CHAPTER THREE
Sara sat at the back seat while Gil drove the Bentley. Most of the drive to his house was spent in silence. Through the rear-view mirror, Gil caught Sara swiping at her tears silently as she stared out the car window.
She tightly clutched the small bag on her lap that carried what little things she owned as if it contained diamonds. To her, that small bag held her life. Aside from the few old wardrobe and toiletries, the bag held some precious memories of her with Jeremy, like a few photos of them together and the Shakespeare book he gave her on her birthday. That bag simply carried what would keep her going for the next seven years.
Gil's heart ache at the sight of her silent tears. He wanted her pain to go away, but knew that would take time. She had just been taken away from the only family she ever knew. So the pain was fresh. She needed time to get used to the new life that was waiting for her. After that, the pain would fade gradually.
Gil tried to take her mind off the sadness and pain that he knew was consuming it. So he started a conversation. Anything to calm the fear that was evident she was experiencing silently. Anything. Even if it was for a few seconds.
"I heard today is your birthday." Gil began.
"Y-Yes, Sir." he heard her fear filled voice, and at that very moment he longed to hold her and tell her that everything was going to be okay, but he fought the urge. Again.
"Gil. Call me Gil." he ordered softly while smiling at her through the rear view mirror.
"Yes, Si- Yes, Gil."
Gil gasped at the sensation his body received when he heard his name coming out of her lips. He could not explain it. It was a feeling that he never experienced before this very moment. He felt the need to hold her, kiss her, feel her, love her. Wow. No one ever made me feel this way before. What is it in this girl that is different from all the others I met before? She's just a slave. My slave, and yet she's the only one who found a way to enter my heart. The heart that I locked and hid it safely behind the exterior mask I wear that shows no emotions. Gil hid his heart for fear that someone might break it one day, and he's just not sure if he could survive such pain. And right before this moment, he was entirely certain that he had his heart securely protected and out of reach of everyone. Now, he was going to reconsider.
Gil pushed those thoughts aside for now as he parked his Bentley in front of the huge Victorian house.
Once they stepped inside, Gil and Sara came across with Victor, Betty, and Belle, who were enjoying their tea in the living room.
As she saw them enter the house, Betty immediately left her spot on the luxury sofa and came to stand directly in front of Sara.
Betty examined Sara carefully while Sara kept her eyes on the floor. Betty then lifted Sara's face by placing her fingers her chin forcefully, so she could get a better look at her son's choice.
She let go of Sara's chin and turned to her son. "How much?"
"Ninety thousand." Betty couldn't believe her own ears.
"Ninety?" yelled Betty as she glared at him. "You spent ninety thousand dollars for a slave?"
"She was the only one I liked at the Auction House, Mother. I have the right to choose the one that's going to serve me for the years to come. And besides, you never gave me a price limit for buying one." Gil replied as he intentionally avoided using the word 'slave' so he would not hurt Sara's feelings any further.
Betty started to argue, but then stopped when she realized that it was pointless. Although she hated to admit it, she knew her son was right. She never gave him a price limit. So, she let it drop while turning back to Sara, whose eyes was still kept on the floor.
"What's your name?" she asked harshly.
"Sara Sidle."
"How old are you?" asked Betty with the same harsh tone.
"Eighteen, Ma'am."
"In six months, my son who is your master will be leaving to Las Vegas for a teaching position that was offered to him, so you are bought to go with him and serve him while he's there. But until then, you will be helping Vivian, our other slave, with the house chores. Daily, you will be up at 5:30 am to help Vivian preparing breakfast, along with the other chores throughout the day, and go to bed at 10:00 pm, unless any of your masters asks you otherwise, because you will be taking orders from anyone in this houes also, except Vivian, of course. Do I make myself clear?" she glared.
"Yes, Ma'am." replied Sara in a low, feared voice.
"Good. You better be worth the fortune we spent on you."
When betty was about to turn and head back to her spot on the sofa, something caught her eye. And in one swift movement, Betty pulled the clutched bag out of Sara's hands forcefully before she could react. Sara's heart thudded inside her chest and fear engulfed her as the bag was taken from her.
"What's inside?"
Gil's jaw twitched in anger as he glared at his mother. She has no right to do that. It's none of her damn business what Sara kept in that bag.
"Just a few things that I own, Ma'am."
"I'll take a look anyway." said Betty.
"Betty, give the poor thing her bag back." came Victor's voice, finally.
"Not before I see what's inside. I'm not going to take anything. I just want to make to make sure that she doesn't steal anything from this house, and claim that it's hers when she's set free by the law." Betty said rudely as she dropped all the contents of the bag on the floor, checking each item carefully before motioning for Sara to pick up her things and put them back in her bag.
Sara was on her knees instantly, collecting her stuff and throwing them back in the small bag of hers.
While she was in the process of picking up her belongings off the floor, a particular item caught Gil's attention immediately. Is that a shakespeare poetry book? She reads Shakespeare as well. He smiled at the first common thing between them he discovered. Gil was a huge fan of shakespeare.
Betty went back to the sofa and continued sipping her tea as she hollered for Vivian, who came rushing into the living room.
"Yes, Ma'am?"
"Show, what's her name, the room she'll be staying in." ordered Betty as she motioned for them to go without even looking in their direction.
"Yes,Ma'am." she escorted Sara out of the living room after she finished picking up her belongings and stuffing them into her bag.
Gil, then, made his way to the sofa and sat beside belle.
"You can't treat them like that, Mother. They are human beings with feelings just like any of us. They get wounded when someone treats them as if they are nothing like you do." fumed Gil.
"Gil, they are nothing. They are born so we could treat them that way." said Betty calmly and continued enjoying her cup of tea.
You're always so cruel to them. You never consider their feelings. You step on them as if they are insects. How could your heart be so cold, Mother? He thought as he got off the couch and went to his room without another word.
Victor just turned to his wife and glared at her. He didn't even try to argue because he knew that argument would not change anything in her.
A/N: Thank you all for your great reviews. Hope you like where this story is heading. Next chapter is on its way :)