Chapter Four

Melissa’s Pov

Well, it’s been days since I’ve started working as Salvatore’s maid and I must say, things have been going great, I rarely see him at home and most of the time, I’m left to do my job without any hassle. However, today is my day off and I’m headed back home to see my mum.

I quickly grabbed my bag and head out of Salvatore’s mansion, hailing a cab to take me home. As the cab drives me towards my mother’s house, I can’t help but feel anxious about seeing her. She’s been sick for a while now and I know that it’s not easy for her. But I’m relieved to know that Gabriela, her friend, is taking care of her while I’m at work.

As the cab pulls up to the front of the house, I take a deep breath and stepped out. I was greeted by the sight of Gabriela, who looks up and gave me a warm smile.

"Melissa, it’s good to see you. Your mother has been waiting for you," she says as she welcomes me inside.

I nod and follow her into the living room where I find my mother resting on the couch. She looks frail and pale, and I can’t help but feel a pang of sadness in my heart. But I try to stay positive and greet her with a smile.

"Hey, mum. How are you feeling now?" I ask as I take a seat beside her.

She looks up at me and gives me a weak smile. "I’m hanging in there, sweetie. How about you? How’s everything going with Salvatore?" she asks.

I can feel my heart racing as she mentions his name, but I try to keep my composure. "Everything’s fine, mum. I’m doing my job and he hasn’t given me any trouble," I reply, trying to sound convincing.

My mother seems satisfied with my answer, but then she notices the burn on my arm. "What happened to your arm, Melissa?" she asks, her voice filled with concern.

I glance down at my arm and quickly come up with a lie. "Oh, I got it while working in the kitchen. It’s nothing serious," I say, hoping that she’ll believe me.

But my mother is no fool. She knows me too well and I can see the worry in her eyes. "Melissa, I know that working for Salvatore was not the best decision we made, but we had no other choice. I just want you to be safe," she says, her voice breaking. I could feel that she was in a lot of pain as she spoke.

I can feel tears welling up in my eyes as I listen to her. I know that she’s right, but I can’t bear the thought of disappointing her. "Mum, I’m fine. I can handle myself. You don’t have to worry, okay?" I said, trying to reassure her.

She gives me a small smile and reaches out to take my hand. "I know you can, sweetie. But I’m your mother and I’ll always worry about you. Just promise me that you’ll be careful," she says, her voice filled with love and reassurance.

I nodded and gave her arm a squeeze. "I promise, mum. I’ll always be careful," I say, hoping that I can keep my promise.

As I spend the rest of the day with my mother and Gabriela, I can’t help but think about Salvatore and the dangerous world that I’ve entered. But for now, all I can do is focus on taking care of my mother and making sure that she’s okay.

*~*

After the long day at my mothers house I finally returned to Salvatore's grand estate, feeling a mixture of exhaustion and anticipation. As a maid, my days were always filled with endless chores and responsibilities, but today, I was looking forward to one particular task which was delivering Salvatore his dinner and retiring back to bed.

As I approached the front door, my footsteps echoed through the quiet hallway. The house seemed unusually quiet, and I wondered if Salvatore was already in his study or perhaps busy with some pressing matter. Ignoring my fatigue, I pushed the door open and stepped inside.

The moment I entered, something felt off. The usually immaculate entrance was dimly lit, and a mysterious silence hung in the air. My heart skipped a beat as a tinge of concern washed over me. I couldn't help but wonder if something had gone wrong in my absence.

Taking a deep breath, I made my way towards the study, clutching the tray of food tightly. The soft glow of the study's light spilled out into the hallway, providing some comfort. I pushed open the door with nervousness.

However, what I saw next shocked me to the core. There, in the dimly lit room, Salvatore stood by his desk with a syringe in his arm. His eyes widened with surprise as they met mine, he looked very angry and I could feel my heart sink as he stared at me.

Time seemed to stand still as we locked eyes. I wanted to apologize, to explain that I had no idea what I had stumbled upon, but his furious glare silenced my words before they could escape my lips. His voice cut through the air, filled with rage.

"What the hell are you doing here?" Salvatore barked, his voice laced with extreme anger.

"I... I'm sorry, Sir," I stammered, my voice trembling with fear. "I was just bringing your dinner, I didn't mean to intrude, I’m sorry.”

His face contorted further, his anger evident as he growled, "Get out! Get out now!"

Tears welled up in my eyes as I quickly turned away, clutching the tray tightly to my chest. I fled from the study, my footsteps echoing through the hallway once again, but this time accompanied by the bitter taste of humiliation. The weight of his anger pressed heavily upon me, leaving me feeling small and insignificant.

As I reached the safety of my small maid's quarters, I set the untouched tray down on a table, collapsing onto the edge of the bed. The tears flowed freely now, my body shaking with a mix of hurt and confusion.

Wrapped in my own thoughts and emotions, I couldn't help but wonder what he was injecting himself with and why he was injecting himself. Was it some kind of drug? Or was Salvatore sick?

The next morning came in a blur and I found myself standing in front of Salvatore’s room with a tray that contained his breakfast. My heart raced as I knocked on the door, waiting for the sound of his voice to invite me in. When I heard his deep voice granting me permission, I slowly pushed the door open, my eyes scanning the room for any sign of his presence.

Salvatore sat at the small table by the window, his back facing me as he stared out into the busy streets below. As I approached him, I noticed that he didn't even lift his eyes to look at me, not even a slight nod or acknowledgement of my presence. He seemed very interested in the streets.

I couldn't help but feel uneasy as I set down the tray on the table, the clanging of the dishes and silverware filling the silent room. I tried to maintain a professional demeanor, not letting his coldness affect me, but it was hard.

I cleared my throat, "Good morning, Sir. I hope you enjoy your breakfast," I said in my soft voice, trying to keep my tone neutral.

He didn't respond, and I knew it was best to leave him to his thoughts. I turned to walk away, feeling a sense of rejection and disappointment wash over me.

As I closed the door behind me, I took a deep breath, trying to calm my nerves. I reminded myself that I was just a maid, and it wasn't my place to pry into his affairs or emotions. My mother's life depended on the salary I received, and I couldn't afford to lose this job.

With a renewed determination, I decided to focus solely on my work, leaving Salvatore's mood and behavior behind. I knew that my job was to serve him and attend to his needs, and I would do just that. I will make sure I mind my business and respect myself.

As the day went on, I continued my duties, cleaning and tidying up the mansion. I tried my best to stay busy, hoping that the hours would pass by quickly.