Chapter 4

Chapter 4 stm 

Hugo was reviewing the files when he heard a knock on the door. 

“Come in”. He said without lifting his eyes from the document he was reading. 

“Sir, Caterina is here”. He heard his maid speaking before he waved her off and she left, leaving Catering alone and trembling. 

“The left wing is mine. My bedrooms, gym and office. You have to clean them, do my laundry and cook meals for me. The chef will provide you with the menu. 

I need my place pristine in the morning and make sure you don't linger around.  I have two guest rooms too by the left of my bedroom and usually I have guests with me. 

You can have your break at meals not more than an hour and then I expect you to wait for me in the living area. Understood?” He spoke in a cold tone. 

“But I…”. 

“And I expect you have received your uniforms and I want you in the uniform from dawn to dusk”. He continued. He could see her fidgeting at her spot from the corner of his eyes. 

“You may leave and start your work”. He dismissed her but glared when she didn't move from her spot. 

“What?” He barked, making her flinch. 

“I… I want to see papa”. She said as a few tears rolled down her cheeks. 

“Listen, I am not here to fulfil your wishes or commands. I make rules and you obey. There is no argument about where your papa is or can you talk to him or not. 

Be clear about it, you are not supposed to talk to any staff. No maids. No servant and no guards. I will directly speak or it will be Luca in my place. Understood?” He stood in front of her and sighed in contentment to see her cowering. He surely enjoyed the power he held on her. 

Caterina took a deep breath realizing that there was no way out. She could never leave this hell so better to live with it. 

She turned around without saying a word and closed the door behind her. Hugo smirked as he walked back to his computer pinging with underworld chat. 

—----

It was not difficult to say but tiring, both mentally and physically. She would wake up at dawn and start her chores. 

The left wing was normally spotless considering the fact that Hugo was a neatness freak but occasionally she would have to deal with lots of condoms in the trash bins. 

She remembered the first time she held a used condom, she was so disgusted by the looks that she barfed in the washroom. 

Hugo saw her running with a hdn on her mouth and frowned to see her in that state. But once he realized he would make sure to leave a couple of used condoms only to torture her. 

But like everything else, she got used to it until ….

“I know I put my earrings on the table and only this filthy maid came after”. She was scrubbing the kitchen when she heard a shrieking sound coming from the living area. 

She couldn't understand what the mess was about until one of the guards, Gerald, as she remembered his name, came and hauled her to the living room. 

A girl barely in any clothes was standing in the center of the living room, both hands on her hips, shouting profanities, while Hugo was sitting with bored expressions. 

“You…. You stole my diamond earrings you bitch…. I will kill you”. The girl rushed towards her and before she could gasp, she slapped her across the face. 

“Enough”. Hugo shouted, stopping the girl. 

“Oh no you don't ‘enough’ me. She stole my earrings. Those were antique pieces of diamonds. And she took them. I want them back or I will kill her”. The girl shouted again. 

Hugo rubbed his temples in annoyance. He signaled Luca to check Caterina who protested at the accusation. 

“She is clear”. 

“I told you I don't have them”. Luca and Caterina spoke at the same time. 

“Shut.the.fuck.up”. Hugo roared, making everyone silent. 

“You… Did you see them?” Hugo pointed at Caterina who was crying silently. 

“I didn't. I haven't even gone to the room yet”. She said with head held high. Hugo knew she was honest. And she was speaking the truth. 

“Now search her”. He pointed towards the other girl who flipped her hair as if Hugo had insulted her. 

“Why would I steal my own jewelry? I am telling you, she stole them. And now she is lying. She must have given them to someone to pawn some money. I know these people. 

Wait. Don't you dare touch me”. She yelled as the guard held her arms. 

Hugo was just standing, keenly looking at her. 

The guard expertingly moved his hands and Hugo raised his eyebrows when the guard pulled out the earrings but what made Hugo chuckle was the wad of cash she had hidden in her panties. 

“Get out”. He said in a cold tone. Caterina thought he was talking to her as she tried to scurry away but the guard didn't let her, instead the other man holding the girl from last night pushed her towards the door.

“You are making a terrible mistake. You don't know me. I will spread the word that you are not a man. It's just a facade that you have hyped in the world”. Hugo turned to his chair and held the glass of scotch he was just enjoying. 

Luca dismissed Caterina who didn't spare a glance towards them and ran to her quarter. 

She never felt so insulted in her life. She was accused and slapped and insulted and Hugo didn't speak a word to defend her. And why would he anyway. He wasn't her friend to say. 

She was gloomy all day and unknown to her she was being observed by Luca who noticed but he wasn't supposed to console her. 

She was a maid after all and he knew better to cross paths. 

—----

Caterina had accepted her fate. She would do her chores and retire to her room once she had served dinner to Hugo and cleaned the space afterwards. 

It was going well because she didn't have to encounter Hugo or Luca. But she should have known that her days of smiling were long over.

“What do you mean Barbara cannot come? Who will serve the party?” She flinched to hear Luca angrily speaking on the phone. 

She peaked around the corner to see Hugo pacing in anger while Luca wasn't different. 

She was aware of the arrangements going on for days in the backyard. Hugo had invited his business partners over so it was going to be a grandeur event. 

From what she overheard, she assumed that one of the party waiters was not available and they were short of staff. She shrugged to herself and went back inside the guest room to get them ready if any of their guests wanted to stay. 

“What's her name? Call her”. He heard Hugo but didn't realize he was talking about her until Luca shouted her name. 

‘Wait what…. It was going to be a month at this place and he didn't know her name? She was shocked but went to listen to what they had to say. 

“Wear the staff uniform tomorrow, you will serve the guests”. Luca ordered her who was dumbfounded at her place. 

“se…serve the party? I… I don't know sir”. She licked her dry lips. 

“Look, I don't have time for this shit. You will do as ordered and if you made any mistake, I am going to teach you a lesson. You understand”? She didn't know when Hugo came and gripped her cheeks tightly in his fingers. 

She nodded quickly, not to spill the tears but the pain was too much. 

“Now leave. Useless piece of shit”. Hugo almost pushed her to fall but she ran away in fear. 

“Everyone is useless. Find that waitress and get her to me. She doesn't know who she had messed with”. Hugo said. 

“Just leave it Hugo. We have arrangements to do and I am sure Caterina can handle it.”. Luca patted his shoulder to pacify him. 

“She better should or else she will always regret”. Hugo had already planned what to do if she failed him or embarrassed him in front of the guests.

-----

Tabby