In Her Sleep

A Taste Of His Own Medicine

"What do I do?" Layla tugs on Gen's hand after the call, but the maid shakes her hand off roughly, surprising her. 

"Don't touch me." Gen hisses and Natalie stares at her incredulously. 

"I thought…"

"Nothing!" Gen says sternly. "Think nothing." She growls and Natalie looks at her shocked, unable to comprehend her hostility. 

"But…"

"But nothing. I'm working here and you should know this changes nothing Mrs. Dawson.

"I am not Mrs. Dawson!" Layla snaps, hating to be called by Simon's name.

"Well I don't know that." Gen says and Layla looks at her wide eyed wondering what the hell is wrong with her only hope of survival around here. She also wonders if she is on Caleb's side too.

"Look, around here I'm Gen, not Genevieve and I don't know you, you don't know me. Okay?" Gen says with gritted teeth. 

"What? But I thought…"

"Stop thinking for heaven's sake." Gen sighs loudly. "I'm here to protect you, but as far as Simon goes, that doesn't exist. Hence I don't know you. You are simply my boss's assignment to me. And by boss, I mean Simon." Gen explains slowly like Layla was some five year old that needed the simplest of explanations. 
But she is not complaining though because that makes her understand eventually. 
And while she should have a little comfort, knowing Gen still has to stay under cover leaves her panicking. Because then the maid can only do so much to protect her and she has no idea what Simon might do next. 

"I don't think I can do it." Layla blurts out. She's as nervous as hell. For a simple girl that has just wanted a simple life, this is too overwhelming and her little heart feels like it will stop beating any moment. And as if Gen can see the turmoil within her, she stops and just looks at her thoughtfully before sitting her down on a nearby garden chair.

"Look." Gen breathes in deeply before going on. "You love Simon…"

"Not anymore…" Layla says with gritted teeth.

"Right. You loved him not so long ago." An awkward smile crosses Gen's lips. "Use that."

"Use it? I don't understand." Layla regards the maid with confusion.

"We only need to keep this charade going just until Caleb can do what he needs to do or until your wedding. So until then, all you need is to make him happy enough to believe you want this too.
Layla cringes at the thought. She can't even begin to imagine what she needs to do to accomplish that. 

"Or you just need to make sure he is calm enough not to do stupid things." 

To Layla, all that sounds the same. What she really wants is to get the hell out of here and never see Simon ever again. Not to stay here and play house with the man who's bent on making her life miserable. 

"Can you do that?"

"I could try." She says nervously. 

"Good, now let's go before your fiancèe misses you." Gen says before showing her the way back to the house and Layla fights the urge to glare at the maid.

"What? He's your fiancèe for now, so you better act like it." 
And with that Gen dons her usual unfriendly look as they head back inside.

Layla is scared and her mind is racing trying to figure out what to do with every step she takes towards the house. 
In the end she decides to use her weakness. She has no idea how long she was a puppet in his hands, but if Simon could manipulate her with it, why not give him a taste of his own medicine? After all, he is broken too.