Know You’re Place
“Someone wrote the word BITCH here. I’m telling you, I saw it with my own eyes. They wrote it here. It’s just here.” I pointed Insistently. “Am I supposed to have just eliminated it? I’m not making this up. Why would I make it up? It was written right here. B–I–T–C–H. In small little capital letters, right here at the corner.”
I looked toward Emerson, but there was no reaction on his face. “Emerson, seriously, why would I make this up? And why would someone scratch it? You told me it’s brand new. So, are you telling me I just scratched it by myself? Who scratched it?”
“Calm down,” Emerson interrupted softly, stepping towards me with his usual calmness. He placed a steadying hand on my shoulder.
“Calm down, Mia. Take a deep breath. Just breathe.”
I exhaled slowly, watching him, needing him to believe me, to believe what I saw. And finally, he said,
“I believe you.”
I sighed with relief.
“You would never do that.” Emerson continued, “It’s not in your behaviour, not in your character.”
“Emerson, why would anyone even do it in the first place? I know I didn’t make it up, and we both know this desk is brand new. I just got here….”
“And you don’t have any motive. You just got to this house. Why would you make all this up? You know everybody in this house.”
“You’re right. I don’t have any reason to make something like this up. And everyone in this house knows that. That’s why I was so angry and so mad. Because why would someone write that here? I mean, ever since I came here, I haven’t done anything to deserve this.”
Emerson nodded. “Yes, I know. That’s why I believe you, you’re so upset. No one should be made to feel this way.”
Mia. I understand why
I exhaled, grateful for his understanding. “Thank you, because a minute ago, I really thought you didn’t believe me, that maybe you thought I was seeing things. Eric never believed me in anything, you know? If I said something and a stranger said the opposite, he’d side with them every time. I’m just not used to people having my back.
Know You’re Place
+25 BONUS
Emerson’s voice was firm. “Mia, you can trust that I’ll always be here for you. I’ll have your back, no matter what. Just be real and truthful with me. Be honest.”
“Of course, I will.” I stepped into his arms, and he held me tightly, reassuringly. But as I stood there, safe in his embrace, that nagging feeling returned. Why would someone write that?
“Why would someone write that?” I asked Emerson, my voice steady but probing.” In order to keep… what, control? To scare me, keep me from you? Why would someone do that?” I stared straight into his eyes, refusing to look away. “Is there something I should know? Just tell me now.
Emerson’s eyes held mine, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them before he finally released me from his arms. And I could tell, at that moment, that there was something bigger here……something playing in the background, maybe at secret I wasn’t privy to.
“What is it?” I pressed,
We stood there in silence for a few moments, the air thick with words left unsaid, when suddenly there was a knock on the door.
We both turned toward the sound as it knocked again.
“Come in,” I called out.
Rose entered, her face unusually guarded. “Madame. Sir,” she said, acknowledging me formally, and there was an unfamiliar look in her eyes.
Madame, she had called me. I was finally a “Madame” to Rose, yet she wore an expression I’d never seen before.
“I’m sorry to interrupt, but can I talk to you, Miss Mina?” Her voice was careful, controlled. I was caught off guard, but I raised an eyebrow, keeping my tone cool.
“What’s this about? I’m kind of busy here right now.”
“I’m sorry,” she added, “but could we talk privately, please?”
Emerson glanced between us, clearly eager to make a quick exit. “I’ll leave you two to it,” he said, maybe a bit too quickly, and made his way out.
I let him go without another word, not wanting Rose to see any hint of tension between us. As the door closed behind him, turned to Rose, standing there expectantly.
Know You’re Place
+25 BONUS
“What is it, Rose?” I asked, adding a spice of irritation to my voice.
She hesitated, then spoke. “I’m here to apologize,” she announced, surprising me again.
There was a look of remorse on her face. Unexpected, almost shocking.
“Apologize?” I asked, acting confused. “Apologize for what exactly?”
Rose continued, looking down as if she were shy and humble, but I knew she wasn’t. If she had the audacity to say what she said down in the kitchen, then this apology was nothing more than a formality. She was probably forced into it.
“I’m sorry for the way I talked to you earlier,” she started. “Thomas talked to me, and I was given a notice. If I ever misspeak with you again, I could lose my job and might even face charges for it. I really need this job, and I don’t want to have a record of me. That’s why… I’m apologizing.”
“Okay, so let me get this straight,” I said, folding my arms. “You’re not apologizing because what you did was wrong, something that any decent person with common sense would know. You’re apologizing because of your job. Is that what you’re saying? So, if I were just another maid, someone like you, you would have felt justified in talking to me about things you had no right to say. Just because you think you’re entitled to an opinion doesn’t mean you have the right to insult others, especially when you’re wrong.”
She looked up at me, her eyes wary. “I know,” she replied.
“It’s Ms. Mina to you. We are not friends; we are not ‘besties.‘ I am your employer and your boss.” I might have sounded harsh, but I suspected she was the one who had scratched the desk, and I had no intention of letting her get away with anything.
“Ms. Mina,” she corrected herself, a hint of redness in her cheeks. “I apologize, and I promise that will never happen again. My job depends on your forgiveness. Please don’t say a word to Emerson.”
“It’s Mr. Blackwind to you,” I corrected.
“Yes, sorry. Mr. Blackwind,” she repeated, monrentarily flustered.
I stayed silent for a beat, letting her wait. I wanted her to remember every second of this moment, to think twice before doing anything petty again, whether it was spiking my coffee or scratching anything that belonged to me.
Finally, I said.
Know Youre Plon
+25 BONUS
“You’re forgiven. It wasn’t even the biggest issue I had. But the good thing is, now
, and you know who I am. I do not expect any more stunts
you understand your
from here on out.”
