Change the pillowcases and sheets. Vacuum the carpets. Clean the bathroom. Leave a mint on the pillow.
It was that last step which made Sandra wrinkle her nose in coy amusement. Wasn't that something they only did in movies? A mint on the pillow was such a clichΓ© that she had never expected it to be taken seriously by any sort of establishment, especially one as pose and glamorous as Dythil Suites.
But who was she to question about anything when she was nothing but a newly hired house maid? Nothing being a subjective term of course but in the eyes of management, that was just what she was.
Sighing softly, Sandra fumbled around in the pocket of her uniform's apron for the staff keycard she had been issued. She knocked with her free hand, muttering the standard "house keeping!" before opening the door and walking into the first hotel room she was to clean that morning. It was going to be a droll day.
It was only natural that she gasped in surprise at finding Lily, Mr. Dythil's impeccably dressed personal secretary bound and gagged on the bed. The other woman's eyes darted up to the woman's face, her expression frantic and fearful as the maid walked in. Lily struggled all the harder to free herself as the maid tried to make sense of what she was seeing.
"Ms. Bennett?!"
Sandra stood there in the open doorway, aghast and quite uncertain of what she had just walked in on. The bound secretary let out a muffled cry and stared at her incredulously as if to chastise her for simply standing there. Sandra quite collected her wits and hurried to the bed side, her fingers fumbling as she tried to untie the knot on the ropes that bound the secretary.
"Oh, don't do that. That would ruin everything."
The deep masculine voice that came from behind her made Sandra gasp audibly and she turned slowly, her blue eyes widen as they fell upon the familiar sight of Micheal Dythil, the owner of the hotel whom had just hired her yesterday. Dressed handsomely in a dark charcoal grey suit, the darkly featured, wiry man standing with his arms crossed gave forth an aura of quiet menace. He grinned at her wickedly as the maid stammered unintelligibly and Lily stopped struggling. There was no sense in it any more with Michael's return and the quiet resignation in the secretary's gaze spoke volumes.
"I think it is time to finish your interview, Sandra."
The door to the hotel room closed quietly as Michael stepped fully into the room, locking it behind him. The clicking of the lock sounded louder in Sandra's panicked head, echoing endlessly as fear took hold.
"What-"
Michael held up a hand, a look of bemusement crossing his handsome features. He waved one hand towards her, his eyes stern and unyielding.
"Undress."
"But...Mr. Dythil..."
He loved that stammer, that moment of disbelief when they realized that he was cornering them. Had he spoken rationally? Was he mad? All of these questions filtered through their heads when it let the first command drop, the first whispered bit of dominance. His pale face seemed ashen, devilish in the dim light of the hotel room.
"If you want to keep your job, do as I say. You did say you would do anything after all."
Sandra did nothing, with as confused and afraid as she was. What sort of man did this to his employees? She had come to the hotel seeking a job and perhaps she had sounded desperate in saying she would do "anything" for a position but this was beyond what she had in mind. This was wrong.
This was not happening.
Michael sighed at her hesitation and clicked his tongue in disappointment. He shook his head as he moved towards the bedside, his deft fingers untying the knot that kept Lily bound. The ropes gave way and the secretary let out a muffled sigh of relief as her aching muscles relaxed. Michael bent down and removed her gag, drawing a nod of thanks from Lily and an all-knowing smirk from her boss. The secretary sat up then, rubbing her wrists and looking expectantly at Michael. Sandra watched in muted horror as Lily's red lips curled into a mirrored smile of Michael's as he leaned down and spoke another order into Lily's ear.
"Undress her."