Genevieve hand tightened around her mug at the thought of that, her heartbeat spiking with fear. Reminding herself that it was inevitable, she was quick to regain her composure and respond,
''They didn't 'use' me yet. As for the reason I'm here right now, it's because my owner's daughter and niece set me free. Both of them are around my age, and they did this because they said, and i quote,'we would also want someone to help us if we ever find ourselves in the position you currently are'."
A tiny smile tugged at the corner of her lips as she added, "They have no idea I put myself in this position and even gave me a card.''
''And you allowed them help you?'' Anna asked, her voice tinged with disbelief. "Why?!"
Genevieve shrugged.
''Technically, I didn't have a choice because they pushed me out of the car and slammed the door. I even tried telling them to take me back. I lied that I have nowhere to go because I used to be homeless before i was sold to their father, but guess what? They gave me this card and zoomed off," she recounted. "I figured using the card to pay for something would make it easy for them to find me when my absence is noticed, so I delayed it to talk to you first."
"Good thing they were foolish then," Anna said with a smirk. "If they had abandoned you like that, you'd have ended up at another auction. And this time, you might not have been as lucky. I mean, think about it—you got a man who not only left you alone on the first night and didn't force himself on you, but he's also powerful enough to have a black card."
''This is his son's actually,'' Genevieve corrected, tapping the name at the edge of the card. She added, "Though, I imagine his father has one too. Everything about their mansion, and them, screams both luxury and danger, if that's even a thing."
"Nothing less is expected from a Mafia don's house, which from what you've described, is exactly what they are. With this level of power, and the fact that the old man who bought you seems kind enough for his daughter to think she can defy him by helping you escape, you might actually have a chance to use their influence to track down the faction responsible for your family's massacre."
"I don't think so," Genevieve shook her head, disagreeing immediately. "I haven't told you everything. Apparently, I fainted last night, and when Roberto, the man who bought me, took me home, he told everyone the mansion would be getting a new mistress. Then he took me to his late wife's room and said I would be staying there from now on. And at breakfast today, he made it clear that my seat from now on would be beside him. He even told his kids and sister that I'm his new wife and their new mum! That's why I was called by his son. I'm just a replacement for his wife."
The older woman frowned, ''I don't understand. Doesn't all this emphasize that you will have it easy executing your revenge while living there?''
"Maybe," Genevieve admitted, "but all of this has already earned me my first enemy in the household, someone I can't afford to have against me." She exhaled sharply before adding, "His head maid."
Anna chuckled like she had just heard the biggest joke of the century.
''Can you hear yourself, Eve? The one who bought you already introduced you as his wife to everyone in that house. And from what you said, he also calls you the mistress of the household. What right does some measly maid—head or not—have to go against you?''