HE NEVER NOTICED ME

Chapter-13

Ariana:

After crying myself to exhaustion, I eventually drifted off to sleep, my emotions having taken their toll on me. I was unaware of when slumber overcame me, but it was the gentle touch of sunlight on my face that roused me from my troubled sleep.

 As I slowly opened my eyes, the warmth of the morning sun greeted me, bringing a momentary sense of peace amidst the turmoil that had engulfed me the previous night.

In a haze of emotions and confusion, I found myself in this room, but I couldn't recall how I got here or what led me to this place. 

The memories were blurred, and all I could remember was crying uncontrollably, feeling utterly lost and helpless about my fate. 

The events of the previous night seemed like a distant nightmare, and the weight of it all still lingered heavily on my heart.

As I heard the gentle knocking on my door, I mustered the strength to get up slowly from the bed. With a heavy heart, I approached the door, feeling both curious and apprehensive about who might be on the other side. Taking a deep breath, I hesitated for a moment before finally reaching out to open the door, unsure of what awaited me outside.

As I slowly opened the door, I was met with the sight of a petite woman, probably in her early fifties, standing on the other side. She politely greeted me, "Madamoselle, the breakfast is ready." For a brief moment, I stared at her, lost in my thoughts, before coming back to the present and responding, "Please call me Ariana."

However, she seemed hesitant and uncertain, replying, "I cannot, Madamoselle. Sir may dislike it." With a sense of duty, she urged me to hurry, mentioning that he was waiting downstairs. I couldn't help but wonder what else he had to say to me, and my sleepless night had left me anxious about the upcoming interaction.

Feeling a mix of emotions, I followed the woman downstairs, my heart pounding with anticipation and apprehension. I couldn't predict what would unfold, but I knew that facing him was inevitable, and I needed to brace myself for whatever might come my way.

Realizing that I needed a moment to freshen up and gather myself, I quickly requested the woman to wait and give me a minute. Despite her uncertainty, she nodded understandingly. I rushed to my belongings, grabbed some decent clothes, and hurriedly changed, wanting to shake off the sense of feeling unclean after a sleepless night of tears.

I swiftly washed my face and brushed my teeth to feel a bit more composed before heading out to face whatever awaited me downstairs. Taking a deep breath, I joined the woman, ready to confront the situation with a little more confidence, though my heart still raced with nerves and anticipation. With determination, I followed her, prepared to hear what he had to say.

As I approached him, there he was, calmly sipping his coffee without a hint of regret or any emotion showing on his face. I wondered what else I could expect from him. As I got closer, he stood up and approached me at a leisurely pace. In contrast, I couldn't help but feel nervous and anxious, gulping and sweating in his presence.

Expecting him to say something, I waited, but he simply passed by without even glancing my way. The lack of acknowledgement shocked me, leaving me at a loss for words. However, as he walked on, a sense of relief washed over me.

As I sat there, the maid approached and placed a cup of coffee in front of me. She politely inquired about my breakfast preferences, and I replied, "Please give me whatever they prepared." Just then, my friend Mia called out, "Hey, Ari, how are you? Did you forget about us once you got married?"

"Hi, Mia," I replied, smiling. "You know everything and still asking that?" I teased her back. She quickly responded, "I just wanted to tease you a little bit, sorry if I went overboard."

I reassured her, saying, "No worries, it's all good. But, how are you and the people over there doing?"

"Things are going smoothly on this end, but When are you Planning to Rejoin"??? Mia inquired, and then there was silence. I found myself at a loss for words; I don't know when I can rejoin. Should I bring up the topic of returning to the old office? However, will he be patient enough to have a conversation with me? He advised me never to show my face to him. I was torn.

"Ariiii, are you present?" Mia's voice reached me. I snapped back to reality and responded, "Yes, I'm here. I've been away for a while. I'm not certain when, but I'll be rejoining soon." I said this with a smile.

"Alright, let's catch up sometime. I want to hear all the details about your life there," she said, her laughter evident. I forced a smile at that idea and replied softly, "Yeah," then hung up the call.

In any case,  the idea of staying home and doing nothing is terrible to me. However, the prospect of rejoining the office and keeping my mind engaged there offers the chance to add some liveliness to my life. I should express my gratitude to Mia for bringing this up, I reflected.

Later that night, I found myself in my room, engulfed by boredom after a day of idleness in this vast mansion. Our house, although smaller in comparison, emanates a vibrant atmosphere where people frequently exchange smiles. In contrast, the staff here seems rather mechanical, going about their tasks with stern expressions. I'm puzzled by how they manage to endure this environment.

Suddenly, a sound resonated from downstairs, the footsteps drawing closer to the staircase. Perhaps he had returned. After contemplating the matter all day, I had resolved to inform him that I had plans to rejoin the office. This way, I hoped to avoid the need to face the issue again once it's settled.

Gathering my courage, I was on the verge of opening my door when I caught a snippet of conversation from one of the maids. While I couldn't recall her face, her voice was unmistakable – I had heard her in the morning, berating

I cautiously cracked the door open to observe the situation. As I suspected, there she was – the same lady who had been shouting earlier in the morning. It left me wondering, why was she here at this hour? Despite only having spent a single night in this place, I was already familiar with the rules; no one was permitted inside the mansion after 10pm. Everyone was expected to be in their quarters by then. So, her presence here past that curfew was perplexing. 

There she is adjusting her Clothes and setting it to even more deeper than already it is, I rolled my eyes seducing,    I see, Ascending the staircase, he cast his gaze upon her and demanded in a stern tone, "What brings you here at this hour?"

She fluttered her false eyelashes twice before closing the gap between them, gently placing her hand on his shoulder. "I was just concerned about you. You returned late. Have you had dinner? Should I prepare the table?" Her voice dripped with artificial sweetness. I couldn't gauge his expression, as the door was partially obstructing my view.

In response, he took a deliberate step towards her and took her hand, guiding it back to her other hand.

"What I do when I return is none of your concern. And how dare you invade my space and attempt to seduce me," his voice oozed out slowly and dangerously. "You're terminated. Leave," he bellowed directly in her face. At that point, her expression was quite the spectacle – like a frightened kitten, tears welling up in her eyes. She scurried away, clearly shaken.

A pang of pity surged within me. He had managed to terrify not only her but also cast a shadow of fear across the entire mansion.

Swiftly, he strode past my door, disappearing into his room and firmly shutting the door behind him. A missed opportunity, I thought ruefully. Well, I'll address it in the morning.