Introduction To The Mansion

Emily was beginning to understand one thing about this place.

Nothing here was normal.

Not the women.

Not the rules.

And definitely not the man who owned all of it.

"I'm telling you, you're going to be legendary here," Eve said, laughing so hard she almost walked into one of the pillars.

Emily rolled her eyes.

Legendary?

She had been here less than twenty four hours.

She had gotten slapped, locked in a cell, burned with a cigarette, threatened by Dora, insulted by half the mansion, and gotten into a fight on her first morning.

If that was what being legendary looked like, she wasn't sure she wanted it.

Eve kept laughing anyway.

She was now the one assigned to show Emily around the mansion.

After the fight, complete chaos had broken out.

Madam Florence had eventually appeared and shouted loud enough to silence everyone.

Of course, Florence had threatened Emily afterward.

Apparently fighting came with consequences.

According to Eve, anyone caught fighting lost their weekly allowance.

Emily hadn't even known they received an allowance.

The information surprised her.

Not because of the money.

Because nobody had ever willingly given her money before.

Not once.

For ten years she had worked like a servant inside the Collins household and had never received a single cent.

The idea of earning money for herself still felt strange.

Eve had first taken her to the small clinic located behind the mansion.

The fact that there was a clinic inside the property had alarmed Emily.

A clinic meant injuries happened often.

She had walked through the building and seen rows of medicine, treatment rooms, equipment, and even a small recovery ward.

It looked less like a clinic and more like a miniature of a standard hospital.

Emily honestly didn't understand why it was needed.

She had survived worse injuries than most people could imagine.

Broken fingers….Burns….Cuts.

Bruises and whippings.

She had endured all of it without ever seeing a doctor.

The Collins family would simply leave her alone until she recovered.

Or didn't.

Eve continued explaining the mansion as they made their way back inside.

There weren't many girls in the main living area anymore, but the few that remained openly stared at Emily.

Some looked annoyed.

Others looked curious.

A few looked like they wanted another fight.

"You've angered half the girls here," Eve said cheerfully.

Then she pointed at a nearby sofa.

"The other half wants to be your friend."

Emily snorted.

That sounded exhausting.

"Anyways," Eve continued, "the ground floor is basically where all the female guards stay. We have game rooms, cinemas, lounges, all kinds of things down here."

Emily glanced around.

The place was ridiculously luxurious.

The furniture alone probably cost more than everything the Collins family owned.

She followed Eve toward the staircase.

"The first floor is where our managers stay," Eve explained. "People like Madam Florence."

Emily nods silently.

They climbed another flight of stairs.

Emily was already feeling the burn in her legs.

The mansion was huge.

Far bigger than it looked from outside.

"The second floor is for girls who have been favored enough to get their own rooms."

Emily glanced at her.

"What do you mean favored enough?"

Eve shrugged.

"If they make enough money. If they do something that benefits Ghost. If they're exceptional at their assigned jobs. Most of the girls living here have been here for years."

Emily thought about that.

So even inside the mansion there were levels.

Classes, ranks and hierarchy.

Interesting.

Every piece of information mattered.

Every single one.

"You stay here?" Emily asked.

Eve burst out laughing.

"Absolutely not."

She slapped her chest dramatically.

"I haven't been favored enough. Let's just say I'm terrible at my job."

Emily wasn't entirely convinced.

For someone supposedly terrible at her job, Eve looked unusually relaxed.

Like somebody who had figured out how to survive.

Eve clapped her hands.

"Moving on."

They climbed another staircase.

"The third floor is for girls doing well too. The difference is that they share rooms. Usually two or three girls together."

Then Eve grinned.

"This is my floor."

Emily looked around.

"Now let's take you to the last floor."

Eve pointed upward dramatically.

"Where you belong."

Emily simply followed.

By the time they reached the fourth floor, she was exhausted.

Her legs were screaming for her to stop.

"Now this is your floor," Eve announced.

She spread her arms wide.

"The rooms here are massive. Like halls."

Emily examined the corridor.

It was simpler than the lower levels.

Less luxurious.

Still clean though.

"We have four huge rooms here. Room A, B, C and D."

Then Eve smiled.

"Each room has three bunk beds. Six girls per room."

Emily's expression didn't change.

"You'll be staying in Room B."

Eve walked toward a door with a large painted letter B.

She pushed it open.

The room was empty.

Emily stepped inside.

The first thing she noticed was the size.

It didn't look bad at all.

In fact, it looked surprisingly decent.

It reminded her of the hostel rooms she had occasionally seen on television.

Not that she had ever attended school.

The Collins family never allowed it.

Education costs money.

Money was apparently too valuable to waste on her.

Emily slowly looked around.

Neatly arranged bunk beds and cupboards…

For a moment she simply stood there, taking it all in.

Emily was certain of one thing.

Nothing that happened to her here would ever be worse than what happened inside the Collins household.

Nothing.

Eve seemed to notice her calm reaction.

"You seem okay with everything so far."

Emily walked toward an empty lower bunk.

"Do I have a choice?"

Eve stared at her.

Then laughed again.

The cupboard beside the bed was empty.

The one next to it clearly belonged to someone else.

It was stocked with clothes, toiletries, cosmetics…..Even provisions

Emily quickly looked away and opened her own drawer shoving her bag inside.

She desperately wanted to get out of the ridiculous wedding gown she was still wearing.

Eve stepped beside her.

"Is that all your clothes?"

She nods

Eve's expression briefly changed.

Emily wanted to take off her clothes but hesitated because of the scars covering her body.

She released a slow breath.

She didn't care anymore.

Let them see…..Let everyone see.

These scars were proof.

Proof she survived, endured and still very much alive.

Without another thought, she pulled off the wedding gown.

Only her bra and tights remained.

She is going to burn it

Eve offcourse must have seen the scars on her back….

Thankfully, she said nothing.

Instead, she whistled.

"You have such a killer shape."

Emily blinked.

"Girl, damn. Look at those hips."

Emily stared.

Eve pointed at her dramatically.

"You'd look amazing in body com dresses."

Then she grinned.

"You know what? I have some clothes I'll give you."

Emily nods.

"Thank you."

Eve immediately ran out of the room.

Emily grabbed a towel from her bag and wrapped it around herself.

Maybe she should throw the bag away too.

It was old and torn.

When she starts receiving her allowance, she will buy a new bag for her clothes.

She unpacked her few clothes.

Then dropped the bag on the floor.

Emily slowly sat on the lower bunk.

She stared at the wall.

A tear slid down her cheek.

She wiped it away immediately. She has cried enough already.

The bathroom door suddenly opened.

A girl stepped out with a towel wrapped around her head.

The girl saw her and froze.

Emily froze too.

They stared at each other.

"Who are you?" the girl finally asked.

"Emily. I'm new."

The girl nod…then she walked toward her bed without another word.

A few moments later the room door opened again.

Eve returned carrying two bags.

She immediately noticed the other girl.

"Remy, don't tell me you're still crying over that idiot."

The girl didn't answer.

Eve walked over and handed the bags to Emily.

"Thank you."

Eve barely nodded.

Then she pointed toward the quiet girl.

"Remy came here three months ago."

She sighed dramatically.

"I warned her not to get involved with those security guards patrolling the compound."

Emily glanced at the Remy girl.

"Those guys feast on newcomers."

Then Eve points at her.

"Especially someone with your face and body. If you give them a chance, they'll line up."

The image made her cringe.

Those guards looked intimidating.

But none of them carried the overwhelming presence Damien possessed.

That was the man she wanted.

Not his guards.

Not his employees.

Him.

Then another thought struck her.

She looked toward Eve.

"The security guys can just do that? Doesn't Ghost mind?"

Eve and Remy immediately looked at each other then they started laughing.

Emily simply watched them.

Confused.

"Why would he care?" Eve finally managed to say.

"I told you already."

Her smile disappeared.

"Ghost doesn't give a fuck about any of us here."

Someone suddenly banged the door.

Emily nearly jumped.

"New girl downstairs now! Your schedule is ready.”