Tense Atmosphere
Rachel
I woke up the next morning feeling exhausted, but I couldn't blame the mattress for it; after all, it was quite comfortable, I had to admit. Despite the room being small and shared with Lindsay, everything was neat and pleasant. Our beds were of excellent quality and provided a comfortable rest.
There was a small but well-equipped bathroom with various personal hygiene items, towels, and soft robes, although it was our responsibility to take care of our own bedding and bath items, as well as our clothes, of course.
Initially, I was somewhat indignant about this situation and tried to convince Lindsay to take care of this part when we arrived at Enrico's house, but she wasn't swayed by my weak arguments.
“Those who don't know, learn, Rachel,” she said, ignoring my sour expression. “ I've realized, from everything that's happened since we met, that you were someone with a lot of money and a good life. But that's changed, hasn't it?”
I didn't respond, just stayed sulky and angry about the subject, hating to be reminded that I was no longer an heiress. I was about to let her talk to herself when she gently held my arm, her face reflecting a genuine expression of affection.
“You can't run away every time the topic is unpleasant, Rachel," she said with a gentle voice. "I saw my mother avoid it all her life, and in the end, her worst enemies were inside her head. Those words piqued my curiosity, but I would never admit that I wanted to hear that story. I had my issues to deal with before I could help anyone.
“You're going to learn how to do laundry and all those things” I couldn't help but grimace “Don't make that face! I'm sure when you're rich again, it will still be useful. Knowledge, whatever it may be, is always good, don't you agree?”
“I don't agree,” I said, unable to suppress a smile.
“But you'll learn anyway!”
Lindsay, with her always playful and fun demeanor, could be a tyrant too. She made me do various things I didn't like, but after so much insistence on her part, I did them, if only to get her off my back.
Several weeks had passed since then, and that morning, the first thing I did was put some clothes in the washing machine in the vast and well-organized utility room, equipped with all the necessary appliances, as if it were something I did regularly.
After setting the machine for laundry, I decided to go have breakfast. I was hungry, and only then did I realize that I hadn't eaten dinner the night before. As I approached the kitchen, I could hear laughter coming from the room, and I immediately recognized Enrico's voice.
— So, did you guys go to the summer festival yesterday?
Enrico's question seemed directed at Lindsay and the two other employees who accompanied her. I heard Lindsay confirm that the event had been wonderful. The atmosphere in the kitchen seemed friendly and lively, and I deduced that even Joseph, who was usually grumpy, must also be present as if they all formed a large and noisy family.
I felt discomfort in my stomach just imagining the scene, but I concluded it must be revulsion. After all, it was absurd that such a rich and internationally famous man, recognized as one of the greatest race car drivers of today, was having breakfast in the kitchen at home with the employees, people from a completely different reality. There was no other explanation for my unease because I would never envy such a situation. In my home, the distinction between us and the servants was clear, and my mother would never accept a situation like the one I was witnessing at that moment.
Perhaps my father had a closer relationship with subordinates in his company, but that was limited to the workplace. Despite completely disagreeing with what was happening, I continued to listen behind the door, making sure no one could see me and discover that I was secretly spying on them.
Of course, Joseph, always surely, was the first to put an end to that touching and ridiculous scene by saying he intended to go to his room. Lindsay, being the excellent employee she always tried to be, offered to accompany him to his quarters, even though he didn't depend on any of us to get around.
The old man was always unpleasant! I had to hurry back to the house's laundry room, desperate not to be caught in the hallway. Fortunately, they didn't see me.
When I finished washing my clothes, I felt lonely and completely isolated from everyone in the house. I wondered if feeling this way was normal or if I was just a very needy person who needed to always be surrounded by people to quell that cruel feeling.
Perhaps I have always been a needy person. Maybe that explains why I did so many things that people abhor. I don't know. I don't understand. I also don't accept it.
The truth is, I always received more attention from my parents than Sarah did because I always demanded more, reflecting on my childhood and adolescence. Now I realize that didn't necessarily mean they liked me more than her.
To be completely honest with myself, my mother never gave us much attention, of us. Even when she sent nannies to take me away from her, I was still there, demanding her attention, making me feel closer to her.
When I became old enough to no longer need nannies, I sought her out myself, without relying on others to intercede for me. However, she always sent me away, claiming she was busy, and that she needed to take care of herself to continue pleasing my father, or else he would replace her with someone else. She always used the same excuse.
Now, reflecting on it - as there wasn't much else to do at that moment - I concluded that my mother was, in fact, a woman obsessed with my father, living exclusively for him, something bordering on unhealthy obsession. When I realized that my mother treated me much better in the presence of my father, I began to use it to my advantage. Since he always fulfilled all my desires, I made sure they were always together so that I could have the attention of both, and, above all, the love of my parents. When my mother started asking me to do things, I always did them, feeling that this way, she loved me more and more. This led me to lie to my father, even after discovering the secrets my mother kept.
Meanwhile, Sarah lived in her enchanted world of books, hoping to find her true love, someone with whom she would lose her virginity, get married, and have children. I abhorred her for that. And loved her in equal measure.
When my mother passed away, I realized that I only had my father now. I understood that he could leave us at any moment in search of the great love of his life. With these thoughts in mind, I went to Mary Graham. I intended to turn her against my father and torment her with the truth about her children, my siblings. I was also on a desperate quest to find someone to blame for my mother's premature death when in reality, no one was at fault.
While everyone knows there are risks involved in undergoing plastic surgery in the relentless pursuit of eternal youth, my mother didn't care about that. Her only concern was to keep my father by her side, and I supported her in everything to ensure the unity of our family. It was after a surgical procedure that she ended up passing away.
Now, I was alone, with few resources and no allure. Furthermore, I ran the risk of being dismissed from this unpleasant job if Enrico came to demand explanations about why I was in his room, as invading his privacy was not part of my duties. It was better not to think about it now and try to avoid any encounter between us in the coming days, although it was a complicated task when we lived under the same roof, and I took care of his father.
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