Chapter 55

Four days passed, filled with trips to the hospital and sneaking into Mr. Cesar's study, which was full of books on administration. But what I enjoyed most was reading The Art and War of Business. I think that was my style—less technical, with fewer strange words; it was more personal… On the other hand, Mr. Cesar still hadn’t arrived, nor had he called. It wasn’t really my business, but… wasn’t it at least normal for someone to call to say how they were doing? It was making me nervous, so as I read my book in the office, I kept glancing at the phone.

"What if I call…? It’s not like I’d be bothering him. It’s just a way to check if he’s okay, and he hasn’t bothered to report in either…" I stood up, unable to concentrate. I approached the phone, feeling both fearful and impulsive. I quickly picked it up and dialed before I could change my mind. The phone rang… and rang… and my heart started pounding. What on earth was I going to ask him? Did I want to know if it was true that I was the first woman to sleep in his room? Or maybe I just wanted to know more about him; people said so many things about him. Or maybe I just had too many questions that even I couldn’t answer.

"Yes, Belle, what’s going on?" When I heard his voice, something inside me awakened. I swallowed hard, trying to calm myself.

"H-Hello…? How… are you?" I asked, uncomfortable in a silence that felt very strange. Did I want to know where he was? Why hadn’t he arrived yet? Or maybe I just wanted to hear his voice.

"I… I just wanted to—"

"Cesar, hang up already, the meeting is about to start." My words froze as I heard that voice; something clicked in my mind. What am I doing? Of course Belladona would be with him.

"I’m sorry for calling!"

"What? Wait!" I quickly hung up, my heart pounding. I had made a terrible mistake. How could I have thought to call him? I was acting as if I were… I shook off those thoughts, grabbed my book, and hurried out of the room.

♡

I finished organizing Mr. Cesar's room, feeling disappointed in myself for my actions the other day. Three days had passed since that incident, and I think I had crossed a line. I still hadn’t received any response from Mr. Keylef. I sighed, looking at the elegance of the room. Mr. Cesar had a very distinct Victorian style; he was like a gentleman in appearance but a barbarian without feelings inside. I sat in his desk chair and let out a sigh.

"I think I miss him a little…" It was crazy to think that, I suppose… I slumped over the desk, wondering what he was doing with that woman. Maybe he wanted to get back together with her. If that was the case, why was he keeping me here… I could study in my cabin. It didn’t make any sense…

Suddenly, something brushed against my leg with a jump. I looked down under the table, and of course, Guillier had escaped from his home. I sighed and smiled. But the slippery little creature managed to evade me again.

"Guillier! Stop running away from me!" I saw him jump onto the bed and then perch on the phone. I stood frozen, almost as if he were giving me a sign. I quickly caught him and whispered.

"You thought I was stupid… you sneaky little thing." I placed him in his glass enclosure, watching as he settled on his little stone. I looked at the phone, and angrily, I walked towards it with determination. Of course I wasn’t stupid; I wasn’t going to let these questions consume my daily life. I picked up the phone, and as I dialed, I heard the door open. Startled, the phone slipped from my hands. When I looked up, I saw Mr. Cesar's aunt, Hilda, staring at me coldly.

"G-Good afternoon, Mrs. Hilda," I stammered. Joffre arrived behind her, looking tense and worried. I pretended to finish tidying up the place and said.

"The room is ready, Mr. Joffre. I’ll take my leave now." I gave a slight bow, but then I heard the woman speak.

"You think I'm stupid…? Just by looking at you, it’s clear you’re not a simple employee. What were you doing in Cesar’s room?" I looked at Joffre, who shook his head at me.

"I…"

"Don’t lie to me, girl. Believe me, you don’t want to make an enemy out of me."

"Mr. Cesar asked me to wait for him here."

"And you had the audacity to accept? Do you not know your place, you vulgar child?"

"I didn’t…—" Before I could respond, she slapped me, causing me to touch my aching cheek.

"Listen to me, and let this be the last time I have to repeat it, you wretched girl… You won’t get anything from my nephew, not a single cent. And let me tell you, pregnancy isn’t in the cards either. I want you to pack up your filthy belongings and return to the dump you came from." She opened Mr. Cesar’s wardrobe and threw all the women’s clothing at me.

"What a shameless hussy… slowly worming your way into a good place. Do you think I don’t know your kind, looking for a big prize to latch onto? Have you slept with him already? Tell me, you wretched girl." I looked at her, on the verge of tears.

"It was just work…"

"Work? Do you think I'm stupid, girl? Do I look like an idiot to you…? Sleeping in your master’s room, sneaking in at night with him, I’ve been told everything. But the reality is that you’re just a cunning social climber. And your good luck has run out… say goodbye to your queenly life." She grabbed me by the hair, dragging me towards the exit.

"Ahhh! Please, let me go…"

"Miss Hilda, please… there’s no need for this," Joffre begged as he saw me crying.

"You, be quiet, Joffre. You’re just an accomplice in my nephew’s foolishness. But this ends right now."

Everyone was watching me, some with shame and others with satisfaction. The humiliation of being thrown out like a miserable thief was the most degrading experience I had ever gone through—not because I hadn’t experienced something similar before, or because there were so many people, but because I was being thrown out for something I wasn’t… It was as if the most valuable thing I had, my dignity, had been trampled on. Tears welled up in my eyes as everything passed in slow motion. I fell to the ground, and then my belongings were thrown all over the place.

"And don’t come back… or I’ll call the police. And I don’t think that pretty face of yours will last long in prison." The gates closed, and as best I could, I gathered my clothes while crying uncontrollably.