A few hours later, it was time for dinner. I hurriedly walked out of the room alongside the other girls. I had not left my room since the incident to avoid running into the boss.
Surprisingly, I saw him seated at the far end of the large table the maids eat at.
"What on earth is he doing here?"
"What?" Sarah asked.
I nodded towards the boss.
"Oh, he eats with us every Friday," she replied, and we quickly took our seat.
"Why?" I whispered because it made absolutely no sense that the boss would eat at the maid's table on Fridays.
"You will find out soon," she replied.
As embarrassed as I was, I couldn't ignore the flutter in my heart whenever our eyes would occasionally meet, sparking a connection that left me both thrilled and apprehensive.
He whispered something into Penelope's ears, and I couldn't help but wonder if something was going on between them.
"024, please come pour the master a glass of water." She said that, and I just stared blankly.
"024?"
I was so lost in my thoughts that I totally forgot I was now referred to as a number until Sarah nudged me and I jerked back to reality.
I stood up quietly while Sarah shot sorry eyes at me. I wondered what Penelope was getting at.
I walked to his side and carefully picked up the jug. As I was pouring it, I felt my cold fingers touch my thighs. They started to move slowly upwards; I bit hardly on my lips.
It became too much for me to ignore, and my heart pounded with so much fear, so I picked up the glass of water and poured it on his face.
Everyone gasped in disbelief while I walked out. I heard footsteps behind me, and I thought of the perfect words to say to Penelope, but the hands that pulled me weren't hers.
He pulled, and I bumped into his chest. He gripped my upper arm so hard that I thought my bones were going to snap.
"Who do you think you are?" He asked. His eyes were so furious they could burn; if he doesn't send me home because of this, then I don't know what I'm dealing with.
"I should be asking you that," I replied.
"When did I ever give the impression that I wanted to be touched or played with?" I asked, and if it was possible, I'm sure smoke was coming out of my ears.
"Pull yourself together and get a hold of the place you hold in this house; go ask the other maids what I pay them." He narrowed his eyes at me and let go.
What?
That's exactly what Sarah said a few minutes ago. Do they let him touch them just because he pays them a lot? Is selling your body off also supposed to be part of a maid's duty?
I watched him walk away before I had the chance to say anything else.
"021," he said to Penelope as he walked past her.
"Noted," she bowed. I don't know what that was supposed to mean, but I just stood there waiting for Penelope to say whatever she wanted to say to me.
"Go to your room," she whispered, and she walked back towards the dining room.
I remembered how hungry I was as I slowly trudged back to the room. I couldn't stop thinking about what happened as I lay on my bed.
What would have happened if I didn't stop him? What would he do next? Touch my ass?
These questions kept my head busy till the other girls returned from dinner.
"Anna!" Mary, the boss of the room, yelled and immediately sat up.
"Yes?" I replied.
"Come here," she ordered. I looked at Sarah, and she nodded.
I walked over to the other side of the room where she was, and before I could get to know the reason why I was summoned, she landed a slap on my face.
"Our actions must face certain consequences," she warned, leaving me standing there completely startled and holding my cheek in my hand.
"Did I just let her slap me and walk away?" I thought.
"You hold it right there!" I screamed, pulling her back, and everyone gasped from the looks on their faces. I guessed it was the first time anyone actually stood up to her.
"Did you just lay a finger on me?" She asked, puzzled, and I watched her nose flare in anger.
Before I could get the chance to say anything, Sarah came and pulled me away, placing her finger on her lips, and I immediately stopped talking.
"You have no idea what you have done," she cried, placing her hand on my cheek where I was slapped.
"What is she going to do? Beat me up." I asked, getting a little concerned as I realised she was really worried.
"Even worse, she might recommend you," she replied, immediately shaking her head.
"Forget I said that," she begged, and began to walk away.
"No, I won't," I said, pulling her back.
She looked carefully at all the girls and pulled me out of the room when she realised they were paying us no attention.
"What do you mean by she might recommend me?" I asked.
"I can't say; you will find out in due time, but promise me you won't mention that word to anyone," she replied, going back into the room.
My mind immediately flashed back to the code the boss gave Penelope in the hallway.
Is that what she means by recommending me?
Recommend me to do what?
Was 021 also a recommendation?
"What are you doing out here?" Penelope said, and I jumped in fear.
"Nothing," I stammered.
"Get into your room; those are the rules," she ordered, and I nodded.
I wanted to ask her why I did that to the master, but she didn't; she just acted like it never happened.
Something fishy is definitely going on in this sick mansion, and I must find out.