[~Song Recommendation: Murder On The Dancefloor by Sophie Ellis-Bextor & Cover Me In Sunshine by Pink, Willow Sage Hart~]
Layla heard a sudden remark and it took her no time to recognize the voice of the owner. She freed herself from the hug and noticed Mayra who kept her hands crossed and her eyes shooting daggers at her.
"Mayra she's not a thief!" Anna defended on Layla's behalf. Layla thanked her internally once again. A scowl came to settle on Mayra's face and her anger brewed to the top on noticing Anna siding with her.
"You bitch! I'm not going to leave you this time," she exclaimed and took long strides towards her while Anna and Layla both took a defensive stance to face her.
"What the hell are you doing Mayra?" Nana's stern voice from her back led Mayra to pause midway. She gritted her teeth, her fist curled into a ball to suppress her anger. Turning back she showed a poker face to Nana.
"I was just instructing Layla about laundry; She's new, right?" Mayra threw a glance at her before she excused herself from the scene without uttering anything else. Nana returned her attention back to the innocent ones.
"Both of you need to be careful okay? She's twisted." Nana gestured rolling her index finger, pointing towards her head and every one of them burst out laughing.
"Anna get back to your laundry work and Layla, I need you to go upstairs; Sir asked for your presence," Nana said in her commanding tone; however as the maids busied themselves to leave for their duties she winked at Layla showing that she had got her back. Anna didn't catch the slight gesture but she decided to share some valuable information with her considering she was Michael's personal maid.
"Just be vigilant and don't let him get into your head okay? Because he can be intimidating at times and even rumors say he brings escorts at night. But we never seen them because we retire for the night at our quarters; Anyways be careful." Anna said before she got herself busy with the task at hand.
Layla exited the laundry room but her mind was stuck at Anna's words. 'Escorts? As in those who offer that kind of service?' she thought and continued to limp on her way to the stairs. To avoid further interrogation and reasoning she walked normally in front of the other maids causing her knee to pain even more now when she was climbing the stairs.
"Ouch! Just a little more and I'll reach…" She mumbled and finally managed to get back on the floor. Knocking on the door, she remained at a standstill until the door opened, and yet again that handsome face welcomed her vision.
"What took you so long? Oh… Sorry, I almost forgot." He said after recalling that she had a temporary injury. "Take this twice a day. The pain will go away in a day or two." Layla received the medicine from him and watched him return to his home office, which was located further in the room.
'Huh? Did he ask for me just to hand over the medicines? Should I ask him?' She bit her lower lip in frustration until she finally uttered.
"Umm… Is there anything I can help you with Master?" She asked and soon noticed him pause on his steps. Instead of turning completely, he side-glanced at Layla and gestured for her to follow him.
"Do you know how to type Layla?" He asked as they reached his office desk. Layla nodded her head in approval and soon she regretted it when her master instructed her to edit a thirty-page document adhering to the terms & conditions of his company 'Perkinston Private Limited.'
"Finish it as soon as you can; I'm leaving for the office." He uttered before he left her bewildered at his desk. Layla gulped down staring at the computer screen that showcased the document. 'Am I some robot? I know how to read and write but that doesn't mean he can exploit me!' she thought before she gave in.
She didn't want to but she had to sit in her master's chair facing the desktop. The way the chair rotated followed by the comfort it offered amused her but soon she glued her eyes on the screen starting her task.
*******
Michael returned back to the mansion. Soon the butler bowed to him and took care of his belongings. He accompanied him to his room holding his office bag until he dispersed him.
Getting inside his room, Michael's eyes fixated on his office desk.
A gentle hand caressed her cheeks. It felt rough yet the touch was soothing. Layla took it and placed her head over it as it felt more comfy over the desk where her head was rested.
"Little maid?" A familiar voice reached her ears but she was in a trance to react to it. "Just a few minutes more…" She uttered in her feeble voice. Soon she felt another hand caressing her temple and this time she half opened her eyes until she flinched in panic.
"Ahh… I-I'm sorry Master. I wa-was just taking a nap: I finished the task." She blurted abruptly getting on her feet as soon as she saw his gaze fixated on her. "Oh… I-I didn't mean to sit on your chair, it's just that I couldn't figure out any other way to—"
He placed his index finger over her lips and gestured for her to zip-tie her lips with his other hand. "If you speak a word more I'll kiss your lips and won't let go of them until they get swollen." He bent down a little to reach her level and said in his husky voice and heat rose to her cheeks listening to his remarks.
"Now leave my chair and join me for the dinner." Layla just nodded her head like a toddler and soon she got rewarded with his hand moving from her lips to pat down her head.
Layla stood beside the dining table of his room while watching him unpacking the food items. Looking at the logo Layla recalled something. A bittersweet smile settled on her face at the thought of it.
"I can't eat this Master..."