CHAPTER 2
1439 Words
I woke up before my alarm rang.
For a few seconds, I gazed at the ceiling of the little room and wondered where I was. I no longer have an apartment that we rent or a plastic chair next to my pope's bed in the hospital where I have been back and forth for almost a week. I'm in the Montecarlos Mansion now, and no matter how much I want to think that everything is a bad dream, reality can't change.
I slowly got up and immediately took my phone over the side table. The first thing I did was to see if there was a message from the hospital. But no.
I don't know if I should be happy or nervous about my decision.
I heaved a sigh before getting up and started to get up. I need to stay in this job for a while. It doesn't matter how hard or how heavy. Because now I've got the last way I can help my dad.
As soon as I stepped out of staff, I felt the whole mansion. Almost all employees have done. There were those who cleaned the windows, had others arrange the garden outside, and some carried boxes to the other side of the house. It's really exciting because I've never worked with such a rich employer.
Some employees look at me while I walk. Others whisper quickly before looking away when I noticed I was looking.
I just ignored it because I was used to it. Ever since my father's illness, I have felt that people were judging me every day. When you have no money, others are quick to look at you as worthless.
Celestine. I turned to hear Mrs. Dela Cruz's voice, so I immediately approached her. "You're going to clean guest rooms in the west wing. After that, you go to the storage room to organize the inventory. When you're finished, you'll help in the laundry."
I was hardly stunned. It took three people to finish it all, but I nodded anyway. "Yes."
He stopped talking and just walked away.
I looked quietly in the direction he went.
It seems that some staff said it was right last night. When you're the newest employee, you're also going to take on work that others don't want to do.
The whole morning passed without stopping me from moving. I kept climbing and down the stairs. breaking bedsheets. Cleaning the bathrooms. Sorts things in the storage room. Sometimes, I feel that I'm not finished with a job that's new right away.
About eleven o'clock, my back started to hurt. At twelve o'clock, I had a stomach full, but I didn't have the courage to complain.
Whenever I thought that my father was in the hospital attached to different machines, I felt exhausted. If I had to work twelve hours every day just to pay for her medication, I would.
It was about one afternoon when I finished in the laundry room. I was perspiring with cold air-conditioning inside the mansion. I felt as though my arms were shaking from exhaustion.
When I got out of the laundry area, I noticed that most employees were eating. It was there that I remembered that I hadn't had lunch yet.
I shook my head. It'll be later. "Work is more important," I whispered to myself.
"Hey, new."
I turned to a maid who looked a little older than I was. "Yes?"
"You haven't eaten yet?"
"Not yet."
He took a slight turn. You should eat first. It's not a joke working here."
I smiled a little. "It's okay."
"It's up to you." He left after that. I don't know why, but his tone seems to mean something that he never did.
Soon I was called to the kitchen again. As I entered, I felt more overwhelmed by the crowd. There are chef cooks, there are assistants preparing ingredients, and staff come and go while carrying different trays.
"Celestine!" I turned to a female chef-uniform. "Please help here."
I immediately approached. Some serving trays need to be taken in private dining areas. I nodded quietly and began the work.
For about an hour, I did nothing but deliver food and equipment from the kitchen to different parts of the mansion. I didn't know the time because all I had in mind was to get all the work done without problems. Unfortunately, life doesn't seem to be that plan for me.
"Celestine, send it to the private dining room."
I looked at the tray the chef was pointing at.
I was immediately stunned because it was full of expensive porcelain. Even though I don't know anything like that, I know that they are not an ordinary plate. I was sure that they were more expensive than the monthly rent of our apartment.
"Be careful," the chef added.
"Yes."
I carefully carried the tray. It is heavy, but it can. I walked slowly out of the kitchen, focusing my whole attention on what I was carrying. I didn't want to go wrong on the first day because I needed this job and I had no way of saving my dad.
I was halfway through the hallway when my phone suddenly vibrated in the pocket.
I was immediately stunned to see that it was at the hospital. My heart beat dramatically when I saw the name on the screen, since they didn't call without cause.
And in a second of my surprise, I left the tray slightly off.
My eyes quickly became bigger and I quickly tried to straighten out my grip. But it's too late. I felt the slip of a plate. Then comes another one. And one more.
The time seemed to slow as I watched porcelain crashing to the floor one by one.
The sound echoed through the hallway. Then came another heavy thud. As my eyes grew bigger, I turned back. I felt like I had stopped breathing.
After a few seconds, the atmosphere was completely quiet.
I looked slowly at the floor. It was all broken and there was not one left. It seemed that with the plates my hope of a good first day was shattered.
"Celestine!" The angry voice of Mrs. Dela Cruz made a comeback for me. She approached quickly and immediately looked at the scattered porcelain. His eyes grew big. "What did you do?"
I jumped in. "Sorry..."
"Patience?" He could hardly believe it. "Do you know how much they cost?"
I didn't get a reply because I didn't know. But I'm sure I can't even pay one piece.
Other employees began gathering around. I could hear the murmurings they were whispering.
"Dead."
"It's only the first day."
"He'll be done away with."
"When Sir knows it, it's all over."
I was even more nervous not because of embarrassment but because I couldn't afford to lose my job while my father was in the hospital. Not as long as I have no money to pay the next bill.
"What's going on here?"
Suddenly, everything was quiet and I looked back slowly.
Lucian Kael Montecarlos stands at the end of the hallway. She wore a neat black suit, and as when I first saw her, her face was still emotionally numb. He looked silently at the broken porcelain on the floor before slowly glancing back at me.
I felt like a sudden wind was suddenly set in.
"Sir," said Mrs. Dela Cruz quickly. "The new maid's doing it."
Lucian did not speak up immediately. He just kept staring at me and with every second that passed, I had more difficulty breathing.
My hand was tight on my phone. "I'm sorry, Sir," I said at last. "It's my fault."
He was still quiet, then he walked slowly toward the end. He stopped a few steps away from me before looking again at broken porcelain. "How much?"
The employees looked at each other. Even Mrs. Dela Cruz looked surprised.
"Sir?"
"How much are these?"
He quickly told me the value and almost lost my color. It was much bigger than what I had earned in a few months. I felt that my whole body had suddenly become cold because I couldn't pay for it. Even if I work here for a few months.
Lucian listened quietly. Then he looked at me again. That's when I noticed her slightly shifting view of the phone I was holding. The screen remained lit and the hospital's name was clearly written on it.
His forehead became slightly curled, then he spoke. "Meet me in the Master's office.."
Everyone was quiet and so was I, but I just nodded. "Y-Yes."
- Writer
