My stomach twisted, a wave of nausea tightening my throat. Without a word, I hung up, fingers trembling as I set my phone down. I began searching for a cab, but before I could book one, a text message notification flashed across my screen.
“Mrs. Darrel, please don’t misunderstand my intentions or Master’s. I’m just a young girl struggling to get by and Sir Darrel has been kind enough to help me settle in. Once things are in order, I’ll make sure to clear up any confusion between us.”
Her words felt like a slap. I stared at the text until my phone screen went dark. The cold wind seemed to penetrate every layer, biting through my coat and freezing me to the core.
Was I truly alone in this?
I finally flagged down a cab and climbed in, pressing myself against the seat, feeling the exhaustion settle deep into my bones. I closed my eyes, seeking a momentary escape—just a second of peace.
Then my phone rang and Darrel’s name flashed on the screen. Against my better judgment, I picked up.
“What were you thinking, Fionna?” Darrel snapped the moment the call connected. “Natalie is just my apprentice. Do you really have to treat her like this? I’m just trying to help her settle in and you’re acting like some jealous tyrant! Don’t you have a heart?”
I clenched my jaw, gripping the phone tightly as I listened. In the background, I could hear Natalie’s soft, pitiful sobs.
“Fionna, I had no idea you could be this petty,” he continued, his tone growing harsher. “Just like that time I took you to the mountains to see the stars—you ran off, making a scene and nearly ruining everything! Why do you have to blow things up like this? What is it you want?”
Natalie’s sobbing grew louder, her theatrics feeding his anger. I held the phone away from my ear, letting his voice fade. She was practically orchestrating her performance, playing the part of the innocent girl in need of rescue.
All this fuss for a man who wasn’t worth a second glance. Pathetic.
“Keep her out of my sight, Darrel,” I replied, my voice low but firm. “I’m done. I’m going home.”
***
Back at my apartment building, I was just about to head upstairs when I ran into one of Darrel’s former coworkers in the lobby. Her eyes lit up when she saw me and she waved me over, brimming with excitement.