Bound to the Don

Chapter 24

Salma

As I finished cleaning up the mess I made, I let out a sigh of relief. Armando's words still lingered in my mind, leaving a trail of unease in their wake. I was grateful for the opportunity to be alone, to collect my thoughts and calm my racing heart. . I made my way to the maid's quarters, hoping to find some solace in the familiarity of my small room. However, when I arrived, I was dismayed to discover that my bed had been occupied. I approached my coworker, who was lying in my bed, and asked her what was going on. But she ignored me, turning her back without a word.

A sense of déjà vu washed over me, reminiscent of my days in Albania, where I was consistently ignored by my peers. I wondered if I was destined to be overlooked, but I quickly shook off the thought and exited the quarters. I didn't have time to dwell on it.

I made my way to the kitchen, where I found Silvia preparing lunch for the mansion's occupants. I approached her, hoping to find some answers. "Silvia, what's going on with my room? Why is someone else sleeping in my bed?" I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral.

Silvia looked up from her work, a small smile on her face. "I'm sorry, Salma. Louis instructed me to reassign your room to someone else. You're to go back to your old room on the second floor." I felt a mix of emotions: perplexity, wariness, but also a hint of relief. I had never felt comfortable in the maid's quarters, where I was constantly ignored and excluded.

I thanked Silvia and made my way to the second floor, where my old room was located. As I approached the door, I sighed before placing my hand on the screen lock. To my surprise, my palm print was still registered, and the door clicked open. The sweet scent and beautiful decor of the room enveloped me, and I let out a deep sigh before collapsing onto the bed.

As I lay there, I closed my eyes reflecting on the events of the day, thinking about my brother, my parents, and my desperate hope to survive my circumstances.

A shrill, piercing sound jolted me awake, and I sprang up in bed, my heart racing with alarm, I had fallen asleep. I looked around the room, disoriented and wondering what had startled me. As my gaze swept the space, I realized the sound was a ringing noise, and it seemed to be coming from under the bed.

I threw off the covers and got down on my hands and knees to investigate. As I bent down, I spotted a landline phone hidden in the shadows. I pulled it out and hesitated for a moment before answering it.

"Hello?" I said, trying to sound calm despite the sudden interruption.

The voice on the other end was smooth and familiar. "Had a good nap?" Louis asked, his tone laced with amusement.

I straightened up, feeling a flush rise to my cheeks as I realized I had been caught sleeping. "Oh, sir." I replied, trying to play it cool. "I was just resting my eyes."

Louis's response was a low, husky laugh that sent a shiver down my spine. "Resting my eyes, my ass," he muttered, his tone dripping with amusement. I felt a flush rise to my cheeks as I fidgeted with my apron, waiting for him to continue. The silence that followed was awkward, and I found myself shifting my weight from one foot to the other.

Just as I was starting to feel like I'd been left hanging, Louis cleared his throat, his voice suddenly serious. "Come to my office," he said, his tone brooking no argument. And with that, the line went dead. He had disconnected the call, leaving me staring at the phone in my hand, wondering what I had just gotten myself into.

I carefully returned the phone to its hiding place under the bed, smoothing out my uniform and adjusting my scarf to ensure I looked presentable. Taking a deep, calming breath, I steeled myself for the encounter ahead. With a sense of determination, I stepped out of the room and made my way to Louis's office.