“Put away your phone, Carly. If I see it at the dinner table again, I’ll confiscate it.”
She glares at him with a cool, blue gaze. “Then I’ll have dinner at Mom’s.”
A muscle twitches under one eye before he narrows both. “You’re welcome to, but since I pay your allowance, your phone stays here.”
She throws the phone down on the table, the mobile hitting the wood with a thud. “Fine.”
“Valentina asked you a question.”
She looks at me as if I’m the reason for their argument. “What?”
“Rice, miss?” I repeat, keeping my face void of emotion.
“For God’s sake.” She sighs with an exaggerated eye roll. “Call me Carly. I hate to be called miss.”
“Rice, Carly?” I say flatly.
She steals a glance at her father and mumbles, “What the hell ever.”
Gabriel’s knuckles turn white around the stem of his glass. I can’t get out of there fast enough. The atmosphere is so thick with tension I want to choke. I return to my ironing and listen, but there’s nothing but the clanging of their cutlery and the clinking of their glasses as the meal progresses in silence.
By the time they’re done, so am I. All the shirts are folded to perfection, a hated curse pressed into every, neat line. The dining room is empty when I clear the table. Loud music comes from upstairs. I don’t want to contemplate the difficulties of Gabriel’s relationship with his daughter. I don’t care.
When I get to my room, there are towels and a heap of linen on the bed, together with my purse. In the cupboard, I find three black maid’s dresses in my size. There’s no key in the lock and no chair or other piece of furniture I can push against the door, not that it will do me any good. I made a deal with a monster, and the only way to survive is to honor it.
The first thing I do, is extract my phone and call Kris.
She answers immediately. “Tell me you’re all right.”
“I’m fine.”
“Where are you?”
“At Gabriel Louw’s house.”
“Did he…?”
A flush works its way up my neck. He will, but I can’t tell Kris. She’s got enough on her plate. “No. How’s Charlie?”
“He was upset when I fetched him, but he’s calm, now. He’s watching television.”
“Thank you, Kris.” I blink away the moisture in my eyes. “I didn’t know who else to call.”
“You did the right thing to call me. I was worried sick about you.”
“I’m sorry.”
“I tried your phone several times. Why didn’t you answer?”
“I was working.”
“Doing what?”
I clear my throat. “Maid.”
“Maid or whore?”
“Kris, please.”
“Val, you’re worth more than that.”
“I’m doing what I have to.” A sudden wave of tiredness washes over me. “Can you please keep Charlie until the weekend? It’s a lot to ask, but I’ve got no other options. I’ll come visit on Saturday, and we can talk.”
“Okay.” She gives a relieved laugh. “I thought you’re a prisoner or something.”
“Can I say hello to Charlie?”
“Of course. Hold on.”
She calls my brother’s name. A second later his sweet voice comes onto the line.
“Va–Val?”
“Hey, how are you doing?”
“Bu–burgers.”
“Kris made burgers?”
“Ye–yeah.”
“You’re going to stay with Kris for a while. I have a new job, and it requires that I stay in.”
“Wi–will you vi–visit?”
“Every week.”
“Whe–when?”
“Saturday.”
“Sa–Saturday.”
“Don’t worry about a thing. I’m going to take care of you.”
“Ta–take care.”
“I’ll see you on Saturday, okay?”
“Sa–Saturday.”
“I love you, and remember to be brave.”
“Lo–love you, to–too.”
I hang up and stare at the phone for several seconds, battling to process how quickly our lives have changed. It’s no use crying over things I can’t change. I’ve gotten through bad situations before. I can get through this.
Exhausted, I make the bed and have a quick shower. I try not to think about the fact that it’s his water or that I have to sleep in a bed that belongs to him, between his sheets, under his roof. Too weary to dry my hair, I pull on my nightgown and get into bed. My thoughts dwell on Charlie and Puff as my head hits the pillow. I want to say a prayer for them, but I’m so tired I fall asleep halfway into it, only to be jerked awake to a familiar and threatening presence in the room.
3
Gabriel
My new toy wakes with a soundless gasp. Purposefully, I let her fall asleep first. Disorientated, her defenses will be down. It makes it easier to see the truth. For the moment, the only truth is the fear in her eyes.
It’s not so easy to see the truth in myself, because I don’t know what I feel, except for the physical. Her intoxicating smell dominated my dining room and hardened my cock. I don’t know what it is about her that brings out my lust. I only know I want her like I’ve never wanted a woman.
Straightening from the doorframe, I prowl to the edge of the bed. She watches me with her big, murky eyes, her chest rising and falling to the rhythm of my steps. Gripping the sheet, I pull it down slowly. She clings to the fabric, but after a second she lets go, surrendering to the inevitable.