Chapter 7

The entire hall seemed to be thrown into silence and the sound of the tumbling Lena filled the building till she landed on the floor with her back.

"Ouch!" She muttered and shut her eyes in pain as she felt like she'd severed her spinal cord. The pain spread really quickly, and she began to feel it even on her shoulders, but soon, her eyes shot open.

'The briefing!'

With so much effort, she scrambled to her feet and met the eyes of Tessa and the much older woman whom Tessa was speaking to.

"What the fuck are you doing?" Tessa's face was beet red in anger as she stared at Lena's pathetic figure trying to steady herself and suck in the pain.

"Good. This is exactly what we need." The other woman's voice dripped with sarcasm, but Lena didn't dare look her in the eye.

"I'm so sorry, ma'am." Lena apologized, suppressing a wince from the pain in her shoulders. The other woman turned to the other guests and assured them that everything was fine with a forced smile, then turned back to Lena with irritation.

When they were sure everyone had gone back to their business, Tessa took a step towards Lena with blazing eyes. "What are you trying to do? Are you trying to ruin this thing for me?"

Lena's eye stung with tears, but she kept her head down. Tessa didn't even care if she was hurt. "Of course not. I'll never do that." She replied with quivering lips.

"Then what would you-"

"That's alright now Tessa." The woman stopped Tessa eyeing Lena as she gently pulled Tessa to her side.

"But Cecil she-"

"No need to be worked up over some clumsy maid. Today marks the true beginning of your life with my son."

'Her son?' Lena slowly raised her eyes and took a quick glance at the woman. She bore a striking resemblance to Thane.

Her hair was dark, shiny and just the right length for a woman her age. Her brows were icily arched; similar to that of a wicked stepmother, and her eyes had a darker glow than Thane's. Or was it the lighting in the room? Lena wasn't sure.

"Also, you have a speech to give. Don't overwork your voice, my dear." Cecil added, and Tessa couldn't help but take a deep breath and smile.

"You're right Cecil. I won't let her ruin my day. She'll leave soon, anyway." Tessa replied with a smirk of pride.

Lena's heart sank along with all the admiration she had for Tessa and a sudden feeling of anger washed over her. She raised her dampened eyes to be sure Tessa was joking, instead she sighted Marie coming their way.

"What happened, Lena?" Marie called and gently held her by the arm, then turned to Tessa and Cecil. "I am so sorry about that, Mrs. Moneau. I promise it won't happen again."

"Oh, no worries." Cecil said as she waved her rings adorned hand dismissively. "Just get her in check for the rest of the time she has left. We don't want careless maids spilling drinks over our prominent guests." She added and began walking away with Tessa.

"Now, about our initial discussion." Lena heard Cecil as they walked away. "Your career doesn't stop from carrying my son's child, you know..."

"What is wrong with you?" Marie scolded, snapping Lena out of her eavesdropping. "Do you want to get yourself fired?" She asked with the scariest scowl Lena had ever seen and it moved her half to tears.

"You're such a promising young lady and you got everything so right when you first arrived. What went wrong?"

Though Lena knew Marie was scolding her, she couldn't help but feel the motherly love hovering around her words, and it made Lena wonder if she had a child.

"I am so sorry. I was in such a hurry and I tripped-"

"No, stop that." Marie interrupted. "You should know by now that no one in this household tolerates excuses. Especially during these important times."

Marie suddenly looked around as if searching for someone. "Thane has you under surveillance, you know." She said in a whisper. "Another wrong move and you're gone!"

'Really? That's how petty he is?' Lena thought and almost rolled her eyeballs. 'He is so damn selfish.'

"I don't know what you did to him, but you need to be extra careful, especially now that Cecil will be around most of the time." Marie added and began leading Lena towards the kitchen while flashing smiles at anyone they passed by.

Lena didn't know how everything had come to this, but she knew she didn't want to lose this job. She needed it!

*****

"Do we really have to wait for him? What if he doesn't show up?" Lena saw Tessa whisper to Cecil with a frown.

They were all seated around a large dining table which contained only empty plates and a glass of wine in front of each person. Every seat at the table was occupied except for two in front of Lena, which sat cold.

"Patience Tessa, he will. You should know we make family our priority, and this is a family occasion." Cecil half scolded. "We're going to make sure everyone is complete before we begin."

Tessa just rolled her eyes and turned to her phone. Her perfectly manicured fingers caressed the screen as she scrolled away.

Lena let her eyes stray to the head of the table, where Thane sat. 'Why does he hate me so much but still let me clean his room?' Her eyes caught sight of his large breast tattoo peeking from beneath his shirt as his grey-blue eyes darted from one face to another, with Dante occasionally whispering something into his ear.

His fingers strayed to his chin, and he stroked it in thought while Lena stopped herself from having wild imaginations.

'You're such a whore, you know that, right?' her mind scolded. 'I thought you were over him hours ago?'

'It's not that easy!' Lena argued back, her eyes still lingering on Thane's face, but then drifted to his lips. 'How could anyone get over someone like-'

He suddenly turned in her direction and Lena quickly looked away, but she knew it was too late. He'd already seen her.

Anyway, when she looked back up, his eyes weren't on her anymore, as he was back to his makeshift gossip with Dante.

She finally released her breath, which she hadn't noticed she was holding. Then a loud, cheerful voice called as they walked through the main door of the house.

"Hey, everybody!"

Everyone's head snapped in the direction except Thane, but including Lena. She knew that voice even if she lost her memory.

As the person slowly came into view, Lena's heart sank painfully, and she silently prayed for death.