He looked at me like those weren’t just routine questions, and he really wanted to know.
It indescribably upset me.
“Why not just go to wherever you’re headed and let me have breakfast in peace?”
“Well, just answer me, and I can be on my way.”
“When will I have my phone?” I inquired instead.
“Your phone,” he mentioned. “I’m not aware of any agreement to hand your phone over to you.”
“Yes, but I’m asking for it now,” I bit out, and his cool expression, like that of someone having a civil conversation, made my anger rise. “I need my phone. It’s the least you can do, dammit!”
Jaw clenched, he took a step closer to the table and leaned towards me. “I can’t let you have a phone.”
He didn’t sound like someone who just made a command. His voice was more like an appeal. It touched something inside of me—probably the same way his reaction in his office the previous night did—and I looked away from his gaze.
Then he stepped back and walked away, leaving me with my plate of food and a myriad of confused, albeit angry, thoughts.
Thankfully, the day passed fast—very fast. I watched TV in the sitting room, headed upstairs for a nap after freshening up, came back down when Hans summoned me for a rather early dinner, and went back into my room.
I was walking away from the dresser when I heard the sound of boots approaching my door. I knew it was Konstantin.While my body eagerly anticipated seeing him, my head hoped he was just passing by. I stood where I was. I could see the shadow of his boots where they blocked the flicker of light from the hallway.
Why is he just standing there?
I didn’t move until I heard the sound of his retreating movement faded into silence.
I didn’t feel as indifferent about it as I’d thought I would.
**********
The manor has its rhythm, one I was beginning to fall into without intention. Breakfast was always early, lunch was mostly arbitrary, and dinner was whenever the ‘boss’ arrived. Although Greta said Konstantin gave her orders to make whatever I want whenever I want it, I never made any request. It was still not my house, and this life wasn’t one I would ever get used to.
It seemed winter took a short break this morning. The weather explained my wearing a lighter cardigan over my white tee and joggers. I heard Konstantin bark orders at someone a few minutes ago, so I knew he had left the house. I ventured downstairs, despite the two men who practically shadowed me.
Standing on the half-landing, I looked over the large living room. Truth be told, it was a beautiful space, just like every part of the house that I'd seen. The rectangular dining room was to the right of the entrance double doors, and looking to the right, there was the large sitting room. The couches wrapped freely around the glass center table, and the large television hung on the wall facing the table. To the far left of the television were two doors, while another door was along the wall facing the television. I could always ask Hans or any other person around what was behind the doors, but I had no reason to.
“Good morning, ma’am,” Greta enthused, stepping out of the kitchen and into the dining room. “I was about to send your breakfast up. I thought you might want to have it in your room.”
“Oh, no. I just wanted to take my time a bit this morning.”
“Okay, ma'am. I’ll serve your food now,” she said as I walked towards the dining table.
A young, pale-skinned lady came out of the kitchen just as Greta turned around.
“Ah,” Greta mentioned, turning around to face me again. “Ma’am. This is Anna. She’s my main assistant in the kitchen.”
“Good morning, ma’am,” Anna greeted, stepping forward with a shy smile.
“Good morning, Anna.”
She was about two feet taller than Greta, but her petite frame contrasted with the older woman’s plump figure. She had a blonde ponytail on her head, and her dark brown eyes were calm.
With her hands at her back, she said, “It's nice to finally meet you, ma’am. Most of us are absent on Sundays, and I had to handle something yesterday, so I just resumed for the week today.”
She might be shy, but I had a feeling she talked a lot.
“Greta said so. It’s nice to meet you, too, Anna.”
