Page 43 of The Favorite Girl

CHAPTER

TWENTY-NINE

The day went faster as I actually did my tasks. I didn’t ask any more questions, I just worked. I worked until I got a lunch break, and then worked until dinner. But I counted down seconds until the house grew quiet because I knew that before I went back to my room, I’d sneak to the phone that sat in the kitchen and call for help.

We ate dinner with the staff, and no one really spoke, but everyone wore the same type of outfit. The women wore short, white dresses with stockings, hair pinned up, light makeup, and clean nails. The men were all dressed in white pants and white, tucked-in, button-downs. And we all wore the same platform shoes that made zero noise against the floor.

Everyone besides me looked content, smiling and stealing glances at one another while shoveling hot, delicious food into their mouths. It was true, the food was unlimited—I made sure to have seconds. I’d miss it. I’d be back at the dumpsters behind restaurants before I knew it, but at least I’d be alive… If I didn’t starve to death, or freeze to death, or be attacked by another predator lurking in the shadows. Suddenly, I froze as I looked at the staff around me.

That’s why these people didn’t care what the Ivory family did behind closed doors. They knew that they were here to work, eat, sleep, and be safe. Safety had varying meanings, but that’s why people stayed. Stayed in toxic relationships and situations because even if short-lived, safety is comforting, consuming, and more than anything, gave us a sense of false hope.

After we all cleared our dinner plates, everyone began to head to their rooms through the back hallway, which I had finally memorized.

“Ready?” Bradley came up beside me.

“I’m going to have some dessert. You can head back; I know my way now.” I offered a forced smile to Bradley as he looked at me curiously.

“I’ll just wait.” He shrugged and leaned against the staff kitchen island.

“Bradley, please stop babysitting me. I’m fine. My card is working now, and I’m getting a hang of the hallways and everything. I’ll be in my room in ten minutes. You can check on me if you absolutely have to.” I rolled my eyes and took a thick slice of chocolate cake, my absolute favorite.

“Fine.” Bradley hesitated but eventually left. As soon as he did, I took a huge bite of cake and raced to the phone. I didn’t have much time. Someone would be in here to clean up the dishes and kitchen soon.

I punched 9-1-1 into the landline. One ring later, an operator answered.

“Hi, I need help, I’m being held in the Ivory Estate as a prisoner and they’ve got other girls here, too. Help us!” I rambled as fast as I could, then slammed the phone down and speed-walked back to my room. The halls all looked the same, and suddenly, with panic coursing through me, I didn’t know where I was going. “Shit, shit, shit.” I panicked as I stopped and turned in a circle.

My breathing grew faster, my palms moist as I sank to the floor and clutched my knees to my chest.

“Demi?”

I looked up and saw Bradley, but he wasn’t in his uniform.

“Come on.” He reached down and helped me off the ground, then led me back to my room.

“You look so different.” I looked at his gray joggers, black V-neck, and messy hair as he stood outside my door. “You look… normal.”

“Demi, I am normal. We’re just in an abnormal environment.” He looked sad as the door shut between us.

I put my hands up against the door, wishing we could have talked more. He knew this wasn’t normal; he knew this was completely deranged. So, he wasn’t some brainwashed fool. But then, why was he here? He seemed well-educated and well-spoken. It didn’t seem like Bradley came from the streets like me or many of the other staff here.

I went into the bathroom to shower. This might be my last one for a long, long time.

Suddenly, I felt sadness. Sadness that this is how it was ending for me. How a promising job turned into something from a horror movie. I was grieving the chance to finally turn my life around.

My damn luck. I savored the heat from the shower as I lathered my hair with the luxury shampoo, and I wrapped myself in the plush towel before getting into the buttery-soft lounge wear.

My shorter hair was still foreign to me, but it felt nice and light. Swiping the fog from the mirror, it wasn’t just my reflection staring back at me…

It was also Mrs. Ivory’s. The warmth of the shower no long wrapped around me, instead, the cold presence of Daphne Ivory did.

“Darling girl, whatever have you done?”

I didn’t want to turn around. I didn’t want to face her.

“Officer Tate is here… and he’d like a word with you. Apparently, they received quite a panicked call from you. I thought we were keeping you happy.” Mrs. Ivory looked genuinely unhappy.

“I… I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Turning slowly, I faced her. Her eyes were slightly tinged with red.

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