Chapter 3 Farewell With Children

"But Leila, who's going to plait my hair as pretty as you do?" the ten year old little girl cried.

"And who's going to cut the crusts off my sandwiches?" the younger boy exclaimed.

"I'm sure your mommy could do your hair just as pretty Emilia," I began "and Theo remember how I told you the crusts were good for you!" I couldn't help but smile at the two children in front of me who looked absolutely heart broken.

I'd grown very fond of Mr and Mrs Bain's two children, Emilia and Theo, and was sad to have to leave them. I'd watched them grow over the past year and experienced many things with them, like when Theo's first tooth came out last year or when Emilia learnt how to ride her bike without stabilizers any longer.

Emilia's bottom lip quivered "I'm going to miss you a lot, Leila." she sniffled before hugging into me suddenly, making me almost topple back onto the front door of their home.

"Me too! Me too!" Theo mimicked, doing the same thing.

They sobbed quietly into my dress as I patted them in hopes to soothe them.

"Shh...come on guys. You'll be fine without me, I'll try and call you every week whilst you're in England." I said with false hope laced in my voice hoping they wouldn't notice. I couldn't promise them anything - but I couldn't see them this sad.

"Promise?" Theo looked up at me suddenly, his bright brown youthful eyes had a gleam of anticipation in them.

Oh God this is what I was avoiding, I thought.

"Yeah, do you promise Leila?" Emilia looked up at me with the same look on her face, only her eyes shone a dark green, feathered with fluttering eyelashes.

I hesitated for a moment, I couldn't lie to them but I also couldn't tell them the truth without upsetting them further. Rather than choosing the latter, I lied "I promise." I cringed as I said the words. I felt bad but I had to do it.

"It's fine really." I spoke shyly.

"Your mothers right kids," Mr Bain stepped in lifting his head up from his mobile and putting it in his blazer "we have to get a move on anyway, Leila." he finished and then looked at me.

"Oh, right yes of course." I said tentatively, as I slowly removed my arms from embracing the children "Come on guys, I've got to go now." I muttered leaning down to them giving them a sad smile.

"Okay." Theo frowned "We will miss you a whole bunch!" he told me using his tiny arms to gesture how much they'd miss me.

"Yeah we will." Emilia backed him up and I chuckled.

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I felt tears threaten to escape as I rested one hand on Emilia's back, and the other on Theo's curly brown head of hair.

"Good!" they exclaimed simultaneously, hugging be once more before their parents walked in from the living room.

"Now, now kids you must let go of the poor girl - give her some space." Mrs Bain said shaking her head, letting the smile she was holding back become exposed as she looked at us.

"I'll miss you guys too..." I smiled once more at them before turning my head to Mr and Mrs Bain giving them a look as if to say what was going to happen now.

"I'll be taking you to...the company," Mr Bain began "while Mrs Bain waits here with the kids, I'll sign the paperwork make sure you get in alright and I'll be on my way." he told me.

I nodded in compliance as I picked up my bag from the ground.

"I'll meet you in the car, Leila." Mr Bain said giving me a tight lipped smile, before walking around me and out the front door.

"Goodbye, thank you for letting me serve you." I told Mrs Bain formally.

"It's been a pleasure having you." she said giving me a hug once more "Remember what I told you yesterday." she patted me on the back comfortingly before letting go and smiling at me once more.

I nodded "Yes. Goodbye Harriet." I smiled back "Bye kids." I waved at them as they sniffled back waving glumly.

"Good luck." Mrs Bain called as I headed out the door.

Boy, was I going to need it, I thought.

****

"Mr Bain, I wasn't expecting you back!" I heard the familiar voice of Leonardo saying as we entered the unusual building.

I was concealed from him by standing behind Mr Bain, before he stepped aside and spoke.

"Yes, well we can no longer keep Leila - despite her brilliant work ethic - as we are moving away." he told him as he gave Leonardo a firm hand shake.

Leonardo did the same, and once they'd finished he looked over at me and his face lit up.

"Leila, my love! Glad to see you again." he exclaimed grabbing me and hugging me, much to my annoyance.

I kept my arms firmly by my side until he let go and raised an eyebrow at me, and I realized what he meant, he wanted me to be polite in front of Mr Bain - although there wasn't much point as Mr Bain already knew I disliked the man.

"You too, sir." I said through gritted teeth, trying not to roll my eyes.

He smiled at me, seemingly pleased with himself, as he looked me up and down. There was silence for a moment before Mr Bain cleared his throat and spoke up.

"So, can we get to signing the paperwork then?" he asked politely.

"Yes, of course. Follow me Mr Bain." Leonardo said and gestured us both to follow him.

I trailed along behind the two men, keeping my head down as we walked through the large hallways full of business men - some about to walk into the talent room and other waiting to buy.

I felt some eyes on me, but ignored them. I was used to it in this place, and staring back would get you nowhere. Know your place, I was told a million times.

We turned a few corners, and ended up on the long narrow hallway where Leonardo's office was just a few metres down.

We then came to a halt as we reached the door and stepped inside.

"Come on in. Shut the door behind you Leila." Leonardo uttered.

I did as I was told and walked into the rather big office. The floors were made up of dark brown wood, and the walls interior was a burgundy color. Leonardo's desk was big and wooden with a huge Apple Mac computer sitting on it, as well as paperwork and other stationary items.

He had bookshelves full of books I knew he'd never read, or read before. It was a nice office, but he was an áss hole.

I took a seat on the leather chair opposite his desk, next to the one that Mr Bain took a seat on.

I sat there and twiddled my thumbs as the men talked about things I didn't really understand. I was then asked the usual questions I'd be asked when I was in this room after being let go, or after quitting. Leonardo asked me things such as;

Did you enjoy your time there?

Were you treat well?

Were you respectful at all times?

Did you ever do things you shouldn't have done?

I answered them all to how they should be answered according to me. Usually if I couldn't answer the questions truthfully in fear of my past owners who were in the room at the time hurting me or something, Leonardo told me to itch my arm if I wasn't giving him a truthful answer and he'd ask me about it after the man had gone and deal with the situation.

I don't think he really did though, he didn't care about how his maids were treat as long as they were kept 'pretty', I'd heard him say to a guard once.

Like I said, ass hole.

Mr Bain finished up with signing the things he had to sign, so I did my simple signature that didn't really make much difference but was obligatory for me to do at the bottom of the paper and we were finished.

"Well, that settles it," Leonardo started "you're officially back on the market Leila." he grinned in satisfaction.

He called me his 'best seller' in the past. I didn't believe him, but he seemed convinced.

"Yes, and she best be treat well." Mr Bain added sternly, and I smiled at him gratefully as we all headed towards the office door once again.

"Oh, she will be, don't you worry sir." Leonardo told him as he opened the door and lead the way out of the office, again I held back the urge to roll my eyes.

"Good, I best be going now then." Mr Bain addressed as we began to walk back to the main hallway.

"Certainly, it was a pleasure acquainting with you once again Mr Bain. If you ever move back in town, be sure to come and purchase again." Leonardo chimed in.

"Yes I will be sure to come back and hire, somebody..." Mr Bain put emphasis on the word hire, he also didn't like the way this place was like a store - but he came because it guaranteed good service which it did have.

Leonardo scratched his neck awkwardly, nodding at grinning at Mr Bain trying to hide the sudden awkwardness he must have felt.

Mr Bain then continued to talk and turned to face me as we approached the entrance once again "Thank you for your service Leila. Hopefully we can stay in contact," he began, then leant down to my height so then I could only hear the next thing he said "and if you ever need anything, or any help don't hesitate to call."

"It's been a delight working for you sir," I announced "and I will." I added, a lot more quietly.

He nodded smiling at me "See you Leila." then he turned to Leonardo "Good bye Mr Rascone." raising his hand a little in a wave, before turning back and walking away.

"Bye, now Mr Bain." Leonardo called as he exited the building.

I sighed sadly, as I watched him leave. This was it now - it was official, I no longer worked for anybody and was now 'for sale'.

Great.

Just Great.

"Leila," Leonardo began, but I quickly turned back to face him with a knowing look.

"I know what to do." I sighed.

"Good girl. Be ready for three PM, I'll meet you here then." he smirked as he winked at me before walking away leaving me to make my own way to the rooms.

I hung my head low with my bag loosely hanging from my shoulder as I walked speedily towards the rooms, there was a large hallway of them and I was always assigned to the same one. They contained a small single bed in case you weren't bought during the day, a wardrobe and a mirror. Oh and a television that was probably made during the war. Great touch, right?

I turned a few more corners, passing some strange people before approaching the hall full of rooms. I made my way to the room assigned to me, number 32 and pulled out the key I kept for it every time I stayed.

I don't know why I was given a key to keep, I guess they just knew I'd never quit the company. I pretty much couldn't otherwise I'd have nothing, no money, no job and nowhere to go.

I opened the door to the room and nothing had changed. The walls were still dark blue, and the bed sheets still the same plain white colour. They even had my uniform ready, that I had to wear in order to be bought. Each girl had something different to their uniform as we got to sort of customize it to an extent.

I somehow got Leonardo to change the length of mine to make it slightly longer, and the neck a little higher so I could bend down without ending up almost naked. I think he had a soft spot for me.

I put my bag on the bed, not bothering to unpack anything as there wouldn't be much point. I then took off my black dress, replacing it with the maid uniform that was hung up in the open wardrobe.

I flattened it out, and tugged it down still not too satisfied with the mid-thigh length, but it would do. I put on the lace stockings, and slipped on the pair of black heels they'd left for me before doing anything to my hair or make up.

I didn't usually do anything, but Leonardo insisted that I do so otherwise I'd look washed out and not pretty enough.

I blew out a breath as I walked towards the mirror and began un-plaiting my long, dark brown - almost black - hair. My hair now reached about, just a couple of inches above my waist and was in pretty good condition since I hadn't used any heat on it in years.

It's natural state was somewhere between straight and wavy, and only looked half decent when it was down if I had had it in plaits the day before. I decided to leave it down and put a black head band in it to keep it off of my face.

I then stared at myself in the mirror once I'd done so. My green eyes looked tired and restless, with slight bags under them probably from lack of sleep I had got almost every night. My cheeks were tinged pink due to the paleness of my skin at the moment which I couldn't really explain - it must have been the cold weather.

I walked over to my bed and took out the small make up bag I owned. I left my eyebrows alone as they were already dark enough then I decided to apply some concealer under my eyes and some powder to reduce the redness and cover the bags under my eyes a little. I then got out a mascara and added a thin layer of that to my, already fairly long, eyelashes. My lips were quite full already without applying any lipstick but were slightly chapped due to not wearing enough lip balm in the cold weather, and were a reddish pink color. I decided I'd apply some lip gloss to them to make them look a little better.

I sighed in content once I'd finished, not exactly ecstatic with the outcome - but it was better than before.

I wasn't saying I was ugly in any stretch as I had more to worry about than looks, or whatever it was people worried about nowadays, but I wasn't exactly the most shiny apple on the tree.

I was quite ordinary, the only thing that made me stood out a little bit was the color of my eyes - they were a bright emerald green color and I had inherited that off of my father.

I looked at the large clock on the wall and saw that it was already 2:45. I should get a move on then, I thought.

I fixed my dress and pulled my stockings up once more, leaving my stuff in the room. If I was bought, somebody would come and get it for me.

I opened the door and took a deep breath feeling so consumed with nerves although I couldn't change whatever was going to happen so I'd have to suck it up...

Let's do this, I thought.

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