THE TOUR

(SELENE'S POV)

I froze. Did he really just say that? Out loud? In front of everyone? I knew Raymond was shameless, but didn't he respect anyone.

"Raymond," I gasped, my voice scolding him.

He didn't even flinch, he kept watching me with a lazy smirk on his lips. "Yes, doll face?" He finally answered in a slow suggestive tone, then winked and walked away whistling.

I stood there, my cheeks red from embarrassment.

"You know him?" Nanny Min asked softly beside me.

I swallowed hard, watching him. "Unfortunately yes."

"He is your boss."

A commanding voice said, behind me. I spun around and came face to face with an overly composed and pretty brunette. Her dark brown hair was pulled back into a tight bun. She wore her uniform fitted like she was on a runway.

Her eyes swept over me slowly, lingering on my ill fitted suit I had borrowed from Athena. "So you are the newcomer.” She asked mockingly. “Your starting salary is surprisingly high. Let’s hope you actually know your job, and didn't just get in by climbing into beds."

I opened my mouth to snap back and shut it, looking at the spot where Raymond had been standing just moments ago. She might actually be right after all, I doubted how I got this job from the beginning.

My silence was all the confirmation she needed, her face turned red in anger. Without another word, she walked past me, her heels clicking loudly against the floor. Then she turned and looked at me coldly. "Follow me."

I immediately turned to Nanny Min for help, she smiled at me kindly. "She is the head housekeeper," she whispered. "Don't anger her."

Taking a deep breath, I grabbed the handle of my heavy suitcase and followed her.

We walked for a long time that I was sure she was now walking around in circles on purpose. Every time the wheels of my suitcase made noise on the floor, her jaw tightened.

"Carry that thing," she snapped at me for what felt like the hundredth time. "You will damage the floor."

I lifted the heavy suitcase and sighed. This place was big. I looked out of the big windows and saw the small, elegant family cottages that surrounded it. Exactly how many people lived here?

We walked past a wide, fenced area. "These are the training grounds," she explained, her tone flat. "This area is strictly prohibited. If you set foot in here, you will face severe consequences. And that forest behind the grounds, it is strictly prohibited as well. Do you understand?"

I nodded.

"Use your voice," she commanded, stopping just to glare at me. "I am not a mind reader."

"Yes," I answered softly, while mentally rolling my eyes. As we walked, we met a couple of men that bowed as we passed, it seemed she really did carry that authority.

She slowed down and caught up with me. "We have a private program here. Most of the men in this facility are recovering drug addicts in rehabilitation. Those training grounds, their dining hall, the forest, and even some of those cottages harbor men who will harm you if given the chance.” She lowered her voice “And they won't be held accountable."

I shivered at the warning, watching the men train like savages. "Why wasn't any of this in my contract?" I asked, my voice trembling.

She turned to face me, a mocking smile on her face. "It was, you just missed it."

"I don't think so," I protested, I had read every page of that contract more than thrice. "The contract clearly stated I would be living with an elderly couple, their children, their grandchildren and a few of their guests, around twenty people in total. It also said I would be allowed to stay away if they hosted large parties or had visitors that made me uncomfortable."

She looked at me with slight amusement. "Did it also state you could sleep with the boss?"

I choked. "That happened before I even got here," I stammered, staring at the floor. "It was a small mistake."

"Make sure it doesn't happen again," she warned. "Or you will regret it."

An involuntary shiver ran through me and I found myself nodding. "Yes, maam."

"We are almost the same age," she replied sharply. "Call me Gina."

"Of course, Gina," I replied quickly.

She stopped at a massive gate, the very spot I had stood early this morning. From here you could see an ancient but massive farmhouse, completely isolated from the rest of the property.

"Stay inside here, and your contract is valid," Gina said emphasizing every word. "Wander off, and nothing can save you. Your job is inside this house, and so are your masters. Do you understand me?"

"Yes," I nodded firmly.

"Good. Now follow me."

A groan escaped my lips as I carried the heavy suitcase once more. Why on earth did I pack so much?

Gina threw a glance over her shoulder, smiled softly, and kept moving. I let out a heavy sigh and followed her.

"This is the kitchen, your primary workstation," she explained, stepping into a big room with almost all the equipment I could think of. Inside, a shy redhead with flour on her apron looked up and offered me a gentle wave. "You will have helpers. I hope you actually know your duties."

"Yes, Gina."

"At least you are teachable," she murmured under her breath.

She turned and began leading me towards a grand staircase. "Upstairs is also strictly prohibited, especially the third and fourth floor."

I finally snapped, placing my heavy suitcase drop to the floor recklessly. "Why even hire people then?" I grumbled, flexing my hands. "They should just do everything themselves if every single room is off limits!"

Gina spun around instantly. Her face turned  ice cold and blue eyes were almost glowing.

"Sorry," I said immediately.

She raised her eyebrows at me and I raised my hands in surrender, she smiled faintly.

"Unfortunately for you," Gina said, turning back to her work, which was walking around this estate, "you seem to have annoyed someone powerful before you even stepped foot on this farm house. You got assigned the worst room."

Right now one word mattered, we were going to my room, it didn't matter how it looked, I just needed to place this luggage somewhere. We kept descending stairs after stairs, sinking lower and lower beneath the main floor. The sunlight faded and it was replaced by the lights in the hallway. There were long corridors with identical doors on both sides.

"These are the servant quarters," I asked, shocked just how many people worked here.

“The female servants.” She replied. 

At one point I thought we had reached the end, but we kept walking until we reached a lone, secluded door at the very end of the corridor.

"This will be your room." Gina handed me a key.

My hands shook slightly as I took it, and gently opened the door.

The moment I stepped inside, I was hit by sudden, violent emotions. It felt like someone's emotions slamming directly into my chest, grief, longing, pain, regret and death. I couldn't handle it, my vision blurred.

Selene... Selene…

A voice kept calling me from somewhere far above me, the world went completely black, and I collapsed onto the cold floor.