CHAPTER 5: THE LION'S CIRCUS

“Who is the woman who was in the boss’s office?” Dora the maid asked Rose. 

“It’s not my place to say,” Rose said rudely. She always considered herself Dora’s superior although Dora treated her like just another maid and co-worker.

“Why don’t you just admit that you are clueless like me?” Dora asked with a chuckle. Rose glared at her but Blake walked in before she could reply. 

“Find out what Ella wants for supper and serve her in Jason's room,” Blake said then he walked out. After Rose heard the door close, she turned to Dora who was still seated.

“What are you waiting for?” Rose asked.

“I thought he was addressing you,”Dora said.

“Jason is my only responsibility,” Rose said smugly. Dora got up from the armchair where she was sitting at the kitchen table and began to take out random ingredients from the fridge.

“Aren’t you going to ask what she is eating?” Rose asked. 

“Go and ask her as you check on Jason,” Dora said as she nibbled on a carrot. Rose rolled her eyes and began walking towards the staircase. She was getting tired of this back and forth conversation with Dora.

“Let me come with you. I don’t want you to get the menu wrong and get me into trouble. I have a feeling that that is the new madam,” Dora said, hoping to elicit a reaction from Rose. To her disappointment, Rose did not utter a word. The two women walked in silence until they got to the boy’s bedroom. Dora opened the door and looked keenly at the lady who was lying next to Jason.

“Madam, what would you like for supper?” Dora asked.

“Whatever you were having is fine,” Ella said politely.

“I had made spaghetti and meatballs for Jason and a casserole for sir Raymond. Which would you prefer?” Dora asked politely.

“Spaghetti and some white sugarless tea please,” Ella answered. Dora left and Rose came in. After a few minutes of awkward silence, Rose decided to speak. 

“You can go and eat first then I will call you if he wakes up,” she said.

“I was hoping to shower first. Do you mind showing me to the guest room?” Ella asked. 

“No problem,” Rose said. She watched with amusement as Ella struggled to free her hand from Jason's grip and then they tiptoed out of the room together. After they had stepped into the corridor, Ella stood hesitantly at the door.

“He is a heavy sleeper. I doubt he will wake up soon,” Rose said.

“Good to know but I just changed my mind about the shower. I don't have anything to change into. I’ll just have supper and get back here,” Ella said. The next hour passed uneventfully. Ella had supper alone in the dining room and then she walked back to Jason’s room. The nanny and the maid were reluctant to tell her anything about Jason or his father when she tried to strike up a conversation, so she resigned herself to an evening of quiet reflection. She was just falling asleep beside Jason when Blake walked in. 

“Your things are in the room next to this one. You will move into my room tomorrow,” he said.

“Thank you. Maybe you can call one of the ladies to watch him while I shower and change,”she said. She was surprised that he had everything moved so fast but she was eager to get out of her day clothes. He was still staring at her with a strange expression on his face.

“Did he wake up earlier?” Blake asked.

“No Sir Raymond. He has been very peaceful,” she replied.

“I’ll watch him. And do not call me Sir again. It’s Blake to you,” he said. He pulled up an armchair to the bedside and watched Ella until she had walked out of the room. Once she was in the corridor, Ella quickly walked to the next room. Although she knew it was her imagination that was in overdrive, she could swear that Blake was still watching her as she walked to the other bedroom. This had to be one of the weirdest nights of her life. She opened the door of the bedroom and someone let out a soft gasp of surprise.

“Who are you and what are you doing here?” the woman who was sprawled across the bed asked. Ella was surprised to see the lady she had met earlier that day in the office. Ella guessed that she must be Blake’s girlfriend.  

“I’m Ella. I think I got the wrong room,” Ella said.

“I don’t care what your name is. What are you doing here?” Amanda shouted. Ella looked away from the furious woman who was wearing what looked like strings of clothing. Ella knew that this was the latest kind of trendy lingerie but she was surprised that normal people wore these. She had always assumed that they were worn by prostitutes. She did not have to answer the question because Blake walked over to them.

“Keep it down. I told you to go to that room,” he said as he pointed to the door Ella had just walked past.

“I’m sorry,” she said and walked back quickly. She was blushing furiously as she unpacked one of her suitcases to get some pyjamas and personal amenities. As she showered and changed, all sorts of questions rushed through her mind. What was wrong with the little boy? Why was this man determined to keep her in his house? Why was his girlfriend still here if he planned on sleeping with her? What was going to happen when Blake started paying her more attention than his girlfriend? What kind of circus had she gotten herself into? Through it all, she cursed her brother Kevin. All this was his fault and she would never forgive him for defrauding her. Several minutes later, Ella walked back into Jason’s room. Blake was sitting on the armchair and he stood up as soon as Ella walked in. He walked out the door without saying a word to Ella. Ella got into the bed next to Jason. She was surprised to fall asleep almost immediately. It had been a long and hard day and there was nothing that her anxious mind could solve tonight.   

    **********

The night passed faster than Ella would have wished and it was soon morning. She woke up and smiled at the angelic face of the little boy beside her and then she looked out the window. It seemed like someone had been in earlier and the curtains had been drawn. There was nothing much to see as all that was in her line of view was the neighbours balcony. She took more than a minute to stare at the strange chandelier with a monkey sculpture on it and smiled as she imagined what kind of people lived here. Maybe she would get to know them as time went by.

“Aunty pretty,” a small voice said beside her. A startled Ella turned to find Jason wide awake. He was staring at her with his big beautiful eyes. Ella was more than curious to see a picture of his mother as she admired his stunning features. She must have been a real beauty.

“Good morning Jason,” Ella said softly. Instead of replying, Jason played with a strand of her long hair. He then snuggled up against Ella and continued to play with her hair. 

“Do you want something to eat?” Ella asked. Jason nodded and then Ella sat up.

“Maybe we should wash our faces first,” Ella said as she tried to get out of the bed. Jason nodded and followed her move. He swung his legs out of bed and then stretched his hand towards Ella. Ella took his hand and he led her to his bathroom which was a few steps away from his bed. He brushed his teeth as Ella watched and then she helped him wash his face. She was changing him out of his pyjamas when Rose walked in. 

“Good morning,”she said with a disapproving look at Ella.

“Good morning,” Ella said. She finished dressing Jason and turned to Rose. 

“Maybe you can get him some breakfast while I take a shower and change,” Ella asked. 

“Sure,” Rose said as she turned to take Jason’s hand. He surprised them both when he stood behind Ella and held her tightly. 

“I guess we are going to shower together,” Ella said in surprise. She was really eager to know why this boy was clinging to her as though his life depended on it. They walked to the other bedroom together and Ella took out a change of clothes from her suitcase. She told Jason to wait for her as she got ready and he sat at her bathroom door step and waited. Downstairs, the rest of the house’s residents were starting their day as well.

“Dora, I need more juice,” Amanda shouted from the dining room. Blake was in the office speaking to Rose and Amanda was eating breakfast leisurely. “You would do well to remember that I’m not your maid,” Dora said as she walked in and slammed a juice tetra pack next to Amanda. 

“Take it easy friend. I was just keeping up the act. But now that you are here, sit down and let’s talk. Tell me about Ella,” Amanda said. 

“She’s just the new nanny. I think Rose will be fired. But I must say I’m afraid for you. You ignore that child too much. His father will marry you in a minute if the boy likes you,” Dora said.

“Don’t worry about that. I have a few tricks left up my sleeve,” Amanda said as she sipped on the juice. She had a smug look on her face and Dora frowned.

“You had better take this seriously. That man has enough money to get your kamasutra tricks from any other woman,” Dora said.

“I already said I have this under control. Let me eat in peace now that the brat is out of my way,” Amanda barked. 

“Be sure to clean up after yourself as well. As long as you have not paid me yet, I don’t work for you,”Dora said. She walked back to the kitchen to finish her chores there before heading to the other rooms to clean up. Amanda soon finished her breakfast and walked out into the lounge. As she was walking out, Dora repeated her earlier demand. 

“I hope you cleaned your bedroom. I’m not going to change your dirty linen for free.”

“Blake is giving you a very generous salary. Stop being greedy,” Amanda said as she closed the door. Dora finished cleaning downstairs and then she headed upstairs. She decided to start with the master bedroom. As usual, the bed looked like a scene from a dorm room. There were at least five sets of clothing on the unmade bed and a pair of used lingerie was on the floor. The carpet had some stains of what dora hoped was water and there were some used wine glasses. Dora cursed loudly before she got down to work. She was going to teach Amanda a lesson she would never forget. 

Jason and Ella went downstairs after Ella finished getting ready. Ella was pleasantly surprised to find the table set with a full English breakfast. She served Jason first and then she sat down to eat when she couldn't see anyone else around. They ate in silence for a while before they were joined by Blake. 

“Good morning,” Blake said.

He was surprised when Jason answered his greeting with a big smile before he turned all his attention back to the food. 

“Good morning. I think he is very hungry,” Ella said with a smile.

“In future, you eat in the kitchen with the other workers,” he said sternly. 

“Yes sir,” she said in amusement. This man wanted her to share his bed but he did not want them to share a table!

“Make a list of all the things you need and I will have them sent to you. My lawyer will be in at about 9am. Get everything she needs as well,” Blake said after a few minutes of silence.

“I can do my own shopping,”Ella said. She was feeling a tinge of alarm as she began to understand the extent of her situation.

“You are not to leave this house without my approval. I will have everything you need sent to you. You may not have any visitors either,” he said.

“Are you going to take away my phone and passport as well? I didn’t sign up for this modern day slavery,” Ella said in shock. 

“Did you not read the document we signed yesterday? It has an exit clause as well. If you leave now, you get nothing!” he said.