Slowburn

Chapter 96

         For the foreseeable future I am not allowed to live in my own home, or go to work, or leave the compound in any way. Yesterday was my first day at this compound and I didn't leave my room once. Staff just came and brought me food or any other amenities I might need. 

I haven't spoken to anyone. Aside from a brief moment in the middle of the night where I thought Renzo might have visited my room when I was in my deepest point of sleep. I had thought I felt someone brush my hair from my face, and run their thumb gently back and forth across my temple. 

Maybe it was a dream, but I thought I heard them whisper, "don't hate me."

        Today is a new day. I am going to be stuck in this place, so I may as well go see where it is that I'm going to be stuck. I know the men aren't here, so for the first time since arriving, I left my room.

To call this home lavish is an understatement. There is both an east and west wing. I am on the second floor of the east wing where I see a string of doors down this lengthy hall. To separate each wing I came to the grand staircase, which is done up in the same marble the foyer is beautifully crafted in. The banisters are thick and remind me of ancient Italy or something. 

Your footsteps seem to echo wherever you go. By the time I reached the bottom of the staircase a staff member appeared out of gosh knows where and frightened me. 

        "Miss Costa, I apologize. I was told you had breakfast in your bedroom this morning, but there are snacks and fruit prepared in the main dining room for whenever you'd like. Also, if you'd like a tour of the grounds please let any of us know and we'll be more than happy to accompany you" the formal woman told me. 

She looked to be an older woman, but ambiguous with her features. Plain black slacks and white button down for uniform. "Um, okay, thank you. Uh, you can call me Kat" I felt strange about all this.

        I've never come from money, so the idea of having people 'service' me is odd and not entirely comfortable. My parents are the servants, not the served. The polite woman gave me a tight pressed smile and nodded at my request, but said nothing else to me before bowing and exiting the foyer from whence she came. 

I figured I can view the rest of the house any time. I needed some air. I took one then two wrong turns while looking for the back of the house where I had hoped to find a back door of some kind. 

        "Katarina?" I heard my name echo from behind me somewhere. I whirled around and a pair of blue eyes were already watching me. "Oh, Mrs. Revello. Hello, I'm sorry. I'm not snooping, I, uh, was looking for the back door" I awkwardly fumbled for an explanation. 

"Of course, darling. I've only come to say hello. My Renzo told me what brought you here to us. I'm sure you're very overwhelmed. Come, let me show you the garden" the woman waved me to follow her.

        I backtracked in my steps and realized what turns I had gotten wrong, and soon after that I was passing a kitchen and some den type room, and finally two large french style doors were opened outward towards a backyard terrace that was beautiful. 

A table and chairs was set in the center of it, and beyond that was some of the greenest grass I've ever seen. Mrs. Revello had her makeup freshly applied and her figure was kept in a girdle to flatter her age. I don't know how a woman can wear diamonds so large and not have her ear lobes down to her chest by now.

        "Towards the right is the in-ground pool, which is fabulous, but...down this way, this is the Purple Garden" Mrs. Revello somehow managed to use thin high heels walking through the grass without sticking into it like a lawn gnome. My eyes moved past her when they caught on to the purple garden she mentioned. Oh wow.