One Last Hope

Chapter 3

⭐"Going through things you never thought you'd go through will only take you places you never thought you'd get to"⭐
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The lobby is huge. I'm very impressed. However, there's an almost unbearable chill to the air. Shame...
I shiver, tightening my arms against my chest to try to warm myself.
At the same time, I contemplate the decor. The huge staircase in front of me takes my breath away.
Everything is admirable: the steps are covered with burgundy velvet, the bannisters solid oak, the draperies, the marble floor, the paintings...
No doubt about it... This family has means! I quickly pull myself together. They don't need to know that I've never seen anything like it.
I don't want to look like an uneducated peasant who's just arrived from the country.
Once again my eyes catch those of this strange man. He's staring at me with a disturbing insistence.

What is it?

I'm really going to end up thinking something's wrong.

Have I got food on my face? Or worse, between my teeth?

Great! I can feel my self-confidence ebbing away with every second... These kind of thoughts aren't helping.
The shivers running up and down my back and my worried look doesn't help.
I untie my scarf, just to give myself something to do, and a strange gleam lights up his eyes. I don't quite know what to make of it.
Is it lust? Anger? Disgust? I don't know what to do. I am both troubled and anxious.
He's been completely indifferent until now and suddenly he seems to spring to life.
I shudder at his insistent look. My instinct tells me to stay alert. As if there were some kind of danger.
I hope the rest of the family are less intimidating.

So, if somebody could just turn up, now, that would be great!

Let's just hope they have better manners than him.
Despite everything, I hope I'm going to meet him often.
He is rather seductive... I'm immediately annoyed with myself for thinking such things!
Not only because he's unpleasant and disturbing... But also because I refuse to give time to people who have so little consideration for me!
He still doesn't make a move. He just stands there in the middle of the hall staring at me.

Is it a habit of his!?

Now, I start losing patience. What kind of welcome is this? I fold my arms and tap the floor with my foot.

Nora: "Well, excuse me, I haven't got all day... I'm supposed to be meeting Mr Bartholy about the vacant position... I would really like to..."

Once again, he just leaves me standing there with no explanation.

It's so rude!

In the distance, I hear him talking to someone else.

???: "Nicolae, the little thing for Lorie's here..."

Little thing?

No, Seriously! Who does he think he is?!
He may come from a rich family and live in a castle, but he shouldn't be allowed to treat people like this!
I try to stay calm, but it's not easy.
This guy is really unpleasant! He could do with a good hiding! Is the little girl I'm here to take care of going to be the same?

Now, I'm really starting to lose patience. But I can wait a few more minutes...
But if the situation doesn't sort itself out quickly, I'll go back to the sordid motel. I just manage to keep myself from snarling.
Oh no! Whatever happens, I won't spend a second night there!