(18+) Someone in the dark

Ch. 3: The Grand Piano

We went through most of the rooms, except for Mr. Jackson's. By now, I was getting really curious about why they behaved so secretive about that room, but I never got the chance to ask. And before I knew it, we were on our way to the kitchen. It was time for me to take notes. Mrs. Lee showed me the cabinets, the storage room, how the stove worked, and the old fridge that surely had seen better days. And she told me that if I ever needed anything, I had to write it on a note and give it to Leo.

"So I'm not going grocery shopping?" I asked and actually felt disappointed.

"No."

"Okay..." I muttered and focused on something else. "When do I serve the meals?"

"Usually at eight, two and seven thirty, but you need to be flexible."

I nodded obediently before I suddenly remembered my mom.

"Is there a phone here I can use? I need to call my mother, and I don't have a cellphone."

Because I can't afford a new one, I added in my mind. But she didn't need to know that. It was embarrassing to admit that I was poor.

"Unfortunately no. We're too far from civilization to get a phone line."

"You mean signal, right? You don't have a phone signal?" I asked and laughed nervously. Did people even have old-fashioned phones anymore? But when Mrs. Lee took one step forward, I automatically took one back and realized that they probably did.

"No phone line," she repeated, emphasizing every word eerily slowly. But I couldn't believe it. With today's technology, that's the most ridiculous thing I'd ever heard. But Mrs. Lee squinted at me again, so I didn't dare to comment on it.

"Oh, okay. I'll just take a quick trip into town tomorrow, then. No problem."

Her face was unreadable, like she didn't understand what I was saying, and it made me feel quite uncomfortable. I needed to change the subject.

"What's the name of the man in the portrait above the fireplace?"

"That's Mr. Jackson."

"So that's my boss?"

I felt a sudden eagerness that died just as fast as it came.

"No, it's his grandfather, Samuel."

"Oh. So my boss is...?" I asked and raised one eyebrow suspiciously.

"Michael. Michael Jackson."

"Oh, alright. When do I get to meet him?"

"Whenever he's ready," she said, and I was dying to ask more questions about him. But another of Mrs. Lee's strict grins shut me up. I had to remind myself to know my place as a servant now. I'd get my answers in time. I just had to be patient.

"Is there anything else you need to know?" she asked, but I was pretty certain she wanted me to say no. But there was just one more thing.

"Yes, how do I bring Mr. Jackson his food when I'm not allowed to enter his room? Is here a dining room of somewhere? I don't remember seeing one while we..."

But as usual, she cut me off.

"Place it on the coffee table outside the room and ring the tiny bell. Then leave."

"Oh, okay."

"Anything else?" she asked, and her impatience was more than clear in her body language. And quite frankly, I was getting annoyed at her as well because of her rude behavior. Why couldn't she be nicer on my first day? She hired me, yet it seemed like she didn't want me here. I didn't get it.