WORK IN THE ADAM'S MANSION

KAREN ANDERSON

"Sis! Wake up!"

I heard my sister's voice in my dream. But It sounded too close. Too real to be just a dream. 

I rolled away, away from the sound. But it came again. This time, closer than the first time. 

Then I felt something spank my body and my eyes fluttered open from the sudden pain.

"Lily?" I mumbled, staring up at the brown eyes before me. 

"Do you know what the time is right now?" She asked with a deliberate frown. 

I rubbed my eyes. I still wanted to sleep. My eyes felt heavy. It was as though I had just shut my eyes to sleep only to be woken up. 

"Time? Why?" 

She sighed exasperatedly. "It's almost 8:00am. Aren't you going to work today? Big sis, don't tell me you have been fired?" She added with a suspicious frown. 

Work? 

"Work!" I jumped up from the bed. 

"Shit! How did I oversleep…" 

I dashed into the bathroom and turned on the shower and began to bathe. 

"I did the chores and helped dad take his bath and eat. Eat something before you leave for work! I'm going to school…"

"Lily, wait!" I yelled from the bathroom. I unhung the towel and dashed out of the washroom again, foams of soap all over my body. 

"Here, take this and get some snacks."

I squeezed some notes into her palms and dashed back into the bathroom again.

Moments later I heard the door shut and I knew Lily had left for school. I continued my bathing which didn't last for more than another minute. 

I stared at the two outfits that lay on the bed. 

One a dress and the other a chiffon long sleeved shirt with palazzo trousers to match. 

"Just pick anyone idiot. It wasn't like what you wear mattered at work…" I murmured as I quickly grabbed the dress and wore it. I picked my handbag and slipped my feet into one of my stiletto heels. 

I stood before the mirror and looked at the reflection of myself. 

When I work, none of what I was wearing would still be on me. None of it really mattered. Well, except my underwear. 

I shrugged and started out of the room. 

Father was rolling his wheelchair out of his room as I walked out. His face broke into a grin when he saw me. "Did you lose track of time? It's unlike you to oversleep. Is something going on?" he said. 

"Did you sleep well, dad? How is your leg? Any pain anywhere?" I asked, lightly ignoring his question as I scooped some milk into a cup. 

He sighed. "Well, it's the same. I slept and I woke up. That's all that matters." He said, still smiling. 

I was looking at him but then I quickly tore my eyes and turned away. When has he ever said he didn't sleep well? Even if he didn't, he would never say. But I knew it all. I knew how much pain he was in each day. And I wished I could take it all away. All his pain. 

The thought of how close I almost got rid of one of the debts crossed my mind. 

"That snob…" I cussed under my breath. 

Well, I couldn't blame him much. No matter how much I thought about it, that was a crazy thing I did. Any sensible man would have been mad about it. 

I sighed and shook my head. 

I drank hurriedly from the glass of milk and stuffed my mouth with the bacon and scrambled eggs Lily made. 

My phone beeped signifying a new message. With my right hand clutching onto my glass of milk, I dug my left hand into my handbag and retrieved my phone. 

"Pay up your father's debt. You have three days."

I felt a weight around my chest, so heavy I could neither breath nor think for a split second. 

My palms suddenly felt wet around the handle of my glass and I lowered the glass down hurriedly. 

"Karen? Are you okay?" Dad asked me. 

"Uh… yes. Dad, did you say you needed something?" 

"No, I don't need anything but.. Karen, is there something going on? Did those men come by?"

Dad's eyes looked downcast. He looked away, withdrawn. 

"It's all my fault… It's all my fault…" he muttered with shaking lips. 

"No! Dad, I told you to stop worrying about them. I will take care of them. Okay?"

He nodded quietly and forced a smile.

I downed the last of my milk and shoved the remaining scrambled eggs into my mouth. 

"Take it easy so it doesn't choke you," Dad said. 

"Mm-mh," I nodded as I lifted the dishes and took them to the kitchen. 

"Leave the dishes, I will do them." Dad called from the dining room.

"Lily will take care of it. Get some rest, dad and call me if you need anything. Okay?"

I didn't look to see if my father had nodded or not. 

It wouldn't have made a difference anyways. He would still go on and wash the dishes before Lily got back from school sometimes. He said it was part of the way he used to stay sane when left all alone in the house. 

"Dad, I'm going. Bye!" I pecked his cheeks lightly and dashed out of the house. 

"Shit!!" 

I glanced at my watch and it was way past 9am. 

It was my first time getting to work late since Mr. Hendricks took me in. He had clearly told me to ensure I got to work before 9am. 

He had told me he was going against the rules employing me as he was only meant to employ elderly married ladies. He never told me why and I thought I would be intruding if I asked and so I never asked. 

I saw a taxi drop off a passenger and flagged it down.

At exactly 9:50am, I arrived at the Adams Mansion. 

The enormous building stared right at me as I dropped off the taxi. I had the man swipe my card and handed it back to me before I proceeded into the house. 

"You are late," Urn said as he held open the gate for me.

"I know. Is Mr Hendricks in?" I handed him my gate pass. He scanned it at the gate pass scanner and looked at it before he handed it back to me. He had seen it a good number of times yet each time I handed him the gate pass he looked at it as if he was seeing it for the first time. 

He nodded affirmatively and let me walk through.

The walk from the gate down to the main house was a long walk. 

As I walked, briskly, I glanced at my watch hoping there was a way I could freeze the damn thing from moving anymore.

"Phew!" I heaved in relief the moment I stepped into the servants' building. I quickly changed into my servant's clothes and went off to do my work. 

"Why are you late today?" Caro, the elderly servant asked. She turned off the vacuum cleaner she was holding and faced me.

I clasped my hands together, twisting my nails and lost on what to say.

"I'm sorry…"

She frowned. "Get to work immediately. You don't want Mr Hendricks finding out you just signed in to work."

"Thank you, Mrs Caro. I will not be late again." I said with determination surging through me.

I was going to ask her if by any chance Mr Hendricks had asked of me but she had already disappeared into the hallway by the time I looked again.

I shrugged and got to work. 

I was cleaning when Mrs Rhoda walked up to me. 

"My dear Karen, please may I ask you for a favour?"

I stopped cleaning and turned to face her. Her face didn't look good.

"Mrs Rhoda, is there a problem?" I inquired.

"I'm sorry, but I have no one else to ask…" her voice strained off.

I stared down at her hands. Her fingers shook. 

I reached and held them. 

"Tell me, what is wrong?"

"My son… my son has been taken in by the police…" she broke into tears. 

I opened my mouth to speak but words refused to come out. I had absolutely no idea what to say.

She sobbed and I let her, only gently patting her. 

"It's going to be fine. He will come out safely."

"Help me… can you help me clean the young Master's room?"

"Huh? The young Master's room?"

She nodded, sniffing.

"I know I should tell Mr Hendrickd but I can't…"

I stared at her, speechless. I understood her predicament but how could she ask me to clean the young Master's room?

I was supposed to never be near the room of the young master. Mr Hendricks had sternly warned me to stay off there. All I ever knew about him was his name, Jay Adams, Mr Hendricks' grandson. I heard he was stinkingly rich and owned a large business enterprise but I had never seen his face nor what he looked like. 

I didn't care about all of that. I only cared about the money. Mr Hendricks promised to pay me well and I had only been working there barely a month. 

"But…"

"Please… help me. I must go to my son now. You don't have to worry about anything. The Young Master's is never home by this time. He must have left for work already. You only have to clean and leave."

Her pleading eyes bore into me. 

"You… you may go…" I stuttered, feeling almost as if her wet hopeful eyes would pierce my skin. 

"Thank you so much! I will remember this… thank you Karen!" She gabbled as she dashed off. 

I sighed. Should I inform Mr Hendricks? What if he found out? 

Then Mrs Caro would be in trouble. And I, too. It was a risk I shouldn't take. 

I took a deep breath before I started for the Young Master's room. 

I tapped lightly on the door. Mrs Caro had told me the young Master wouldn't be around but it was my habit… knocking before I step into any room.