The kitchen was warm and inviting as Emily, Jasper, Aida, Oliver, and Lucas gathered around the table. The aroma of freshly baked bread filled the air, and the table was adorned with a delicious spread of food. There was a big pot of steaming soup, a salad with fresh greens, and a platter of roasted vegetables. At the center of the table was a beautifully roasted chicken, its skin golden and crispy.

Despite the delicious food and warm ambiance, there was an uneasy tension in the air. Emily couldn't help but feel a sense of unease as she gazed upon Oliver, who sat across from her. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but something about him seemed off. His usual calm expression was replaced with a forced grin, and his eyes seemed to dart around the room, never quite settling on anything.

Jasper, too, seemed uneasy, shifting in his chair and fidgeting with his napkin. Emily couldn't help but wonder what was bothering him. Was it something to do with the workers? She couldn't say for sure.

Emily was in the middle of admiring the spread of food in front of her when. Jasper cleared.his throat, his face etched with concern.

"We have a problem. According to management, the work is progressing at a slow pace," he said, his voice tinged with apprehension.

Lucas interjected, his tone defensive. "We're doing everything we can," he said, his rugged features contorted with frustration. "The workers are putting in long hours and doing their best to meet the deadline. We've done more work than the company expected. What do they mean by slow pace? That's ridiculous!"

Oliver chimed in, his voice measured and thoughtful. "Perhaps they need to hire more workers," he suggested, his brow furrowed in contemplation. "If they can increase our manpower, we may be able to catch up to what they want."

Aida, the mansion's cook, stood quietly in the corner, observing the conversation with a concerned expression. Finally, she spoke up, her tone soft but firm. "I don't think hiring more workers is the answer," she said, her dark eyes meeting Oliver's. "There are already a lot of workers on the job, and adding more may only make things more chaotic."

Jasper nodded in agreement. "She's right," he said, his voice gruff but respectful. "We need to find another way to speed up the process. Perhaps we can reorganize the work schedule or bring in more efficient equipment."

The group fell into a thoughtful silence, each individual lost in their own contemplation. For a moment, the only sound in the kitchen was the ticking of the antique clock on the wall.

Finally, Oliver spoke up, his voice decisive. "We'll consider all our options and come up with a new plan," he said, his eyes meeting Jasper's. "We won't let this project fall behind schedule. Which I don't agree with because we've already done more than what's expected of us."

Aida, leisurely scooping soup from a pot on the kitchen counter added, "I wonder what brought this on. They gave a lot of praise on how fast the progress was just a month ago."

No one said after that. Each started to focus on their plate.

As they ate, there were a few conversations thrown but it felt forced and stilted. There was an undercurrent of tension that ran through their words, and each person seemed to be holding back something. Emily found herself struggling to keep up with the conversation, her mind preoccupied with the unease she felt.

As the meal drew to a close, Emily couldn't help but feel relieved. The tension in the air was almost palpable, and it was clear that something was amiss. She made her way to the kitchen sink, eager to start on the dishes and put some distance between herself and the others.

As she washed the plates, she heard the sound of footsteps approaching. She turned to see Jasper standing behind her, his face etched with concern.

"Emily," he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "I need to talk to you."

Emily could sense the urgency in his voice and turned to face him, her heart racing. What was going on?

Jasper took a deep breath before speaking. "The title of head interior designer is yours," he said, his eyes fixed on hers. "Clariss left a few hours ago."

Emily felt a surge of confusion and apprehension wash over her. Was it because of her? She questioned mentally.

"It was the management's decision," Jasper continued. "Someone told them of what she had done to you and the management did not take it lightly."

Then Jasper turned to look at the others in the kitchen. They swerved their heads to look away.

That didn't sit right with Emily. She couldn't help but frown. Were they angry at her or something? Did they blame her for Clariss's departure? Wait, we're they thinking it was her who told the management? Questions piled up in her head and she started to feel dizzy. Waves of emotions washed over her. Anger and doubt all mixed in a jumble of confusion.

However, to avoid further discussion and ask questions that might spark discomfort in the group, Emily thanked Jasper for the new position and then fell silent.

A sense of unease permeated the air. But soon, everyone in the kitchen, including Emily, gradually made their way out of the small room, leaving Aida alone in the space. She took a moment to collect her thoughts before turning to leave as well.

As Aida made her way down the hall to the second floor, an eerie silence descended upon the house. The only sounds were the faint creaks of floorboards underfoot and the soft rustling of clothing as Aida walked.

Suddenly, a woman's whimper and sob echoed through the hallway, causing Aida to freeze in her tracks. She swung her head around, searching for the source of the sound, but could not pinpoint its exact location.

Her heart pounding in her chest, Aida stood frozen for a moment longer before steeling herself and continuing on her way to her room, her mind racing with questions and concerns.

As Aida approached the door to her room, her hands trembled with a mixture of anxiety and anticipation. With a deep breath, she turned the handle and stepped inside, feeling the cool air of the room wash over her. She made her way over to her bed and sat down, letting out a small sigh.

Her mind was racing with thoughts of Clariss, the suddenness of her departure still fresh in her mind. Aida couldn't help but feel confused and a little lost, wondering what could have prompted such an abrupt exit. She had been shocked when Jasper had informed them earlier in the afternoon, and the news had left her reeling.

Clriss was a vocal woman. Surely she would have made a scene when told that the management was letting her go. But nothing like that happened. Matter of fact none of them saw her leaving. But she heard from the workers that Jasper had driven off and out of the estate around one in the afternoon.

He must have immediately sent the woman away to... Aida smiled. Of course. Clariss would have made a scene and that would have been a problem. Aida mentally slapped herself. Her mind was reeling with negative thoughts and territories that could spark a problem.

But then her eyes landed on the pen Clariss had lent her, and a small smile tugged at the corners of Aida's lips. The woman had loved that pen, Aida thought, and she couldn't help but wonder why she had left without taking it back. It seemed like such a small thing, but it was a curious detail that added to the mystery of Clariss's departure.

As she sat there, lost in thought, Aida couldn't help but feel like something had shifted since Emily's arrival. The air in the manor felt charged with a strange energy, and she couldn't shake the feeling that things were not as they seemed.

***

As the morning broke, Emily stirred on her bed, her eyes cracking open with a heavy and uneasy heart. She stretched her arms up, trying to dispel the sense of unease that clung to her like a shroud. But her efforts were in vain as her mind remained clouded with worry and anxiety.

Just as she was about to give up on any hope of finding inner peace, the door to her bedroom sprung open, causing her to jump in surprise. A split second later, a smiling and giggling Jamilla burst inside, her infectious energy filling the room like a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day.

Before Emily could even react, Jamilla had leaped onto her bed, enveloping her in a warm and tight hug. Despite her surprise Emily couldn't help but be swept up in the other woman's enthusiasm, her heart feeling a bit lighter and freer than it had moments ago.

"Oh I've been waiting for days to see you again, Emily," Jamilla cried out

Emily fell mute. Then she thought to herself, oh right, I haven't seen her since that night.

As she clung tightly to Emily, unwilling to let go of her warm embrace. Emily squirmed and wriggled, her body contorting in a futile attempt to escape the grasp of Jamilla's powerful coils. But Jamilla was relentless, her grip unyielding as she kept repeating how happy she was to see Emily again.

At first, Emily was content to simply endure Jamilla's embrace. But as time wore on, Emily's patience began to wear thin. She grew increasingly restless and agitated, stiffening her body and pushing against the soft flesh of Jamilla's chest.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Emily snapped. With a sudden burst of energy, she wrenched herself free of Jamilla's grasp and screamed out in frustration.

"Let me go Jamilla!" she cried, her voice shaking with anger and irritation.

Looking down at Emily with a mix of surprise and curiosity, Jamilla slowly released her embrace, allowing Emily to sit up and catch her breath.

"Look, give me a moment," Emily gasped, her eyes fixing on Jamilla's concerned expression. "I just woke up."

Despite Emily's rage, Jamilla could not help but smile at the sight of her, her heart filled with love and affection for this woman who inspired her in so many ways. If it weren't for Emily's inspiring words during a talk show she attended, she would have ended her life a long time ago. And so, with a final nod of understanding, Jamilla moved away from Emily and stood in a corner.

"Please leave my room Jamilla. Let's talk later," Emily requested as she left her bed.

Jamilla smiled sadly and then bobbed her head.

Emily was consumed by a tempest of emotions, with barely restrained anger. Her heart burned with frustration and resentment, a seething maelstrom brewing just beneath the surface. Yet, amidst the fury, a spark of regret flickered in her soul when she glimpsed the tear that threatened to fall from Jamilla's eyes. Emily knew that she may have been too harsh with her, and the guilt gnawed at her conscience like an insatiable beast as Jamilla walked toward the bedroom door.

She didn't wait for the woman to exit her room. She immediately took her towel hanging from a chair and went to the bathroom.

Emily tried to soothe her restless mind with a bracing shower, but even that brief respite could not quell the tumultuous turmoil within. Last night she tossed and turned. She knew she may have problems when she accepted the job but all those revolved around her previous alcohol addiction. She didn't expect co-worker drama to be a part of it.

It didn't take long for her to finish bathing and when she emerged from the bathroom, she was taken aback to see that Jamilla had remained, and Emily's gaze bore into her with incredulity. "Did I not tell you to leave me be?" she seethed, the words a venomous hiss through gritted teeth.

"I-I am..." Jamilla bowed her head. "I was asked by Jasper to accompany you today. He said that you might need a companion."

Emily's eyebrows raised. "Why would I need a companion?"

Well..." Jamilla fell silent again. Her eyes darted around the room but never landed on Emily. The joyous energy she had moments ago had diminished.

"Well, what," Emily asked.

"Some of the workers aren't thrilled about you taking Clariss's job. Jasper said it's safer if you have someone accompany you lest something happens." Jamilla answered. Her voice was hesitant with eyes downcast.

Emily sighed. "Great. More drama," she thought to herself.