章 13: On the outs (2)

Annalise knew that it was coming from the moment she entered the kitchen. She saw the dirty looks and the whispering when she walked in. Of all things, she would have never expected doing her job right would be the reason she was hated. It couldn't be helped that she had a personality Beatrice enjoyed.

Laura, the maid who spoke up earlier, folded her arms and glared at Annalise. "I had better things in mind, but a dog is more fitting of an insult for you."

"This isn't getting any better for you," Annalise muttered. "Just let me get the snacks for Lady Beatrice and be on my way."

"I heard you were supposed to be fired last night, but the young master saved you, and now you are his mother's maid. Some luck you have," Laura said, pissed off because she was aiming to be Beatrice's maid, and Mavis promised that she would be, but then Annalise came along and snatched it from her. "There are people who have been here longer than you and deserve to get a chance to be her maid first. There is an order of things around here.'

"Then complain to Mavis and have us switched. Oh, wait. I think Mrs Callahan won't like the switch. You'll just have to suck it up and wait for your turn. There's no need for anyone to get childish with their jealousy," Annalise said. She would like her time as Beatrice's maid to be civil, but she knew she was asking for too much.

"Cara was wrong about you. You are playing some kind of a game," Laura said. She always knew there was a good reason why she never took a liking to Annalise. She liked to take the little country girls who knew nothing about the town under her wing, but she was hesitant with Annalise, and she still was now as she hated the young woman.

"I'm honestly just trying to do my job today, but for some reason, I am either getting harassed or thought to be wanting to sleep with the young master. Which I must say before you open your mouth, I do not want to. Instead of failing to hurt my feelings, why don't one of you try getting yourself assigned to take care of Beatrice's guest, Delilah? I'm sure that would be just as fun as tending to Beatrice," Annalise said.

"I hope the three of you are not arguing in my kitchen. It's bad enough I have to deal with the knight's when they are hungry. I can't add the maids to my headaches. If you're not here to clean, eat, or take something to the Callahans, get the hell out of my kitchen," Jonah told the two maids. He didn't care to hear about who was whose maid. It didn't affect his life in any way other than the fact he was annoyed.

Laura opened her mouth to speak, but quickly closed it as there was no point in arguing with Jonah to stay. Instead, she would go to Mavis and get something done about Annalise. She could not allow Annalise to take her spot as Beatrice's maid again. It would be worse if Annalise were to somehow become Rafael's maid.

Jonah stood with his hands on his hips until the two maids left the kitchen. "I told everyone you would be a tough nut to crack. Glad I wasn't wrong. Still, you should try to make some friends. It'll make life here easier."

"What the hell, Jonah? Don't make me sound like such a loner. I do have friends. I have you, Cara, and everyone else. Plus I'll make some new friends when I finally get introduced to the knights. Besides, I am here to work, not make friends. Thank you for worrying, but I will be fine as I am now," Annalise said. The games played by the maids or anyone else here would not break her. They never had an opponent like her.

"Still, I cannot believe I have become enemy number one just because Beatrice picked me as her maid," she muttered.

"Everyone wants to raise their position. Even the maids," Jonah said, turning around to pick up the tray of treats he had prepared for Annalise to take to Beatrice. "Take this chance given to you and make the most out of it. The maids who serve the guests personally are paid more. Be careful with it," he handed her the tray.

"I know," Annalise replied.

"And make some friends," Jonah patted Annalise's back, accidentally pushing her forward.

"What the hell Jonah!?" Annalise exclaimed, trying to balance the tray before it could slip out of her hands. "You said to be careful! I don't want to make friends," she replied.

Annalise had found no use in making so many friends when they might all come to avoid her in the future.

"I'm sorry about that. Now get out of my kitchen. When you're here, Mavis is not far off, and I would rather not have my day ruined by seeing her so soon," Jonah said, wanting to go back to placing out the ingredients he needed to use for dinner.

Annalise smiled as she was presented with an opportunity to tease Jonah. "She'll end up here anyway. You know she likes you. I look forward to the two of you getting married, but please be a dear and don't invite me to the wedding. I'll hate half of the wedding couple."

"Annalise, please do not fuel his ego when it comes to Mavis lusting after him. It's already bad enough that I have to witness her trying to rub his stomach sometimes," Devin, another cook, said as he walked by with a crate of vegetables in his hands. He shuddered as each time he blinked, he saw the memory of Mavis flirting with Jonah.

Jonah touched his stomach and laughed out loud. "Don't be jealous, Devin. I can't help it that women love a man with a big stomach. They love having something to rub in the middle of the night. And it's not only my stomach they love. It's what underneath-"

"And that's my moment to leave," Annalise talked over Jonah before she could hear something that would haunt her tonight when she wanted to sleep. "I will see you for dinner, Jonah. Goodbye Devin," she said, leaving to return to Beatrice's room before the lady returned and noticed her absence. She wouldn't put it past Delilah to make up some lie to get her in trouble.

"You missed your chance," Jonah nudged Devin. "With all the knights back, there will be someone to snatch her away before you build up the courage to tell her your feelings. Would have been a good chance to go somewhere with her tomorrow since it's her day off."

"Mind your business," Devin sighed, but he watched Annalise get further and further out of the kitchen. Jonah had made a mistake. It wasn't Annalise he was trying to be with. It was Cara who had her eyes set on someone who was far above him. He was hoping to get Annalise's help since she was good friends with Cara.