Chapter Four

THE STORM

Amelia's POV

“Answer me! What are you doing here?”

His voice thundered in the room, bouncing off the walls.

I flinched backward, trying to get away from him or some space at least but he wasn't letting me.

He leaned in, cocking his left brow as he looked at me.

“Speak. Or do you want me to force you?”

“I— the head maid—she told me to clean—” I blurted out but even though I spoke because he commanded, he didn’t let me finish before grabbing my arm and yanking me towards the door.

The strength in his grip made me stumble, my heart pounding as I tried to keep up with his long strides.

“I told everyone to stay out of this room!” he snapped, dragging me across the hall.

“I didn’t know!” I cried, trying to pull free. “She said you were out, I—”

“Don’t you dare say another word,” he calmly said, making me more scared than when he was yelling.

When we reached the doorway, he turned sharply and shoved me out. I hit the floor, my hand scratching against the floor as I winced when I saw a small cut, beads of blood dripping out.

“Stay away from me. Stay the hell away from my room. If I ever see you in here again, you’re done.”

He turned his back and slammed the door shut, leaving me there, sprawled on the floor, my heart pounding in my ears.

I stayed like that for a moment, staring at the closed door, willing my tears not to fall. Then I picked myself up slowly, dusted off my uniform, and walked away, forcing my expression blank even as every inch of me burned with humiliation.

I'd better hope not to be fired for this.

—

Later that night, one of the maids came up to me, telling me that the head maid asked me to meet her at the door of Mr Corss’ office.

I nodded and got up, doing as she said.

I got there, the head maid avoided eye contact with me, reaching for the knob and pulling it open, before stepping inside.

He was seated behind a desk, papers sprawled on the table.

He didn't bother looking up as he spoke. “From now on, she doesn’t come near my room,” he said flatly. “She doesn’t serve me, doesn’t look at me. If she does, she’s out. Do I make myself clear?”

The head maid nodded quickly. “Perfectly clear, sir.”

He waved us off and I stepped out first, the head maid following swiftly behind me.

Just as I was about to walk away, thinking I had escaped her wrath, she held on to my hand firmly just like she had done the first day, and turned me to face her.

“You heard him,” she said, voice dripping with anger. “Let’s hope you enjoy hard work, because that’s all you’ll be doing from now on.”

—

The next few days were hell.

She made me clean every inch of the mansion. The stairs, the guest rooms, the garden. From morning till I lay my head, she piled on task after task until my arms ached and my legs trembled under me.

Every time I paused to catch my breath, she was there. “Are you tired already? Maybe I should remind Mr. Cross why I keep you here at all.”

So I’d nod and keep working.

Even when my vision started blurring, even when the fever started creeping in, I refused to stop.

I wasn’t going to give her the satisfaction of my quitting. She was just a stumbling block to my goal I needed to get rid of.

By the fourth day, I couldn't get out of bed. Even the other maids began to feel pity for me, some offered to help while others just threw pity glances.

“Windows,” she stormed into the room. “Wipe them spotless this evening. I want them shining. All of them.”

“Yes, ma’am,” I whispered, getting up from the bed and watching her bask in my misery.

—

My head hurt.

My hands shook so badly that the rag nearly slipped from my fingers. But I pressed on, moving slowly from one window to the next, trying to blink the dizziness away.

Outside, the sky darkened. The first drops of rain hit the glass, light at first, then harder, faster, louder.

I paused, pressing my palm against the cold window, my breath getting labored from how my body hurt like I was being stabbed with a thousand needles.

I took a shaky breath, watching the water blur the view outside, until a flash of light caught my attention.

They swerved wildly on the road that led up to the mansion gates, jerking left, then right. My breath hitched as I stepped closer to the window, pressing my forehead against the glass.

The car was moving too fast.

“Slow down,” I whispered under my breath.

But it didn’t.

In the next instant, the tires screeched as the car spun out of control,

Crash.

The car slammed against the metal fence, sparks flying as the rain poured harder.

My heart stopped for a beat.

That car… I knew it.

“Xade…” I breathed out, my hand trembling against the window.

For a moment, just stood there, not knowing what to think. The car was badly damaged and so was the gate.

No one had stepped out. It felt as though I was the only one who had witnessed it.

“No…”

Without thinking, I dropped the rag and rushed to the door.

The head maid shouted something behind me, but I couldn’t hear her over the roaring rain and my pounding heart.

My feverish body screamed in protest, but I didn’t care.

I ran out of the building and into the rain, not caring about how soaked I was or how the rain on my skin made my body burn hotter.

All I could think of was him and how my heart hurt at the multiple images of him motionless and cold that my mind was creating.

I finally got to the car, drenched as I stared at the streaks of blood coming out from underneath the door.

The car door hung half open, steam rising from the crushed hood.

His head was forward, lying on the steering wheel.

With all the strength I could muster, I grabbed him by his underarm placing his hand over my shoulder, and trying my best to get him on his feet.

His head lolled to the side as his eyes fluttered open.

“Amelia” he whispered, making me freeze in place before the closed shut again, as he fell unconscious.