I remain still and quiet. I have faced confrontation before, just deny it and move on. Act like he hasn't touched a nerve. Remember to breathe and smile, do not let your fear show.

"Pardon me Mr. Sanders, but that is an incorrect assumption." I swallow the kink growing in my throat as my stomach twists into a knot. My bare neck feeling more exposed than it did a few minutes ago.

"Well then, you wouldn't mind me scanning you." He begins to walk around the table approaching me with a look of cold indignation.

"There is no need for that Sir unless you do not trust your son to hire honest and noble staff." I elevate my chin and hold my hands behind my back in an attempt to hide the tremble.

Mr. Sanders pulls out a scanner from his suit's pocket and twists it in his hands, "My son has far too much compassion for low-quality people. He thinks with his heart and not his head." Now in front of me, he peers down, his statue tall and firm. He raises his hand to the cleanly-cut dark brown beard and scratches it. "Lower your head. I need to know what you are."My heart slams into my chest and my vision blurs, focusing on Mr. Sanders accusing eyes. He doesn't trust me and I don't blame him, but if I do this he will not only know what I am, he will know I lied to him. "Now, Miss Gale. Show me the back of your neck." He growls, his patience has running thin.

I take a couple of steps away from him and squeeze my hands together, "I am afraid I cannot let you, Sir. I am uncomfortable with this close proximity."

Mr. Sanders eyes darken and he grits his teeth. "Do not disobey my orders Miss Gale or you will be sent to live on the streets!"

The door bursts open as a gorgeous woman in an emerald dress with long ebony hair strides in. "William Sanders!" She takes her stance between myself and Mr. Sanders. "Don't you dare talk to Miss Gale like that. I can only hope your threats are as shallow as your heart."

"Milly," Mr. Sanders cold exterior immediately melts as his eyes fall, "I was testing her."

"There is nothing to test." Milly hisses under her breath, "This poor girl has been living on the streets hiding every day of her life just so she can survive. How dare you make her feel unwelcome."

Mr. Sanders clears his throat and walks back to the door, closing it lightly. "My apologies Miss Gale." He shoves the chip tester back into his pocket. "We took you in knowing you are a Defect. I was testing if you would lie to me."

"I am very sorry for my husband's poor behaviour," Milly turns and clutches my hands in her own, "he is out of place."

"I already apologized Milly." Mr. Sanders groans.

"We have a close connection to a Defect whom we care for dearly. We take in as many as possible and keep them as staff before taking them out to a remote area where they're safe." Milly finally drops my hands and walks back to her husband's side.

"Does that mean I will be going then?" I shut my eyes and lower my head. If I leave now I won't be able to send money to Sam and Pa. I can't lose this job because I am a Defect.

"Well," Milly pauses as her husband's arm finds its way around her waist, drawing her closer, "Amell has made us aware of your financial situation. Particularly your family back at home. So we have extended your employment here until we sort something out."

I sigh in relief as Mr. Sanders stares doe-eyed at his wife. Every rough edge he had before was now sanded down by Milly's presence. "You did lie to me however and I do not take that lightly."

"To be fair Sir, I was unaware of your knowledge regarding my," I pause and scrunch my brows together, "personal matters."

"That doesn't matter, either way, you will be dismissed from tonight's dinner. You will stay in your bank where you will be eventually called for dinner. Once you eat you will clean up with one other staff member."

"One?" Milly gasps and pulls away, "That is unfair William. It's her first day."

"As I said, doesn't matter." William turns and opens the doors, "You are excused, Miss Gale."

The one time I should've told the truth about what I am... and I don't. You are an idiot Elysia!

I lower my head and leave the room as Milly stares furiously at William. The maids and butlers turn to each other and whisper. I rush for a door to escape their eyes as someone grabs my hand.

Amell's eyes hold so much concern it makes my mind begin to wander. "Elysia..." he whispers before I drag my hand away.

"Please don't," I whisper back before I turn and hastily make my way around a corner. The door to the kitchen is slightly open as chefs and maids murmur and gossip. I pause and wait, leaning close and attempt to decode the conversation.

"I heard Mr. Sanders is going to fire her! It's only her first day."

"I was told that she went in with Amell because they are seeing each other, she's fired because they were caught."

"Oh no, that's too bad. Guess you shouldn't be fraternizing with your boss's son. How shameless, does she have any restraint?"

"Shut up!" A loud female voice yells. "It's none of your business so layoff."

"Wow Reniver," a man scoffs, "did she steal your heart too?

"I peek around the corner to watch everyone stare at Reniver in confusion. She crosses her arms and scrunches her brows, "No-!"

"That's enough everyone." Winnie walks in peacefully as the atmosphere dissolves around her. "I can confidently debunk all of your rumours. Miss Gale is a very kind maid, and it would do you all some good if you showed more compassion towards her."

I blink back the tears and walk-in. The silence in the room becomes deathly as all movement comes to a halt.

"Miss Gale!" Winnie smiles warmly, but I shake my head.

"No need to cover anything up." I spit, "I've heard enough." I swing the door leading outside open and rush to the bunkhouse before making my way to my bed where I lay with a tear slipping for my eye.

I keep messing up. Everyone thinks poorly of me. Sam should never look up to me, I'm a disaster. I shut my eyes and listen to the clock tick in the hallway. With each tick, the sky turns to a darker hue as the pressure of perfection squeezes my lungs.

₪ ₪ ₪

Winnie opens my door and sits at the end of my bed petting my hair. "I'm sorry the staff talked about you the way they did."

"It's fine." I sit up and rub my eye. I take my hair out of the messy bun and let my hair sit on my shoulders like drapes. "I should go clean up."

"Before you go," Winnie presses a key card into my hand, it has her photo, name and job on it, "it's an identity card. Each staff member has one so they can enter and exit the buildings. Yours will be made tomorrow, so you can borrow mine for tonight."

I nod and take it, heading to my door I open it as Winnie adds, "I tried to stay back to help clean, but they wouldn't let me."

"It's okay Winnie," I turn and smile sadly, "thank you." I make my way out of the bunker and to the staff entrance. Pressing the card to the scanner above the handle it unlocks and I enter.

The kitchen has stacks of dishes and Reniver is washing them and putting them into a sanitizing machine.

"Hey," I walk up and take a dishcloth and begin to help her wash the pans and plates. "Why are you here?"

Reniver pauses but keeps her eyes glued to the suds. "They needed one more person to help you clean up."

"Did they coerce you into doing it?" I slip the dish into the sanitizing machine.

"Yes and no." She replies adjusting her rolled-up sleeves. "I was told since it's my first day here I had to help you, but some of the other staff members suggested I leave it all to you and go to bed early."

"Why didn't you?"

"Because that's not nice." Reniver finally looks at me, "I was a mean person when I lived in the Third Generation. I want to be better than that."

"You already are," I retort. "You are the only one who stood up for me, on your first day no less." I place another dish into the machine and pause. I turn to Reniver and touch her arm which she flinches at before ignoring it, "Thank you Reniver. What you did means a lot to me."

Without moving her eyes from the sink she continues to wash the dishes, "You're welcome."

We stand in silence as we wash dishes and stack them into the machine. As it turns on Reniver yawns and drains the sink of the dirty water.

"Reniver." I dry my hands off. "I'll finish putting the clean dishes away and sanitizing the rest. Go get some rest."

She shakes her head, "I'm fine."

"I know you are," I toss the towel into a laundry hamper in the corner and sigh, "but it's my fault we're in this position. It won't take long to finish up, I'll see you tomorrow."

Giving in Reniver yawns once again and waves goodbye before leaving. An hour passed and I finished the dishes and wiped the counters. Turning off the lights I slip out the door. It's dark and the air has cooled, crickets chirp and an owl calls. I push and yank on the door, rattling it to ensure it's locked before running towards the bunker.

"STOP!" A voice demands, and I do.