His father’s new bride

June got me all dressed up in a fine purple gown just above my knee. I stared at my reflection in the dressing mirror before me as I trailed my hands all over my face looking at the new changes in astonishment.

“You like it?..” she asked and I hummed without giving any reply.

“Left with one more thing to complete these gorgeous changes” she uttered and I arched my brow before looking up at her from where I sat with a questioning look.

“There is more to do on my face??” I asked cheekily with a weird look....not like I don’t appreciate her efforts in making me look beautiful but it was becoming too much...

“No ma’am just jewelry” she corrected.

“It had better be...I won’t like to go about looking like Samantha from Cinderella” I added and she chuckled lightly before giving a reassuring smile.

I watched as she bent slightly beside me, opening a cabinet beneath the mirror where I sat.

“By the way, you also look beautiful when you go natural...ma’am” she complimented and I acted deaf to it...cause I wouldn’t want to start a chatty conversation with the state of my mind as it is.

I adjusted on the sit as she brought out a big black chiffon box.

She opened it up and I felt my chest thump at the sight of the diamond necklace and earrings coupled with wrist chains made out of pure gold....once I see riches I know them at the sight of them.

“You can as well sit properly while I fix this on you ma’am” she uttered and I simply nodded before positioning myself on the stool.

“Done” she stated behind me as she stepped away from my back obviously admiring the pieces of jewelry on me.

I ran my hands from my ears down to my chest where the necklace was laying sweetly on me...” wow” I found myself saying.

“I bet you love this more” she stated packing up the box as my hands kept caressing the jewelry on me. I looked straight into the mirror, studying my reflection in disbelief.

*Serena* I muttered my name to myself looking keenly into the mirror with my hands on the necklace.

“Ma’am did you say something to me?.... sorry I didn’t catch that,” June said turning to me. I removed my gaze from the mirror immediately before nodding negatively.

“No...I was not referring to you” I corrected moving away from the stool as I walked to the bed.

“Your job here is done right?” I asked turning back to her as I sat on the edge of the bed.

“Yes ma’am...but I was thinking you would want me to show you around the mansion, at least before dinner time” she responded and I furrowed my brows.

“I won’t be going out anytime soon... I had a rough day and now I need a proper rest. Since it is not time to meet the young master as you said then why did you have me wear all these?”  I said unhooking the wrist chain frustratingly.

“I’m sorry ma’am...I should have been more careful with my choice of decision...was thinking you would have loved to stay fancy before then” she apologized and I kept mute not knowing what to say cause I had just taken up a small issue fiercely because of my frustration.

“Just come get these things off me...I meant no harm. I thought there was an occasion since I’m new” I stated with a light hiss.

“I’m sorry about that ma’am” she apologized before rushing to my side to take off the necklace.

“And perhaps you can leave afterward or do you want to watch me sleep??” I asked coldly cause I definitely was not ready to hear her preach the rules that were assigned to her. And right now, I was careless about any order that have been assigned to her. I just need some time some....my space has to be respected.

“I’ll just leave afterward” she responded with a slight bow as she walked towards the cabinet to replace the pieces of jewelry in its box.

“Have a nice rest ma’am” she bowed again before walking out of the door.

“Tch!!” I hissed loudly before falling flat on the bed with my legs sticking out of the other end. I blinked rapidly while intertwining my toes as my mind drifted to my parents immediately.

“Mom.....dad” I called out softly with a cracked voice as I felt my eyes getting clouded with tears. I hissed slightly in pain as I wiped the corner of my eyes with the back of my palm.

I sat up on the bed and looked around the room again before walking over to the window just beside the bed. I stood on my toe as I tried to see the ground level of the mansion from my room. My eyes caught some figures that were possibly humans moving around somewhere that seemed like a garden cause the surroundings were all green in my sight.

As I held the iron bars that were firmly holding the curtains, it suddenly felt like a Deja Vu...like I’ve held something or been in a situation like this before. I kissed my teeth annoyingly as I tried remembering. No doubt I hate not being able to get to the root of things.

Just as I was about to walk away from the window, I paused on track,  remembering where I had seen something similar to it before. It was no other place than the clubhouse...yeah! It was.

“Devon” I called as my mind played back on everything.

“You slept with a guy Serena...not just a guy, but a stranger!” I muttered at ease with myself as I closed my eyes while playing all the scenes in my head.

Just immediately, the door creaked open, jolting out of my thoughts I yelled angrily to the intruder which I thought was June since she was the only person I’d had a short convo with who even knows I wanted to have some time to myself.

“I thought I told you I needed to rest!” I yelled before looking at the door only to find out it was another person who was pushing in a tray of food and fruits coupled with drinks. I paused and fumed within as I fully walked away from the window.

“I’m sorry ma’am...I’ve been knocking but I got no reply...I had no other option than to walk in...I’m so sorry it will never happen again” she apologized and I scoffed before raising a questioning brow.

“What are those?” I asked pointing at the cart...I laughed sillily at the type of question I had just asked. Like....who the hell with a perfect sight asks what are those when it was food and junk?

“Your food ma’am and I’m sorry it came in a bit late....the Italian chest was late to resume duties today” she uttered and I took my lower lips in.

*isn’t this how princesses are being treated!?....nice things and good food?... didn’t I think I was coming here to be tortured and traumatized and now coming here is making me almost forget what I had in the past...* I questioned my inner mind forgetting about the person before me.

“Which side of the bed would you love to have your meal?..the right or left?” She asked and I paused for a while looking at the bed...” the right” I replied. Walking over to the right side of the bed where she pushed the tray to.

“Aren’t you leaving?” I asked after I had settled down waiting for her to leave.

“Just leave, please...I won’t have any of you watch me eat. Not even June” I retorted.

“And by the way why didn’t June serve me my food instead?” I asked

“She has taken the day off just for today@ she replied with a bow and I kept mute....not feeling too gods about it. Since she was the only closer human to me here at the mansion or maybe because I had spent more time with her than the others. And besides, why wouldn’t she tell me she was leaving!...or have I been too hard?

“And in case you need anything, ma’am, you can just push the white button beside your bed” she instructed respectfully.

“Okay. You can leave. Thank you” I appreciated her effort. She nodded before walking out leaving me all to myself with a huge tray of food.

I uncovered the first tray and came in sight of a perfectly grilled chicken. It just made me remember the last thanksgiving I had with my family. It was just the same thing we had after some dumplings. I took out the cutlery and made to take a bite but stopped midway as my mind drifted back to my mom and dad again.

I was sure they would be so restless. I was sure they would be starving themselves right now thinking I am going through hell. If only I can just see them now and reassure them that everything is going just fine. Wait...but what if it’s nighttime and he wants to do a couple of things... I mean all these can’t possibly be free.

“But you there yourself at Devon for free” my subconscious mind judged and I pressed my lips in guilt.

“Ohh you just shut up! I was drunk and besides Devon isn’t old” I argued within. No doubt I was not feeling settled at all and only reaching out to my parents could calm me down even if it was just for a little while.

I bite my lower lips hard as I tried thinking about a way forward in reaching out to them. And the only thing or rather a person my mind kept bringing up was no other than June.

I exhaled and nodded my head slowly...June seemed to be a nice person and she likely might not say no to me.

I just have to wait patiently for tomorrow.,...

                       (Devon’s POV)

I and Tyler soon got to the mansion. The maids now as they watched us hurry toward the elevator with a tight frowns on our faces.

“Phew! I can’t believe something like this is happening under Gonzalez's mansion” Tyler lamented softly as I leaned on one side of the elevator.

“Tch.... let's watch and see how this goes then! I’m not going to tell the damn bitch to leave. She’s so going to run for her dear life once I show her the stuff I’m made of” I uttered with determination as we stepped out of the elevator. I walked furiously to my room with Tyler tagging behind me who also had a furious expression.

I walked straight to my bed and hit the button on the wall. I turned back to Tyler who gave me a questioning brow.

“Why do you need a maid now?” He asked and I sighed before sitting on the bed.

“I need a drink and also some little information” I replied and he mouthed an *oh* before nodding his head.

Soon enough, one of the maids knocked and was immediately granted permission by me.

“What are the latest developments under this mansion?” I asked and she stuttered for a while before nodding her head.

“I don’t understand your question young master,” she said and bowed immediately after her statement.

I smirked lightly and scoffed before tightening my expression once more.

“You just answered my question with a filthy question” I commended slightly pissed. “No sir” she replies and I kissed my teeth trying to suppress the anger that was boiling within.

“No?” I questioned and she kept still.

“And what if I head to the maids' quarter and have them throw you out you know what that means right!?” I uttered inflicting fear in her.

“I...we have been warned not to say anything to you before dinner” she responded and I gave a dry laugh before making steps towards her as I watched her shudder in fear.

“I don’t care about the orders assigned to you. I need answers to what I asked you. And I’m giving you just three seconds to start talking else!” My voice trailed off as she closed her eyes tightly while laying down all information in fear.

“Master now has a new bride. She’s pretty, young and it obvious you are older than her and her room is just at the far end of this hall and rumors have it that she was sold to her master by her ruthless father” she stated quickly and opened her eyes while panting heavily.

“You mean my dad now wants to keep f***ing an underage??... just leave and ask someone else to bring in my usual drink” I ordered and she left hurriedly.

“Wow...Gonzalez is still mean at what he knows how to do best,” Tyler remarked in shock. I stared on in disbelief. All these while I had been thinking it was an old haggard woman not knowing it an underage for real. Like seriously!!!.