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The Volkswagen stopped at the front of the building.
Its engines gruntled like a rickety old thing. It was beautiful inside, with firm seats but the outside said otherwise.

When it had pulled up to pick Jema from the park, she had thought somehow she'd been propelled back to the eighties. Not until Otis the driver referred to her by name did she realize it was her awaited ride.

With her suitcase by the side, Jema stared at the two-story brick mansion which stood in the middle of a vast greenery. It would be her new home, her escape.

The double doors clicked open and an older woman whom she recognized as Madame Evana strode gently towards her. "Jen! Welcome,"

Jema's smile weakened, she didn't think that the lady who had spent months convincing her to take up this job hardly knew her name.
"Jema." she corrected, but the older lady seemed to ignore her words; rather she instructed Ottis to help bring in the suitcase.

Jema cuddled herself, noting how cold the environment was. Luckily for her, inside was warm, and smelt of different delicious flavors one could think of.

"It's nice to finally meet you in person, dear, you look so much like your mother." Evana gushed with clapped hands.

"Actually, I took after my late father. Everyone says that." Jema corrected with a straight face. Madame Evana made a face but went on with her warm welcome.

"I'll show you to your room dear, I know it was a long hectic journey and Hartwood is a very far drive from here. How are the locals? Do they still drink from the streams and hop on carriages going to town?"

Jema scoffed in her mind, the old lady must've thought they were still stuck in the ancient era. "Times have changed. We have technologies just like you urban people and we know what a bus is."

"Oh," Was the woman's dry response.

She led them through spiral stairs and a long corridor. They had at least met two intersections by the time they got to her supposedly private apartment. Jema wasn't sure she would learn to navigate her way in time but the lady filled her doubts.

"I'll have a map of the mansion sent to your phone very soon. It's a grand old house and can be confusing," she said, rattling the key in the hole.

The door let open to a large space, larger than what Jema was used to back home. Her boots made hooting sounds on the floor but it didn't interrupt her dazed mind.

The peach-colored walls blended easily with the coffee rails of the bed. The white chest by the bedside, the gray rug beside the bed, a huge wardrobe that could fit a hundred outfits, and a standing mirror were all placed to perfection.

Jema sighed at her reflection in the mirror, she was a shadow of her former self. Nothing was appealing about a once chirpy school teacher like her. She used to be better than this.

Her eyes fell on the white double door by her left, it held a little corridor with pairs of chairs and a table. The scene beneath was... glorious.

A pond with white ducklings walking behind their mother. The air was fresh and cold but she loved to watch the sunset from where she stood. Madame Evana lured her out of her fantasyland as she spoke abruptly. 

"I'll let you shower and come downstairs for dinner. I'll send you the map. Do not go off course, follow the green lines only." she spoke with a tight jaw. Jema felt the tension in the woman's voice but gave a curt nod instead.

She took her time getting accustomed to her new environment while getting ready for dinner.

********

"Smells nice," Jema said behind the older lady who was busy in the mini dining room with another lady dressed as a chef.

"Nice to finally meet you, Jema. I'm Martha the house chef."

Jema moved closer to shake hands. "Nice to meet you too. It smells delicious here, I guess it's all yours." She chipped in, and the lady gave her a warm smile.

She helped them set the table for dinner while chatting away with Martha. The woman seemed nice and friendly, unlike Madame Evana. At least someone who wasn't way older and stuck up, she would need a friend here.

"Why aren't we making use of the main dining room?" Jema asked innocently. She'd seen the place on the map and thought it didn't make sense to have two of such.

But the stale look on Martha and Madame Evana's face said it all. There was more to the mansion than what she thought.

"I'm sorry, have I spoken out of turn?"

The clicking sound of a cutlery was heard, the older lady had annoyingly dropped her knife to address Jema. "Did you go into the main dining room?"

Jema shook her head. "I didn't, I was just curious about the map."

Martha's sigh of relief could be heard.

"I think I should let you in on some basic rules before the rest of the training starts."

"Training?... Was I supposed to have extra training?" She asked, shocked.

"Yes dear, it's part of being a staff in the brick mansion. Not everyone gets to be here," Martha interjected.

"Rule number one, Jema; Never go off course, follow the green lines only, and avoid the reds.
Two; Do not attempt to speak back to the master whenever he speaks. He doesn't take it lightly on anyone.
Three; from today, you can no longer wear your noisy booths. Just some flops. It will be provided for you soon. The master dislikes any form of noise, chattering, clanking, grunting... name them. Fourth; You're not allowed to smell anyhow__"

Jema couldn't take it anymore and she stopped the woman from going further. "Wait what?!"

"Do not interrupt me while I'm speaking," Madame Evana interposed. The room sat still for a second, Martha held her head down while Jema had a look of bewilderment.

"Four; You're not allowed to smell anyhow in the brick mansion. I'll have them bring you the necessary ingredients for your bathroom routine.
And lastly Five; Anything said, heard, or done in the brick mansion stays within these walls. It's a part of the nondisclosure agreement you signed. Take that very seriously. Any questions?" The lady asked when she was done.

Jema shuffled on her chair, her appetite long gone. The food got cold in her presence, what filled her belly was uncertainty, apprehension, and the need to know why all these rules were set up.

"Do I also need to change my dressing? Seeing that everything about me isn't acceptable in the brick mansion."

"No darling_" Martha cut in but the look on Madame Evana's face made her go silent.

"Your dress is just fine. Not revealing and not too out of place. Nice jeans and a cardigan with soft colors are a good start for the baby."

Jema's attention flicked when the real reason for taking up the job came up. The baby...

"When am I gonna meet him?"

"Soon, very soon. When you're done with the training I'll take you to him. It's important to know exactly what you're up for."

"Yes, sure."

"How is your health? I have booked your meetings with the doctor. I'll send in the schedule for you," Madame Evana said without any empathy. They both knew the doctor wasn't about her overall physical health. They wanted to be sure she was mentally ready to nurse a child.

After going through such difficult times, it was safe for anyone to think she'd become suicidal. She understood that the older lady was just doing her job but nobody truly cared about her emotional wellbeing. They only saw her as a tool for themselves.

"What of the boss? Does he live here?" Jema asked. She needed to know the man whom she was going to nurture his kid. Was he a kind, caring gentleman or a busy, cold guy?

She could only conclude on the latter from the meaningless dos and don'ts listed off.

"Not boss, Master. We call him the master of the house." Madame Evana corrected. "He'll be back from Moscow in weeks."