AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTEREIGHT
Everleigh
My prison wall comes in focus as my eyes flutter open. My eyes hurt from the dim light in the room. I cried myself to sleep again last night. I’ve been crying a lot lately, I don’t even know what sets me off. Maybe the fact I’m still here and I’m still with Enzo.
I wish I could stay in bed forever, but nature calls. I grab a shirt that was left out for me last night by my warden. I couldn’t fall asleep in it, so I slept naked, like usual. I just felt like the fabric was irritating and it had perfume on it, leading me to believe that Enzo was with another woman and wanted me to know it. Unfortunately, it’s the only piece of clothing in the room and if I leave, I can’t be nude since people will be watching. I also won’t get anything else to wear until Enzo deems it to be.
Time to endure another day in this damn hell hole. I hope today life will go easy on me.
I drag my weight to the bathroom to shower and brush my teeth. I guess I’m glad to have some comforts. I finish braiding my hair and put the shirt back on and wait on the bed. I have to stay in here until someone brings me breakfast or I’m invited—invited—to do chores. Oh, and someone brings me clothes to do that.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been invited to do chores and I’m actually longing for it. It gives me something to do, to keep my mind off of all of this, and something else to look at than these walls. All I ever do is eat, drink, take a shower, please the devil, then sleep. Sometimes a beating is thrown in there. This routine is killing me. I lie back on the bed, staring at the ceiling, thinking of what could have happened if Enzo hadn’t rescued me. If only I knew how things would have turned out, I would have ran in the other direction but I didn’t. I knew for a fact that Enzo was my only choice in surviving.
The sound of footsteps and keys outside my door has me sitting upright with my eyes glued to the floor, like he likes it. I don’t look up until someone speaks to me. I wonder who my first guest will be.
“Good morning, Miss Everleigh. I’ve brought you breakfast.” Chloe, one of the maids, greets me as she carefully walks in with a tray of food.
"Good morning, Chloe. I have already told you countless times to just call me Everleigh."
"Mr. Enzo demands that you be treated formally," she says placing the tray on the empty nightstand.
"If that's the case, then you can keep addressing me as you wish. Thank you for the breakfast."
"Thank you, Miss Everleigh. I'm just doing my job," says Chloe with a slight bow. "One more thing, Mr. Enzo said you can join us in the kitchen as soon as you are done eating. He said he has some guests coming later today and he wants your hands on the preparation of every meal."
I can't help but smile. I jump off the bed and sit with my legs hanging to the floor. "Here's an idea. How about you go get me some clothes and I can eat while preparing?" I ask happily.
"Mr. Enzo has a uniform for you. I’ll be back in thirty minutes.”
"Be back in fifteen minutes."
"As you say, ma'am."
I grab the tray and starts digging in the minute she turns to leave. Sometimes, I don't understand Enzo. He acts like he genuinely cares about me one day and the next, treats me like an object. My hatred toward him, however, remains unchanging on both days.
Chloe is back in fifteen minutes carrying a house help’s uniform. I don't care what I have to wear as long as I am out of this room and covered.
"Have the preparations already began?" I ask taking off the shirt and putting on the clean, black and white knee length dress.
"Not yet, ma'am. They’re just setting out the food for the menu.”
"Okay, great. Let's go." I grab the empty food tray and rush out. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding when I am out of the room and glance at the living room and kitchen below me. I hate the rest of the mansion too but not as much as my room. The living room and kitchen are colorful, full of life and there are people I can talk to.
"Is Enzo home?" I ask in whisper.
"Yes, Miss Everleigh. Do you want me to tell him you are looking for him?"
“Oh, no.” I chuckle nervously. I don’t tell her I was wondering if he’s here and if I’m going to be hauled back up to my prison or not. His room is straight ahead and it’s the last place in the mansion I want to be.
I can’t hurry down the stairs fast enough to get to the kitchen. I’m in a hurry for fear that at any moment my warden will make an appearance. I’d rather be free of him today.
There’s only two other people on the kitchen staff waiting for us when we finally make it down the stairs. They both greet me with a smile and a slight bow like I’m queen of the house. I’m sure they know by now I’m not happy here and my life is hell. I don’t like that they bow to me, it makes me feel ill. I’m just a person and I’m no better than they are, but because of Enzo I have to accept it or they will get punished for it. I don’t want others to get hurt because of me.
"So, what are we making?" I ask eagerly.
"Mr. Enzo said the guests are American so we decided to go with turkey, mashed potatoes, spaghetti with meatballs, beef soup, macaroni and cheese, and there will, of course, be vegetable soup and salad," Chloe informs me.
"Wow. That’s a lot of dishes. Must be a lot of people. Well, let's get chopping, cutting, dicing, and peeling."
