Chapter 1
Chloe stepped forward taking in a deep breath, brushing down at an imaginary piece of fluff on her form fitting black uniform. Her long red hair pulled back into a neat ponytail.
She hadn't been happy at the amount of cleavage on show but she'd accepted it as a necessary evil. Part of working here at The Manor. She had no desire to be more than a cleaner.
"Shit," she muttered letting out the breath she hadn't realised she'd been holding in. When she'd applied for the cleaning role at the Manor her best friend had decided she'd completely lost her mind or her marbles. Those were the words used in their mini argument but Chloe desperately needed a new start.
She was thirty two, homeless and had issues to work through. The Manor had solved the homeless situation. Was it the place to get herself together after what had happened to her, likely not. Her mind wandered for a second as she felt the little colour she had drain away, facing her fears, a big leap forward. It was quite unconventional here and this was her first day cleaning at the main house. Unconventional, she shook her head at what a turn of phrase for what happened in these walls and grounds.
A quick double check of her list and she pushed her trolly towards the staff lift. During her first three months she'd never picked up extra shifts staying cleaning her regular cabins. She'd finally given herself a good talking to. Two years working here as many hours as she could get cleaning, accommodation and food provided she'd be able to start her life again. She wasn't going to let him and that night rule her any more.
"Room thirty four, that's the one,” she said as she pushed the door and she heard moaning and slapping flesh.
"Fuck,” she muttered under her breath then apologised. "Sorry, Sorry I thought the room was clear." Rushing out as fast as she could and well before the people in the room could say anything.
It was so embarrassing, she blushed, even though no one could see. She took in some deep steadying breaths as she tapped into the tablet that the room was still occupied.
"Fuck," she muttered again. Her heart was beating hard in her chest. She kept concentrating on slow steady breaths as she pushed the trolly to the next room.
"Oh you're a sexy bit," a scratchy high male voice slurred. She jolted and grimaced, she'd been so shocked about walking in on people fucking that she hadn't noticed him approach.
"Sorry sir, I'm just a cleaner. If you head to the reception they'll be able to help you find what you're looking for,” she said, as the fine hairs on her arms stood up, this felt wrong, so very wrong. She steadied herself as she punched in her location on the tablet. They would need to know where she was on her route, if the situation turned south.
"Nah. You'll do just fine," he said as she studied him quickly without thinking she'd pressed the emergency alarm round her neck then started backing away from him. This felt very wrong and she had no clue how someone had gotten pissed, so completely inebriated with all the rules in place.
He grabbed at her despite her attempted move away. His large hands grappled with her making firm contact with her arms and started to pull her into the next room she was about to clean.
Fuck, fuck, fuck her thoughts were racing this was bad, panic was settling in and all the self defense she has learned in the last few months before heading to The Manor forgotten. The panic deepened and she thrashed trying to slow him down. How long would security take? Then she dug the heels of her flat shoes into the plush carpet pile. The situation had passed bad, bypassed dire and moved to completely fucked up. Time had slowed, everything in slow motion.
"Nuh huh," he said his words sounded less slurred but still scratchy. "Fucking teases like you don't get to say no."
"No, let me go!" She screamed out as loud as she could manage as the door closed. Where the hell was security. She had the presence of mind to kick at the alarm near the door of the room, hoping that might speed up whoever was heading to her aid.
Her breathing was turning towards hyperventilation. A full blown panic attack.
He groped roughly at her breasts hard enough that it would bruise and she froze. She wasn't getting enough oxygen, she wanted to fight but her mind just wouldn't let her.
"You're all the same. You all tease and then pretend you don't want to fuck." His weight was on top of her. Black was encroaching her vision.
"No," she'd thought she'd whispered but nothing left her lips as she carried on slipping. Then the weight had gone or she had she wasn't sure.
