A year and a half ago ...
Mae had been doing her rounds in the Swavorski house making sure it was tip top for when Janik and Jessica returned home from their monthly trip back to New York. She had just pressed her comforter and needed to bring it upstairs. She loved doing Jessica's bedding last in hope its still slightly warm for when she came home. Hand on the door knob she pushed her back into the door to open up Jessica's room with the basket of laundry. She stopped in her tracks. "What are you doing in here Brett. No one is allowed in Miss Jessica's room, but myself," Mae exclaimed. The boy in front of her slammed her top drawer shut and turned around quickly. "I was just uh looking for a ring I thought I might have dropped in her laundry," he said as he moved out of the room. Mae felt uncomfortable. She knew what Jessica's top drawer was and him looking through it was extremely inappropriate. She didn't feel comfortable with him being around the house. She saw the way he looked at Jessica and it wasn't right. She knew she had to tell Mr. Swavorski.
Mae heard the front door open, "Daddy I am so glad to be back" She heard Jessica skip towards the back door. Mae went downstairs to Janik's office where he was already sitting in his chair. Hesitantly, "Mr. Swavorski how was your trip?" "Mae I told you call me Janik you have been part of this family for too long," he laughed. "I need to talk to you about an employee I am not comfortable with," Mae said nervously. Janik looked up from what he was working on. "Today when I was putting Jessica's bedding back upstairs Brett was up there, looking in the top drawer of her dresser..." Janik took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes then temple. Mae continued, "I see the way he looks at her when she's outside in a bathing suit. And other times. I know his parents have been here for a long time, but something is not right with him." They both moved to the back door where they saw Brett outside talking to Jessica. "Mae please keep and eye on things and let me know. I don't want to do anything I don't need to do. Also please do not tell Jessica. I will be handling this."
Meanwhile outside, Jessica lay on a lawn chair. The trip home had been quick, but she had a pounding headache. Slightly jet lagged, she put her sunglasses on and closed her eyes. "Hey Jess, how was your trip?" She took off her sunglasses and opened one eye to see Brett. "Hey Brett. It was good. Quick trip, saw my brothers and did a little shopping." She really just wanted to be alone and relax and Brett was the last person she wanted to see. Sure he was nice, but he tried to talk to her all the time. His parents had worked for her family for a very long time and she tried to be nice. She felt he was taking her kindness as more. He looked nervous and she really just wanted to take a nap outside. "So I was thinking. Friday when I get off of work, lets go grab dinner," Brett said enthusiastically. She dreaded the conversation and needed to figure out how to let him down kindly, so she said the best thing she could think of. "Brett you're a really nice guy, but I can't date people who work for my family. My father would be very unhappy and would think it would be inappropriate." She gave him a soft smile hoping that would let him down easy. He responded, "Well then I will quit. So then Friday when are you free?" Her migraine began to pound and she didn't have the energy to do this. The best thing she could think right now is throw her dad under the bus, blame him. She used to do this with her brothers all the time and she was going to do it again. "Brett, listen. My dad has had a plan for me his whole life. What my job will be, who I am going to marry. And I am sorry, being with someone from Birmingham isn't part of his plan," she tried to let him down softly.
His demeanor changed. His face turned cold and she started to get nervous. Before he could speak a word, "Brett can I have a word with you?" Janik called out from the door. He turned around fist clenched and walked towards her father. "Sit down" Janik gestured to the chair in his office. "I am going to speak and you're going to just listen. And you can nod to show me you understand," Janik started. "My daughter is the most important person in my life. I will do everything in my power to make sure nothing, and I mean nothing happens to her. Your parents have worked for me for a very long time so I am going to be as kind as possible about this. If I find out what Mae saw today happens again, this conversation will not be a pretty. You are here to do a job and you do it then go home. Do not look at my daughter or talk to her again. Am I clear?" Brett nodded yes. "Go and do your job now."
Present time, "My dad didn't tell me the conversation with Brett, but just said he should be leaving me alone. And then you came into the picture Michael.."
Mae had looked out the window hearing laughter coming from the pool. Michael and Jess fooling around splashing water at each other. Four months ago Jessica didn't have this light to her. Then Michael came into the picture. Her smile was plastered on her face everyday and the staff was thankful for Michael in her life. But when she looked closer, she could see Brett working on the landscaping, but staring at the 2 with so much anger. She had kept an eye on him and thought things were better with everyone seeing Jessica had Michael in her life. Brett was keeping his distance like Mr. Swavorski had asked, but times like this is when Mae was nervous. He seemed to become overcome with anger every time he saw the 2 of them together, but didn't act on it. "Mae you can go home. Enjoy the holidays." Mr. Swavorski said. It was the day before Christmas Eve and Janik was packing for a quick trip to Poland to be back home for Christmas Day. Mae walked over, "Happy Holidays Mr. Swavorski. Keep an eye out for your daughter," her words lingering in his head. He would be leaving within the hour. All his son's were home and he felt comfortable leaving them in charge of his daughter.
Jessica said goodbye to Michael and went upstairs for a nap. She had a migraine and needed to sleep. As she walked up the steps she yelled to her brothers who were sitting there having a drink, "I am taking a nap. Can someone make sure I am up in an hour and half." Silence. She rolled her eyes and yelled, "Assholes!" "We love you," the three of them said in unison. She shook her head as she closed her door. Her eyes started to get heavy and the light from the sun started to disappear as her eyes closed. She soon felt the weight on the bed shift. Someone had sat down next to her. Confused, looking at her side table it had only been 30 minutes so why was one of her brothers waking her up. She turned over getting ready to yell at whichever brother was bothering her when she stopped. Brett.
Brett had been the one in her bed. As she went to yell he put a hand over her mouth. "If you scream, I will take this pillow and put it over your head." Tears coming down her face. He took his hand off. "Please," Jessica begged. "Brett please don't do this." He put his hand over her mouth again not wanting to hear her begging. "I've watched you since I started working here," he said as he started to unbutton her shirt."You're the most beautiful girl I have ever seen and I've been waiting for my day to come," he said touching her lacey bra. Jessica tried to move so he couldn't touch her but he was too powerful. Brett took his free hand and started to go up her nightgown. Taking his finger running circles up her leg. She kicked her leg knocking over the clock on her side table. Downstairs Jessica's brother heard a loud bang from her room. Mike looked up, "What was that?" Joe then said, "I think that came from Jess's room." Travis spoke, "I am going up there." Meanwhile, "You shouldn't have done that," Brett said as he got on top of Jess. One hand over her mouth and the other unbuttoning his pants. She was shaking. She wished her father was here or Michael. How did she end up in this position she wondered? As he went down to pull down his pants her bedroom door flew open. "What the fuck are you doing?" "Get the fuck off my sister." "I could kill you right now." Jess's eyes were closed hearing the punching and hitting her brothers had been doing. Down the steps Joe and Mike dragged Brett. Travis ran over to Jessica trying to calm her down. Joe and Mike threw Brett outside. "Done. You're fired. Dont ever come back here. You're lucky our father isn't here right now or you'd be dead."
Present day ...
"My brothers called my dad and he came back immediately," Jess said. "He slept on my couch that night. He felt so bad he wasn't there to protect me. And I thought if you knew what had happened you would feel bad too. I didn't want anyone to feel bad for me. I felt weak in that moment and I didn't want to feel weak anymore." Michael's heart ached knowing she had kept this in for so long. "And he touched me where I haven't even let you touch me yet. I felt sick. I took a shower that night and sat in it for an hour hoping to wash away the feeling of his touch. I couldn't eat, couldn't sleep. The only thing that helped was you went on vacation and I knew I had time to forget about what had happened." "How is he still alive knowing what your dad can do," he asked. "I begged him not to hurt him. He spoke to his parents and told them what had happened. They were mortified and understood why my dad had to let them go." Jess turned over with her back facing Michael. What happened at the bar tonight brought back so many memories. The way his breath hit her neck. She felt as if that distant memory had just happened. Michael rubbed her back till she was asleep. He could hear the light snore coming from her mouth. He whispered to be sure not to wake her up, "I wont let anyone ever hurt you ever again. I love you Jessica."