Mariah led me to a dimly lit room where other women wearing her kind of uniform gathered with other girls. When we entered, all eyes were on me, I don't know if it's because of my outfit, my face or my family name or maybe be all. They all backed away and started whispering among themselves, not that I cared anyway (maybe I cared a little, just a little).
But then a girl ran to me crying, she couldn't have been more than 5 or 6. She hid at the back of my leg as if she was hiding from someone.
"What's your name?" I asked softly crouching down on my knees to look at her in the eyes "Su Mei" she muttered and there was a distant sound as if someone was slashing a whip through the air "please don't tell her I'm here" her voice broke "who?" I asked her "her" she pointed weakly to the door but I didn't see anyone. I looked around, everyone was staring at Su Mei with unconcealed distate which got me mad for a reason "hey what are you guys looking at?" I snapped and they averted their gazes.
Su Mei suddenly cowered and I got my answer. A woman with malicious eyes entered the room with a whip in her right hand and a necklace in the other. Another woman followed her, this one looked older with a calm aura but I knew better than to be fooled by that, something about her stern eyes reminded me of my mom. "Mei" the first woman thundered and all eyes fell on me, she stepped towards us but the other woman held her hand "what is your name?" she directed her question to me "Jasmine Brown" I replied simply "Jasmine Brown, hmm your mom has told me quite a lot about you" I had a feeling it wasn't all good.
She kept staring at me until the woman with the whip lost her patience "handover Mrs. Bryan's maid" she spat "maid?" That was when I noticed that the symbol on the uniforms of the women that brought the ladies in, the woman holding a whip, and the little girl hiding behind me are all the same, the only difference is that under badge of the women, the word attendant was boldly printed in red ink (there's that stupid color again), Head maid was boldly printed on the uniform of the second woman and on the uniform of my little friend hiding behind me, Maid was boldly printed.
What? "How will this girl be a maid? She's barely 5" I said exasperated "6 actually" Su Mei whispered and I turned to her with raised eyebrows "for your own good, keep quiet and let me handle this" I whispered back "she's madam's property" the woman said. I glanced at Mrs. Bryan she didn't seem like the type but hey it's not written on the face.
"Property? It's not like you bought her or something" "actually I did" "then why do people talk about you like an honorable person meanwhile you're just a woman who pretends to be a governess when in actual fact you use small children as maids" I spat in anger. The ladies in the room gasped and some whispered frantically while giving me incredulous looks "I would control my words if I were you young lady" Mrs. Bryan threatened with a strange glint in her eyes and to be honest, I almost lost my resolve but then the first woman cracked her whip and my anger returned.
"how much?" I asked through gritted teeth "how much for what?" I couldn't bring myself to say how much did you buy her so I pointed at Su Mei "hundred thousand dollars" "only?" Mrs. Bryan looked surprised but she replied "yes" "fine then, what is your account number?" the woman with the whip called it for me and I brought out my phone and did a quick transfer of $200,000. "The remaining hundred thousand dollars is for her upkeep for the past I don't know years you've had her"
I grabbed Su Mei's hand and was about to walk out of the room when Mrs. Bryan called me back. "The first training lesson for the governess program is by 9:00 am on Monday, don't be late" I scowled "look, I don't know what my mom may have told you nor do I want to know but let me clarify something, I was never interested, I am not interested and I will never be interested in being a governess. So forget you ever met me, forget the possibility of having me as a student because it's never going to happen" I paused then turned my attention to girls in the room (well, ladies since they were about my age), they all wore large ball gowns, gloves, heavy make-up and large hairdos but totally they looked like something I'd call: good children.
That sucks by the way, take it from me I have experience. It's horrible because no matter how hard you try, you're never enough, they'll keep pushing you till you break, till you get to a moment in your life and you realize that you don't have a life and that you'll never ever be perfect for them. Luckily for me, I reached that moment at a very early stage in my life and that's why I don't mind or care when people judge me or call me rebellious, I don't blame them though after all they're not the one with two different eye colors, they're not the one with an Albert Einstein kind off brain, they're not the one who has been tagged utterly dangerous with a possibility to go mad. I'm sure must of you are already getting teary eyed ha! Now you see the reason why I didn't reply Rachael, why I don't like sharing my sad story (I'm just joking, gosh where is your sense of humor?).
Anyways, do you know the good part of all of this? I'm a motivational speaker " I'm sure most of you here have dreams and passions for a different career but you're here today because of your parents. Let me tell you something, you don't live for them, it's not their life, I mean who said you can't be something without your parents name without the power and influence of your parents. If you look at it from my perspective (and by the way no one ever does) it's not fair that the boys have to do all the cool jobs, they get to become doctors, lawyers, engineers, scientists and so on while we are forced to become governesses and other ridiculous occupations. Do they have two brains?No, four hands? Not true, four eyes? Absolutely not, then why are we held back, why do we have to be the goody goody two shoes while they can be reckless? Afterall we're equal aren't we?" I paused breathing hard (have you tried motivational speaking? Gosh it drains you)
I heard a meek *yes we are* from somewhere so I decided to press on "we're equal aren't we?" I urged, the voices became louder "yes we are" they chanted but it wasn't enough " c'mon louder, we're equal aren't we?" "yes we are" they cheered and I felt very good. "Do me a favor, don't attend the program on Monday, walk up to your parents and tell them politely what you want to study and I believe they'll listen but if they don't, let me tell you a secret, they care a lot about their reputation, so use that against them. I wish you wonderful lives" they clapped as I walked out with Su Mei, leaving behind a dumfounded Mrs. Bryan and a group of inspired ladies.
"I pity their parents" I chuckled "and I pity you with the trouble you'll get in with your parents" I turned to look at her "seriously? I save your life and here you are stating the obvious that is not helping matters" "well someone has to be logical" she said shrugging.
Situation reports,
Good news: my parents have left the venue which means I'll not have to ride with them.
Bad news: I'm stuck with a kid who is way too smart for her age. Great, just great.
Author's note: Hello everyone, I hope you're enjoying the story, it's my first book so I won't say it's free of bugs and glitches but either way Read and Enjoy!
By the way, I'll be introducing the other main character : Kyle Robertson next week.
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