BETTY'S POV
It was a dull and humid morning. The entire estate bustled with activity, but my thoughts were consumed by Terry. Despite my best efforts, he continued to haunt me even in my dreams. Finally, the demands of my work forced me to confront reality.
As I fed the horses, a young man approached. He was handsome and well-dressed. I was unsure of his identity; I had never seen his face before and I was certain he must be new here. "He couldn't possibly be a worker, could he? He looks too polished for that. But if he's a guest, he'd have gone through the big gate and into the main house." I pondered upon varying questions as he moved closer. "Maybe he's lost," I concluded.
"Good day, sir," I greeted him politely. "Are you lost, or can I direct you to the main house?"
He chuckled, "No, I'm not lost. I live nearby and was taking a stroll when I found myself here."
"Oh, I see. Well, I wouldn't want to waste your time," I said, turning back to my task.
"How about you show me around?" he asked rather confidently.
"As you can see, I'm busy," I said curtly, pointing towards the hay beside me.
"I could help you finish up faster and maybe later on, you could show me around," he offered with a playful smile that seemed to linger on his face a little longer than necessary.
I wasn't in the mood for flirtation, but his genuine enthusiasm was hard to resist. Deciding to quickly show him around and return to my work, I agreed. "You know what? I'll just continue with this later on, I'll show you around now," I agreed, exasperatedly.
"It would be rude of me to interrupt your task. I'd really love to give you a hand," he insisted with a bright smile etched on his face.
I was mesmerized by his kindness and, without hesitation, I let him help out.
After about half an hour of raking hay, we got done.
"That was harder than I expected," he admitted, catching his breath.
I couldn't help but laugh inwardly at his exasperation, a sound that felt foreign to my lips lately.
As I gave the stranger a tour around the estate, he stopped walking suddenly, prompting me to stop as well. "We've been walking for over half an hour, and I still don't know your name," he said, curiosity piqued.
"I mean…you never asked, did you?" I replied astutely.
"You're right. Well..now I'm asking, what's your name?" he asked, staring at me intently, his gaze sending a warmth through me that I couldn't explain.
"Betty," I responded, a blush creeping onto my face.
"Betty… what a beautiful name for a beautiful lady," he complimented, his voice warm and sincere, his eyes holding mine in a way that made my heart skip a beat.
My face flushed, and a rare, genuine smile touched my lips, a flicker of light in the darkness that had been consuming me.
"Is that a smile I see?" the stranger asked, his eyes sparkling. "I haven't seen one on your face since I arrived."
The weight of my recent heartbreak threatened to surface, but I quickly shut it down. "There's nothing to smile about," I said curtly, the words tasting bitter on my tongue.
"Would it be pushy of me to ask why?" The stranger inquired, concern etched on his face, his voice laced with a gentleness that soothed the raw edges of my soul.
"Yes, it would," I replied, my voice firm, a shield against the vulnerability that threatened to spill out.
"Fair enough," the stranger conceded, a hint of disappointment in his eyes. "But you have a beautiful smile, Betty."
His voice was gentle, his eyes sincere, and his physique, even under layers of clothing, hinted at a strength that captivated me. As I admired his features, I missed a step. His hand shot out, catching me and preventing a fall. The contact sent a jolt through me, and for a fleeting moment, our eyes locked. The air crackled with unspoken emotions, but I quickly pulled away, shattering the connection.
"I've shown you around," I said, my voice strained. "We can't cover everything today, and I'm quite tired. The estate is large, but this is the main part. So… yeah."
He rubbed his hair, clearly feeling the awkward tension. "Okay, thank you for showing me around."
As I turned to leave, I caught a glimpse of Terry in the distance. His gaze held a silent question, the brief moment of infatuation I felt with the stranger began fading away. But determined to never speak with Terry again except when duty calls, I walked right past him and said nothing.
"Betty, stop!" Terry's voice was firm, demanding.
I continued walking, but he persisted. "Betty, I said stop! I order you to stop!"
This time, I obeyed, turning to face him.
"Good day, sir," I said, my voice professional, devoid of emotion. "How may I help you?"
Terry's eyes widened in surprise. "Sir? Really? It has gotten to that?"
"Sir, is there anything you'd like me to do for you?" I repeated, maintaining my premise.
"Now you're sounding cordial? Great! Isn't that nice," he said, hurt seeping into his words.
"What do you expect, Terry?" My voice was laced with bitterness. "That I should grovel at your feet? That I should worship you? You made your choice. You chose to be with her, not me. That means we are over, Terry. There is nothing between us anymore. Everything we ever had has been destroyed, it's broken, it's gone!"
My words were sharp, fueled by the hurt that still festered within me, a wound that had been ripped open by the sight of him.
"I… I…" Terry stammered, running a hand through his hair.
"Yeah, I thought as much," I continued, my voice trembling slightly. "There's nothing left to say. From today onward, I am nothing but your maid. You need me to clean, cook, or wash, you know where to find me. Other than that, please stay away from me, you've moved on, please let me do the same. If that'll be all, sir, I'll take my leave."
Tears welled up in my eyes, but I held them back, my heart pounding in my chest. With a final nod, I turned and walked away, leaving Terry standing alone, the weight of my words heavy in the humid air.