Sam's heart didn't stop bouncing even after they had left her street. She could feel Desmond's eyes boring into her back, but she didn't dare turn.
"I guess you don't intend to go back then," he said. She nodded.
"Then where do I drop you? I don't let strangers into my house," he said.
Sam was surprised. She finally turned and stared at him disbelievingly. Didn't he say he wanted her to be his wife?
"I don't understand..." she said.
"It's simple. I don't let strangers into my house."
"But... You were going to take me out for lunch. That was why I got into trouble, remember?" She said indignantly.
"I never told you to steal. If I knew you were a thief, I wouldn't have bothered," he said.
She turned away. Stealing Diane's dress was a bad idea. If she had worn her rags, he might have called her dirty but still wanted her for the job like he did yesterday, but now he must think she is a thief. She was just desperate to leave her life as Fred and Diane's slave and be a lady, but now she didn't even have that much.
"I'm not a thief." She said remorsefully, "I only wanted to look presentable."
"The dress did make you presentable."
He said it so flatly that she couldn't decide if it was a compliment or if he was being sarcastic.
"Now I need to know if you want the job or not. I'm not generous enough to accommodate people I have no business with."
Sam couldn't help but smile. She could imagine Desmond at a negotiation table, preying on a client's desperation and offering irresistible deals.
"I want the job."
"Good! Take us to the house!"
He went back to his phone again. Sam looked out the window as the city passed behind them. Gradually, they moved into a more isolated area. Ann didn't know where they were.
A few more minutes and the car was driving into Desmond's yard. Desmond might have been on his phone, but he was monitoring her every reaction. Right now, her face was stuck to the window as if she intended to melt into it.
The driveway was lined with well-kept plants that seemed to stretch on forever. She had seen the house from the gate then, but as they advanced she could see how enormous it was. A giant white mountain surrounded by green. In front of the house was a fountain, which was made up of a woman holding a barrel upside down over her head from where water poured back into the pool.
Sam opened the door and jumped out of the car to get a better look at the fountain. Immediately, the car stopped. Mickey came to stand beside her. Desmond shook his head.
"Give her a room," he told Gord, who had come to greet him and headed inside.
"Mickey look! Isn't this amazing?"
Sam gushed.
"How does the water in the bowl keep coming?" She asked wondrously.
"The rich are full of witchcraft."
"Smartly," Mickey said.
"Who in the world still doesn't know how a fountain works?"
The two turned to the voice. They saw Gord standing beside Terry.
"G! There you are! I was wondering where you had gone, Mickey," he said cheerfully.
"I have no business with you."
Gord sneered, then addressed Sam.
"I'll show you to your room, Madam."
He led the way into the mansion. Stepping inside, away from the harsh summer weather, Sam was teleported to a whole new season. The air was cooling to her skin and smelt so fresh. Aside from that, the spectacle before her almost took her breath away. The ceiling hung so high in the sky and bore a chandelier that reflected light like it was made of diamonds and jades. With all she had seen today, she didn't doubt the possibility. The furniture was top-notch, and the floors were marbled. Something she noticed, though, was that despite the quality of the furniture, aside from the chandelier, there were barely any decorations. Everything was functional. No center mats, no pictures, no flowers, no television. No television!
"No television!" Mickey audibly echoed her thoughts.
Sam never got to watch TV back home. One of the things that thrilled her about her fake marriage to this rich man was the hope of watching TV all day while snacking on chocolate bars.
"Master is a busy man," Terry said.
"What will we be doing all day?" Mickey whined.
"We? You won't be staying here, Mickey mouse. You are going home."
Gord quipped.
"Mouse!"
Mickey squealed and made to attack him, but Sam stood in front of him.
"You can deal with him later, Mickey. We are having a great time. G, can you show me where I'll be sleeping?"
"It's upstairs."
Terry turned and led them up the flight of stairs. Halfway through, Sam looked down and was blessed with a view of the entire parlor. She was going to have fun sitting there all day for the next year. Reaching the top, she suddenly faced facing with Desmond. She was busy staring and didn't hear him join them. But he wasn't there to join them. He had a briefcase and was hurrying somewhere.
"I'll see you when I return, Miss Denis."
He muttered as he walked past them and out the front door before any of the guards could get it for him.
"Where is he rushing to?" Sam wondered aloud.
"Maybe an emergency came up," Terry shrugged.
"What emergency?" Mickey chipped in.
"Nothing your tiny brain can understand," Gord sneered.
"I can't wait to see my bedroom, Mickey. Come up," she pulled him gleefully and the rest followed.
Soon they were standing outside her door.
"This is your room," Terry announced.
Sam's heart beat harder with anticipation as she waited for him to open the door, but he just stood there. She gave him a 'what are you waiting for?' look.
"We are not allowed to enter your room," Terry replied politely.
"No issue." Mickey waved and went to open the door.
"You too."
Mickey paused, then turned and glared at Terry.
"What part of me being her bodyguard did you not get?"
Gord rolled his eyes in a very unmanly way.
"Look," Gord began.
"Right here, where civilized people stay, we don't let male servants into the mistress's room. What part of that do you not understand?"
"It's the rules, Mickey," Terry added.
"But..." Mickey began to object, but Sam placed a hand on his arm.
"They are right, Mickey. You shouldn't come inside with me."
Mickey nodded reluctantly.
"Where is he going to stay?" Sam asked.
"Don't worry. We'll arrange a room for him. Please come down in..."
He glanced at his watch.
"About an hour for lunch."
"Thank you," she said and looked up at Mickey with concern.
"Go rest, Minnie. I'll be fine." She nodded, then pushed the door and went inside.
On entering, the first thing that caught her eye was the massive bed in the middle of the spacious bedroom. She hurried to it and placed her palms on it dreamily. The top cover felt so heavenly, like clouds. She slowly mounted the bed on all fours as she savoured the softness.
"Oh, Desmond! I'll marry you for four more years!"
She cried out, hugging herself dreamily, then laughed at her folly. She needn't marry him for that long. She'll be rich in a year and have all the fluffy beds she wanted.
She bounced on her knees, then decided that she would keep the celebration for later as she had the entire bedroom to explore. She looked in the direction the light was coming into the bedroom and gasped at the wall-to-wall window. The curtains had been pulled up high to allow light into the room. Sam stumbled off the bed and eagerly went to the window. She removed the locks and threw them open. The air outside felt warm but fresh. She could see most of what she presumed was the backyard. It stretched far, just like the front yard. There were a lot of trees there. In the middle of the trees was a big body of water. It looked like a huge lake at first but with a closer look, Sam realized it was just a very big swimming pool. The water reflected the sun in flecks of gold. Sam hadn't seen a lot of swimming pools, but she was almost certain this was the biggest. It was like a big blue lake. There were relaxing chairs all around, and short coconut palms which became more sparse as he move away from the pool. Shame she couldn't swim.
Sam spotted a building. It was so far that she had to squint her eyes to see more clearly. Was it a barn? way too big. No, those were people. She looked closer. They were unquestionably people. What were they doing there? Just how many people occupied this massive compound? They appeared to be weeding the environment.
Sam closed the windows again, deciding not to bother herself with that. She looked around again and noticed the door leading to the bathroom and entered. It seemed like people in this house loved space a lot. The bathroom was almost as big as the bedroom. Everything was sparkling sky blue. The whole tiled walls and floor, the basin, the towels, to her left, there was a wall-to-wall mirror. She could see herself in it. She moved closer to inspect the stolen dress. It was magnificent. She confirmed that the foundation did a great job of covering her scars. She turned around and noticed a blurry screen at the other end and went to check. Behind it was a shower. She smiled. A bathroom within a bathroom.
After she had satisfied her eyes, she stripped and took the longest shower she had ever had because she was trying all the products there.
She re-entered the bedroom several minutes later and unexpectedly saw a woman in the closet. She stood there, untied the towel around her head, and began to squeeze the water out of her hair. The woman must have heard her because she turned around. Strangely, she screamed. Sam was confused and looked around for a threat. But she saw nothing.
In seconds, two more maids entered.
"Anna! You silly girl," the older woman scolded.
"Can't you see she is the mistress? Who did you think the dresses were for?"
Ann looked at the dresses in her hand. She was putting them away just now and was wondering whom they belonged to. How was she supposed to know the mistress had arrived? Her face began to redden. Sam felt bad for her.
"Ann wasn't expecting me," Sam spoke lightly.
"I wasn't expecting her either, so I got scared too," Sam giggled.
She helped Ann up. Ann was blushing profusely. Ann was a very shy woman. At 24, she was still the clumsiest maid in the mansion. She was one of the newest staff in the mansion and had hardly come into proximity with the masters or mistresses. The ones here especially avoided the servants and loved to pretend they didn't exist, so the mistress's gesture was foreign to her.
Sam picked up a purple dress from Ann's arms.
"Are you doing something at the moment?"
"No ma'am, Ann said meekly.
"Why don't you come to help me get ready?"
The younger one of the two maids that entered earlier stepped forward. She had dark hair and a very serious face.
"Good day, mistress. My name is Magdalena. I have been assigned to be your maid." After saying that, she threw a threatening glance at Ann, which Sam caught. Ann moved away from Sam.
"Thanks, Magdalena, but I already found my maid." She said sweetly.
"Come here, Ann." She stretches out her hand but Ann hesitates as Magdalena was glaring at her.
"Mistress. She is very clumsy. You don't want her as your maid," the elder one advised.
"I know what I want!" She snapped.
Magdalena, who was glaring at Ann, quickly checked herself.
"Ann! Follow me!" She cat-walked into the bathroom.
Ann timidly looked up at the two maids. Magdalena made to say a threat, but the elder maid raised a cautioning finger.
"Mind your temper, Maggie. The mistress wants Ann: she gets Ann."
"You are right, senior. I won't hurt my brain about you, Ann."
"Very soon, the mistress will throw your clumsy ass out, and I'll see who will cover your shame then," Magdalena sneered.
"Magdalena!" The senior reprimanded then turned to Ann.
"Go serve the mistress, Ann." Ann scurried away.
"Come make my hair," Sam beckoned as she entered.
Ann wondered why she wanted to get ready in a bathroom till she thrust a comb in her hand.
"I want it smooth and silky."
"Yes ma'am." Ann stuck the comb in her hair and pulled.
"We might need a lot of conditioners for this," Ann said with awe.
She hurriedly went to grab the conditioner and had Sam's hair drenched in it in no time. Though it was still difficult, the conditioner did its job. Soon, they were in the bedroom doing Sam's makeup.
"How do I look?" Sam asked after she had finished.
It has been almost an hour now. She couldn't wait to see what was served for lunch, but more than that, she needed to have a chat with Desmond regarding the fake marriage.