The Countess's Pet

Chapter 1

The Arrival

I couldn't believe my Mother was making me stay at the Hotel Cortez. She was sleeping in the seat beside me, her shiny, straight, black hair pulled back in a ponytail. You could tell from her red puffy eyes that Father and her had fought recently. I leaned forward and asked the chauffeur how much longer it would be before we arrived at our destination.
Timothy, my Mother's Butler and chauffeur smiled, "It'll be another half hour, ma'am." I let out a frustrated groan and leaned back in my seat. I should have just took my chances and stayed with Father. Staying at this hotel is going to be terrible.
I pulled my cellphone out of my pocket and turned it on. I might as well text Jared and tell him where Mother and I are staying in case he gets off from work and comes straight home looking for us. As soon as my phone turned on and went to the password screen, the battery notification popped up saying, "Battery: 3% Powering Off." I frowned and groaned in frustration again. Apparently, the whole world has decided to make June the fourteenth National Lets-Fuck-With-Mara Day.
After about half an hour, we arrived at the hotel. The was something about it that I didn't quite like. Something set me off edge. I shook my Mother's shoulder, waking her up and told her we were here. She nodded and got out of the car after Timothy opened the door for her. I was never one for having a Butler do things for me that I could easily do. I grabbed my suitcase and waited for my Mother, who looked like she was flirting with our Butler. Seeing this made me now understand why my father often drank a lot.
I bet Mother only married Father for the money. She probably never truly loved him. I have a feeling something happened between them when I was staying at Grandma's. I noticed the change in their behavior towards each other when I got home that night. You could see the hurt, rage and betrayal in father's eyes as he drank about three bottles of scotch.
Mother was still flirting with Timothy. I understand why she found him so attractive. He was six foot four, with washboard abs, blonde hair, green eyes, and a sexy jawline with stubble. But that didn't give her the ok to flirt with him, considering she's still married.
I left her and headed inside the hotel, feeling that strange feeling of dread as I walked into the lobby. A woman dressed in a beautiful black lace dress was walking down the steps with a handsome man by her side. Her hair was so blond it was white and her facial features were perfect and beautiful it would make any woman jealous. The man on the other hand was downright handsome. He was wearing a black suit and his hair was neatly brushed back.
I was so caught up on the guys features that I didn't see the bouncy ball and a running little boy until it was too late. I tripped over the ball and fell backwards, busting my head off of the floor. The little boy stood beside me looking down at me saying nothing. His stringy white blonde hair hanging down, messily.
"Holden." a woman said, "Tell that sound lady you're sorry." The woman I saw was now standing behind the boy, her hands on both of his shoulders looking down at me with such a smug-like look. The man that was with her was offering me his hand, I took it and he helped me up. He didn't look quite pleased with me, in fact he was frowning the whole time and wiped his hand on his suit jacket like I was filthy to the touch.
"I'm sorry, miss."Holden said softly. I nodded and apologized for my clumsiness and lack of awareness of my surrounding and headed for the receptionist desk to be checked in. I could feel the woman's eyes still on me, burning through my skin and into my soul. I tried to ignore as I stood there at the counter waiting for the older lady to finish sorting the mail into each of their designated mail slots. I was in no hurry to be checked in anyways, considering Mother was still not inside yet. I glanced slightly behind me to see if the woman was still there and she was, but this time she was sitting in one of those chairs across from the handsome young man, who I assume is her boyfriend, fiancé, and or husband.
As I was still glancing at them, I heard someone clear their voice. I turned around to see the old lady looking at me. She apologized for making me wait, but I told her not to worry about it, that I was in no hurry to get checked in and that I was letting her finish what she was doing because I felt it was rude to interrupt. She smiled sweetly like that was the first kind thing she's ever been told and introduced herself. "My name is Iris."She said and held her hand out to be shook. I shook her hand and smiled, "My name is Mara Carpenter. It's a pleasure to meet you."
She checked me into the hotel and gave me room 64 and took me up in the elevator to it. "You know the woman and man you met in the lobby?" Iris asked causing me to nod, "The woman is Elizabeth Johnson or as many people call her, the Countess. The man beside her is my son, Donavon."
So that's who they are and I'm guessing Holden is their son or atleast hers. I followed her down the hall to the very last room. "This is your room, if you need anything just call." Iris said as she hands me the key and walks away with a smile on her face. I watched her walk all the way down the hall and turn right, disappearing out of sight. I turned around to unlock the door and found it standing right open. The feeling of dread started again as I entered the room. I knew I hadn't unlocked and opened that door. I knew Iris didn't either.
The room was huge and nicely decorated, if you liked green. I shut the door behind me and walked further in to find a maid making my bed, which would explain the open door. I smiled and greeter the maid. "Hello, there miss." She said cheerfully, "You can call me Miss Evers." I nodded and introduced myself as well and thanked her for the fresh towels and clean sheets. She smiled and nodded as she headed out the door. "Excuse me, Miss Evers." I called, stopping her in her tracks, "You forgot your tip." I handed her a twenty and smiled. She thanked me and left, leaving me alone in my hotel room.
I yawned as I took my suitcase into my bedroom and set it on my bed, unpacking it and putting them in the drawers of the oak dresser. After I was finished unpacking my suitcase, I set it on the floor and laid down on my bed with my book I brought with me. I lied there for the longest time reading, until I passed out without even realizing it.