Master Gallagher

Called to threaten him

"Nase... can I tell you a secret?" Liam brought me out of my thoughts. He looked at me expectedly. I couldn't help but be in awe because I would have a child... with William and I love him. I sound gullible but the fact that I would be having a child with this man, somewhat made me happy. A child that I share with William. The child we made together, it was hard to accept at first because I only thought about the consequences but after I thought... about how beautiful it would be to bring someone into this world. I wanted to think on the bright side and the bright side was. Yes, my mother was right... I will never have William but this child is good enough for me. A reminder that he made me feel things I didn't understand and didn't want to feel... a reminder that he hurt me.

We could never be.

"Yes?"

"But it's a big secret between dad, Rosy and I, so you can't tell anyone else.."

"I won't..." I was curious.

"Promise promise?"

"Yes." I replied.

"No, when I say promise promise, you say promise promise." He whined, I found it cute.

"...alright.."

"Promise promise!"

"Promise promise!" I replied with as much enthusiasm as he had. I was very curious.

"I'm going to be a big brother."

"What?!" I asked clearly caught off guard.

"Dad said since mommy can't have anymore brother and sisters for me. Don't tell her, I told you because it makes her very very sad and I don't want her to be sad. God told dad that you must give them a child instead."

I blinked multiple times trying to process what this five year old boy was telling me.

"Thank you for doing this for me." He said quickly hugging my knees as I was standing much taller than his small frame. "Don't tell mommy, dad said it will be a surprise when the baby comes."

"..uh y-yes alright." I was at loss for words. I decided to leave Liam for a bit. He hated when I forced him to nap in the afternoon but Lady Tracy always said I needed to because he would be too hyper in the evening. While he took a nap that's roundabout the time, I always prepared lunch and fed his dog.

"She is not here...!" I heard Mary yell loudly. There seemed to be a feud downstairs so I quickly made my way there. I stood stagnant when I saw Elliot there...

"...uh Elliot w-what are you doing here?"

"He will not leave and I won't let him talk to you not after he made it clear that his intentions weren't pure."

"I came to apologize." He quickly said before Mary could speak over him. "It was not your fault and I made it seem that way. It's all his fault... you did not deserve that. No one does... I would have came earlier but Master Austin has been handling the plantation and he isn't as generous as his parents."

"Please.." he pleaded. "I left without asking for permission, I will deal with the consequences later but I just needed to apologize. I can not live with myself knowing, I treated you the way... I did."

Mary suddenly coughed. "Does he know about the bun in the oven—"

She had absolutely no timing. She was convinced that it was a whisper but Elliot clearly heard it. 

His eyes immediately widened.

"You're—"

"Is it mine?"

I kept quiet.

Mary laughed.

"Oh..." Elliot said in a very low tone. I felt like the worst person there is. I wish I could tell him that it was but, this was a web of lies. I did not want it to go too far. It's better, he knows.

"Does he know?" Elliot asked.

"Of course, he does genius. He did it on purpose. He wants her—" Mary immediately stopped speaking when she realized what she had done.

"Is it true?" Elliot asked.

Suddenly I heard a squeal from behind me. Liam was not sleeping after all. "YES!!! I HOPE IT'S A GIRL!" Liam added onto my headache.

"Oh goodness.." I said under my breath.

"...uhm, I wish you well then..." Elliot said.

"I'm sorry you had to find out like this." I replied. "I need your help."

Elliot immediately walked away but I ran behind him. Liam followed. "No, Liam go upstairs and take your nap right this minute."

"I want to go..."

"No, Liam please..." I pleaded because Elliot was already going too far while I stood here trying to convince him to return inside.

I was thankful when Mary called Liam over. He looked angry as he stomped his feet with a frown on his face. I ran after Elliot, he was walking so fast... I found it hard to catch my breath.

"...w-wait please.."

"No!" He yelled then suddenly came to a halt and looked at me. He held me by my shoulder and aggressively yelled. "That's why he allowed you to lay with me? You planned to make a fool out of me?"

"I was wrong for even coming to apologize. I take back everything, I said. You're evil and so is that man, you're head over heels for. You're delusional for loving someone who r***s you... wait was that even true? Did he even r**e you or you lied about that as well? I don't know what to believe anymore... just stay away from me."

"No... please—" I pleaded, tears right under my eyes. My hands were shaking.

"I will not take blame for this infidelity—"

I was about to speak when I heard a deep voice speak behind me. It was him, I knew his voice without a doubt. I could always tell when he was close even with just a whiff of his cologne.

"I will pay you, Stevens!"

Elliot immediately took his hands off my shoulders. Clearing his throat, he was caught off guard. I could tell that he was afraid of William, not just intimidated but genuinely afraid of William.

"Name your price, Stevens? I will pay you, need I remind you don't ever ever lay your heinous hands on my woman again. I will personally ring your neck."

"I'm very sorry." Elliot stuttered. "Master Gallagher."

"You ought to give her the same respect you give me even when I'm not around. If anything, dare I say anything happens to her and my child. You're not there to protect her. I will slaughter you myself. Don't take my words lightly.."

"Willia—" I complained.

"Let me handle this." He said gently putting his finger on my lips. I shivered with excitement maybe I missed him. I could not take the silence between us.

"Name your price Stevens?"

"Uh... £15.." Elliot said this hastily. This made William chuckle. "Don't be too kind, how about £1500 instead, for each month, week? Name it."

I had never seen Elliot this excited.

"Of course sir, anything you require of me." Elliot immediately kneeled down infront of William and I felt nothing but shame. On behalf of people of my kind. I was ashamed, I thought of him to be better than this but then again this was a lot of money. Elliot was just weak.

"Stand up quickly.. I do not want our neighbors watching me exploit a poor negro." He paused. "I'd like to think I'm a very generous man until you push me.."

"I am ver generous, I gave you an orgasm." I remembered these words that he once said to me.

Elliot immediately stood up.

I felt embarrassed.

Elliot had no backbone, I could never be with anyone this weak. Kneeling for William is William, Jesus? Why was he doing this? It was just William.

To you, only to you. My conscience reminded me. I then remembered how I used to be so afraid of William in the first weeks.

"Yes sir!"

"I leave for business soon with my father. While, I am gone. You're to attend to all her needs none s****l because I will slit your throat!"

"Yes y-yes Of course Master Gallagher."

"You can not and I repeat. You cannot tell anyone any of this. It's your child, until I return. She is your wife for show. If I hear that you tried your luck with my woman.. oh Elliot, you don't like me now and you will not like me then. I will be worse than my father and I know you have heard of my father."

"Y-yes of course Master Gallagher."

"Off you go."

The minute William said this, Elliot immediately ran almost tripping over his own feet. The clenched jaw and outrageous look that William had immediately softened.

"I will see you in your room, we have an audience." He whispered and I nodded.

"I love you." He said out of the blue.

I felt—

"I just want you to always know that."

I wanted to reply but he was right we had an audience. Our neighbor, Mr Wilkins immediately came over to William with what seemed to be a cup of tea. He was obese and if I knew better. There was nothing he loved more than talks of politics and food.

"Can you believe they want to set these n*****s free? A disaster, I presume." He said making William internally roll his eyes. I could tell he was annoyed but he smiled, I loved that smile.

"Bloody government, I bet you they do not know what they're doing..." William replied.

I proceeded to walk.

William somewhat had this under control.

—

Any predictions?