The mansion felt quieter than usual today, a palpable tension hanging in the air. I couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to happen, something big. The place had a way of whispering its secrets to me in the silence between footsteps and the creaks of old furniture.
I had barely set foot in the kitchen when Madam Stella's voice called from the hallway, "Kaitlyn! I need you in the west wing."
Her tone was brisk, leaving no room for questions. I swallowed my nerves and set down the broom. The west wing of the mansion was off-limits to me, and I wasn't sure what I would find there. I had learned to never ask questions when it came to Madam Stella, her answers were always half-truths at best.
As I stepped into the hallway, I nearly collided with Elias. He was walking toward the staircase, his sharp eyes locking onto mine for a split second before he quickly looked away.
"Careful," he said curtly, his voice icy as ever.
I nodded silently, avoiding his gaze. I wasn't sure if I should feel anger, guilt, or something else entirely. The betrayal I had witnessed between him and his fiancée, which still gnawed at my conscience, made it hard to breathe around him. Yet, there he was, carrying his stoic façade like a shield, just as distant as he'd been since that night.
I brushed past him without saying a word, making my way toward the west wing. It was as if the entire house had been holding its breath, waiting for something to shift. I couldn't ignore the heavy sense of unease pressing against my chest.
Madam Stella was waiting for me by a closed door. "You're going to help with a special task today," she said, her expression unreadable. "You won't question it. Understand?"
I nodded, though the words stuck in my throat. Every instinct screamed at me to ask more, but I knew better. I had to play my part, or this job would slip through my fingers.
She turned the handle and opened the door, revealing a long hallway lined with old portraits. At the end of it was a large, locked door. I had never been this far before.
"This is the family's private office. They don't like outsiders, and they certainly don't like anyone snooping around," she said, her voice low and serious. "But they want something fixed in there. You'll clean it up and stay out of their way. Do your job, and you'll be fine."
I nodded, a lump forming in my throat. What exactly was I about to get myself into?
I stepped inside, the heavy scent of old books and wood overwhelming me. It looked like a study from another time, dusty, neglected, yet undeniably grand. There were papers scattered across the desk, books piled high on the shelves, and the remnants of a shattered glass on the floor.
As I bent down to clean the broken glass, I heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps approaching. My heart jumped into my throat, and before I could stand up, Elias's voice cut through the air.
"Why are you in here?" he asked, his tone as sharp as ever.
I stiffened, trying to hide my panic. "I...i was just cleaning," I stammered, straightening up to face him.
His gaze was unwavering as he took a step toward me, his eyes flickering over the mess in the room. "This is my family's private space. You shouldn't be here," he said, his voice tinged with something I couldn't place. Anger? Disappointment?
"I didn't mean to intrude," I replied quietly, avoiding his gaze. I wasn't sure what to say. The air between us was thick with unspoken words.
Elias seemed to soften, just slightly, before he spoke again, his tone quieter now. "Madam Stella gave you this task, didn't she?"
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "She's tricky. She uses people like pawns. Be careful," he warned, before turning toward the door. He paused before leaving, his voice softer. "And Kaitlyn…"
I looked up, heart pounding.
"Stay out of trouble," he said, then walked out of the room, leaving me alone with the mess.
His words echoed in my mind. Stay out of trouble.
I wasn't sure if he meant it as a warning or something else, but the weight of it lingered. The connection between us however strained was undeniable, and with each passing day, it only seemed to grow more complicated.
I finished cleaning the study in silence, my thoughts tangled in a web of confusion. What was Elias's real story? Why had he been so distant? And why had he seemed almost… concerned?
As I walked back down the hallway, the mansion felt different. The walls seemed to close in on me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something, someone, was watching me.
The questions about Elias and this house, the secrets buried deep within it, began to eat away at me. I couldn't help but wonder what lay ahead. Was there a place for someone like me here? Or would I be swallowed up by the shadows of the mansion, just another forgotten soul? I thought about these things while I walked in a calculated fast pace.