Protect Me

Chapter 5: Locks and Keys

MEDI

As I closed my bedroom door, I looked down at the door handle I was holding and ran my thumb over the lock.

Thank God.

I turned the handle, pushing the door closing before turning the lock and double checking the handle. It stayed locked.

Sighing in relief, I turned around to take in my room. It was way more extravagant than anywhere I'd lived before. My last apartment would have nearly fit in this room except I had to share it with my roommate. This I had all to myself. If my mother's husband wasn't, in his words, "just down the hall," I could have happily lived here indefinitely despite the strict house rules.

I looked at my luggage that had been put at the end of my bed and trudged over to it. I'd tried so hard to find a new job after my last boss fired me to hire her niece, but the only places that were interested in hiring me weren't going pay enough for me to live off unless I moved two hours away which didn't seem like a daily commute I would be able to make.

After emptying my clothes into the spacious wardrobe and taking my toiletries into the en suite which was already completely stocked, I walked over to the window and sat down on the little bench there. It was very comfortable and gave me a view of the front of the property.

A black car pulled in through the gate as I watched. The guard spoke to whoever was driving, though they couldn't have wound down their window far if at all since I couldn't see anything inside. Maybe I had a bad angle.

Instead of pulling up to the front like the car I had travelled in, this car took a smaller track that branched from the main driveway, one I hadn't noticed before. It drove around the side until it was out of my sight.

Must be staff or something.

Remembering the strict dinner time, I grabbed out my phone. I still had a few hours until dinner. I'd only had a few bites of a sandwich for lunch on the plane before deciding it didn't taste quite right so I was starting to fell pretty hungry. It was also almost my usual dinner time which didn't help. Eight o'clock seemed late for a normal dinner. I wondered if I would be allowed to grab something from the kitchen as a snack to keep my going. Would I be allowed? But if I left my room I might run into my mother's husband. Suddenly my hunger seemed much less desperate.

Deciding to just stay in my room until it was almost dinner time, I grabbed the book I was reading from my bag and moved back to the window seat, this time opening the window so I could smell the flowers and hear the wildlife. The sun was beautifully warm as I read about adventures in faraway made up lands. If I wasn't so concerned with the time I could have easily fallen asleep there.

At eight-forty-five pm I closed up my book and stretched out, conveniently having just finished a chapter. I patted down my hair that had no doubt become more of a mess as I changed positions a hundred times depending on how exciting or intriguing each part of the book was. I decided I might be able to finish it the following day but I would start looking for a job first.

As I exited my bedroom, the hall was silent except for a maid cleaning a hall table nearby. I turned around to close my door when my heart stopped. There was a key hole in the handle. My blood ran cold.

"Excuse me?" I called out to the maid.

"Si, signorina?"

"Who has a key to this room?"

There was a pause as the maid came over to me.

"Signor Leonardo, Signor Emilio, e sicurezza - 'security'," she responded, looking between the door handle and me. "No worry though signorina, only for emergencies."

He had a key. Even if I locked my door he could still get in. I had to find a new job and get out asap.

"You need help finding the dining room?" She asked. My mind rushed over ideas of running away now. But where would I go? I didn't have anywhere. Even if I found a shelter I knew that women could still be attacked there. I wouldn't have an address for job applications. I was better off staying and trying to stay out of his way until I was better set up to get out. Then I would leave and never speak to my mother or anyone else here ever again.

"Yes please."

The maid pursed her lips and looked at my hair, then face, then clothes before sighing and turning around, walking away. I hoped she was showing me the way and followed her. I wasn't sure why she'd been looking at me like that. I knew I wasn't the most attractive person ever, my mother had made that very clear from the second I hit puberty, but it wasn't like I looked bad.

Although, with how fancy this house is, I probably look pretty cheap compared to the usual guests.

The maid pointed out a few rooms on our way. The library which I was allowed in, the study which I was also allowed in, Leonardo's office which I was absolutely never allowed to even think about entering unless specifically invited by him personally, the casual dining room, the kitchen down the hall which I was only allowed in with supervision from staff, and the lesser formal dining room now in front of us. Apparently there was a 'grander' dining room for hosting events.

I thanked the maid as she opened the door for me and, as I walked through, I suddenly understood the look she had given me before. The men wore tailored suits, and the women wore make up and dresses I thought were more appropriate for a cocktail party than eating dinner at home. They all looked like they'd stepped out of a movie or magazine. There were a few people at the table I didn't recognise and I noted that the head of the table was empty, the seat I figured would be left for Leonardo.

A few people glanced up at me, no warmth to be seen in their eyes. One of the women ran her eyes over my outfit before scoffing.

Should I leave and change? By the time I come back I'll be late. I need to move though.

I took half a step back, deciding I couldn't stomach being so clearly out of place for the whole meal. Maybe I could just say I didn't feel hungry and wait until breakfast to eat. But I was so hungry already. I took another step back and hit something solid, losing my balance.