Chapter 7

One week later...

Louise

The days have gone by a little too fast, I thought it would be exhausting and that I wouldn't be able to stand this new life of mine, but Mary always cheers me up somehow.

I'm still horrified by that business of selling women, but everyone does what suits them and if I'm not among them I should be grateful for that!

Maria kept talking in my ear, she had a lot to talk about, and out of the blue I went from one to the other. Mauricio had been treating me "differently" from the others. Last night he asked me to bring whiskey to his room. I think he is made of alcohol, because every night he drinks.

Lately Maurício would come to greet me with a good night or a good morning, this is really strange.

"You're really blind if you don't see how he looks at you." Maria replied while wiping the dishes I was rinsing. "Seriously Lu, he looks at you differently. I can't explain it! But, I've never seen him like this, he's different and..."

"At the very least you are seeing things, Maria. Where have you seen, Mauricio looks at me with different eyes, and I don't know why that is!" I replied softly and she continued talking non-stop. "I think you're seeing things where there are none, and besides, he probably only feels sorry for me and nothing else. Can't you see that I do everything he tells me to do, just like all the others? He must talk to me to embarrass me."

"I doubt it. Have you looked in the mirror, girl? You're beautiful Louise, you have a wonderful charisma and you're nice, who wouldn't be interested in you? Only if you're crazy. Mauricio is crazy, but I think there's something missing in that heart."

"Well, that's what anyone who dares to be interested in me must be, completely crazy. Now let's get back to work because I'm already tired, I'm dying of cramps and I have no way of alleviating this."

"Take advantage that we are doing the same work today and sit down for a while, you always help me when I need it so I don't see why not helping you too."

"No way, and let you work harder for it? Ha, don't even think about it."

(...)

My last duty was to wash the toilets and I was almost done when I felt my fingers going numb. The water was nastier than the other days, and my clothes were already soaked. Maria has already finished her chores and I'm alone. I rested my hands on my knees when I felt my body weaken, my lips were cracking with cold and I was getting dizzy, my vision was going into space and my body was going to the ground.

Maurício

These last few days have been very busy for me, my mother since she met Louise hasn't stopped filling my head with thoughts about getting her out of here and making a deal with Parkinson's, but there's no turning back. The image of her with that red lipstick has remained imprinted in my mind and it is increasingly difficult to forget that scene, especially when I see her in front of me. Her good humor every day, even having the life she has, leaves me surprised.

Louise had her hands on her knees and was looking at the ground. I realized that something was wrong and ran to her, fast enough to hold her head and not let it hit the ground.

"Oh my God! I told her to get some rest, Mr. Mauricio, but she wouldn't listen to me and that's what happened." Maria spoke as she picked up the shards of glass, I think it was a glass of water she was drinking.

"Finish the job and you can go, you're free for today."

Maria picked up the shards of glass watching me walk with Louise in my arms, this is the craziest thing I have ever done in my life, I have never taken anyone to my room and Louise would be the first woman.

(...)

"Her little murmur made me get up and the relief I felt to see her waking up was inexplicable, a feeling I had never felt before." I'm not sorry about that! “she asked, seeing me standing by the window.”

"It's your duty to tell the others that you're sick, I don't want anyone to get hurt around here. Are you alright?"

She awkwardly got up and sat on the bed, tidying her dirty and still damp clothes.

"I'm not sick, I just had a blackout. I'm fine, thanks again for helping me. I need to clean up here, I've been causing too many disasters lately!"

"Go rest for the day, don't worry and try to eat. I know you haven't eaten for a few days and I was wondering why?"

"There is no reason, sir. Again, thank you, but if you allow me, may I leave?" Her hands were together and trembling, she didn't look me in the eye, and it was obvious that she felt trapped when we were alone.

"You don't have to be afraid of me, I'm not the monster you think I am. You can go, like I said: go rest."

Her appearance was worn, her eyes deep and her pallor was not something normal, but I let her go as she asked me to, and as I left the room I ran into Roberto, who was no doubt listening to the conversation as he walked down the hall.

"So now you're going to deny that you're interested in Parkinson's daughter?" Roberto came over and smiled, patting me on the shoulder.

"What would you do if you saw a woman falling in front of you? Would you let her die with a piece of glass stuck in her head, or would you help her? Do you think I am also the monster she thinks I am?"

"She would die for all I care." The damn smile came on his lips, he knows how much I hate it. "Of course I would help, but this only happened because you were watching her whenever the time came up, am I lying?"

I can't say that I was spying on her, let's say that I was watching how she does in this job and maybe putting her in a position where she is needed. Parkinson told me that she has a degree in accounting and who knows?

"Anyway... I don't care what your deal is with her, Norely is waiting for you at the office!"

"Why didn't you let the jerk go? I've had enough of a busy day today."

"I tried, but you know how it is, he never gives up what he wants and we know what he wants!"

"So if he thinks he'll get Louise, he's dead wrong." I didn't even wait for that idiot Roberto to say anything else.

(...)

"My proposal stands, Mauricio. You're the only one who doesn't see potential in this girl, and I bet you'd get a lot of money for her, but I'm willing to pay whatever you want for her!"

I wanted to punch this bastard in the face until his face was all disfigured, and not being able to stand the ridiculous words that were coming from his lips, I didn't think twice before punching him in the face, causing his lips to be cut by his teeth and getting blood on my hand.

"I won't say it again, but I will say it one last time just to make it clear: SHE IS NOT FOR SALE, Norely. I hope this conversation is over." I turned my back, and before I reached the door I heard him whispering very low.

"You're going to be sorry you did this, you're going to be even sorrier when I get her the way I want her in front of you and there's nothing you can do about it, you know why? Because she's mine whether you like it or not!"

My blood boiled and when I realized what I was doing I killed the bum in front of me. I heard my mother's screams, Louise's terrified look and Roberto holding me while Norely wiped the blood dripping from the corner of her mouth and continued with the evil smile on her face.

My fists were closed, I was ready to leave the wretch's face disfigured when the door was opened and I saw the image of my mother looking at me, beside her was Louise with a paralyzed look on her face.

Emma

My son must have gone crazy. As if everything he does wasn't enough, now he's decided to keep a girl locked up, just because he feels ashamed to see her, and I find this absurd. Now he's gone and beaten the others, as if he wanted to take the tenant's life using his hands. Louise's gaze was lost, as if everything she was seeing was very new to her.

"Come, dear, let's go, let this brute calm down." I took her by the hand and tried to get her out of there as quickly as possible, but she was a little frozen in time.

"Go Louise, listen to my mother, get out of here!" Mauricio fixed his eyes on Louise and she remained unmoved by the whole situation.

We left in the direction of my room, Louise received envious glances about herself, not envy of her physical appearance, but of what she could accomplish around here.

"It was very generous of you to help me, but now I have to go. The dishes won't wash themselves."

"You're stubborn and this side of you that won't give in to anyone is intriguing my son, be careful, young lady. Mauricio is not a bad person, but he's not used to having good people around him."

"You don't seem to be bad at all, but if this is the advice you have to give me, I thank you and swear that I will stay as far away from your son as possible."

"That's not what I meant, you understand me, but... do what you think is best for you." For the first time I saw her smile and for a moment I realized that she is too innocent to be here, she has a lot to learn yet.

Before Louise could leave, Mauricio came through the door with fury in his eyes and before long, he ate Louise with his eyes. The gleam in his eyes was visibly evident, but on Louise's part there was no response, she was far away in thought and quickly passed Mauricio and left?