Chapter 27: Chapter 27

“How is she?” I ask the househelp, taking a break from pacing back and forth.

It's what I have been doing for the last couple of minutes ever since that unfortunate pool mishap. Or should I say, ever since Mitch kicked me out of her room after saving her from drowning in the pool? I was still reeking wet and almost quivering from the cold, yet she squealed at me as if I had done absolutely nothing to help her. I tell you, this woman is quite something.

“The madam is taking a rest. At least, nothing bad happened. You should thank your gods for that!” Serah, the housekeeper, responds.

Hello? I should do what again? Didn’t she see what happened? They saw it all, right? Up to the last part where I jumped into the waters like a spider girl to save her madam. Why is she now bleeding gross, like I wanted for any of this shit to happen? The way she is staring at me, huh! And, when her eyes plunge to the floor and catch sight of the traces of waters that my drenched self is percolating, her gaze turns into a sinister one. It is like she is summoning her demons to wipe me out of her sight. And out of this house, presumably.

“I will clean this up.” I say before her murderous gazes suck the life out of me. She is…

“You should!” I was about to turn to go get the mop, but her words and the sound of her gross tone halts me. Our eyes lock as she adds. “Because I don’t intend to clean it up for you. In fact, orders from the madam are that, from minutes ago, we are no longer supposed to serve you, and you are in no absolute position to ask for any service from us!” She speaks, bold like a queen reciting the rules of her palace to an unwelcomed guest. Well, if only she was not just but a mere servant... sigh!

The detest in her face and the tone of her voice, blended with disgust in her stern gazes, bleed volumes. She has been instructed so well, and she is going to follow the rules of her boss to the letter. I understand that she has to obey Mitchell’s orders, but didn’t Liam instruct them as well? And also, does she really have to exude all this scorn to me? I mean, she could have conveyed the message in a much better way. All this attitude is so unnecessary. And Mitch? Why the hell would she instruct them to do this? I hope she is not challenging Liam, because hell will break down. It is already too hot under this roof, another ounce of heat will blow this roof off our heads. It will invoke an inferno. God please, let not...

“Then go tell your madam,” Serah and I both twirl to the cold voice reverberating from the doorway, and Liam's visage greets us. I guess I was late to make a petition. He takes slow, imperiling steps inside, his menacing, cold gazes not leaving Serah, whose eyes are drilling the floor as she bows to her master. And here I thought she was the queen of boldness.

“Go tell your madam that I, the man of this house, gave strict orders that Lynn is entitled to all the services that I am paying you and James to do in this house, Serah! Do I make myself clear?” Liam’s despotic tone echoes with dread, making even me tremble as he halts beside me. He sounds dead serious right now.

He might also have forgotten that nobody is supposed to catch wind of our affair because his hand is going around my waist, not even minding that I am all wet. The good thing is that the male servant, whose name I have just learned is James, is not here to witness this suspenseful gesticulation, and this Serah doesn’t have it in her to face her cold boss. Her face is still buried deep in the air, almost kissing the floor. Serves her right, though.

But this, the way Liam is holding me is not right if we want to be safe. If the walls have ears, they might also have eyes.

“Yes, Boss Liam.” Serah responds to her boss and she as starts lifting her face, I know I need to alert Liam that he shouldn’t be pinning me to his hip the way he is doing. We are in the open, not in my room.

I drag my arm around my back, trying to unhook his arm off me, but I don’t know what he is thinking because he ends up hooking my hand as well. I can't even fight it because that will arouse more suspicions. I let him have my hand as he speaks again to Serah, whose eyes are darting around anywhere but Liam’s direction, which leaves us on the saver side.

“And Serah?” He calls.

“Yes, boss?” She responds, fiddling with her fingers.

“If I ever find you speaking to Lynn like that ever again, consider yourself fired!” Liam speaks with so much authority.

He doesn’t need to add anything else to stress on his words. His voice is enough, which leaves me breathless. I don’t know how to feel about this. Should I be happy that he is keeping his promise to protect me, or should I worry because this will evoke another dispute between him and Mitchell? I know that woman. She will make a thousand mountains out of something as small as this.

“Got it, boss. I am sorry. It won't happen again. Miss, Lynda?” I snap to Serah, wondering what my name has to do with her response to her boss. “I am sorry. Please, forgive me.”

Huh! Wow! She sounds so pitiful and regretful. I hope she means it, though. I don’t want to cause any problems. I also wouldn't want to be the reason she loses her job. I want peace for me and everyone else around me. It is what I yearn for, what I would want for us all in this house.

“It is alright, Serah.” I respond.

“Thank you, and please excuse me, sir. I will go tell madam Mitchell about...”

“There is no need, Serah!”

SHIT! A whole hell of shit!

We snap our faces at the stairs where Mitchell stands. From how her hands are crossed on her chest, to how her murderous glare is darting from Liam to me, to how she doesn’t even blink or wiggle her head as she starts descending the remaining three stairs, it is obvious that she has been watching us for a while. This can never be good!

I feel Liam’s hand unwrapping mine, and he peels it slowly from my back. But it's already too late now, because Mitchell saw it all, and I am sure we are in for questioning and all sorts of accusations and threats and what not.

“Ooh, you don’t need to hide it anymore, Liam. Go ahead and parade your immorality to the world. At least hypocrisy will not be added to the list of what shameless human beings you both are!” Mitchell fumes as she racks before us, her gaze firing arrows of fire our way.

I knew it! No, actually, I underestimated her reaction. Like, the hell! Does she have to be so harsh? It is not like she found me candled in Liam’s arms, or she walked in on us chewing each other’s lips, or pounding on each other for hell’s sake! Sha!

“You are being too much, and I don’t like it, Mitch!” Liam speaks, firing a dreadful glance at Serah that sends her out of our sight in a blink. He turns to Mitch, both of them strangling each other with glares of scorn as always. “I will take any fucking shit from you, but not you disrespecting me in any way, especially in front of the servants!”

“You have already disrespected yourself the minute you decided to bring this whore into our matrimonial home, Liam!” Mitch howls at the top of her lungs as if she wants the whole world to hear her.

Heavens, please, calm this woman down! Her howls and accusations didn’t sit well with Liam, as it seems. I hope she is not digging her own grave.

“She is not, and,” he takes a step closer to Mitch, and she steps back, perhaps after realizing the danger he is bleeding, “she will never be what you term her, Mitch, and you fucking know it and so I, from this minute on, forbid you to insult her!” He warns calmly, but only God knows what is suppressed behind that calmness.

Mitch scoffs.

“Then tell me what to call her considering what you two are doing, Liam! You two have the guts to act like this even in front of the servants. You both have no respect for me and this house at all, and you expect me to respect you? You are so pathetically dramatic, Liam!” She fumes again.

“So, what exactly did you see us doing that got you upset, huh? No wait. Actually, even if you find me kissing any woman or fucking the hell out of anyone, you have no single reason nor right to get upset or even question me. Or have you forgotten we have a mutually signed agreement?” Liam quizzes, and she smirks sarcastically.

“Fucking agreement!” She sneers, smirking bitterly as if something stung her. Had she forgotten about the agreement they have, or what caused that reaction, huh?

“The fucking agreement that you signed willingly!” Liam affirms, and she snaps at him, refusing to get intimidated, and wiping off that confusing look.

“I know, and I don’t give a damn how many whores you fuck every day, Liam. But for your own sake, for all that is at stake here, I hope you don’t break any of the rules. Because then, Liam, you bet I won’t show you any ounce of mercy! And, Liam, I have a strong sense of identifying thorns the moment I see one. And this one,” she throws a quick disgusting look at me, “will leave you bleeding so bad that you will wish you listened to me! So, just a friendly warning, I would be extra careful with what I am doing if I were you. Remember, you have everything to lose, so plan your moves carefully, and make sure you won’t end up falling into your own trap!” She stares at Liam, as if conveying a message that she can sense what is going on between us.

Or as if she can already foresee his downfall. She is bleeding too much dread, and her threats are so paralyzing.