Page 18 of Castle

“Have you gone through your employment contract entirely?” Devin asked me.

We were now seated in his office. Devin looked freshly showered and immaculate. Not someone who’d witnessed a suicide on a part of his property. His body language appeared relaxed.

“Yes, I have.”

“Then I’m sure you have read the clause in the contract that clearly states, ‘Anything that happens within the Montgomery premises stays here.”

“I understand, Devin, but a woman died, and she was likely murdered. Her body was covered in cuts, suggesting she may have been tortured before she died.

“By whom?” he asked, his apple-green eyes challenging me.

“I don’t know. But whoever did it could be among your staff or?—”

“Think before you utter the next word, Millie, because I won’t tolerate you speaking shit about my family and making allegations about murder.”

Everything about his demeanor had changed all of a sudden, and I knew at once that Devin was not someone that I could trust.

There was no one in this house I could trust!

His expressions betrayed nothing, yet the distant look was enough to send the message.

“I’m only saying that it needs to be investigated. That’s all.”

“We had another maid. Her name was Joslyn. She was really bright, like you. Pretty little thing. She enjoyed investigating and poking her nose into matters that didn’t concern her.”

“What happened to her?”

“She twisted her ankle on the stairs one night and went tumbling down. Theo noticed her first. She’d landed in quite an ugly shape, with her head on the ground and her arms distorted from two different angles. Grotesque, if you ask me.”

I heard the message loud and clear.

“That wasn’t anyone’s fault because it was an accident. Bringing the police into this will only complicate matters further, and I have always believed in dealing with them on my own. Our family has a reputation to maintain and with Castle in the state that he is right now, I make all the decisions as thehead of this family.” Devin ran his hand through his hair. “You entered this house and accepted the job with your will, but no one leaves the property unless I say so. I hope we’re on the same page, Millie.”

“I understand.” I said, “Sir.”

He smiled, pleased with me. “I hope you do. It’s best to put unsavory situations like these behind you. Focus on your job.”

I would rather focus on getting out of this place. And fast.

SEVEN

There wasn’t much time.

A few days after that incident, in the dead of the night, I packed my duffel bag quickly. I couldn’t take any clothes with me since they were all bought for me by the family. Although I wanted to take the few dresses, I knew I couldn't afford them once I lost this job.

I hadn’t even been around long enough to get my first paycheck.

I kept telling myself it was alright because my ultimate goal was to live through this. The family was fucking crazy, and I didn’t want to be part of this anymore. Devin knew the stuff that happened with Barbara was murder, but he’d chosen to stay silent. He was protecting someone, and he was dragging me down with him.

This was some kind of twisted family conspiracy.

Staying on this property for almost two weeks had taught me about most of the exits within the mansion. The servant’s quarters stairs were the easiest way out of here.

The only question was how I was going to walk through the property without being seen, and the worst part was going to be convincing the guards to let me through.

Or…

I could do this the hard way.

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