Haven And Chaos

53) It's not...

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MAYA'S POV
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Father Lei didn't want to let me go before the wound was all healed up. But after spending an entire day at the church, I had to find a job that would feed and clothe me for my test period.
If I just stayed there and accepted his help, I'd fail the challenge and Gale would just shove it to my face.

I walked from one shop to the other, but all I got was the same response. Nobody was hiring or they just didn't want to hire me.
After almost five hours of enduring the heat beating down from the yellow ball pinned on the sky, I went back to the church, exhausted.

It was there that I heard about the small mansion that had been bought by a merchant. They said they were holding interviews for temporary maids and the pay was good.
From their gossip, I even heard that the owner was too good-looking to just be a merchant.

A good-looking merchant looking for maids to serve him temporarily. Could he be a womanizer? If he knew he'd be staying here, why hadn't he brought his own servants like a normal merchant?
Something was off. But I was in no position to be choosy.
As long as the money was clean and the work was legal, it wouldn't hurt me to give it a try.

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"Name?" Asked the man interviewing me. He wore a serious expression and it felt as if his eyes were trying to scan right through my flesh to get to my soul.

"Maya Crosby," I answered confidently.
This wasn't my first interview, had gone through a much thorough one before getting hired at the strip club that Gale plucked me from.

"Age?"

"Nineteen."

He scribbled my answers down.
"Do you have any experience with house chores like cleaning, cooking, hand washing clothes, and all of that?"

"Um...I..."

"Report to work immediately, Maya. You'll be provided with food, shelter, and security. If you've any questions, ask a Rose Stewarts who will be your supervisor. Payments will be given at the end of every day. Is that okay with you?"

I was in a daze. Why? Because it had been oddly too easy. How had the other four girls failed this simple interview?
"Um...that, that is perfect. 'Too perfect'," I mumbled the last part to myself while getting up from the wooden chair. My butt was aching a bit. Not because it was wooden, but because I had slid and fell while making my way up the small hill to get here.

The man noticed my limp despite my trying to hide it, but he ignored it and looked away, focusing his eyes on the notebook in his hand.
In silence, I walked out of the living room, almost forgetting to ask where the fuck I was supposed to go.

I turned around. "Um, where exactly is this Rose Stewarts?" I asked nicely.

"In the kitchen. Take the hallway to your left Mi- um, Maya," he directed.

"Thanks."

Even though I had managed to secure my temporary job, I still couldn't shake off the feeling. It was like a pair of eyes was fixed on my back, constantly staring at me.
Or maybe I was just paranoid.

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Rose was a local, and mentioned working for the church but had taken this job as a side hustle and for the experience.
She sounded quite intelligent and showed no biasness.
Like a child, she showed me how to do some simple chores like cleaning the kitchen counters, making the beds, and mopping the floors.

Not that I was clueless about how to do them, but she was just being thorough because, apparently, the boss was quite strict when it came to dusty surfaces and wanted things done exactly to his standards.
She said she had been here for only a day.

Gawd!
It'd only be the two of us taking care of this big house.
I wanted to bolt out and go find Gale to tell him he was right. But I hadn't lost all my pride just yet.
Wait... Gale had said he was in the village yet in the few days I was there, I hadn't heard a thing about the archduke's presence. Only spotted a shadow tailing me and just assumed they were his men.

My eyes bulged out and my body froze immediately even though I was under a hot shower.
A merchant who had shown up almost the same day I did! Temporary maids!

I slapped my mouth as my eyes widened further till they couldn't go on anymore.
Like I fool, I had just fallen into Gale's trap and was now under his thumb.

I stumbled around in the bathroom until I got to my towel. Without bothering to dry my hair or any part of me(grateful for the waterproof bandage), I staggered out of the bathroom and started walking in the direction the 'boss'' bedroom was...upstairs.

I had to confirm my suspicions or I'd not have a wink of sleep tonight.
But still, I wasn't ready to accept that I was stupid and Gale had outsmarted me.

My heart was kicking like it'd fly through my ribcage, while my skin felt hot despite being damp.
I forgot about everything else, my heart, my brain, and my soul, all existed at that moment because of the dread darkening in each of them.
'Could it really be him?'
'What if he's not and I show up like this?'

There were so many questions, making my head throb unnoticedly.

After passing by three unoccupied bedrooms, I finally got to the door I was supposed to knock or just burst through.
Its position was so similar to Gale's.
A coincidence?
Maybe, maybe not. But I was about to find out.

My trembling hand wrapped its fingers on the golden handle and then slowly twisted it. I knew I should have knocked, but I wanted to catch him doing whatever he was doing. And if it wasn't Gale, I would brush it off with a believable explanation like I got lost finding my room.
That would work since Rose and I were using the rooms on the other side of the stairs.
The shared bathroom we were supposed to use had a faulty heating system, forcing us to use the one downstairs.

Unlocked!
What shitty luck. I had been praying to find it locked at least.

I restricted my breathing until it faded before pushing the door in as slow as I could go. A veil of darkness welcomed me, shredded by the light now falling in from the hallway.
From where I stood, I could see his bed and someone was in it.

Good. I'd just tiptoe and peek real fast. If it was Gale, I'd...I'd...had no idea what I'd do but it'd be chaotic.

Barefoot, I tiptoed in as planned, closing the door but leaving a slight crack.

With my breaths still held in, I began heading for the bed, being as quiet as I could even with my weight.
I was getting there...a little bit closer and I'd settle all these raging doubts within my chest.

'Almost there. Almost-'
My thoughts were rudely interrupted by the thing that was suddenly pressed on the back of my head. "A thief? Or maybe a loose whore trying to gain favors?" A deep low voice questioned sounding like he'd murder me and get away with it.
A voice that sounded just like... Gale's.

My heart must have ceased beating for a millisecond for I could not feel it. Not when my worst fear had been confirmed.

I felt him move to my right, before white light burst from the lamp that was now on.

"Turn around before I render your brain useless," he threatened calmly.