Chapter five

Layla

I got home feeling extremely exhausted both mind and body, from the stress I had endured from the Lockwoods. It really is as I’ve thought them to be, powerful, manipulative, dubious, yet, something about Victor was just calling out to me, to my blood, I wonder if he ever felt it too, or probably that was the reason why I was chosen? Because even though he said he chose me because of my family’s current condition, I actually still want to believe that there was something more, something he experienced whilst we were together, because I don’t want to be the only one feeling this way, I don’t think there’s ever gonna be a happy ending to that.

I thought back to the point when we were in the dark room and he was so close to me, gosh, I had no will of my own at that point, it was like I was being pulled in by a much stronger force into a deep dark never ending pit, it was scary yet exciting, oh, the rush… but thank goodness that maid he respected so much came on time, I really don’t want to imagine what could have happened should I lose control and throw myself at him. It is clear to me now why he is such a playboy as well known by everyone, if all or most girls feel this way around him, then damn, I can’t really blame him.

“Mum!!! Layla is finally back” Landon yelled immediately I entered the living room and right after, my mother came out of the dining in a hurry with a look of worry and relief all over her face.

“Oh my goodness Layla, I thought something had happened to you, if not for Landon here I was ready to go to the police station” she said then as if suddenly remembering something she dashed back to the dining and I could hear her on the phone reassuring someone on the other end that I was back safely. She came back out slowly and more relaxed now, but the worry on her face wasn’t gone yet.

“Is there something I should know dearie? How did the interview go? And is that where you were all day? Are you okay?” she barraged me with questions whilst holding my hand in hers and looking into my eyes, my watery eyes that threatened to start dripping with tears.

Should I tell her what happened at the Lockwood’s mansion? Do I want to tell her? Yes, but is telling her really the right thing? Well probably, but No, I won’t tell her, she would only get really scared the more and would most definitely stop me from going to work for Victor and the Lockwoods in the mansion. She had always been wary of rich people, just as I am, especially since my Dad’s death slash murder, deep down, she believes it was the work of those that they were involved in business together, the company he co owned, all the others were filthy rich, emphasis on the filthy, but Dad was from humble beginnings, he was just ‘ok’ in terms of having wealth, and he was a man of integrity, unlike his colleagues and that made them fight a lot as Dad would tell us about it.

“Uhm… I’m fine mom, there wasn’t any issue, there was just a lot of people there for the job as well and the interview itself started a bit late” I lied, unable to look her back in the eyes, she just stood there and looked at me for a while, I finally brought my eyes to meet hers back and pulled up an ‘I’m ok’ expression.

“Oh, c’mon mom, what is it? Don’t you believe me? I swear I really was at the interview and I’m just coming back from there” I said trying to reassure her worried and confused look.

“Oh dear, of course I believe you, its just that, you got me so worried, I know you don’t just do things without a reasonable explanation” she said and started to feel and look better, unworried so to speak.

“I’m sorry to worry you mom” I said and hugged her, I was feeling terribly guilty for lying to her about the state of things and what went down at the Lockwoods.

“Alright then let’s go have dinner, I managed to salvage some of our remaining provisions to whip up something, I didn’t get the extra shift for the third time in a row now, but I’m sure I’ll get it next time, so I can get us groceries and we can eat something better” mom said while leading me to the dinning and I could sense a bit of dejection in her voice despite how she tried to hide it, that decided for me.

“Oh? Did I suddenly become invisible here people?” Landon said with a snarky demeanor and I turned to stick out my tongue to him to which he rolled his eyes and stuck out his own tongue as well.

“Oh c’mon you mouse, of course you’re not invisible, ok, come here” Mom said and dragged him along by the hand as well and we all went to the dinning. The table was set, no doubt by Landon because everything was wrong with the arrangements, that probably happened because Mom was too busy worrying about me and calling random people to inquire about my whereabouts.

“I got the job” I said into the silence as we ate, I had decided to do something to the state of our living, dubious or not, Victor was right, we can’t survive much longer in this state, and it would be wrong to end up selling the house, it is the only thing left that my father really achieved in his lifetime, so I’m going to work for Victor, just to get us back on our feet, then to save up enough to make sure they we wouldn’t ever be in such a strife filled existence ever again, and then I’m out, probably to finish college or start up my dream business.

Mom and Landon looked at me for a few short seconds like I was teasing them or something, then they saw that I was serious. “Oh my goodness! Layla! Why didn’t you say that at first and waited till we were eating?! That is such great news I might not eat again, oh wow, you got the job?!” mum said and stood from her seat to come hug me from the back while I was still seated.

“I knew you might do that, get all excited and stop eating, but then it’s true, I got it despite being the least likely of all to get chosen” I said smiling, it was a sad smile but I really hoped it looked happy to my family, we really needed to have a win in our lives, even if it’ll come from serving rich and dubious folks.

“Good one sis, I’m really happy for you, I never doubted you one bit” Landon said and brought out a party hat that he must have made by himself.

“Uhm, thanks Lan, but why does the hat say ‘better luck next time’?” I replied him smirking at his comical theatrics.

“Oh shii… sorry wrong hat” he said all comically flustered as he brought out another one and this one said ‘You Suck, but They Suck Even More’. I and my mom burst out laughing, he had definitely doubted that I could get the job for him to have made two consolation hats.

“Sorry sis” he said with a sheepish grin as he put the “suck” hat on my head, “On the bright side, this particular sentence is still kinda true even though you still got the job, you suck, but they definitely suck more, wealthy creeps that they are” Landon said in his defense.

“Lan!” mom chided him “Stop that now, and your sister does not suck, she blows” mom said in an awesome comeback that definitely sounded naughty and dirty but we all laughed anyways.

“And I’m happy to inform you both, that this is our last meal as paupers, from now on, we’ll be eating well, not just sustenance” I said as I brought out the envelope and placed it on the table. Mom looked at it suspiciously for a few seconds before reaching for it, her gasp mirrored mine when I had initially checked out the contents as well.

“Oh my goodness what is…” Mom was asking but I quickly cut in with the lie I knew she’d believe, “It’s my advance, I asked for it seeing as we needed it direly” I said, I needed to get out all the lies I was gonna tell now, just to cover up so mom can allow me to go work there without being too suspicious of any foul play, there is too much at stake if I ended up not working for the Lockwoods.

Mom was satisfied with that at least and with tears in her eyes she showed Landon the contents of the envelope and he whistled his own surprise. “Just how much would your full salary be if this is just an advance” he asked. I shrugged in reply seriously needing the topic to change.

“So uhm, mom, I’m to resume tomorrow with my belongings because I’ll be living with my employers, it’s a live-in job with breaks every now and then” I said finally getting the chance to change the topic.

“What? You’ll be living with the Lockwoods now?” mom asked and she wiped her tears off, leaving a surprised look mixed with a bit of sadness.

“Yes mom, it is a full time job” I replied her, then I prompted her to go seat back down so she can continue eating but she did not continue with her food.

“So I won’t get to see you anymore once you start working there?” she asked looking at me with a sadder expression now.

“Mom, c’mon don’t be sad, I promise to visit you guys from time to time, all my breaks and day offs will be with you guys, it’s for the best yunno” I said still feeling so bad about the whole thing, I don’t really know about breaks and day offs in all honesty, but I’d have to work something out with Victor, even if there isn’t for the other maids, he has to give me some days off, it’s not a prison after all and even if they run it like one, I refuse to be another prisoner of theirs.

“Don’t worry mom, I’ll take care of you while sis is away okay?” Landon said, stretching his hand to hold hers and mom as well stretched hers to hold mine and I completed the cycle by holding Landon’s too.

“Aww, thanks for that bro, but you got a lotta things to learn for you to be capable of doing that, for instance, setting the table, who in the world doesn’t know how to set a table?!” I said laughing out loud and mom joined in the laughter, he removed his hands from the link and folded them across his chest while pouting.

“Gosh, sis you don’t have to call me out like that, besides, that is a lady’s job” he said still pouting like a kid who was denied his toy.

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry” I said still laughing, his expression made it all the more funny, and even mom was still laughing.

“So can we just have fun tonight as a family and forget the fact that I’ll be leaving tomorrow?” I asked with tears in my eyes, both from the laughing and my emotions.

“Sure” “Okay” Landon and Mom said at the same time and laughed.

Landon took a few notes from the cash and dashed to a nearby store to get celebratory wine and cake and we played music and had a Vance family mini party.