She will not bow

Master and Maid

"This will be your room, naturally. It's the one you've always occupied when you slept over. You basically still have some of your stuff here even, isn't that great?" Noah dropped Sabina's suitcase beside the bed and proceeded to open the windows and the balcony door. 

He took a deep breath and looked at the balcony just adjacent to hers. He remembered how handy these balconies were when he sneaked into her room after lights out so they could both play on their gameboys next to each other all night. 

"So much memories here Sab. It would almost be like you're home." He patted her shoulder reassuringly. Had it been any other man, she would have swatted that hand away already. But it was just Noah, her sweet sweet Noah. She gave him a small smile in return not wanting him to worry about her. She's stronger than this. He should know. After all, they right in this room playing video games when they both heard shouting and screaming between her parents. They ran to this same balcony to see what the commotion was all about and there it was-- her father walking away from their home, two suitcases in hand. A woman waited for him at the gates and not once did he even look back. He didn't even wait for his daughter to at least say goodbye. 

They both watched as their car sped away knowing full well that they were taking a one way trip. She won't be seeing her father again and she didn't even get to hug him goodbye. Nine year old Noah didn't know how to comfort his eight year old friend so all he did was stay by her side and hold her hand while they stared at the empty garden until the sun set and stars shone. Even when they were called for dinner, he did not let go of her hand. Instead they walked to the dining hall together and Noah keenly studied her face, waiting for the tears. They didn't come during dinner. Not even when she bid him goodbye when her mother fetched her. 

If it weren't for her puffy eyes the next day, he wouldn't have known that she had cried at all.  They didn't speak about it though. They probably never would have had she not been drunk on their junior prom night. It was the one time she opened up to him and she didn't remember it at all the next day. He didn't care though. He'll remember the pain she shared for the both of them.

---

"... at all." Sabina picked up her suitcase and waited patiently for his response.

"Huh?"

"Were you even listening? I said, as your employee, I shouldn't occupy a guest room. I would be perfectly comfortable in the maid's quarter. Please don't say no to me on this because I will not accept friendship charity." Sab held a finger at him to shush him and proceeded to carry her suitcase outside the room. 

"What? No. Sab-- Sabina! Stop." Noah dashed towards her and held her arm. "I'm your employer so... I decide these things and I decide you stay here."

Arching her eyebrow, Sab couldn't help but laugh at the uncharacteristic demand from Noah. "Are you using the employer card already? Ohhh... I never knew you had this bossy side to you, Noah. Or should I start calling you Sir now? Young Master? Pft..." Sab giggled at the ridiculousness because she knew how uncomfortable those titles are to him. Shrugging, she proceeded towards the maid's quarters not caring at all about his demands. She knew that if she let him win this one, it'd just be the beginning of more charity from him. And she didn't want that. 

Sabina Romanoff does not take charity. 

Heaving a defeated sigh, Noah followed Sabina towards the maid's quarters. She was stubborn as always but that was one of the things he always liked about her. He was glad that at least this one thing others could not take from her. 

"Oh, oh-- no, Lady Sabina, please you cannot stay here." The head maid, Dorothy mirrored her master's earlier actions as she tried to dissuade the lady. However, the lady was stiff as iron. 

"Noah already agreed though, didn't you, Noah? So please, Dorothy, let me. I can see the last room is vacant. I shall be taking this spot then." Sabina placed her suitcase in the tiny room. It was barren and smaller than the bathroom in her old home but the bed was made and that was all she really needed from the room. The shared bathroom was just across the hall.  She's never used a communal bathroom before but she'll have to learn now. 

Rubbing his nape, Noah shrugged at the head maid and sighed. "I couldn't stop her, Dorothy." In a smaller voice, he whispered to her, "You'll make sure she's acquainted and comfortable, won't you?" With a knowing smile, Dorothy nodded and started helping Sab unpack her things. 

Knowing he had little he could do now, Noah returned to his room so he could draft the employment contract, something he knew Sabina will require of him. He listed a generous compensation and other benefits such as clothing and meal allowances. He also listed down the set of tasks his assistant should do. This was a job he especially crafted for her and he couldn't help but design the tasks so she'd have to spend most if not all of her time with him. Among the tasks, he added the following:

- wake me up for school

- draft my bath in the mornings and the evenings

- bring meals to me when i don't feel like going to the dining hall 

- dine with me always

- clean my room 

- study with me

- go to school and leave the school with me

- accompany me on outings

- give me a massage after football practice

The last one was cheeky but it was how most of his fantasies about his best friend started out. He couldn't really help but add it there. He also prepared a special uniform just for her which she must wear at home. It looked like the household maid's uniform except it was shorter and accentuated her curves much better. He let her win earlier but she'll be the one feeling defeated later on. Smiling cheekily, he passed the contract to the head maid so Sab could sign it. 

Tonight, he will sleep well knowing tomorrow, his beautiful best friend will be waking him up.