusion, not only because I was well acquainted with that cup she claimed I wouldn't know.

We had them in our house when things were still good for my late father. Besides, I'm not oblivious to the fact that she exaggerated the price.

Still, I couldn't deeply understand why she told me all that until she spoke up again.

When you can afford to pay for it, maybe I'll consider your freedom.

I was thunderstruck but I managed to find my voice.

“Excuse me, I didn't drop that. You did.”

“Oh, really?” she exclaimed, her tone dripping with mockery. “Where Is your proof?”

She snickered and continued.

“You have no shred of evidence to corroborate your claim. And there are no cameras in this part of the house to vindicate you. Any objections, debtor?”

I was at a loss for words. I just stood and shot daggers at her, yet my angry expression seemed to excite her.

“Good,” she smirked

“You will do well to realize that you are at my mercy.” She leaned in further. “When I call you once, you answer twice. Am I clear, Brenda?”

I looked at the spoilt brat, my hands felt itchy, as if to do something terrible to her, but I couldn't bring myself to.

These people are very powerful. I could be behind bars at the snap of their fingers. I just needed to Keep enduring till I've saved up enough to leave here.

Clear this mess now, she said, her voice snapping me out of my thoughts again. I give you three minutes to do that and return to my room.

As if to spite her, I didn't respond nor make a move. Suddenly, she tried to slap me but I saw it coming and held her hand in the air.

Feeling defeated, the next thing she did caught me by surprise, as the drama queen she was.

She picked a piece of the glass on the floor and cut herself on her palm intentionally, letting out a scream before crying, making it look like I was the one who cut her.

The next thing I knew, her parents rushed down to us and they saw Vanessa bleeding.

“Oh no!” Mrs. Vivian exclaimed. “What did you do to my daughter?”

Mr Grayson’s face too was a mask of fury as he looked at me“ I'm calling the cops right away.”

I just stood, confounded by the family soap opera as the mother was fussing over Vanessa's minor and self-inflicted injury, and her father was about calling the cops.