I awoke to an empty bed. The maids were cleaning around me and once they saw I was awake they gave me a brief nod in the direction of the shower. I took that as a hint. Once I was clean and re-robed I made my way back to my room. I expected to be immediately assaulted by Kinsey in addition to a barrage of questions but instead, glorious silence. It was about lunch time so I it was likely everyone would be in the dining hall. I dressed in dark green trousers and a grey t-shirt then made my way down. I was starving.
"Well, if it isn't the 'mystery client's', girl" one of the others teased.
The women sat around several round tables dressed in various sleepwear. I saw Kinsey roll her eyes from across the room and I wandered over. Sitting in a high-backed wooden chair, my hands resting on the matching table, I noticed the dark circles under her eyes. Before I could say anything she interrupted my thoughts.
"Tell me everything!" she demanded with one of her sly smiles, her grey eyes going wide, full of mischief, a perfectly manicured hand resting under her chin.
So I proceeded to tell her about the evening. She only interrupted occasionally with an "Oh my goodness" or "No way!" as I nibbled on some pastry's and sipped my coffee.
My tale concluded, she sat frowning at me. "You like him!" she declared in a harsh whisper.
"A little" I admitted softly. "It's difficult not to, he was so...different."
"Well, maybe he'll come back?" she added hopefully with jealousy simmering in the words. The conflict was obvious in her inflection.
"Maybe..."
"Deema?" A voice called from across the room.
The Superior stood with her arms folded. She looked frazzled, not like her usual self at all. I walked over and she leaned towards me. "You need to come with me hon." she said appearing apologetic.
This did not feel right at all. Trepidation started in the pit of my stomach. Usually, if we had misbehaved her manner was furious, as if we had let her down personally. If we were to move on to another house she would be happy or sad depending on if she liked us, but this... I didn't know, at all. I followed because that was the only choice. Glancing at Kinsey, she gave me a look of curious concern with one perfect eyebrow raised. I shrugged.
We arrived at the doors of the main office a few moments later, where the owner of the house resided on her visits. Rarely seen, the mistress was from a High family with a reputation for having some amazing business acumen and a hell of a temper; one of us meeting with her never meant anything good. I really hoped I wasn't going in there.
"Stay here." the Superior ordered.
She knocked and then entered the huge oak door. I stood in bare feet, hovering at the doors. There must be soundproofing or something because not even a murmur escaped once those doors closed. The sinking feeling that started in the dining hall was getting more intense every second. After several minutes I started pacing, the dark emerald of the flooring catching the sunlight, shining like a mirror in places. After what seemed like forever the doors opened and the Superior emerged looking bleak. Not good. Very not good.
"Deema, you're going to be working downstairs for a while" she stated in a monotone voice. My face must have shown my shock because she reached out and rubbed my arm gently.
"...what?" my voice was a whisper, all propriety dropped as my thoughts start to spin.
"I am so sorry. I'm not sure for how long it's going to be but I'm doing my best to get to the bottom of it." she added, confusion crossing her mature features, the lines on her forehead deepening.
My silence extends from seconds into minutes, the room spinning.
"You can stay in your existing accommodation but until further notice, you'll be downstairs in the Silver room."
"Silver?!" my voice comes out harsh and she winces. I stagger backwards and wince as well as my back hits the mounds in the wall coverings.
"I'm not saying I agree Deema. This...there is something is going on, I really don't understand but you can stay with Kinsey and I'm going to get this sorted out." she leaned against the wall with a sigh.
It looks more like the wall is keeping her upright, her cerulean blouse puckering as her arms rest under her large breasts, her black trousers creasing where they touch the wall panelling. Her customary professionalism is gone, narrowed eyes showing her exhaustion.
"Go back to breakfast. Tonight, report to Silver and try to remain calm." She leans forward and whispers "It seems like punishment I know, I suppose it is...for what? If I knew I'd tell you."
She raises her hand to her face as if she can scrub away the weariness, the other hand flicks in my direction in a dismissive gesture.
The shock starts to dissipate as I head to my room. Superior said to go back to breakfast, however, I know Kinsey will ask what happened and I need to think. What did I possibly do to warrant this? Silver... I shudder at the thought. I enter our luxurious room but fail to feel calm as usual. I sit on our soft maroon overstuffed sofa and wrap my green and grey patchwork blanket around myself. I start to think over the last few weeks. I analyse every thought and action trying to figure out what went wrong. Everything up until last night was standard. Normal. It must be something that happened with that mystery client. I did everything I was told to do, maybe I shouldn't have stayed? Nobody said not to. Nobody told me what to do if that request happened; how can she punish me for something I wasn't informed of?