Prologue---
Grace looks at her watch, as she enters the elevator that would take her to the huge penthouse on the sixtieth floor. Even after living here for last one month, she couldn’t get used to the luxury. It is 6 pm and she has arrived from her office early today!
She waits staring at the digital display that shows the floor number. Grace cannot help but stare a few times at the gigantic man in black, who stood still with his hands crossed in front, head straight and body alert just like a robot. His name is Andrew, he is more than 6 ft tall with hard jaws and tough body. Anyone can say that he is a bodyguard because of the black wire that runs from his ear and disappears in his suit.
Grace sighs seeing the elevator reach only Fiftieth floor after what felt like an hour in silence. Finally after a bit of waiting the elevator dings at the sixtieth floor and Grace’s eyes and ears change to high alert and danger detection mode, as she cowers at a corner of the elevator! She has been doing this daily since last one month but still her fear didn’t go away!
The next thing that happens is Andrew covers Grace, stepping at front and checks the perimeter holding his gun in his hands. Grace stands shivering and tapping the floor as she counts softly, ..1…2..3…4..5…………12………15………20.
“Madam? All clear!” Andrew says in his humourless, emotionless, or rather any ‘feelingless’ robotic voice.
Grace sighs deeply one final time and after thanking God for keeping her safe, she walks towards the door with Andrew following behind. She types in the security password and then scans her eyes and only then the door opens. A recorded mechanical voice speaks, “Welcome home Ms Grace. Don’t forget to complete your works.” Grace sighs. This is the input that he has given to the machine. Yes, he always wants to keep Grace under pressure and she is sure that he just wants her to leave forever by herself so that he doesn’t have to explain anything to Mrs Scarlett! Grace knows well that from this point, Andrew will leave her to be, just like every day, but still she waits for Andrew to say something. Otherwise Andrew would never say a word and there was no one else to talk to! Not much!
“Ms Grace! Kindly sign me off!” Andrew’s voice comes from the back and a smile appears on Grace’s face. She turns and slowly walking back, she puts her digital signature on his mobile on the security app.
She waits patiently as Andrew’s mobile rings and Grace checks her watch once again. It read 6.10 pm.
‘Dot one minute! Thanks god I didn’t have to wait.’--- Grace thinks in her mind as she waits for her turn.
“Yes boss. No boss. No boss… yes boss. Yes boss. One second.” That is all that Andrew speaks over the call from his boss and then hands over the mobile to Grace after cleaning its speaker by brushing it against his suit.
Grace’s heart thuds in her rib cage, as she takes the mobile with her trembling hand!
“H-Hello?”
She still wonders that even after following the same routine for almost 30 days, how she manages to tremble, shiver, sweat and stutter while talking to him.
The other end goes silent for just a second or two like every day and then comes a deep scary male voice, “I want something different tonight. I will be home at 9! Be ready to be awake till 12!!”
“S-Sure! I will make..” the line goes off with a beep. Grace sighs and her eyes become teary. This is a daily routine but still her tear glands neither get tired nor get used to it!
Grace hands over the mobile and mumbles, “Thank you.”
There are no good byes or ‘no problem’ or ‘you take care miss’…. ‘do you need anything!’ Nothing! Without any further words Andrew leaves closing the door.
Grace sighs as she looks at the huge drawing area well furnished, neat and clean, rather sparkling, but she doesn’t feel happy! She feels lonely! But more than loneliness, she doesn’t like to be alone because of fear! Fear of the monsters of her past.
Grace moves slowly climbing the wide shiny marble stairs with slight gaps in between them, to the first floor where there are a few rooms out of which the second largest is hers.
On entering the room, she shuts the door and quickly heads to the full length mirror in the bathroom. What she sees disheartens her! An eighteen years old girl, brown rough skin, short rough brown hair, brown lips, a thick black square framed spectacle and a flat body covered in a loose knee length gown, stares back at her from the mirror! The only thing that still is visibly good is her light brown eyes!
She touches her face, her hair and tears well up in her eyes, at the memories of the past! But quickly pushing those away, she strips herself off the clothes and steps under the shower! ‘He will come at 9 he said. Now it is only 6.30! I have enough time to prepare dinner and also finish the tasks given by him. I will do my personal works at night when he is done with me!’ --- Grace thinks as she finishes wearing a set of shorts and a loose t-shirt. She takes a long breath! Her days are usually very tiring and long! And just like every day and every night, this day is also long!
‘He is not yet back and so, I can wear these. I will have to put the alarm at 8.30 so that I can change before he comes!’ ---- Grace decides and walks out to the study with her pending works.
Even last summer she couldn’t think or imagine that one day she finally will be able to get out of the hell hole! Why last summer, she couldn’t have imagined just two months back that she someday she will be out of the grasps of those monsters but here she is! She has a very good job and a beautiful secured place to stay at! She even is doing her studies secretly!
The only two problems are one that she is in Mexico and she doesn’t speak Spanish! May be just a little but that is not even enough to mention! And the biggest problem is that her boss is always angry on her! Had it not been for Mrs Scarlett, who actually appointed her, she would not be able to even survive! Returning to Canada is not an option! Never!
Grace finishes as much work as possible in an hour and then rushes to the kitchen. Cooking is something she is really good at! Actually cooking, organising and cleaning are the only things she is good at!
“Hmm..let me see…what did I make yesterday? Noodles..so that’s not an option! Prior to that it was fried rice and Sanghai chicken, chopsuey, ..ummm..maybe pasta?? No! He doesn’t like pasta! Ok. Decided! Lasagna then!” Grace speaks to herself as she starts preparing dinner with a smile! She doesn’t care who she is making food for because she loves to cook and serve it to others.
Her cooking is the only thing admirable to him and she doesn’t know if, she even fails in that, then what will she do? She looks at the clock which said 8 pm and she starts hurrying!
Finally just at eight thirty she gets a call which widens the smile on her face! Grace turns off the oven and runs to take the call.
“Hello? Rodrigo?” she squeals. Usually Grace remains quiet and maintains her distance from everyone! Not that anyone is interested to talk to her. But Rodrigo is his driver and the man is very kind. Rodrigo always treats her well!
“Hello Mija! How are you doing today?” Rodrigo asks.
“I am good Rodrigo. Thank you. Has he just left?” Grace asks.
“Yes. Just usual Mija!” Rodrigo replies and Grace understands that he means that he will reach in his usual time.
“Ok. Thank you Rodrigo. Take care!” Grace hangs the call and runs upstairs to get ready. She has to be prepared for him by 9 sharp!
Grace just completes wearing her long wide skirt and a full sleeve shirt when the mechanical voice announces his arrival, once the password is entered from outside, making her jump at her place!