Bound to the Don

Chapter 22

Salma

I woke up early today, unable to shake off the restless thoughts that plagued me throughout the night. Our new guest had been on my mind, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding. I hoped I was wrong, but the feeling lingered.

Just in time, I managed to read my morning prayers before Silvia woke up. "Good morning, dear," she said, noticing I was already up. "You're up early." I smiled in response.

"Good morning, Silvia. Did you sleep well?" I asked, walking over to the bed where she sat up.

"Yes, dear, I did," she replied, her face etched with concern as she assessed my well-being. "How are you feeling now?"

I tried to reassure her, feeling a surge of emotion at the care she had shown me. "I'm fine, Silvia. I've already recovered, thank you for taking care of me. I really appreciate it."

But, if I'm being honest, I was still feeling anxious and claustrophobic. I didn't want to worry Silvia, though, so I kept it to myself. I knew she would only insist that I rest more, and I couldn't bear the thought of being cooped up indoors any longer.

I had already freshened up, but my maid uniform was nowhere to be found. I searched every corner of Silvia's room, but it was nowhere to be seen. I settled for wearing the clothes I had on earlier.

"Silvia, do you happen to know where my maid uniform is?" I asked, watching as she efficiently made the bed.

She looked up, a hint of a smile on her face. "Oh no, Salma, you can't wear that one anymore. I'll get another pair for you. Just wait here for me."

As Silvia headed out to fetch a new uniform, I sank to the floor with a sigh. "Ya Allah, I'm so tired," I whispered, feeling the weight of my emotions bearing down on me. "Guide me through this, God. I can only bear so much. I'm not strong enough for this."

For the first time since arriving, I allowed myself to cry, releasing the pent-up emotions that had been building inside me.

...
I hastily got dressed, my mind racing with the tasks I needed to complete. It was almost 7:00, and I knew I had to prepare Louis's clothes for the day. I quickly buttoned up my uniform and wrapped my head in a scarf that Silvia had thoughtfully given me. With my attire in order, I headed to Louis's room, my heart beating slightly faster with anticipation.

I knocked twice on the door, and it swung open to reveal Louis standing before me. My eyes widened slightly as I took in the sight of him shirtless, his chest and shoulders chiseled from what was clearly regular exercise. I felt a surge of anxiety and embarrassment, my face growing warm as I struggled to maintain my composure. I tried to calm my breathing, but my eyes betrayed me, and I looked away, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks.

A faint smirk played on Louis's lips as he turned and walked away, leaving me to follow him. I trailed behind him, my eyes fixed on the floor as I tried to process my emotions. I felt a mix of embarrassment and anxiety.

As I entered Louis's room, I busied myself making his bed, trying to focus on the task at hand. I noticed the warmth still emanating from the bed, a clear indication that Louis had just gotten up. I glanced over to see him entering his bathroom, presumably to take a shower. I took a deep breath, feeling slightly more at ease now that I had a moment to collect myself.

With renewed determination, I worked quickly to finish cleaning the room, vacuuming and dusting the surfaces with precision and care. Once I was satisfied with the results, I laid out Louis's clothes for the day, making sure everything was perfectly ironed and in its place. I couldn't help but wonder why he needed me to do this for him; was this a standard practice in this household? I pushed the thought aside, focusing instead on completing my tasks.