LISA'S POV
I left the dinning room and hurried outside. As I was leaving the mansion, I saw the other employees staring at me. They were whispering among themselves.
"Did Mr Jackson really give her permission to leave?" One of the servants whispered.
"How did she convince him? I haven't seen my family in years. How could he make an exception and just let her leave the house? " Another servant said.
"He's never allowed anyone to leave the mansion before. What does she have that the others don't have? I don't like her. She's new here and she's already getting special privileges. That's not fair." I heard a female servant say.
I didn't stop and listen to their conversation. I couldn't.
All I cared about was getting to my mum. I couldn't care less about what they were saying or thinking. And yes, maybe they were right.
Maybe I was getting special privileges.
But I didn't ask for this. And besides, Mr Jackson was the boss. He could do whatever he wanted.
If he wanted to change the rules and let me see my mum, then who was I to complain?
Besides, he didn't even let me go for free.
He made a deal with me.
A deal that I feared….
By the time I walked out of the mansion, a Range Rover had pulled up in front of the house.
It was black, shiny and looked very expensive.
Henry was standing beside it. The passenger door was open.
I quickly went over, but before I got into the car, he stopped me.
Henry grabbed my wrist and held me.
I looked down at his hand and then back up at him.
He was frowning and his expression was serious.
"What is it, Mr Henry? Did I do something wrong?" I asked.
"Listen, Lisa. Mr Jackson, is the boss. He makes the rules. So whatever deal you made with him, it won't be easy. I know you think you can handle this. You think, this is just some stupid game. But, I'm telling you now…" Henry said.
Then his voice dropped in a very low whisper, like he was trying to make sure that no one could hear him.
"Mr Jackson's desires are not simple. Trust me. They will consume you. The pleasure… I've seen what it has done to the girls that come here. How obsessed and addicted they get." He explained.
Henry put his other hand on my shoulder and stared into my eyes.
"Don't do this. Go back into the house and tell Mr Jackson that you have changed your mind. Tell him that you don't want the deal anymore. Just don't go with him. You're a nice girl. I know you are. I don't want him to hurt you. Or ruin your life. Because, he will. He has a dark side. A side, that is very dangerous. Don't get involved. It's not worth it." Henry told me.
My eyes widened at Henry's words.
Why was he telling me all these things? There was also so much concern in his voice, which was different from the strict and professional tone, that he used to speak with.
Was he worried about me?
He sounded like he genuinely cared about me…about the deal I made.
And the things he had just said about Mr Jackson…about his desires and how the ladies he had been with had been consumed by the pleasure and the darkness of his desires. How they were obsessed with him. And couldn't get enough of him.
How Mr Jackson ends up breaking their hearts and souls into pieces.
It was like Henry knew firsthand. Like, he had witnessed the damage it did.
Was that why he didn't want me to go through the same thing? Because, he was concerned and afraid of the effect it would have on me.
I wanted to ask him questions, but I didn't know where to start and I also didn't have the time.
My mother…She was the most important thing on my mind. Her well-being was the only thing I cared about. And besides, it was just for a night.
So, I would survive.
"I'm sorry, Mr Henry." I said. "I can't. I need to go see my mum. I need to make sure she's ok. What would happen to her if I cancel the deal? She's sick." I said to him.
"Can't you call someone else to come and take her to the hospital? Call a friend or family member? You're not thinking straight, Lisa. Your mother would be fine. Please. I'm asking you to reconsider. You have no idea, the kind of person he is. You don't know the man. Trust me. It's not a good idea." Henry replied.
"No. Don't you get it, Mr Henry?" I accidentally yelled.
"I have no one. No one. My mother is my everything." I cried.
"This is not a game to me, Mr Henry. This is important. I would lay down my life for my mother. I will die for her… and I don't care if Mr Jackson ends up ruining my life." I replied.
"I will gladly let him destroy me. I don't care. Not if it means, saving my mother's life. Not if it means, seeing her get the treatment she needs. It doesn't matter, because the only person I live for is her. She has sacrificed so much for me. She's done so much for me. And the only thing she asks for is a night. One night for me to go see her and take her to the hospital. That's all. So, if you want to help me, then help me. But if you don't, then please, get out of my way." I said.
My voice was loud and harsh.
It was like, a switch had been turned on inside me. I was suddenly mad. At everyone and everything.
I just wanted to get out of here. I wanted to see my mother. I wanted to run into my mother's arms and cry. Everything felt so exhausting. And she was the only one that could make me feel better.
She was the only one that could comfort me and make everything okay.
After my father left us to be with his secretary who was 17 years younger than him, my mother was the only person that was there for me. She was the one, who raised me. Who took care of me.
Who was there when I needed someone to cry on.
So, now, I wanted to return the favor.
I didn't care how or what Mr Jackson did.
He could break me, tear me apart and stomp all over me. He could do whatever he wanted.
He could own my body and soul. But, that was a price I was willing to pay.
To make sure that my mother was safe. That she was well.
I didn't want her out there all alone, especially in her condition.
"You don't understand." Henry said.
"Understand what, Mr Henry? Understand that I'm willing to sacrifice my dignity and pride for my mother. That I am willing to give myself to a complete stranger, so he can save her life. I'm aware, Mr Henry. And you have no idea, the depths I will go to, for the people I love." I replied.
I stared back at him and his eyes widened.
Like, he was surprised by the tone in my voice.
"Just let me go, Mr Henry." I said.
Henry was silent.
He stared at me. His mouth opened and closed. Like he was searching for the right words to say.
Then, he shook his head and turned around. He went back into the house, without saying anything else.
I watched him as he disappeared through the large doors.
I couldn't understand why he was so adamant about not letting me see Mr Jackson.
But, I didn't care. All I cared about was getting to my mother.
The driver was still waiting for me, and so, I climbed into the back seat of the car.
I was surprised by how nice it was. It had leather seats and a huge screen TV. It was so beautiful and luxurious. I had never sat in such a fancy car.
There was a bottle of champagne and a few other things on the table, but I ignored them.
As the driver started the car, I gave him the directions. And then, he started driving.
When we drove off, I could see the employees watching me through the window. They were still gathered together, whispering and wondering.
I looked away and l rested my head on the soft leather seat. Somehow, I found myself suddenly overcome by exhaustion and fear.
The events of the night had taken a toll on me.
First, Mr Jackson…
I remembered the way he touched me.
The way his hand felt on my skin on my neck. So powerful and strong.
And then, I remembered the promise he had made me.
His words echoed in my head.
"Do you understand?" He had asked.
"This little deal that you made. I hope you understand, that if I grant you the permission to leave, you have to keep your side of the deal. You will have to be mine. For a night. All mine. You will do everything and anything that I tell you. Anything I want. And you will enjoy it. You will love it. You will not say no. Do you understand?" I remembered him saying.
These words held so much weight. It made my entire body shiver. Just thinking about them.
Imagining what was to come.
Oh God! I had never done anything like this before.
Never. Not even in my dreams. I was always too shy and scared. I couldn't imagine what was going to happen when I got back to the house. What he would do.
But, it was just for a night. So, I would be okay. Right?
And then, my mother.
My sweet and caring mother.
I was so worried about her. She was my number one priority and ensuring her safety was the only thing that mattered. Hearing her voice on the phone.
Her weak, sickly voice on the phone. It broke my heart. And the fact that all she wanted to know was how I was doing.
All she cared about was how I was.
My well-being.
Even though she was sick and dying. Even though she was on the verge of death, her first and only concern was me.
I loved her more than anything. Everything I was doing and planning to do was for her.
Me staying in that mansion..taking this job was all because of her, and it angered me that Mr Henry couldn't see it. He couldn't see how much she meant to me.
To think he was trying to stop me from seeing my mother. Just because, I was making a deal with Mr Jackson.
"Ughhh." I groaned.
Everything in my life was a mess. I'm just one day, I had become more confused than I had ever been in my entire life. I didn't understand how everything was happening. How everything had gotten so complicated in a single night.
************************************
It took about an hour to get to the hospital.
By the time we arrived, it was late and the streets were quiet and empty.
The driver stopped the car exactly at the point had described.
On the side of the road, underneath the bridge, near the corner of the hospital.
I quickly got out of the car and ran over there.
"Mum." I called, as I searched for her.
"Mum. Mum. Mum, where are you?" I called out again.
"It's Lisa. It's me. Where are you?" I cried out.
My breath quickened, my body trembled and I couldn't seem to control my breathing.
What if she was gone? What if someone had taken her? What if something bad had happened.
My brain was running wild with different scenarios and none of them were good.
What if someone had hurt her or kidnapped her?
Oh God!
"Mum." I screamed again.
My eyes darted around, looking everywhere.
Trying to find her. Trying to see her. To hear her.
Suddenly, a noise came from behind me.
"Lisa?" A soft and weak voice called out.
I immediately turned around and my heart almost leaped out of my chest.
"Mum." I screamed and rushed over to where she was.
She was sitting near a wall. Crouched and huddled. Her head was down.
I dropped on my knees and threw myself at her. I wrapped my arms around her and pulled her close to me.
I squeezed her tight and then, I started to cry.
"Mum. I'm here. You're going to be ok." I said, trying to calm myself.
I was crying hysterically as I held her in my arms.
"I'm so sorry, mum. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me." I sobbed.
She patted my head gently and tried to soothe me.
"Shhhh. Shhhh. It's okay, baby. I'm okay. Shhh. You didn't do anything wrong" She said weakly. Her voice was so low.
I buried my face in her neck and breathed in her scent.
Oh God! She was here. She was alive.
Thank God!
I couldn't stop crying. I was relieved. But also, scared.
My poor mother. How did she get into this state?
She was the most important thing in the world to me. And now, she was here. Sitting on the ground.
I pulled away from the hug and held her cheek. She looked so pale and frail.
Her lips were chapped and her face was bruised and dirty.
Her body was also shaking and trembling.
"Oh God! What happened to you?" I asked. I was crying profusely.
"L-L…Lisa…" My mum smiled at me. She stretched her hand to touch my face and then, suddenly, her body shuddered and she slumped forward.
"Mum." I shouted.
She lost consciousness.
"No. Mum. Please. Mum. No. No. No." I shook her.
Tears were rolling down my cheeks.
What happened? Why wasn't she responding? Why was her eyes closed?
She wasn't breathing. She wasn't moving. Her body was getting cold in my arms and limp.
I was panicking. My brain was blank. I couldn't think. I couldn't process.
"Please wake up, mum. Please." I cried.
"Mum….Wake up."