what exactly is my job

I walked out of the bathroom, then checked that the bedroom was all tidied before going to find Ming-May.

“Good morning, Ming-May,” I greeted quietly as soon as I saw her.

“Good morning, Miss Amelia.” Ming-May returned the greeting with a bright smile.

Ming-May looked happy to be here, and I realized we were in different positions. Ming-May chose to work here, whereas I was forced to accept this position.

I pulled out a chair nearest to me and sat down, watching Ming-May cook. I remembered when Mama was still alive. I was about six or seven years old back then. I would sit at the kitchen table watching her cook while Jenny played with her toys on the floor. Those were happy times.

Those were times before the accident happened. I missed those times.

Moments later, Ming-May delivered my breakfast — French toast with maple syrup.

I loved French toast, but I never had the opportunity to eat out much.

Money was tight in our family, and with only Papa working, we didn’t have a lot of spending money on food outings.

“Thank you,” I said, looking at the food. My mouth was already salivating. I didn’t realize how hungry I was.

“You are welcome.” She smiled and went back to the kitchen. “Would you like something to drink?” she asked again.

“Oh, tea, please,” I automatically replied. I usually drank tea in the morning to prepare myself for the day. “Do you have herbal tea?”

“Yes, we do. I’ll make you a cup.”

“Thank you, I would like that very much.”

Ming-May nodded and went to prepare the tea while I sat gazing out the large floor-to-ceiling glass window.

“Where are we, Ming-May?” I asked, curious about our whereabouts.

“What do you mean, Miss Amelia?”

I cleared my throat. “I mean, what city are we in?”

“Oh, you don’t remember?”

“No, I was asleep when I came.”

“I see. I do remember Master carrying you in here last night.”

Heat fused my face. I really didn’t want to think about yesterday. It was an embarrassing story. I was asleep during the entire journey here. If only I had been more alert, I would have known where we were now.

“We are in New York City, if that’s what you are asking,” Ming-May commented. “Manhattan, to be exact.”

“Manhattan. So we are still in New York,” I muttered to myself.

I lifted my gaze to see the view of Manhattan. It was so beautiful at this time of day. Twilight hadn’t yet hit the sky, so everything was still covered in darkness. But the lights and bright billboard signs on the street below made the whole city shine like twinkling stars.

“Here is your herbal tea, Miss Amelia.” Ming-May placed the tea in front of me, distracting me from my thoughts.

“Thank you, Ming-May. I’m very grateful.” I took the cup in my hand and started blowing at the tea to cool it down.

“You are very polite, Miss Amelia. Very different from his other woman,” Ming-May commented, and I almost choked on my own tongue.

“I’m not his woman, if that’s what you are implying,” I quickly denied. “If anything, I’m just one of his possessions.”

“Of course not, Miss Amelia. You are not simply just his woman,” Ming-May said, a mischievous look on her face.

“Ming-May, I don’t understand what you are saying.” I gazed at her, a scowl on my face.

“Never mind, Miss Amelia.” She smiled and shook her head. “I’ll leave you to eat in peace. I have other work to do. Do call me when you are done.”

And with this, Ming-May left me to eat my food in peace.

I looked at the French toast on my plate, my thoughts elsewhere. If Lorenzo and I were to meet in different circumstances, would he have viewed me as someone he loved rather than someone he owned? Because there was a difference between the two. As someone he loved, I had the freedom to express myself. But as his possession, I would be nothing more than his puppet.

I sighed and picked up my knife and fork. I cut a bite off and brought the French toast to my mouth. It was delicious.

I wished I could enjoy such delicious food here with Jenny. Then again, maybe it was best if I ate this alone. I wouldn’t for the life of me wish for my sister to be in the same position as I was.

I didn’t realize I had finished eating until Ming-May appeared out of nowhere and said, “Would you like me to wash those up now?”

“Oh, no. I can do that myself,” I said, getting up from my seat and piling my plate and teacup in my hand. I walked into the open-plan kitchen and was about to drop the dishes near the sink when Ming-May stopped me, taking the plate and cup from my hands.

“No, Miss Amelia. This is my job. I’ll do it.”

“I don’t understand what you mean,” I said, pulling the dishes back. “It’s okay. I can do my own dishes.”

“Miss Amelia, please let me do this. Master would not like it if he knows.” She looked at me with pleading eyes.

“Why?” Clearly, we were both his subordinates. What difference did it make whether I did the dishes or she did?

Ming-May didn’t answer. She only gave me that pleading look again. I relented, watching her clean up the kitchen. I took a cloth and started wiping the table.

“No, Miss Amelia. This is not your job.” She took the cloth away from me too.

I became frustrated. “Ming-May, what exactly is my job? You said I can’t do this, and I can’t do that. What exactly can I do? I am now one of his staff too.” Or that was what I had assumed since he said he now owned me.

“Yes, we both are, Miss Amelia.”

“And please stop calling me Miss Amelia. It sounds too formal. I don’t like the title. You can just call me Amelia.”

“But Miss Amelia, Master Niko wouldn’t like it,” Ming-May said.

“You can call me by my name in private then,” I suggested.

Ming-May found this idea excellent. She gushed a smile and gave me an okay sign.

I smiled back in return, feeling something warm and welcoming when talking to her.

“Can I help you with anything?”