★★★
l stirred in my sleep as blinding rays from the sun peeks inside through the window. l tried to turn on my other side but the piercing soreness l felt in my body took away my sleep. l opened my eyes and stared into space as the events of yesterday creeped to my mind. l smiled shyly as l turned in haste to once again behold the beautiful face of my lover but l was met with empty space. My face contorted into a frown which quickly disappeared at the thought that came to my mind 'Maybe he is in the restroom', l thought
"Gabbriel!" l called, smiling at the sound of his name and the tickish feeling it brought to my body. "Gabbrie!" l called him over and over again but there was no response. l tried to hold back the tears that was threatening to spill from my eyes but what l was feeling inside was too painful. Did he just use and dump me? Is he not meant to be here beside me, cuddling and whispering sweet nothings to me? l so much hate myself for being so easy to fool and deceive. Is this how he would abandon me even if we had had sex yesterday? Why did he do this to me? l clenched my eyes shut as more tears spilled down. My fingers digging painfully into the soft flesh of my palm. l wiped the tears off my face after some time and exit the warmth of the bed. l arranged the room, put on my cloth that he had flunged yesterday and quietly left the room. l pondered on the excuse l will give to the maids but l relaxed on remembering Grace and Danielle, they would have covered for me. l walked in slow paces as l tried to avoid any maid on my way. l ran past the kitchen and off to my room immediately l was able to successfully leave the living room without coming in contact with any maid. l closed the door and ran to my bed, unable to hold back my tears. l buried my face in the pillow, muffling my whimpers. As expected, the door to my room burst open and l know it is either Danielle or Grace. Whoever entered must have heard my muffled scream as the person rushed to me. Hearing her voice, I know it is Grace
"Vanessa! What is wrong with you? Did the Lord do anything to you?" Grace said, sitting on my bed and running her hands on my back trying to console me. Her questions seems to strike a nerve as my cries increased, my body shaking from the intensity. "Okay...calm down. Take a deep breath, relax girl" Grace continued, seeing my battered self. l eventually calmed down as l narrate yesterday's ordeal to Grace. l could literally smell her arousal while l laughed at her. l told her all the details shamelessly including how the Lord abandoned me this morning.
"Was that why you were wailing? What a cry baby! What if the Lord had to go for something very important early this morning and didn't want to disturb your sleep? Stop acting childish Vanessa" Grace scolded.
"No!" l said stubbornly. " He does not care about me because if he does, he will suspend everything for me"
"Keep dreaming baby girl!" Grace said, sarcastically patting my back in encouragement
"Yesss" l replied
"You should freshen up and join us in the kitchen"
"Alright" l said as l found my way to the bath.
Today's work is a bit tiring due to the thorough cleaning we are doing. All the rooms in the mansion which are mostly unused are to be cleaned to avoid accumulation of dusts and cobwebs in them. Hence everyone is doing multiple of their usual everyday's job. l had cleaned two rooms and l am currently in the kitchen making lunch. I am yet to see the Lord not even a glimpse of him. l am beginning to worry since there is no way to hear from him. Lady Quinn is also nowhere to be found. l sighed heavily as l remembered the activities of the previous night which had kept displaying itself in my mind involuntarily. There was some noise in the living room and l immediately stopped what l was doing. My heart boomerang in my chest as l silently strained my ears to make out something from the noise. 'Is the head maid here to kill us again?' l asked myself as sweat of perspiration began to line my forehead. l was beginning to shiver from fear when Bruse came running to the kitchen
"You guys won't believe what's happening now!" She said, amusement and surprise evident in her tone making me conclude that there is no cause for alarm.
"What is it?" Dija asked in a bored tone
"Don't give me that face duhhh___l brought sweet news!" Bruse opposed Dina's countenance before continuing "Lola is preggy!!!!" she announced with a ear-blocking shriek
"What?!" We all asked in bewilderment, staring at Bruse like she is sprouting nonsense
"Come see her!" Bruse declared, desperately wanting to wipe the disbelief off our faces. We all dashed out of the kitchen, following Bruse who led us to the living room. We seem to be the last set of people to be informed because all the maids are currently standing akimbo to Lola in the living room. Their mouth agape with incrudelity, eyes wide opened in core disbelief, they towered over Lola. l suddenly felt pity for the girl based on the weird attention she is getting from the crowd.
"When? How? Why? Who?" Gerl asked dramatically
"Why would you get pregnant in your master's house? Do you know the consequence of your action? How many years were you meant to serve the Lord as repayment for your debts? Now do you want your unborn child to become a slave when she is delivered?" Grace asked in concern, her eyes bubbling at the reality of things
"Who is the father?" Danielle asked thoughtfully. Lola who had been silent all this while finally got her tongue
"Bret" she said curtly as if expecting a backlash and of course there was a reaction from the crowd as we all drew in sharp breath at the revelation. What the fuck? Bret is such a gentle and harmless looking man. Who in the world will think he has such a sly thing going on under his sleeves. Moreover, he and Lola do not display any form of intimacy. In fact, l do not think l have ever caught them talking. These funny people!
"What!?!" Bruse was the first to snap out of the shock. "How come??? You guys have nothing between you or is it that you both are just good at hiding it?"
"Damn! This is hugeeee" Dija said, laughing hysterically
l moved to where Lola was sitting dejectedly, taking my sit beside her. l gently patted her back while she leaned into me desperately needing warmth and assurance.
"It is alright dear, we will find a way to keep this a secret for as long as we can. And when the pregnancy begins to show itself, we will find other ways to protect you" l comforted her
"And what other ways are we going to prote...." Danielle was saying when the huge mahogany door to the mansion opened all of a sudden, gaining everyone's attention. Silence ensued between us as we tried to registered whoever it was that disrupted our gathering.
"Lord Micael!!!!" Danielle screamed in what l presume as excessive joy. What is wrong with her? She has always been the calm and collected one so seeing her shrieking is new to me. And who is Lord Micael? Danielle amazed me further as she dashed to the door to welcome the said Lord. She is literally grinning from ear to ear now...
"Welcome Lord Micael!" The other maids chorused including Lola who has this bright smile on her face. Grace face is like that of a kid who was offered sweets and candies. Her cheek and ears are flushed and pink. What is wrong with everyone? l stood up with Lola to bow like the maids are doing.
"Hey pretties___" A deep voice reverberated, bringing chills to my body. l raised my head to see the owner of the deep voice and my breath caught in my throat. What the hell? Who are these awfully handsome people? first, it was Lord Quinn now, it is Micael. My eyes met with the Lords eyes and his eyes widened in confirmation before he flashed me a foolish grin that gave me chills. l kind of dislike his creepy feeling that instant. Is it that he knows me or why is he acting strange and eerie. l scoffed silently and rolled my eyes mentally at him. My mind naturally crept to Lord Quinn and l wondered where he is. l hope he is fine though....
"Hi Essa" Lord Micah said all of a sudden, earning a gasp from me and the maids. How did he know my name? l have never seen him....so??
"Hi Lord Micah" l replied in a small voice, uncertainty lacing my eyes
"You're worth it dear" He said leaving the living room for the stairs. l watched him leave in confusion before turning to interrogate Grace