Being Annoyingly Petty
928 Words
The oak doors clicked shut behind me, muffled by the thrum of the rain against the stone walls of the manor. I was a total disaster.
Water pooled around my ruined heels, and Jax’s oversized flannel shirt was sodden, clinging to my shivering frame.
Every step I took across the pristine marble foyer sounded like a wet sponge hitting a countertop. Squish. Squish.
I was halfway to the grand staircase when a sharp voice cut through the shadows.
"Stop right there! Are you trying to ruin the hard work we did cleaning the floors?"
I froze.
It was Clara, one of the younger maids who always looked perfectly pressed in her uniform and perpetually annoyed.
She marched toward me, pointing a finger at the trail of muddy water I’d left behind.
"Do you have any idea how long it takes to wax this marble?" she hissed, her face twisted in a scowl.
"You come in here looking like something the cat dragged in from the gutter. Take those shoes off and get to the back entrance. You’re making a mess everywhere you step."
"I’m sorry," I whispered, my voice cracking. "I had to walk back home in the rain. My phone died so I couldn't call anyone." I explained.
"I don't care about your excuses," she snapped, stepping closer.
'Wow, that is so rude. Does she have personal beef with me?' I thought inwardly.
"That’s enough, Clara."
A firm, calm voice echoed from the hallway.
Mrs. Higgins, the head housekeeper, appeared from the shadows, She didn't look angry, she looked concerned instead.
She walked over and gently placed a hand on my shoulder, ignoring the fact that I was soaking her sleeve.
"Clara, go get a mop and stop badgering the girl," Mrs. Higgins commanded.
Clara huffed then turned away, mumbling something about new daughter and impartial treatment under her breath.
Mrs. Higgins looked at me, with softened eyes.
"Child, you’re shivering like a leaf. Let’s get you upstairs before you catch your death."
She leaned in closer, her voice now dropping to a whisper. “Don't mind her. She's completely in the wrong for being rude, you didn't do anything wrong.”
"I know," I said, looking down at my blue toes. "Thank you, Mrs. Higgins."
"Go on then. Take a hot shower. Immediately."
I started up the stairs, my legs feeling too cold, the house felt strangely empty.
Usually, my mom and Arthur would be in the sitting room, but the lights were dim so I think they must still be out somewhere.
I reached the top of the first landing when a sudden, violent flash of lightning illuminated the entire gallery.
The world turned a blinding white for a split second, followed by a roar of thunder that shook the floorboards.
In that brief flash, I saw him.
William was standing at the end of the dark hallway, leaning against a pillar. He was still in his suit, though his tie was gone and his collar was open.
He held a glass of scotch, the amber liquid catching the faint light.
As the shadows returned, the glow from a nearby wall sconce caught his face. He was smirking, and it wasn't with the cold fury I’d seen in the car.
It was the look of someone wickedly enjoying the show, he had been watching the whole thing, the argument with the maid, my shivering walk of shame, the way I looked like a drowned rat.
A wave of hot, bitter anger surged through my chest. 'How can someone be so petty?'
I thought, my jaw tightening.
He had left me on the side of the road in a storm, and instead of feeling guilty, he was up here enjoying the show, sipping a drink while watching me struggle.
I wanted to scream at him. He had all the money in the world, but he was so petty that he had to bully an intern just to feel powerful. He was a billionaire with the soul of a playground jerk.
"A bold performance today, Isabel," William said, his voice smooth and calm. He didn't move. He just watched me through the darkness. "The city is talking. But look at you now. Not so tough without a microphone, are you?"
I didn't answer. I couldn't.
My throat felt tight, like sandpaper. I just gave him the most hateful look I could muster and hurried past him, feeling his gaze on the back of my neck until I reached the safety of my room and clicked the lock.
Inside, the room was freezing. I stripped off the wet clothes, leaving them in a heap on the bathroom floor.
The hot shower felt like heaven, clearing the smell of rain and road grit from my skin. I put on my thickest, softest pajamas and sat on the edge of the bed.
I was starving. My stomach gave a loud, angry growl, reminding me that I hadn't eaten since ten in the morning. I thought about sneaking back down to the kitchen, but the image of William’s smirk stopped me.
I couldn't face him again. I wouldn't give him the satisfaction of seeing me look for food like a beggar in his house.
I leaned back against the pillows, intending to just rest my eyes for five minutes. But the exhaustion pressed me straight but down into the mattress. Before I could even reach for the light switch, the darkness claimed me.
I fell into a deep, dreamless sleep, unaware that outside my door, the storm was only just beginning...
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