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The look on her husband’s face made her ask quietly, “Is she outside?”
“Yes. It’s time now.”
LIFE WAS A ROUTINE for Esther Leventis. She would get up in the morning, expecting her gourmet breakfast prepared for her and a selection of clothes for her to choose from. By the time she was done with her meal, one of her personal maids would have her tub ready, and the entire bathroom had to smell of roses – literally – once she entered it. If it wasn’t, that person was fired.
But today, nothing was happening the way she expected them to. For starters, it was already nine in the morning, leaving Esther aghast. The maids were supposed to wake her up at six and she had even wanted them to be up at four.
Sitting up, she started to scream for Nadine when she saw her maid standing at the foot of her bed. “Why aren’t you in your uniform?” she screeched. “And why haven’t you woken me up in—-”
“Shut up, bitch.”
Esther whitened.
“I’m just here to tell you I’m quitting.”
The sight of Nadine walking away had Esther recovering. “Don’t you dare turn your back on me!” Hurrying out of her bed, Esther cursed when she tripped over the hem of her nightgown and almost fell flat on her face. “Stop, you ungrateful woman,” she howled in anger as she scrambled back to her feet.
Nadine raised her hand – and middle finger – in response before slamming the door shut behind her.
The woman had gone insane. That could be the only reason why she would dare act that way with her. Shivering in anger, Esther promised herself to exact vengeance later. For now, she would just go take a bath and cool herself down—-
Esther screamed and came to an abrupt stop at the doorway of her bathroom. Her bathroom, which was crawling with huge rats, and they were all over. The sink, the shower, the windows, the tub—-
She slammed the door shut, this time her entire body shaking with disgust, but not before a single black rat managed to escape the bathroom and head straight for her. She screamed again, and the sound frightened the rat enough to jump, causing its wriggling body to brush against her leg.
Esther screamed bloody murder and ran towards her bed – until she saw that the rat was doing the same in its confusion. Screaming again, she ran in the opposite direction, bursting out of her room and screaming for her maids. What the hell were their names again? All she could remember was Nadine’s.
“SOMEBODY answer, dammit,” she screamed as she ran down the stairs.
But soon, she realized the house was completely empty. Where had they all gone? How could they even think of contemplating such a thing?
Instantly, only one name came to mind.
Damen.
As soon as she thought of her son, Esther knew it was the only possible answer. The only one powerful enough, the only one who would hate her enough to do something like this to her.
Her entire face tightened in distaste. Such childish antics, Esther thought. She had expected more from him. She thought of changing her clothes then decided against it. She would rather walk naked than go back to her room right now.
Barefoot, Esther walked to her garage, intending to drive herself out.
But again, another surprise awaited her.
A second later, she screamed.
And screamed and screamed until she was hoarse.
He had even dared take all her cars!
All of them!
Stalking out of the garage, she went back to the house, and throwing the front door open, Esther found herself face to face with Damen’s secretary, Bart.
“Good morning, Mrs. Leventis,” Bart greeted politely. “Would you need a ride, madam?”
She stared coldly at him. “I’m sure you already know the answer to that.” Sweeping past him, she headed towards the limousine she found waiting by the curb.
Bart hurried after her.
When they reached the limousine, Esther demanded, “Well?”
“I’m afraid you misunderstood, Mrs. Leventis. This is my ride. That is your ride.”
Esther turned around, following his gaze, and screamed, “You want me to take a cab?”
“Unless you’d like to walk barefoot, madam?” The livid look on the woman’s face had Bart desperately doing his best not to laugh. He must remain calm. He must. Or he would lose his bet.
In the end, Esther Leventis did exactly what his employer, her son, had expected. With curtains of nearby mansions twitching all around them, the servants gossiping by the gates, Esther didn’t really have a choice.
“I don’t think I’ll go anywhere,” Esther started.
“By this time, Mrs. Leventis, it is possible your home may be overrun by rats.” It was a bluff, but the woman also bought it.
“You are going to pay for this,” she hissed in his face.
He carefully sidestepped her and headed to the cab, opening the door for her. “Your ride, madam.” Must. Not. Laugh.
