Chapter Five

Bella's nervousness was very obvious to Alexander. It aroused him the more. Bella on the other hand was very oblivious of what was going on in her master's mind. To her, she thought the summary of all that would happen was that she would be fired. She wanted to apologize but the fear in her heart seized her tongue and she could only apologize in mind.

Alexander stretched his hands and lifted her face up. Bella was shocked at the gesture but she kept still. 'What is he about to do?' she asked herself. Alexander moved his hands slowly and softly to the side of her face and ran it down to her chin. That stroke sent a lot of sensations to Bella, but she kept still, hoping that it would end there. It did not. Alexander continued, taking his hands to down to her smooth neck. Bella shifted a little. Alexander continued, this time, his hand moved down her neck and to her chest and then he brought it to her breasts. Bella could not contain it anymore. She gave Alexander a resounding slap. He removed his hand on impulse and placed them on his cheek. Bella immediately realized what she had done and gasped softly, putting her hand over her mouth. Alexander's face turned red. His feelings of lust and sexual desire turned to anger instantly. No one has ever had the mind to raise their hands and slap him, not even his mother. It was only his father who had ever slapped him. Now, he was humiliated by an ordinary maid. He looked at her, the beauty he had seen earlier turned to something irritating.

Bella, not know what to do quickly ran out of the room, slamming the door accidentally. She felt disgusted and angry at Alexander's behaviour. She knew he was a bad boy and probably lives sleeping around with ladies but she did not expect him to be disrespectful to women in that manner. She felt more anger than fear of what Alexander might do to her for slapping him. It did not matter whether she was a maid or not, he did not have the right to harass her in that way. The more she thought about it, the more she got angry. She entered her room and went straight to her bed without saying a word to the two maids in the room. After a while, lying on the bed, Bella started thinking differently. If Alexander got angry and fire her, she would lose the opportunity to save for her tuition fees. She knew how difficult it was for her to get a job in the city. The anger she felt suddenly reduced and fear increased. She wished she had not slapped. May be she would have just pushed him and run out of the room. That was a better reaction than slapping him. 

"Oh no!"  she exclaimed quietly and sat up on the bed. She felt cold instantly. She was not comfortable. She stood up and left the room. Her mind wandered as she walked along go back to Alexander and beg him? She cursed the ill fate that was befalling her. She had just started the work and in just two days, she had gotten smeared in deep trouble. Bella found herself in the garden and she just kept walking round, her mind wandering in fear and nervousness. She stayed there till late at night before going to bed.

The morning came and Bella was reluctant to stand up from her bed. She was not sure what she would face that day. First, she walked into Alexander naked, then she slapped him what next was she going to do?

While the other maids were getting themselves ready for day's work, Christine noticed Bella's reticence. She walked to her, "What's the matter?" She asked Bella.

Bella sighed in despair, "a lot" she replied.

Christine sat down on the bed beside her, "Did Alexander punish you?" She asked regarding the bathroom incident.

"No, but he is going to definitely deal with me for what happened last night" Bella said.

"What happened?" Christine asked.

Bella narrated all that had happened to her and Christine was stunned.

"You slapped him! Why did you slap him? You could have just ran out…Bella" She whispered to avoid the other inmates hearing.

"I know. That thought came to me after everything" Bella said, "I don't know…..it's like something is out to get me. Something that don't want me achieving my dream" Tears formed in her eyes and flowed down her cheeks.

"Oh Bella…." Christine have her a consoling hug. "You will get through this. I know you will. This is just a test for your victory" Christine said.

The door to the room was opened and Celia walked in, straight to Bella and Christine. She faced Bella as she spoke, "Get ready and meet me in the kitchen right now. Hurry up. Don't you delay." she turned and walked out.

Bella looked at Christine, "That's it Christine, I'm done for"

"No, you're not. Don't say that yet. It could be that she is calling you for something else" Christine tries to be optimistic.

"Don't try to make me feel calm. We both know that I'm in trouble. You saw the way she came to me and the way she spoke. I'm sure, Alexander is behind this and I'm going to pay very dearly for slapping him" Bella said.

Christine could not try to lie to her friend again. Alexander was not the kind of man to let go of an insult especially when it's from a servant. She knew her friend was in serious trouble. She watched her, feeling very bad for her as she got up from the bed and was headed to the bathroom.

As Bella prepared to answer Celia's call in the kitchen, she braced herself for whatever she was going to face. She was going to be strong no matter what.