Bound to my Enemy novel Chapter 48

Chapter 48: Chapter 48.

She chuckles. "Come. I’ll introduce you to the other staff properly."

We turn into a sitting room where two women are arranging flowers on a long table. One of them looks up first, dark curls pulled into a messy bun, sleeves rolled up.

"Oh," she says, eyes widening and a blush rushing up her face. "You must be her."

Margaret nods. "Elaine.... This is Ruth and Celia."

Ruth wipes her hands on her apron and steps forward immediately. "It’s nice to finally meet you Mrs, we were wondering when we would get to put a face to the chaos."

"The chaos?" I repeat.

Celia grins. "Don’t worry. That’s kind of a compliment around here."

I laugh before I can stop myself. It slips out easily, surprising me. "Good. I would hate to disappoint on day one."

They visibly relax instantly, ruth gestures to the flowers. "If you ever want any other flowers instead of roses, say the word. He prefers roses. We don’t."

"That tracks," I say.

Margaret gives me a look but doesn’t argue.

We move on. The kitchen is next, bigger than most restaurants I’ve worked in. A man is leaning against the counter sipping coffee, talking animatedly to someone I can’t see yet.

"Ben," Margaret says. "Stop flirting and say hello."

He turns, takes one look at me, and straightens. "Ah. So you’re real."

"I think so," I say. "Otherwise this morning was very confusing."

He laughs. "I like her already."

"Careful," Margaret warns. "She’s married now."

Ben raises both hands. "Purely professional admiration."

Another woman steps out from the pantry carrying a clipboard. Short, sharp eyes, no-nonsense posture.

"This is Lillian," Margaret says. "She runs the house when I’m not around ."

Lillian studies me for a moment, then nods. "Welcome. If you need anything, ask. If someone gives you trouble, tell me."

"I will," I say, meaning it.

As we walk, people greet me. A driver I recognize from yesterday gives a small nod. Someone else cracks a joke about surviving the first morning. Another asks if I prefer tea or coffee in the afternoons.

No one treats me like I don’t belong,

Maybe because I’m thier bosses wife or maybe they are just generally nice people. Let’s just hope it’s the latter.

I didn’t realize how tightly I’d been holding myself together until I feel it loosen.

"This is... nice," I say quietly to Margaret as we head back toward the stairs.

She glances at me. "You don’t sound surprised."

"I am," I admit. "Just not in the way I expected."

She smiles, soft and knowing. "This house is many things. Cold isn’t one of them."

We reach the bottom of the staircase again.its starting to get dark out now, it’s still alittle bright though .

I check my phone without thinking.

7:14 PM.

"What," I say. "That’s not possible."

Margaret laughs. "It always happens."

"I swear I just woke up."

"You’ve been walking and being with the other workers for for over hours now ."

I groan. "I have to get ready."

"Yes," she agrees. "You do."

She gestures up the stairs. "Your room. Everything you need should already be there. If it isn’t, send someone down."

"Someone," I repeat. "Right."

She pauses before I head up. "Elaine.

I turn.

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