Damn! How could he not think that far? Knox blinked a couple of times. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to take your place," he dismissed, flustered. Even though his tension was almost gone, he still needed to act timid.
Jason chuckled teasingly. "It's okay," he warded off the uptight air around them. "Drivers are usually sourced from the security department, Anthony. They're usually the guys who know how to fight." 'The guys who know how to fight?' Did Daniil need protection? "Do you know how to fight?"
"Sure!" he replied, unwavering. He was spitting facts when he said that. The best fighter in their division was him so he was definitely fit for the job.
"I know you're confused about what you saw earlier." Hell yeah, he was. What was that all about? How can they live freely in here like there were no rules when it was all in the same house?
"As you can see, there are two beds in here. One belongs to your colleague who'd be taking turns with you. In here we don't overlabor you guys so you have no excuse to be lax. The guys you met earlier are off duty and that's why you saw that," he expounded while Knox kept nodding in agreement.
"Recite the laws I told you."
Before Knox came, Jason briefed him about the job's requirements virtually.
"You mustn't ask questions. You only speak when spoken to. You must act as though you're blind, deaf, and dumb when on duty. And lastly, no one is allowed to discuss the boss."
"Only the last law stands even in the servants' quarters, in here. As you saw earlier, the guys out there were having mad fun. But don't get carried away. Eyes are watching your every step." He highlighted the last part with a straight face. Knox didn't even need to be told. There were CCTV cameras everywhere including the Workers' quarters.
Speaking of CCTV cameras.
He swung his eyes to the four corners of the room I'm search of one but found none. "Pfftt…" He then heard a stifled laugh from Jason.
"You don't expect to see cameras in here, do you? I wouldn't want to desecrate my eyes staring tirelessly at those rod-like organs between your legs. Give me a break please," he uttered mundanely.
"Oh, sure."
"In here isn't safe to rattle your mouth either. Be very careful," he warned.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Do you have relatives?"
"Huh?" Where was that coming from?
"Relatives. Do you have any?"
"Ummm…" he strained. He didn't want to make careless statements that could bring all their efforts to naught. He still didn't understand why he asked him that question.
"You see…" Jason scratched the back of his head. "I forgot to mention this yesterday but whoever comes in here never leaves."
That was cold. The room was already but that sent chills down his spine.
"No one ever leaves?"
"Mmhmm." He nodded. "Everything you need is handled duly. Just table your concern to the managerial department and it's done. We wouldn't want you separated from your loved ones so you can't be here if you have friends or relatives that need you."
Okay, this was taking quite an intense turn. He was in now, and there was no turning back. If things went awry in the future, he'd deal with it then. For now, he had no one on earth.
"I am an orphan with no sibling," he blurted.
"Good." He nodded. "One more thing. No one else must know you came in here with your original device," he continued with narrowed eyes that switched emotions depending on how serious the words that followed were.
Without knowing, his response lagged. Why was he asking him to keep that a secret? Wasn't it the same for the other workers?
"What do you say?"
"I came in here with nothing except the clothes I have on." Looking him dead in the eye, Knox complied.
"I think we'd get along." Jason gave him a shoulder pat looking impressed by his obedience so far.
Silence…
"You can use the bathroom there." He voiced again, gesturing to the bathroom opposite the beds. "In case you're wondering why there's a lavatory outside, that's usually for a quick one when you don't wish to come all the way here when you could easily walk in there and do your business." Jason had a unique way of talking. And Knox on the other end had a unique perception. He understood everything he just said. "I'll leave you now." He walked past him in the door's direction.
"Before I forget." Jason paused midway and turned around.
"I understand as men we all have needs. So you could date any of the hotties you see here." Giving him a sly wink accompanied by a smirk, he left him alone. 'What a lunatic!' He was already breaking the laws he outlined. Not only was he dressed loosely even when on duty, his right to speak was also not bound by those sickening laws.
Now he was all by himself.
The room was sparkling clean. The white sheets were stainless, and there wasn't a speck of dust that could be felt even by accident. 'The janitors must work super hard.' He was almost convinced their department had it the hardest as the whole house and not just this bedroom sparkled.
He sat on the bed and bounced on it to check the mattress quality. All the while using both hands to glide over the sheets. He nodded in affirmation, acknowledging its refined quality. The servants were given kingly treatment if they got to sleep on beds like this and could have what they wanted when they did, he thought. He was already coming up with an excuse for the cold air outside when he shrugged it off at once, reminding himself of his mission. Daniil was a suspect and nothing should change that.
He slid the drawer beside the bed open. In it were an iPhone and a security guard earpiece similar to the ones the guys outside wore. He then recalled all Jason had told him concerning schedules that were already on the phone, and how to connect the earpiece to everyone else's. He slid the drawer close, deciding to set it up later.
He went on to inspect every aspect of the bedroom. In the wardrobe were two compartments with his corporate uniforms and casual wear on their respective sides. Below them were drawers containing accessories he'd be needing. The fixtures in the bathroom were made to serve two people simultaneously. Everything they'd need to live comfortably was provided maximally. They prolly sold their freedom for comfortable lives. If they didn't have families to return to, then they had nothing to lose ultimately. But was it really all there was to it?
Jason had also told him earlier that if he needed anything, he could put a call across and it would be sent to him. He recalled when his eyes fell on the telephone and then to its directory beside it. It had each department and their respective phone lines.
He dialed the culinary to test.
"Hello. Good day. How can we help you?" the mellow feminine voice asked.
"Good day. Umm…" he scratched his forehead, forgetting to prepare what to say beforehand. "I'm hungry. I need to eat something."
"It will soon be dinner time. Do you have any specific requests?"
"Umm…I need cake?" He didn't know when that came out but it did anyway. He wasn't hungry or anything, he just wanted to flex his privileges.
"What room are you calling from?"
"Room 16."
"Alright. Give us a moment please."
*Disconnect tone*
He shrugged and kept down the phone. He didn't know what to expect, he was just going to wait.
In less than an hour, he got his order. 'Room service indeed.'
"Thank you," he told the guy in a Japanese tuxedo that just served him. The guys in those departments were there probably because the ladies could not walk into a place swarming with men. Whatever the case was, this place felt both surreal and strange.
Hours on…
Feeling stuffed after locking up virtually the whole day, Knox snuck out the servants' quarters. And right now, he was standing at the foot of the stairway leading to the third floor. There was no need to rush things but curiosity got the better part of him. He wanted to confirm if access was truly limited
He looked around once more and it was all clear; his surroundings were quiet as it was past bedtime.
He ascended the stairs quietly.
Getting to its apex, a door stood in his way; an automatic door with an ID scanner.
Now the picture was getting clearer. Not everyone was allowed on the third floor where Daniil resided. With his knuckles he gave the door a light thud, resting his forehead on it. Then he turned around with his back on it this time and casually lifted his eyes. Lo and behold! Hanging right on the wall was a camera staring back at him. He successfully fought the urge to fidget as he was taken off guard for a second there.
He cleared his throat fitting his hands in the pajamas' pockets, trying to act normal. His business there was done, he needed to leave. He thought to go back to his room quietly but that would not be possible now.
Jason was standing right at the foot of the stairway when he came back down.
When Knox's eyes met his, his movements slowed down. They were more calculative now, uncertain of what would happen now he's been found out.
He was racking his brain seriously for an excuse now he crossed their distance. Lying about searching for something would be lame since he already had all he would need at his disposal. 'What to say? What to say?' While pondering, he studied Jason's expression for hints of any emotions like anger or disapproval but found none. It was rather blank. He could not tell what he was thinking.
"Hey. So, um…" he spoke up. The silence was dragging on for too long. The silence was getting quite inconvenient.
"Couldn't sleep?" Jason finally voiced. "Or you probably itched to see your master so bad you couldn't wait till the morning?" More than feigning naïveté, it sounded like he was coming up with excuses for him.
"Ah..yes!" Knox affirmed at once. All the thinking should be left for later. Now was the time to act.
Jason flashed an inexplicable smile before saying, "I understand. But one thing you need to understand is that we don't snoop around after lights out. In fact once you're off duty, you remain behind those doors…" he pointed the door to their quarters. "Whatever you may need, you call for it and it's done. Unless on special conditions, you shouldn't leave your quarters," he admonished nicely.
Gullible much, Knox just kept nodding. As noted earlier, all the thinking would be done later.
Meanwhile in Daniil's Secret Room…
~~Daniil's POV~~
With a sinister smile on, I stared at Knox lurking around the door leading to the master floor.