Chapter three
First day
"Miss Rivera?" Maddie was surprised, she didn't expect her.
"Yes, it's me. Do you want to keep me standing here?" Miss Rivera said lightly and Maddie let her in.
"I wasn't expecting you, Miss Rivera." Fiona said as she served the hot coffee she made.
When she was done, she sat beside her daughter, facing miss Rivera.
Taking a sip, Miss Rivera dropped the cup back gently on the saucer. "Yes, I didn't inform you that I was coming. But I came because I'll like to discuss something important with you." She said with a serious expression.
"You are not here to talk me into going on with the marriage right?" Maddie asked gently and Mrs Rivera smiled.
"I'm not. Madison, I respect your decision and I understand why you had to call of the wedding, any lady in your shoes would do that. Literally, I'm here to consent to calling off the wedding."
"What?" Fiona and her daughter said in unison. They were surprised.
"I heard what happened. My son cheated with your best friend, that's a lot. That's why I'm consenting to your decision."
Maddie sniffed softly. She had been tearing. "Thanks Mother." She said amidst sobs.
"Maddie, I'm sorry things turned this way. I'm sure you'll get a better man. And please, do not refrain from addressing me like you've always done, because we severed ties. I'll take my leave now." Miss Rivera said and stood up to leave.
Fiona and Maddie also stood up. "Thank you Miss Rivera, I appreciate your understanding." Fiona said with a smile. Miss Rivera smiled back. "I'm sorry Mrs Miller, we let you down."
She proceeded to Maddie and pulled her into a warm hug. "I'm sorry Maddie, take care." She said before leaving.
Just then Melissa walked in. "Hi aunt, Maddie are you okay? I met Miss Rivera on my way."
Fiona cleared her throat. "Mel, can you please take her to her room, she's exhausted."
"Sure aunt."
...
"Wow, I didn't know Asher's mum was this nice." Melissa said.
"I know right...her son is just being a jerk." Maddie replied before she used the painkillers.
"You need to rest...even though I got lot of gists for you." Melissa said, faking an act.
Maddie sat up. "I don't feel sleepy, start spilling." She commanded and Melissa laughed.
***
Madison stood in front of the huge, black gate,that was designed with golden iron. She pressed the gate bell and she got engaged in an investigation.
"Who are you?" A male voice asked. "Uhm..I'm Madison Miller, I seek granny."
"Huh?" The voice said and Maddie corrected herself. "I mean, Lady Mariah."
"Oh..." The man gave orders to the securities to open the gate and let her in. As she stepped into the compound, she was awed.
There were men in black suit everywhere that one would think this was white house. The premises was very large, very.
An immense building, with two mangnificent stories was situated at the centre of the compound. An unspecified number of windows glimmered in the beautiful sun like large, clear eyes.
There was a little fountain right in front of the mansion and from the angle she was, she romanticized the young trees,well trimmed flower trees and the green lawns that beautified the compound.
It was heavily guarded in there, that Maddie thought she was going to work for a politician or something.
Maddie was lost in her world of nature's appreciation that she didn't notice the man that approached her. He led her into the house and Maddie almost passed out at the sight. Everything there was lucullan, glitzy, deluxe...mention that word! That can describe 'expensive'.
The brown leathered sofas, the tempered glass centre table, the comely electronics, the little golden peacock statue at the centre of the table.
Different grandiose frames were hung on the walls to adorn them.
The atmosphere was very cold inside and she realised there were four standing Air conditioners in the living room alone. Everything looked neat and well placed.
She waited until Lady Mariah came out. "Madison, you're here."
"Hi granny." Maddie greeted, bowing her head a little. "You're welcome child. This is Mr Elrod's abode."
"Mr Elrod?" Lady Mariah nodded and led her out of the living room. She was giving Maddie a house tour, while telling her the important things she needed to know.
"What? He is allergic to sun?" Maddie was stunned. She never heard of that. How can someone be allergic to sun?
"Does..that mean that he doesn't go out?" She asked and Lady Mariah nodded. "Once in a blue moon, he takes a walk at night, along the lake at the backyard."
"Huh? there's a lake here?" Maddie asked again but Lady Mariah didn't reply.
"Here are the things master do not like." Lady Mariah started, calling the full attention of Maddie."You have to abide by all these if you want to keep your job. He doesn't like it when people touch him, he gets sick."
"What? Is he also allergic to people?" Maddie asked again, she was getting more amazed. Lady gave her the 'be careful' look and Maddie adjusted immediately.
'He hates it when people are too loud, he do not welcome noisiness and he also hates it when his things are being tampered with." Lady Mariah continued.
"Hmmm...okay." Maddie said. "One more thing. Master Logan is very strict, so he does thing strictly according to his schedule. Meaning,you should always serve his meals at the right time and be around whenever he needs you, okay?"
"Yes ma'am!" Maddie said in a playful manner and they laughed.
Lady Mariah stared at her for some seconds. "I hope you'll last here."
***
After Lady Mariah left to get something outside the estate, Maddie started touring by herself again.
She admired the deluxe environment as she toured. She then noticed a room.
Lady Mariah told her earlier it was the master's study room. She thought it was right to go greet the master, as a new worker so she knocked on the door.
There was no response for some seconds but she later heard. "Come in."
The voice was very deep and sounded icy.
She opened the door to step in and almost stepped back because of the atmosphere in there.
It was thick dark and super cold. She couldn't see anything and she wondered if this was the room where a person answered her.
She later saw a dim light, that seemed like a monitor so she was able to see a vague back view of her master. He was definitely sitting down, in front of the monitor.
When she remembered why she was there. She bowed immediately. "I'm Madison Miller, your new domestic worker. I wanted to come say my--"
"You're loud." He cut her off. His voice gave Maddie chills and she felt goosebumps all over.
"Oh..I'm..I'm sorry." She apologized.
"Get out." He ordered, calmly. "What?" Maddie was surprised at how cold he was that she didn't even realise she just questioned him.
"Out!" He said again, but this time, more harshly. Madison scurried out of the study immediately.
"Why was he that harsh and icy?" She thought aloud, as she hit her chest repeatedly. Her heart was racing.
***
It was getting late and Lady Mariah wasn't back yet. Maddie logically knew that her master had to eat but she wasn't sure of what to prepare.
*Should I go ask him?* She thought. *No No No, I can't.. he'll definitely beat me up this time. I can't stand that scary man.*
After pondering for a while, she thought...*it wouldn't hurt if I just ask him what he wants for dinner right? Yes, it won't hurt. It's almost 9pm.*
Maddie summoned up courage to go up and ask him. With cold feet, she dragged her legs to his study but he wasn't there. Then she went to his room.
She raised her hand to knock for the 50th time but she kept acting cowardly. She let out a deep breath, and with a racing heart, she knocked the door.
"Come in." He said in that icy voice again and she opened the door to go inside. Gosh..it was thick dark in there also. Didn't they say he was just allergic to sun? Was he also allergic to light?
Jeez..she was so afraid that she might even get strangled in that thick darkness. She hated darkness.
She couldn't see anything. This time, there was no dim light.
"What do you want?" She heard his voice echo across the room. She didn't know where he was.
"I..I..wanted to ask what you'd..like for dinner." Maddie stuttered.
"What?" Logan exclaimed. It was almost nine and his dinner wasn't even ready yet. The time for dinner on his schedule was 7pm.
"You mean you haven't prepared anything?" He asked, his tone was changing to an angry one.
"Y-y-ye-yes." Maddie replied. At that rate, she feared her head will be cut off. She could feel his anger already.
"You must have a death wish....Get out, Now!" He yelled the last word loudly and Maddie ran out like a cheetah. She couldn't breath in there.
Oh God...on her first day, she got her master angry. But it wasn't her fault though.
**
"It was my fault, I had to step out and I didn't hand over the meal time table to her." Lady Mariah apologized.
She just came around and Maddie explained what happened to her without leaving out a single detail.
"I won't be having dinner tonight anymore." Logan said, as he painted the artwork he had just created.
"Master, you can't miss dinner. Please reconsider." Lady Mariah said.
"I have things to do, it's past my meal time." He replied.
There was a pause. "I heard she came to you earlier, I'm sorry if she had caused any inconvenience."
Logan didn't respond for some seconds. He was actually rounding up the artwork. When he was true, he dropped the brush and stood up.
"She's too lousy, fire her." He said calmly and coldly as he made his way to the bathroom.
"That cannot happen master,she's the 24th person we've hired this month. Please bethink." Lady Mariah protested, politely.
"That's ultimate. I'd like breakfast to be served in my room alongside some painkillers tomorrow, leave." Logan said and entered the bathroom.
Lady Mariah sighed. *This boy will sure be the end of me* She thought, before leaving the room.
...
Madison's POV
It was already midnight, and I still couldn't get any sleep. It was because of the change of environment. I don't get used to things easily.
I stepped out of the room in my black nightdress, which reached my mid thighs. It exposed my back and chest so I put on it's jacket.
I don't know if I'm allowed to do this but I'd love to take a walk, in the compound.
I made my way of the house successfully and met those men in black outside, which startled me.
"You are not allowed to roam the compound." One of them said.
"What? I can't walk freely? This is a breach of freedom of movement." I said.
"Those are the rules here." The man said again.
I made a cute puppy expression. "I've not been able to sleep because I'm not used to here yet. The only way is for me to take a walk at least. I won't spend more than ten minutes, I promise, please...." I begged.
"That doesn't work on me ma'am." The man said calmly.
Ugh...what kind of human is this? Jeez, I really need a walk. I glared at him and later switched to a smile. "I beg of you...I won't spend more than ten minutes." I pleaded.
He turned to look at the other man near and turned to me again. "Ten minutes, just ten minutes." He said and I smiled broadly.
"Sure, ten minutes. I owe you one, thank you!" I said.
Hmmm...it's so cool out here. I thought as I walked on. I almost mistook the zigzag shaped swimming pool beside the house as the lake granny talked about. Guess I looked too forward to see it.
Then as I walked on, I sighted a pool of flowing water. No, it wasn't a pool, it was a lake. The lake granny talked about earlier. It was at the at the extended back of the compound, but I could see it from where I was stood.
I beamed as I ran towards it. I wanted to listen to the sound of the water as they flowed peacefully. There's nothing more placid than that. I've always loved
I sighed as I stared at the water. I started realizing everything that had befell me in just that month. They were all calamity... calamity.
I wanted to cry but I refused to cry. I couldn't laugh either. Who could believe that my life would change drastically like that?
From being a future wife to a single lady; an office worker to a maid, getting betrayed by the people I love...They were all calamity.
I didn't realize it when a tear rolled down my cheek. I didn't want to stand out weak. I wiped away the tear and cold breeze blew at me, giving me goosebumps.
It was very cold. I made my way back to the house, hoping I would get some sleep.
*
Granny kept still, staring at the clock in the kitchen intensely.
I cleared my throat. "Uhmm...is there something there?" I asked.
"I told you the master doesn't like it when his food is served late or too early.
Now, it's a minute to seven so you'd get there by 7, take his meal to him now." Granny said.
I arched my brow... that sounded ridiculous to me. She turned to glare at me and I quickly followed her instruction.
When I got to the entrance of his room, I grew a cold feet again. Fear overwhelmed my heart, probably because of what happened yesterday. He didn't seem to have human feelings, how can I work with such a person?
I suddenly remembered what granny said. He doesn't like his food being served late. Logically, it was seven already so I knocked on the door.
"Come in." He said in that usual tone.
I summoned up courage and opened the door. It was as dark as it was yesterday. The curtains weren't moved, the lights were off and...gosh...the cold atmosphere in there was killing.
"I brought...you breakfast." I said in a low tone, he was going to hear anyways.
"You're still here?" He asked.
"Excuse me?" I suddenly dropped and I realized it too late.
"I thought I said to be fired." He said again and my eyes widened. "Fi..red? Please don't fire me,I'm sorry if I had caused any inconvenience. I promise it'll
never happen again, please." I begged.
If i lost this job, there was no way I'd provide for myself and my family.
There was no response from him and I became more nervous. Is he really going to fire me?
We suddenly heard some vague noises from afar. I didn't know but I felt he stood up and walked past me. I felt it. His cologne and the air that followed him, made me know.
"What is going on out there?" I heard him ask. Was he on phone. Oh God...why can't he just put on the lights? I felt like I was still going to get suffocated by staying in that gloomy room.
Author's POV
"It's an highschool boy sir, he says he is looking for his sister." One of the securities at the gate said, over the telephone.
"In here? Bring him in, quietly." Logan ordered.
"Drop the food and leave." He instructed Maddie but she didn't move. She was going to say that she couldn't see anything but didn't know how to present it.
Suddenly, the lights went on, to her surprise. She looked around the spacious and well decorated,deluxe room to see who her master was. But she saw no one.
Her heart skipped a beat. Is he a ghost or something? She didn't notice him pass by.
Coming back to her senses, she dropped the food on a glass stool. Before leaving, she audaciously walked towards the light switches and switched it all off and then left.
She came to realize that it must be very uncomfortable for him, with the lights on so she put it back to place.
Getting downstairs, she saw some men in black suit (Guards) casting someone into the living room.
Her eyes almost popped out when she saw who it was.
"Myles!"