Love and Pretense

    In the middle of the night, Amelia felt restless; she couldn't sleep. She was scared that, for the first time in a long while, she might just end up losing her job. She knew how strict her boss could be. She insisted on apologizing for her behavior the following morning, hoping her boss would be in a good mood by then.

The next morning was bright and shiny, and the weather seemed cool and uplifting. Amelia trembled as she brought breakfast to the table, as her boss, Maxmillian, was already seated in the dining chair. He watched her lustfully, sensing the fear in her while placing the tray of food on the dining table.

"What is wrong with you?" Maxmillian Knight asked her. His voice sounded soft once again, so Amelia felt at ease talking to him. She figured that it might be the right time to apologize for her misdoings the previous night. But the look in Maxmillian's eyes gave a different expression than that of his voice. His voice was soft and soothing, but the look in his eyes seemed frightening and gruesome.

"Nothing," Amelia responded.

But just as she was about to leave him, he held her wrist and looked at her straight in the eyes. Amelia shivered. As she turned her back to look at her boss, Maxmillian had already let go of her wrist and began to concentrate on the food.

"If you have something to say, you had better lay it out now that I'm in a good mood, or forever hold your peace," he commanded. His tone had changed again, echoing through the quietness of the dining room.

Amelia turned and faced him, watching him put a spoon of well-cooked meat into his mouth.

"Hope... Hope the food is okay?" she asked, stammering in fear.

"What?" Maxmillian asked.

"Uhm, you complained the other night about the meal, you didn't give me the chance to apologize. That's why I looked worried," Amelia said.

"Were you expecting a complaint from me this time?" Maxmillian asked, staring at her awkwardly.

"Not really. I just thought..."

"You can leave now," Maxmillian commanded.

Amelia knew he was full of pride. She also knew that if she didn't apologize at that moment, she might never get the chance to apologize again.

"I'm sorry," she said, drowning in fear. Never once had she disobeyed her master's order.

"I asked you to leave," Maxmillian snapped. He stood up provocatively from where he sat, embedding fear into Amelia.

"I'm sorry I slept on your couch unknowingly yesterday. I saw how mad you were; it threatened my job," Amelia added.

Maxmillian became more upset. He knew he couldn't stay mad at Amelia for a long time due to the intense feelings he had for her, so instead, he decided to walk out of the dining room.

"What should I do to get even with you?" Amelia asked.

"What?" Maxmillian turned back at her. "What did you say?" he asked again, pretending he didn't hear the first time.

"You know what, sir, I'm done. I can't do this anymore. Your rude, arrogant, and proud behavior. I'm sorry I can't take them anymore. I have done everything within my power to please you, but it's obvious you're just too difficult. I have tolerated your insults day and night. Yet you see no wrong in what you do to me. You don't even show the slightest feeling of remorse. I know I'm just your maid, but I am only human, just like you. I have feelings too, you know," Amelia cried out. Her heart was beating fast uncontrollably. 

She paused for a while, staring at Maxmillian. Deep down within her, she was scared. Even as handsome as he was, she was frightened by the way he stared at her without saying a word.

"I'm sorry if there's any pain I have caused you. I hope you'll find it easy to forgive me, and that the next maiden won't make the same mistake I made. I can't stay here anymore, sir." Amelia added.

Tears rolled down her cheek as she spoke. Immediately, she left the dining room for her room to pack her belongings.

It was at that moment Maxmillian knew what hit him. He knew he couldn't let her go. He knew the mad feeling he had for her and that he'd be utterly helpless without her, unable to think properly. He began panicking, sweating under the cold weather emanating from the air conditioning planted in every corner of the house. He made the decision to tell Amelia the truth, why he had been acting up, and confess his intense feelings for her.

It was almost noon, Amelia was gathering all her belongings, sobbing really hard as she folded her clothes neatly into her box because she knew deep down that she had nowhere else to go. The moment she was done, she arranged the room properly and kept everywhere clean. She carried her box, approached the door, and opened it, only to find her boss, Maxmillian, standing in front of her door with both his hands in his pockets.

"What are you doing?" he asked calmly.

Surprised to see him at her door, she had no idea he knew the way to her room. She remembered when she first came into the house, Maxmillian had asked her to take any room of her choice, pending the fact that there were lots of rooms in the building.

"How did you know this is my room?" Amelia asked.

"This is my house," Maxmillian replied. "What do you think you are doing?" he asked again.

"I'm leaving," Amelia replied.

"I didn't ask you to leave," Maxmillian said.

"You didn't have to say it. All of your actions spoke loud and clear. I do hate to say this, but it's a fact that I'm making you uncomfortable in your house," Amelia replied.

Maxmillian stared at her for a while, still standing at the entrance of her door. He noticed that Amelia couldn't keep a straight gaze at him for a second, he noticed how she was afraid to even look at him. He walked slowly into Amelia's room, shutting the door behind him. Amelia drifted back, wondering what he was about to do.