Chapter 32

"I had a piggy bank and I saved a lot of money there. The money was meant to cater to my needs after I ran away. I was going to get a small apartment in the ghetto, still, babysit and work at the restaurant, and go to college but, it was stolen by one or the both of them".

"I had and I still have so many plans for my life. My parents have broken me and killed most of my dreams".

"On the day of my escape from the house (she continued talking), I sustained lots of injuries. This was because they locked me inside. It seemed like they knew I was running away that day. I jumped out of the window 💔. "

"Yesterday, I received a threat message from my stepmom".
I picked up my phone and showed the message to him. He hugged me so tightly and it was just what I needed at the time.

"No one can hurt you now".
"You are safe with me".
He kept saying those words to me and they did soothe me. I believed I was safe.

I held him tightly and buried my face in the crook of his neck.

"They deprived me of so much", I said, still crying

"We'll bounce back together, I promise. I promise to fix you. To be everything you want, if you let me", he said to me.

I let him have me the moment he made sweet love to me. I turned to look at him and muttered a soft thank you.
He kept touching my hair soothingly. No one had ever made me feel safe in a very long time. I didn't want to leave his arms. I loved what I was feeling.

"Let's do something fun today. Something to destress and make you feel better. Anything you want. We could go shopping. I could cook for you. We could go on a trip right now", he said to me sounding so excited.

He was putting effort into making me feel better. And I appreciated every bit of it but, I wasn't in the mood.

"I'll go take a shower now, in my room, and head to the kitchen too. You should do the same and come downstairs for breakfast", I said smiling.

I didn't forget that I was a maid and it was still my duty to serve him. Even though we became naked and vulnerable with each other, I was still meant to clean and cook for him.

He smiled back and said, "Okay ma", sarcastically.

I walked away from him with my clothes on and headed to my room. Immediately I stepped foot in my room, I sat on my bed and cried. Who would go through the things I went through and still come out tough. I didn't give myself enough credit.

I took off my clothes and stepped into the shower. I let the water flow from my hair down till it reached my toes. The lukewarm water started oozing out, sending shivers down my spine and I calmed myself letting it absorb into my skin.
I let my thoughts take over and automatically began my shower routine. I adjusted my head back to wash the soap out of my hair, I stared at the ceiling.

I stepped out of the bathroom and dressed up in a jean skirt and big shirt. I headed to the kitchen after applying my cologne.
I decided to make pancakes for Frederick and me.

"You are right on time", I said to him as he walked into the kitchen.

He smiled and left the kitchen. I served him pancakes with a glass of milk. We ate in silence. I wasn't in the mood to talk. Besides, I had nothing to say to him yet.

We headed to the living room together to Netflix and chill. Then, there was a knock on the door.
"That should be Lois", he said to me. I had not seen Lois since last night though. I stood up to get to the door. I opened the door to see a man and woman.

"Good morning", I said to them.

"Where's my son", the woman asked. I quickly opened the door to let them in.

"Not again. What's with all these unannounced visits. Is everything okay?"I heard Frederick ask his parents.

It didn't seem like he had the best relationship with his parents. If that was the case, we both didn't have parents to rely on then. At least, we had one thing in common.

I excused myself to go to the kitchen and carry out maid duties. I washed the plates and cleaned up the spot where I mixed the pancake. I brought out a can of two juices from the fridge and poured them into a clean cup for Frederick's parents.

I smiled at his parents when I served the juice. The only person that reciprocated the smile was his dad.

"Who is she?"I heard his mother ask.

He looked at me for a while and got up from his seat.
"This is Kharis Carter, she's my maid. Ma Cleopatra brought her here as a replacement", he answered.

Was he embarrassed? Scared of introducing me as his maid? I was nothing more to him so why the hesitation. As soon as I heard them switch the
topic from me to Ma Cleopatra, I walked away into the kitchen.
I began listening to music and compiling some ingredients for dinner. While I was at it, I saw Frederick walk in and stood close to me.

"Hey", he said.
I wondered what he was doing here.

"Have your parents gone already?'' I asked.

"No, they are still here. I told my dad about your pancakes. Could you make one plate for him?, He asked me.

"Of course, I can. That's my job. I am the maid", I said.
I wished he wouldn't treat me differently after last night. I was still a maid and I would have appreciated it if he treated me like one. One night with your boss doesn't change anything right?

"Is everything okay?"he asked me.

"Yes sir, everything is okay", I answered and started gathering ingredients for the pancake.
Immediately I was done, I served the pancake and muttered a "bon appetit" with a smile to Frederick's dad.

I walked upstairs to my room to pick up the novel I had been reading and headed back downstairs to the kitchen, just in case my attention was needed.
I watched the whole drama between Frederick and his mother, and I couldn't help but laugh at some point.

Immediately Frederick walked back into the kitchen after escorting his parents out, I asked, "do you have a girlfriend".

He looked at me for a while and said "no".

He began walking up to me, then he held my waist and asked "what's wrong".

"Nothing, I said. "You have never brought a woman home or spoken about it".

He sighed and kissed me on my forehead before retiring back to his bedroom.