" I'm sorry, mother was rude to you, I ...."
He froze .
His eyes floated to my neck where my collar rested. A tint of red filled his face but he turned around so fast I might have imagined it. He muttered something under his breath before walking towards his desk and sitting behind it. He tapped the seat beside him and cleared his throat," mother is away now, so we should start working before she return" .
I knew that was not what he was going to say and I was curious to know what he was going to say and what stopped him from saying it . I didn't bother asking though because I knew master wouldn't say it even if I begged, he is just like that sometimes.
I walked over and sat next to him , picking up some files and looking through them. Whenever I found something that seemed important or out of place, I would glance at him to see if he noticed. He was focused, his eyes scanning the documents with an intensity that suggested he was trying to distract himself from whatever had just transpired.
The room was quiet except for the occasional rustle of paper and the ticking of the clock on the wall. It was almost comforting, this silence, as if it provided a buffer from the awkwardness of the earlier moment. I tried to concentrate on the task at hand, knowing that we had a lot to get through before his mother returned but I found it hard as my mind kept replaying what transpired earlier.
As we worked, I couldn't help but steal glances at him. Despite his earlier embarrassment, he seemed composed now, his demeanor professional. It was moments like these that reminded me why I respected him. He had a way of compartmentalizing, of putting aside personal feelings to focus on what needed to be done.
After a while, he leaned back in his chair, stretching his arms above his head. "I think we're making good progress," he said, breaking the silence. His voice was calm, as if the earlier incident had never happened.
I nodded in agreement, feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Yes, I think so too. We might actually finish this before she gets back."
He smiled slightly, a rare but welcome sight. "Let's hope so. It would be nice to have a bit of peace before the next storm." I nodded totally agreeing, I would prefer to stay as far away as possible from her as his house would allow . We return to our earlier silence and I reveled in the peace I got from times like this; when master and I stayed in his study working, when a sense of equality fills me, like we didn't sit here as master and slave but as two individuals who had a similar purpose and we're working together to get to it, equals in being and equals in importance.
The quiet camaraderie we shared in those moments was something I cherished deeply. It was rare to find such understanding and mutual respect in our roles, and it made the work feel less like a chore and more like a shared journey. As we continued to sift through the documents, I found myself more focused, the earlier awkwardness fading into the background.
Occasionally, he would point out something in the files, and we would discuss it briefly, our conversation punctuated by nods and thoughtful hums. It was a rhythm we had developed over time, a silent communication that required no words. I appreciated how he valued my input, never dismissing my observations but rather considering them carefully. It was a small gesture but it spoke volumes about the trust and respect that had grown between us. In that moment, I felt a sense of belonging, a feeling that perhaps, despite the differences in our stations, we were indeed equals in our shared purpose.
We continued working in our shared understanding till Zillow informed us about mothers arrival. I stood up arranging the files in front of me, placing them in different sections and keeping them aside.
" we covered a lot, haven't we?", I nodded in agreement as I waited for him to dismiss me , he talks a bit with Zillow before dismissing both of us. Zillow walked ahead of me pulling the door open,I walked behind him towards the door but stop when he calls my name.
"you look beautiful today, I like it when you wear your collar"
I blushed, I'm not sure why but I did. I muttered a quick thank you before running out the door which was still held open by Zillow.