A/N: Wow, so I just felt like writing today. I'd like to thank my reviewers juju0268, tigger64, todoctorsgirl42 and prttykitty7728. I love any comments, suggestions or praise, so don't be a stranger. I really don't know where to go with this, so any comments or suggestions would really help. Here's another chapter and I hope you enjoy it, happy reading!
Chapter rating: T
"Belle if you don't mind I'd like to ask you something."
"Sure, what is it?"
"I'm having a guest today, so you would have my great gratitude if you would clean a little extra today," he told her.
She didn't want to ask who would be coming to his gothic home, but she was curious. Deciding not to ask, she just replied that that would be fine.
"Good. When she arrives I'd like for you to retire to your room, we have important business to discuss and I don't need any distractions," he said, coldly.
So she was a distraction? How insulting. She rolled her eyes and picked up the dirty dishes. Bringing them into the kitchen she heard him call for her again.
"What?" She snapped at him.
To be honest she felt hurt. How dare he refer to her as a distraction! He just totally killed her mood, and any romantic feelings she had for him there had disappeared. It wasn't like she was going to act on them, but damn!
"My tea please, I would like oolong tea today," he said, calmly.
Annabelle gritted her teeth and sighed. No wonder people didn't like Mr. Gold he was so hard to please. She got out the porcelain white teapot and heated up the water she poured inside of it. Pretty soon it was boiling and Mr. Gold was yelling at her to hurry up. She got out a sky blue teacup with navy blue Chinese writing on it. She slowly poured in the water from the teapot trying not to spill, when it was filled an inch below the brim she stopped pouring. She lowered the teabag in and dipped it in the cup five times. She got out the honey he insisted he have with it and a pinch of cinnamon.
She brought it to him with a smile on her face, knowing that she had done well. He loves it when she makes the tea just right. Not realizing that she had placed the dusting pan near the table, she tripped over it and sent the tea cup crashing into the ground, she managed to save it, but it still had damage. It was a single chip to the right side and her eyes bulged with fear. Oh no!
"I am so sorry Mr. Gold! I know that was your favorite teacup and I ruined it, I can't believe I did that," Annabelle said to him, apologetically.
"Dearie, it just a cup. I can always get more," he responded, smiling.
Déjà vu. She had felt like she had done something like this before to him, and he had the same cool and unexpected reaction.
"I-I just thought-"
Mr. Gold cut her off and replied, "I don't care what you just thought, I said it's fine. So don't beat yourself over it my lovely lass."
Annabelle ran over to him and hugged him. He couldn't help looking down at her creamy breasts as she did so. Gods she was enchanting. He hugged her back just to feel her against him and then he pushed her away. He couldn't let on that he actually cared for her! She was supposed to be his servant, not his love, but that's how it happened in the other world too.
When she was released she beamed at him. She couldn't believe it, he actually hugged her back. It felt so warm and loving too. It was strange. The last time she had had a hug was with her mother when her mother was dieing. After that night, her father took up on drinking, beating her and then well, he still beat her, but then he hit the drugs. She turned away from Mr. Gold to try and not let him see her tearing up, but it was too late. He had saw her, but he didn't admit it to her, he just let her go and clean.
It was a little after two when Annabelle was finished cleaning the downstairs and the next floor. It had taken her nine hours. She was sweaty and dead beat tired. She had been sneezing constantly while she was dusting and groaning while she was sweeping. Although she was finally done, but the problem was she had to clean the other two floors. Just as she was about to give up Mr. Gold stopped her and scowled.
"Belle, stop cleaning you look like a dirty pig! Go upstairs, I don't want my guest to see you like that. For now I'll just have my guest in the two stories you did clean."
Something in her had cracked and she had had enough. Maybe it was that she worked too hard, or maybe it was because of the insult he had called her, but she had lost her nerve.
"My name is not Belle! It's Annabelle and I look like a pig because I've been cleaning your dirty ass house! I'm only one person, how did you expect me to clean this whole mansion by six? I'm done for the night enjoy your night," she screeched.
He was bewildered. No one has ever talked to him like that before, no one. He didn't know whether to slap her or kiss her for being so outspoken. He had never have thought that that would have come out of his Belle.
He didn't stop her as she stormed up to her room, he just went out of the house to get a new suit and get spruced up.
In about an hour Annabelle had cooled down, and just as she was about to come down and apologize, Mr. Gold stepped through the front door with a red headed woman.
She was dressed in a pearl colored sheer dress that highlighted her every curve, which she had very many of. Annabelle looked down at herself and realized that she wished she would have a perfect shape like that. The woman wore dark red, almost maroon lipstick and a small amount of brown eyeliner topped off with a bit of black mascara. The woman was beautiful and it made Annabelle's stomach sink.
They laughed together as they entered and talked about things that Annabelle couldn't hear. It made her nervous, she had to get closer. She saw that the woman was inching herself closer to Mr. Gold. Even though Annabelle was still dressed in her dirty clothes she had cleaned in she still managed to creep downstairs without being noticed.
"Oh Mr. Gold you are too kind! How about you pour me a glass of red wine," the woman stated.
"Right away love."
Out of the corner of Mr. Gold's eye he saw Annabelle and shook his head, he would have to teach her a lesson for spying.
"Oh Annabelle come down here and pour us some drinks!" Mr. Gold called to her.
She was surprised that he had called her by her real name, he never did that. Was something wrong? He must still be angry at her from when she scolded him.
She raced down the steps and caught the woman's disapproving glare.
"Oh Mr. Gold it looks like you took in a stray! How sweet of you, she is awful dirty though," the red headed woman said, acting like Annabelle wasn't there to hear any of it.
Annabelle looked down and Mr. Gold just whispered something into that woman's ear. Annabelle went into the kitchen and got out one red wine glass and one scotch glass. She emptied the remaining amount of liquid of scotch into the cup and carefully let the wine flow into the wine glass. When she brought it to them, the woman still looked at her like she was less than a bug. The woman didn't utter a thank you, she just sipped her wine and starred.
"You may go now Annabelle," Mr. Gold said.
She turned and left and kept her head up high. That lady might have a fancy dress, beauty and curves anyone would die for, but Annabelle was down to earth, smart and witty.
