BROKEN. BEYOND. REPAIR.

Its Just Sleep

ROMA  (Present)

Nick's car is here to pick me up. The driver looks like a simple man in his 50's, wearing a black suit and white shirt with a black bow. Has a few grey strands, few wrinkles near his almond shaped eyes, wears round rimmed glasses, a nose with some freckles and a really respectful, cheerful and sweet smile. I think he said his name is James.

"Mr. James, I think you took the wrong route. We had to stop by my hotel to get my things." I landed in London just this morning and dropped off all my stuffs in my hotel room and directly went to Williams Enterprises to meet Nick. I had a really long flight from Chicago to London and meeting Nick right after landing didn't help even the slightest. All I want to do right now is just get some sleep.

"Please call me James, Ms. Royal. All your belongings are taken to Mr. Williams place and arrangements for your comfortable stay have been done too."

"Thank you James. And call me Roma."

The rest of the drive was silent. As much as I am nervous to see Nick again, I really need to crash on the bed and get some sleep. Before I was even half a cent prepared, the car already came to a halt and I was standing before Nick's house.
House? It was a freaking mansion!

Perimeter of the grounds was patrolled by armed security, and every inch of the property was wired with cameras. A front gate that could accommodate a family of giraffes. A garden with a beautiful water fountain at the centre. When I entered through those doors, polished wood floors and a graceful banister that curved up toward a soaring second floor gallery welcomed me.

Brown plaid sofa with heavy oak arms, a bookcase neatly stocked with paperbacks, family pictures on one wall, a china cabinet against another. The chandelier in the centre of the roof is the best things about the whole house. But there is no sound in the house, not even the sounds that houses make like air-conditioning or furnace or the stairwell creaking, nothing but a silence that seemed to have been thickening since I walked in.

Just when I was about to start creeping out why I am home alone, I felt someone tapping on my back. I jumped off and was about to hit a reverse Chop, one of my best moves as a black belt to whoever it was. My hand stopped mid air seeing it was just a woman in her late 40's.

"Ms.Royal, don't hurt me. I mean no harm." The woman's old, angelic, motherly tone said.
"I am sorry. I was caught off guard so just followed my instinct. Please call me Roma and you are?"

"Hope you had no problem coming here Roma. I am Maria. My mother was working for the Williams but after her demise, I took over as their housemaid and then I become Mr.Williams' house maid for past few years now." I don't mean to be disrespectful, but damn, she can talk a lot and I am exhausted.

"Wow! You must be knowing him too well then."
"Ever since he was a child. My husband James and I have been watching him grow up since for ever."
"James? As in..."
"The one who dropped you off here."
"I see. Maria, I would love to learn more about you but I had a really long day. Could you please tell me where my room is?"
"Please come with me Ms—Roma."

I followed her like a lost puppy upstairs. Walking down towards the stairs across the hall feels like walking around a whole freaking paradise. I had heard on the news about how big of a tycoon Nick has become, but I never thought it was this big to own a mansion. I have been to a few mansions of a few publisher and editors in the past years for the purpose of promotion of my books, signing them off or sometimes for conferences. Went to an art auction once held in the artist's villa. But to have a mansion built on your own hard income at so young age is something really impressive.

She took me inside one of the rooms down the hall of the second floor. I think each floor has at least 10 of them.
"All your belongings are arranged inside the closet. If you need anything, just call me up here. Dinner is ready too if you are hungry."