The Maid In Neverland || Michael Jackson

Chapter 11

When I first came here in Neverland, I was so happy to be given a warm welcome by the employees. I remembered everyone saying, "Welcome to Neverland" with smiles on their faces as they shake my hand, some of them even hugged me. All of them approached me to introduce themselves except for the brown-haired girl who just sat there at the far end of the maids' quarter, the silent one named Lia.

Out of all my fellow maids, Lia was the most distant not just to me, but to everyone. She rarely talks to anyone and it seemed that she has her own world and prefers to be alone rather than spending time with us. There were moments that I would try to converse with her but she didn't really seem to be interested to talk to me. When I asked Sarah about her few weeks ago, she told me that Lia was really just like that.

"I think she's been working here for like two and a half years," she said, trying to remember. "She's really just a calm and quiet type but she's nice and hardworking."

We both looked at Lia who was fixing the flowers in the main room few meters from us.

"But you know, there's something strange about her," Sarah added that made me crease my forehead.

I looked at her, my brows pulled together. "What do you mean?"

Sarah told me that the rest of the maids think that Lia has secretly developed an obsession with the boss.

"What?" I asked, my face surprised.

Sarah put a finger on her lips. "Shhh!" She leaned closer and whispered, "We're not sure though, but I really think it's true. There's something wrong about her and I think she's really obsessed with Mr. Jackson."

Of course, there were reasons why they thought Lia has an obsession with the boss. First, a maid, specifically Tilda, caught her kissing one of Mr. Jackson's portraits displayed here in the house one night, when everyone was supposed to be sleeping. And second, she was caught---again---smelling or more like cuddling Mr. Jackson's used clothes.

"That was creepy," I said, shaking my head in disbelief.

"Indeed," Sarah said. "Look at the way she looks at the boss and you'll see."

"But why didn't you tell Miss Joan about it?"

Sarah shrugged her shoulders and sighed. "Because no one wants to. We're not really sure about it and we need to gather more proofs."

I loooked at Lia again. As I stare at her calm and sweet face, I couldn't imagine that she could do such disturbing activities. She didn't look obsessed though, but who knows? At first, I wasn't convinced about her being obsessed but I realized that it might be true after an encounter with her. When I got out of Mr. Jackson's room after I cleaned it, I was surprised when she suddenly appeared in front of me, blocking my way.

"Oh hi, Lia," I said. I was smiling but it immediately faded when I realized that she was looking at me with serious eyes.

"What is wrong with you, Jane?" she asked, looking straight into my eyes.

I frowned in confusion. "What? Why?"

"It was me who is assigned to clean Mr. Jackson's room, not you," she said. "Do you think you could just take over my job so you can stay close to the boss?"

What? So she's angry about it?

"You don't understand," I said, trying to explain. "The boss ordered me to do it. It wasn't my fault---"

"Shut up!"

I looked at her in disbelief. Did she just shout at me?

"Lia, I don't understand why you're so angry," I said. "I mean, it wasn't even a big deal. If it really upsets you, okay, I'm sorry.