1825..
A large mansion sits in the bayou, large trees surrounding the estate bright and lit from the inside, making the fireflies envious of their light. A large ball is taking place in the mansion; Ladies dressed in fine silks and furs and men dashingly swinging them around the floor. An organ player gleefully hits the chords of the organ, providing a jovial melody to the soiree.
In another room, a butler walks into the ornate sitting room. A mouse in a bright orange gold gown sits at a desk, the light of a candle providing her light as she writes a letter on a letterhead. An engraved gold butterfly in the upper right corner. The butler smiles at her and lays out the gold tray, as she signs the end of the letter; "To my brightest star, I love you forever, Rosalie Hampstead."
With her satin gloved hands, she tenderly folded the note and placed it on the tray and the butler scurried away.
The letter makes its way to the furthest reaches of the property. The butler squeezed through dancing couple's skirts flowing all through the ballroom. He walked through the dining hall, all a buzz with family members and staff members celebrating. Finally, with a breath he walked through two large mahogany doors, the smoking room.
A large rat, towering above the rest gleefully took a puff of his cigar and motioned for the butler to arrive at his side. The room was a buzz with men speaking to one another and laughing, adding to the celebration. The rat had bright yellow eyes, kind but mysterious, you weren't quite sure where his thoughts were. They were adrift at sea, undisclosed. He swirled the last of his golden brandy down his throat, handing the short glass to an attendant next to him and stealing another glass from a wandering servant. He gleefully took the note.
With a smile he opened the letter with one hand. Within three seconds the glass from his hand fell and shattered. He pushed his way out of the room.
My dearest love,
The letter still crunched in his hands.
Our union was always considered unacceptable by some.
In the other room, the woman takes a glass of bright red wine from the side table, sitting upright on the equally red chaise lounge chair. With a smile and a sip, the wine passes her bright pink lips.
I cannot in good conscience make you suffer any longer, watching your life of luxury dissipate before your eyes.
The man pushed his way through the crowd. Feeling as if his legs were slower than his thoughts. Panicked, his breaths became shorter as did his time.
I simply do not love you anymore.
Back in the sitting room, the woman began to wretch, holding her throat in pain, as her eyes began to quickly dart for help. Her hand dropped the glass, shattering on the floor into a million pieces and the wine seeping into the carpet. Like blood.
I have been unhappy for some time, since our union was announced it has been a looming thought in my mind that I cannot marry someone I do not love.
The rat finally made it down the hallway, his breath becoming exasperated hoping for some relief as he spied the doors to the sitting room.
Please understand this is my own demon to bear, as I do not have the courage to move on and will be ending my life.
The mouse's eyes closed, her bright green eyes fading. Her once pink lips a darkened grey.
The clock stroked midnight as the rat entered the room, immediately grabbing the mouse in his arms and shaking her awake. No response, he cradled her in his arms, sobbing wildly at the sight of her unresponsive body.
Thunder and lightning as if on cue to his despair struck the top the mansion, causing the lights and sconces to blow out.
Later, the rat in a furious rage thrashed in his own personal office, ripping the portrait of her to shreds. Cracking glasses and using his dark nails to pull the curtains down. A fit of rage fitting perfectly to his circumstances.
Next, he did the unspeakable… with another crash of lightning he had done the deed. Hanging from the center of the ballroom, swinging back and forth. His hanging corpse a dark reminder of what was.
2025… present day
The mansion sits in ruin. its once bright windows ladled with moss. The roof cracked and withered. The trees remain leafless and rotted. The garden unkept. A deeply poor excuse for a house.
A paper boy approaches the gate, a young brown mouse slips off his bike, a handful of advertisements in his bag. He slowly approached the gate and smirked "What a dump."
The house suddenly ROARED, the wind knocking the boy backward and the papers flying around him. He hurriedly grabbed his bike and scurried off, the papers still flying and hitting the fence. On one of the papers was an article from Historic Town Weekly, a picture of a young reporter on the top column with the title:
Rosa Ramirez: new secretary added to preservation society in NOLA.
A large white building sits in the middle of the town, a young tan mouse eagerly walks up the steps, with scrolls of paper in her arms. She had a very small frame, short auburn brown hair and bright green eyes full of optimism and hope. She happily skipped up the steps and walked through the doors.
"Rosa! How's it going!?"
"Good! Happy to be here!" she said with a smile. She turned left into the office with a glass door "Morning everyone!"
All the other mice waved at her, busy at their desks with paperwork, some at another corner of the office inspecting documents with magnifying glasses and gloves.
A brown mouse emerged from one of the private rooms, He was dressed in a tan suit, with an adjustment of his tie he waved the young girl over and she happily followed "Mr. Basil, good morning!"
"Ah yes the new girl." He smiled "I have heard promising things since your transfer to our New Orleans office." His accent was British and posh, adding a bit of flair to his words. "I suppose you have the new plans for the Hellsman property."
She grinned with delight "Yes, some stunning new visuals I did last night!" she attempted to pass them, her arms being filled with rolls of paper. She huffed "I was hoping to show you some of the renovations I made while still holding the original foundation together- "
"You don't need to show me. You won't be working on the Hellsman property."
Rosa stood stunned "What- "
Basil grinned happily "I already have my veteran employees on the job!"
Rosa shook her head in disbelief "But I thought- "
"Listen Rosa, you have tons of potential, mountains even. Unfortunately, you're still too green, too new! I need someone with a bit more experience." He put a hand over her shoulder, "I'll need you here to process paperwork, you can go through the ledgers, and maybe refill the coffee machine. Lord knows any of these mice do it enough." He said with a laugh.
"Respectfully sir, I wasn't hired to be a glorified secretary. I was hired to restore history, to make our town a city of culture and to give love to the buildings that once were!"
Basil grinned "And just think, you can do all that at your brand-new desk!" he waved to a small cubicle, a sad excuse for the private office she was promised. She sighed "Oh... well I guess I can do this temporarily…"
"That is the spirit!" Basil patted her back "It's all protocol you understand."
Rosa placed the rolls of paper on the desk "Lucky me."
Back in his office Basil sighed and sat at his rather lavish desk. In an instant his phone rang. His eyebrows rose and he grabbed the phone next to him "Preservation and Historic society this is Basil speaking?"
No response.
"Hello?"
A low gravelly voice spoke after a second "I would like to inquire about one of your special house inspections for the historical outreach program." the voice was low and regal, with a hint of something mysterious and ancient.
"Oh yes, I can send someone right away! Which property?"
The voice responded "The Gracey estate."
"The GRACEY estate." Basil's eyes were bright as he saw the money signs simply acquiring the estate for their preservation. He straightened in his chair "Are you looking to sell?"
"My son and I have had this estate for generations. And he is looking to move on."
"I can be there tomorrow."
"I would actually prefer one of your newer employees... Miss Rosa Ramirez." The voice was commanding. Basil shrugged his shoulders "Well, Miss Rosa is actually VERY new, and I'd prefer her in our office- "
The voice cut him off "My son happened upon the advertisement in the paper, and he saw a very trusting face in her. Unless you can't send her our way, we will search somewhere else."
There was a hesitation, Basil weighed his options then sighed "Very well, can I get the address?"
Basil emerged from the private room, a smile on his face "Guess who has the Gracey estate?"
The office gasped, not believing what they heard. The Gracey Estate was one of the most sought-after properties to restore. The crowd in the office stopped in their tracks. One of the employees perked up "Basil are you going to claim the property?"
"No, she is!" he pointed to Rosa "Give our newest employee a round of applause!" the crowd cheered. Rosa turned in her chair in disbelief, her green eyes bright with determination "Really? The Gracey property?" she rose out of her chair "Oh my gosh thank you!" she ran and gave Basil a hug around the waist "This is amazing!"
He slid away from the uncomfortable embrace and handed her a piece of paper with an address. "You need to be there tomorrow morning, bring a change of clothes just in case the deal takes a few days."
She smiled with delight at the piece of paper "I will! But I doubt I'll be there long!"