1
Ella
Iwander around the empty hallways of Lakeview Manor.It’s a gorgeous mansion on the edge of the water, with a gleaming white marble exterior complete with colonnades and picture windows.There’s an indoor pool, outdoor pool, as well as a beautiful garden and even a grove of fruit trees out back that we harvest throughout the seasons.But it’s the interior of the home that’s truly stunning.The floors in many rooms are marble, and the furniture is exquisitely handcrafted, ranging from Louis XIV commodes to Rouen porcelain urns.Lush swags and brocaded jabots decorate the massive windows, and I swear even the kitchen valances are edged with the finest French lace.
But I let out a sigh because all of this is about to be carted away.My employer, Selene, recently divorced her husband and Lakeview is going to be sold as part of the separation.I have no idea how much they’re going to get for this place - twenty million?Thirty?All I know is that Steve and Selene Hill are one of the wealthiest couples in Minnesota, if not the world, and enjoy an enviable lifestyle as a result.
But Selene’s behind on my wages, and when I flip open my phone to access my bank account, my frown turns into a grimace.Less than a hundred bucks in the bank.Uh oh.I need to get paid fast, and fortunately at that very moment, my phone rings as my employer’s name pops up on screen.
“Hi Selene,” I greet.“It’s nice to hear from you.”
“Hidahhh-ling,” the lady of the manor coos.“How are you, sweetheart?”
I smile wanly.
“I’m good.Just making sure that everything is spic and span before the realtor gets here.You’re going to be here too, right?I wanted to know if the front parlor?—”
But Selene cuts me off.
“Actually, I can’t make it, Ella.But it’s fine.You don’t need me there because you already know everything about Lakeview!Besides, the realtor already has the keys to the mansion, and just wants to take a quick last minute spin before the property goes on the market officially.You know how brokers are.They have to see for themselves, and to touch everything before they bring clients around.”
In fact, I didn’t know, but I hide my ignorance.
“Okay, that sounds fine, I guess,” I say in a slow voice.“Should I offer him or her any food or drink when they come?”
“Oh no,” Selene says immediately.“He’s just doing his job.There’s no need for you to go out of your way to make him feel welcome because it’s business, honey.But thank you for keeping everything tidy and polished,” my employer coos again.“I couldn’t do this without you, Ella.”
“Of course,” I say in a calm voice.“Speaking of which, I haven’t been paid for three months now.I really need the money, and would appreciate getting it asap.”
“Oh, yes!”my employer says in an apologetic tone.“But the divorce has been difficult and you know that Steve froze some of my accounts because he’s such a fucking bastard.But I’m working on getting the funds released, and you’ll be paid in no time.”
I pause for a moment.
“Selene, I can’t really wait,” I say in a stiff voice.“I need the money now, and it’s been three months.I’m about to be overdrawn and the bank is going to charge penalties and interest.There’s no money in the household slush fund either, so that has to be replenished as well.I know you let a lot of the staff go, but there are still expenses that crop up and there’s no money to cover them.”
“Oh I know, I know,” Selene replies, beginning to sound a bit peeved.“I’m going to talk to my divorce attorney and sic him on Steve because we both want the house to be sold as soon as possible.Don’t worry about a thing!”
Still,I’mthe one who’s peeved now.
“But Selene, there’s literally no money,” I say in an urgent voice.“The window in the back parlor is broken, and I haven’t been opening the drapes in order to hide it.Plus, I’ve been eating canned beans because there isn’t anything else in the pantry.Please, Selene.I need to be paid.”
“I will!”Selene whines, sounding cross now.“But like I said, that bastard Steve has frozen my accounts.”Then, her voice perks up.“I know!Why don’t you help yourself to some of the clothes in my closet, Ella?”she invites expansively, as if she’s doing me a favor.“I have some items in there that are top of the line couture.You could sell on eBay, or one of those other re-sale sites.Those platforms are icky, but there are always women looking to get a bargain, and you can pay yourself from the proceeds.How about that?”
“Selene,” I say in a stiff voice.“I’m not really comfortable handling your designer –”
But my employer’s already moved on.
“There, I’m glad we got that settled,” she says.“Now, I have to run because I have a benefit for the Garden Society to attend, but I can’t thank you enough, Ella.You’ve been a lifesaver, and of course, there will be a big bonus for you after the house is sold to thank you for your hard work.Toodle-oo, take care!”she sings, and then the line goes dead.I’m left holding my cell in hand while shaking my head because this is just like Selene.The woman’s a society belle through and through, and has never had to cope with any real hardship in her life.She’s always been taken care of, and the thought of scrimping and saving, much less panicking to make ends meet, is completely out of her orbit.
I sigh as my shoulders slump.Sometimes I hate my life so much because once again, I’m in a shitty situation.I’m the help with few options, and now, I need to dig through my employer’s closet to find things to sell on TheRealReal or whichever designer discount site will get me the highest prices.With slow feet, I trudge upstairs to the master suite.I’m not looking forward to this, but a girl has to pay her bills.
Then again, when I open the door to Selene’s walk-in closet, my heart leaps because a plethora of designer garments hang from the racks.There are silks in every color of the rainbow, shimmering in the low lights of the closet, as well as exquisite furs and a rack of designer shoes lined up in clear boxes in the back.Maybe I could rake in some serious cash by pawning these goods!
I brush my hand over a particularly soft fur jacket and marvel at the color.It’s a mix of snow white with a few black-tipped strands that create a unique speckled effect.Then, I see a pink fur vest that appears to be sheared lambskin.It’s incredibly luxurious, not to mention frivolous in a cotton-candy color that makes me smile.What would it be like to wear something like this on a regular basis?
On impulse, I pull the vest off the rack and slide it on over my plain sweater.Then, I twist and turn before the full-length mirror, examining myself.Selene is a bit smaller than I am, but the vest fits well, highlighting my golden strands and bringing out the rosiness of my peaches and cream complexion.Usually, my employer has us wear grey and white uniforms, but since no one’s home at the moment, I’m dressed in jeans and a nondescript sweater.
But then, something flickers in the corner of my eye and I gasp.When I part the racks to see what it is, my jaw drops because it’s a silver gown that looks made from liquid water.The material is shimmery and fluid, and when I lift the gown out into the light, I see that it’s a classic v-neck with a nipped waist that falls all the way to the floor.
