Samara couldn't force herself to feel anything. How was this even allowable or possible? She had heard of modern-day slavery, but this was too much to bear. She gripped at the fresh earth covering her father's grave. The rain hid her tears, she wouldn't give that bitch the satisfaction of watching her fall apart. She watched as her own mother took the banknote with a smirk on her face.
"Trust me! My daughter will be the most obedient of girls! She is no flawless gem, like her sister, but she is what was agreed upon.", said the gaudy woman with too much make-up.
Samara felt sick to her stomach. Her mother had always hated her. She was the constant reminder of where she had come from. A wet auburn curl plastered itself to her dark tan cheek. Samara lifted her face to the soaking rain and prayed to any ancestor that would listen to save her. A boorish stocky man towered over her. His sudden appearance caused Samara to fall back onto her palms. She tried to scurry away, but the man scooped her up like she was a feather. Her mother and sister had the audacity to wave at her, as she was tossed into a dark gray sedan.
"My name is Min Lo. I am an agent for Jian-Ki Zhang. Please don't be given to hysterics, because I would hate for Mr. Zhang to incur property damage. You are his property, make no mistake about that!", said Mr. Lo.
Samara curled herself into a ball on the floor. She had no doubts in her mind that Mr. Lo had given a promise to shut her up. Her small snore was the only sign that she had fallen asleep. Mr. Lo stared down at the sleeping girl. His gruff exterior softened a bit as he picked her up and placed her on the seat. He surmised that the poor girl was exhausted, because she had barely stirred when moved. It wasn't often that anything could move his heart of iron, but the solitary tear that slid down her cheek made him brush it away with his thumb.
"She cries in her sleep, but hides her emotion behind steely jade eyes. I don't envy Mr. Zhang at all.", said Mr. Lo very softly with amusement.
Samara had been exhausted. There had been no rest for her the moment her father had breathed his last. Her mother had told her that her father had incurred a great debt with "Midas" Zhang. Zhang was the CEO of Golden Touch Shipping, hence the "Midas". It was also said, that all his business dealings weren't on the legal side. It was speculated that he was the kingpin in a very shady underground organization. Midas was in his 70's completely unmatched in ruthlessness and cruelty. Midas had been known to be a connoisseur of wine and woman. Her father, Seth Wei, had borrowed $17 million yuan ($2,593,677.42 USD) from Midas to keep his business afloat and his wife in luxury.
Ziyi Wei had expensive tastes. She had married Seth for the money and he was half-white. Ziyi was Black-American and Thai, so people had always looked down or spat on her. It was an undeniable fact that she was incredibly beautiful, and that beauty had lured Seth, like a moth to flame. They had settled down and started their business in China. Not long after getting set up, Ziyi had a set of fraternal twin girls with her husband. Samara had practically known since birth, that her mom despised her. She was Gia's opposite. As pale and porcelain as Gia was, Samara was tan. Her mother hadn't even cared enough to name her, it had been her father that named her after his paternal grandmother. Samara had grown with a thatch of long curly auburn hair, while Gia had bone-straight blue-black hair. Samara's glittering jade green eyes, with a burst of steel grey at the irises, always captivated people. By the time they were 15, the differences were very noticeable. Samara was very curvy. She was always lamenting to her dad that her butt couldn't fit in Asian-sized jeans. Gia didn't have that problem. She could wear any size 2 off the rack with no problems. Both girls were still considered "petite", but clothes shopping for Samara was a nightmare.
It was evening by the time Samara woke up. She jumped so fast, she tumbled from the bed she had been laying on. She was horrified to look down and see that she wasn't wearing the clothes from the funeral.
"I had the maids scrub you and Mr. Midas bought you a new wardrobe before your arrival.", said an austere looking maid, " I am Mrs. Olga Grumfield, your personal matron."
Samara was startled by the silent woman's sudden appearance.
"Hi, I'm Sam.", she said, using her nickname her father had given her.
"Ms. Samara. Dinner is at 7 sharp and Mr. Midas hates to be kept waiting. Let us began preparations.", said Mrs. Grumfield.
Mrs. Grumfield rang a bell, and two young stern looking maids appeared. The maids curtsied, then whisked Sam into the bathroom, while Grumfield headed to a massive closet.
"I can wash and dress myself!", said Sam.
"Please, Ms. Wei. We are here as your personal maids. This is our job. Mr. Midas isn't one to trifle with!", said the maid with light brown hair and sad eyes.
"Gwen! You'll get us in trouble, if Mrs. Grumfield hears you.", whispered the other maid with the glasses.
Samara's heart went out to the poor maids. The one named Gwen, was about to break out crying. The one with the glasses was trembling very hard. Samara couldn't imagine the type of monsters that Mr. Midas and Mrs. Grumfield were. She had already met Mrs. Grumfield, she kind of imagined the woman as a female General. These maids were just the newly enlisted.
"Mr. Midas must be an immovable tyrant. Does he still have a gulag around here somewhere.", Samara thought to herself.
"Okay. I give, but you both have to call me "Sam". Neither of you is any older than I am and all this "Miss" and "Mistress" stuff is giving me slavery vibes. I am definitely NOT okay with this!", she said. She hoped that she had quieted their fears.
"I'm Paula, Mi.....Sam. This is Gwen. We won't stand on formality, when we're alone. You look even more terrified than Gwen did meeting Mrs. Grumfield.", said Paula.
The ladies giggled and chatted while they got Sam ready. She was beginning to be able to steady her nerves. Paula and Gwen were very good sources of information about the "lay of the land" around there. Sam had been very correct in her first impression of "General Grummy". The woman was the iron-hand of the maids in the house. Both ladies had only seen Mr. Midas in glimpses and they could report that he looked like every old evil sorcerer in every fairytale ever told. The 3 young ladies put up their masks of social propriety before they returned to the bed room. Mrs. Grumfield had laid out a green satin cheongsam with silver/gold peacocks. All the undergarments that Mr. Midas had picked, were either lace or silk. Starring at herself in the full-length mirror, made Sam's eyes go wide as she didn't recognize the hypnotic creature in the mirror.
"You are so beautiful Sam!", Paula and Gwen exclaimed in unison.
Sam moved to the door. Mrs. Grumfield had stressed to her the need for punctuality, also the cost of the crime of lateness. Sam put her hand to the handle of the door and turned the knob.
"Wish me luck!", she said turning to her maids.
"Good luck, Sam!", both maids replied.
Sam hadn't expected the scene that greeted her for a simple dinner.