Artificial Sugar
Plus Ultra
Atropa opened her eyes and winced at the bright sunlight coming through her broken blinds.
Sighing, she turned her alarm off and rolled over, pulling her blanket over her head.
She hadn't stayed up late last night, but she was still never one to enjoy getting up to an alarm.
Mentally forcing herself to get up, she threw off her comforter and sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes.
It was her first day at her new job today, and she wanted to make a good impression.
Today, she'd be leaving her apartment, at least for a few months.
Her new employer asked for all employees to live in his mansion, and Atropa was more than willing to do so.
The apartment she was currently living in left much to be desired- not only was it in a bad neighborhood, but the landlords were assholes, and never fixed anything.
So, she currently had a broken front door (thank God she had a gun), broken blinds, and a patch of mold in her living room.
The bedroom was basically the only place she stayed in now, since her kitchen had rats, and the bathroom connected right to her room.
Yawning, Atropa stood up and gathered her clothes, then walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
She'd decided to wear something formal, nice, but not too nice.
A simple black dress with an empire waist and a decent neckline- showing just a hint of cleavage, paired with some black ballet flats.
Stepping in the shower, Atropa sighed happily. At least her hot water worked.
Quickly, she washed her hair, face, and body, and then shaved. She cut herself on her razor, and cursed under her breath, watching the blood run down the drain.
Once she'd dried off her body and blow dried her hair, Atropa examined herself in the mirror.
She wasn't what anyone would call ugly, but she also wasn't a model.
Her skin was fair, almost sickly white, and her eyes were a bright vivid green outlined with thick black lashes.
Atropa's hair was auburn and soft as silk, reaching the middle of her back in long layers.
At least her hair looked nice.
She'd never had a problem with acne, either. So that was one less thing to worry about.
Although her jawline was round, she wasn't fat- however, she wasn't stick thin, either.
Atropa had a curvy hourglass shape to her body, with bigger thighs and hips, and her breasts weren't anything to feel bad about.
She believed her lips were a bit thin, but most others said they were full, and they envied them.
Shrugging at her reflection, Atropa pulled her hair up into a neat bun, and put a bit of black eyeliner on, and some dark red lipstick.
Looking at the watch on her right wrist, she realized she almost had to leave for her cab, so she quickly put her outfit on and ran about her apartment, packing her things and gathering them to leave.
Her more expensive things had been put in storage already, so if she was robbed while she was gone, nothing important would be taken.
All she was taking with her to the mansion were her clothes, bathroom supplies, shoes, phone, and laptop.
Smiling sadly at her crappy apartment, Atropa grabbed her bags and left it- for how long, she wasn't sure.
She locked her front door with her key, hoping it would be good enough, and walked down the rickety stairs to the cab that was waiting.
He helped her load her bags into the trunk, and then, she was off.
---
The drive wasn't too far from the city, but it was far enough that no subways or buses went out there.
She needed to take a cab, but it hadn't been too bad.
Atropa had gotten a quiet cab driver for once, and so she'd spent the ride enjoying the city go by, as well as the countryside.
It was really beautiful out here, wildflowers bloomed everywhere, and she saw a few wild animals here and there.
When they finally arrived at the mansion, the cab had to be buzzed in, and the huge iron gates were closed behind him.
The mansion itself was beautiful- fully restored to look new, even though it was old.
The front porch reminded Atropa of the houses in the South, huge and wrapped around the whole building.
Smiling at the cab driver, she saw a woman come out the front doors holding a clipboard.
She looked older, at least thirty or forty, and had a snooty, angry look about her.
"And you must be miss Trist. I'm Angeline. I am your second boss- I'm here to keep order and tell you what to do and what not to do."
She sniffed, glancing at Atropa's neckline.
"You're to be Mr. Rublat's maid, servant, and well, basically, just do as he says. Your room with be next door to his, and you'll cater to his every wish. You're to wash his clothes, fold them, hang them, what have you, as well as cook his breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if he requests it in bed. Otherwise, breakfast is served at eight in the morning, lunch is at noon, and dinner is at six. You aren't required to eat here, but you are required to be back in the mansion by ten at night, otherwise, you will not be allowed inside."
She finally took a breath, and Atropa smiled nervously.
"Also, no sexual advances or relationships are allowed with Mr. Rublat. Unless of course, he wants it.
In fact, try to not look at him at all.
Your paycheck will be given to you in cash every Monday, at ten in the morning. You will be making twelve dollars an hour, and you will work seven in the morning to eight at night, Monday through Friday. Weekends are for your own use, but the curfew still stands.
You don't have to be asleep by ten, however. You may be awake, but you are required to stay in your room."
Nodding, Angeline thought for a moment before continuing.
"You can use the washer and dryer for your own laundry, but only the ones in your room. You're equipped with everything you could need already, so there should be no complaints. If you require new bathroom supplies, clothes, entertainment, or washing supplies, you must buy them yourself."
Sighing, Angeline wrote something on her clipboard, and then turned her attention back to Atropa.
"Well, that's all then. I'll help you with your things, and show you your room, as well as the other important rooms. Follow me, Miss Trist."
Atropa nodded to the cab driver, paid him, and said her thanks, then gathered her bags and followed Angeline.
The mansion was huge- but Angeline knew her way around, and quickly showed Atropa the kitchen, dining room, living room, the main floor bathroom, the game room, the swimming pool- which was for weekend use only, and the exercise room.
"My own room is down the hall from yours." She told Atropa, as they climbed the steps to the second story.
"Our bathrooms are connected to our rooms, so we need not leave after curfew, unless Mr. Rublat calls us."
She showed Atropa her room, which was ten times bigger than her own apartment, without the bathroom.
"You have a telephone in here- this is strictly for our own use. If Mr. Rublat needs you, at any time, he will call you here. Your cell phone is for personal use- this phone only works within the mansion.
Mr. Rublat is line one, I am line two, the cook is line three."
She put Atropa's bags down on the floor, glancing around.
"Bathroom is to the left. We have walkie talkies, in case you get lost. Yours is on your dresser. Feel free to unpack, if you wish."
Angeline stood, watching Atropa.
"N-no, that's fine. I'll unpack later, thank you."
Angeline nodded and left the room, gesturing for Atropa to follow.
The halls were quiet and empty, since everyone was preparing for dinner.
Angeline led Atropa to a room right across the hall from her own, and knocked on the door.
"Mr. Rublat, the new help has arrived. I've brought her here to meet you, as requested."
Atropa could feel the nervousness in her belly, and she swallowed loudly.
Meeting new people always made her nervous.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage.
Sighing, she turned her alarm off and rolled over, pulling her blanket over her head.
She hadn't stayed up late last night, but she was still never one to enjoy getting up to an alarm.
Mentally forcing herself to get up, she threw off her comforter and sat up in bed, rubbing her eyes.
It was her first day at her new job today, and she wanted to make a good impression.
Today, she'd be leaving her apartment, at least for a few months.
Her new employer asked for all employees to live in his mansion, and Atropa was more than willing to do so.
The apartment she was currently living in left much to be desired- not only was it in a bad neighborhood, but the landlords were assholes, and never fixed anything.
So, she currently had a broken front door (thank God she had a gun), broken blinds, and a patch of mold in her living room.
The bedroom was basically the only place she stayed in now, since her kitchen had rats, and the bathroom connected right to her room.
Yawning, Atropa stood up and gathered her clothes, then walked to the bathroom and turned on the shower.
She'd decided to wear something formal, nice, but not too nice.
A simple black dress with an empire waist and a decent neckline- showing just a hint of cleavage, paired with some black ballet flats.
Stepping in the shower, Atropa sighed happily. At least her hot water worked.
Quickly, she washed her hair, face, and body, and then shaved. She cut herself on her razor, and cursed under her breath, watching the blood run down the drain.
Once she'd dried off her body and blow dried her hair, Atropa examined herself in the mirror.
She wasn't what anyone would call ugly, but she also wasn't a model.
Her skin was fair, almost sickly white, and her eyes were a bright vivid green outlined with thick black lashes.
Atropa's hair was auburn and soft as silk, reaching the middle of her back in long layers.
At least her hair looked nice.
She'd never had a problem with acne, either. So that was one less thing to worry about.
Although her jawline was round, she wasn't fat- however, she wasn't stick thin, either.
Atropa had a curvy hourglass shape to her body, with bigger thighs and hips, and her breasts weren't anything to feel bad about.
She believed her lips were a bit thin, but most others said they were full, and they envied them.
Shrugging at her reflection, Atropa pulled her hair up into a neat bun, and put a bit of black eyeliner on, and some dark red lipstick.
Looking at the watch on her right wrist, she realized she almost had to leave for her cab, so she quickly put her outfit on and ran about her apartment, packing her things and gathering them to leave.
Her more expensive things had been put in storage already, so if she was robbed while she was gone, nothing important would be taken.
All she was taking with her to the mansion were her clothes, bathroom supplies, shoes, phone, and laptop.
Smiling sadly at her crappy apartment, Atropa grabbed her bags and left it- for how long, she wasn't sure.
She locked her front door with her key, hoping it would be good enough, and walked down the rickety stairs to the cab that was waiting.
He helped her load her bags into the trunk, and then, she was off.
---
The drive wasn't too far from the city, but it was far enough that no subways or buses went out there.
She needed to take a cab, but it hadn't been too bad.
Atropa had gotten a quiet cab driver for once, and so she'd spent the ride enjoying the city go by, as well as the countryside.
It was really beautiful out here, wildflowers bloomed everywhere, and she saw a few wild animals here and there.
When they finally arrived at the mansion, the cab had to be buzzed in, and the huge iron gates were closed behind him.
The mansion itself was beautiful- fully restored to look new, even though it was old.
The front porch reminded Atropa of the houses in the South, huge and wrapped around the whole building.
Smiling at the cab driver, she saw a woman come out the front doors holding a clipboard.
She looked older, at least thirty or forty, and had a snooty, angry look about her.
"And you must be miss Trist. I'm Angeline. I am your second boss- I'm here to keep order and tell you what to do and what not to do."
She sniffed, glancing at Atropa's neckline.
"You're to be Mr. Rublat's maid, servant, and well, basically, just do as he says. Your room with be next door to his, and you'll cater to his every wish. You're to wash his clothes, fold them, hang them, what have you, as well as cook his breakfast, lunch, and dinner, if he requests it in bed. Otherwise, breakfast is served at eight in the morning, lunch is at noon, and dinner is at six. You aren't required to eat here, but you are required to be back in the mansion by ten at night, otherwise, you will not be allowed inside."
She finally took a breath, and Atropa smiled nervously.
"Also, no sexual advances or relationships are allowed with Mr. Rublat. Unless of course, he wants it.
In fact, try to not look at him at all.
Your paycheck will be given to you in cash every Monday, at ten in the morning. You will be making twelve dollars an hour, and you will work seven in the morning to eight at night, Monday through Friday. Weekends are for your own use, but the curfew still stands.
You don't have to be asleep by ten, however. You may be awake, but you are required to stay in your room."
Nodding, Angeline thought for a moment before continuing.
"You can use the washer and dryer for your own laundry, but only the ones in your room. You're equipped with everything you could need already, so there should be no complaints. If you require new bathroom supplies, clothes, entertainment, or washing supplies, you must buy them yourself."
Sighing, Angeline wrote something on her clipboard, and then turned her attention back to Atropa.
"Well, that's all then. I'll help you with your things, and show you your room, as well as the other important rooms. Follow me, Miss Trist."
Atropa nodded to the cab driver, paid him, and said her thanks, then gathered her bags and followed Angeline.
The mansion was huge- but Angeline knew her way around, and quickly showed Atropa the kitchen, dining room, living room, the main floor bathroom, the game room, the swimming pool- which was for weekend use only, and the exercise room.
"My own room is down the hall from yours." She told Atropa, as they climbed the steps to the second story.
"Our bathrooms are connected to our rooms, so we need not leave after curfew, unless Mr. Rublat calls us."
She showed Atropa her room, which was ten times bigger than her own apartment, without the bathroom.
"You have a telephone in here- this is strictly for our own use. If Mr. Rublat needs you, at any time, he will call you here. Your cell phone is for personal use- this phone only works within the mansion.
Mr. Rublat is line one, I am line two, the cook is line three."
She put Atropa's bags down on the floor, glancing around.
"Bathroom is to the left. We have walkie talkies, in case you get lost. Yours is on your dresser. Feel free to unpack, if you wish."
Angeline stood, watching Atropa.
"N-no, that's fine. I'll unpack later, thank you."
Angeline nodded and left the room, gesturing for Atropa to follow.
The halls were quiet and empty, since everyone was preparing for dinner.
Angeline led Atropa to a room right across the hall from her own, and knocked on the door.
"Mr. Rublat, the new help has arrived. I've brought her here to meet you, as requested."
Atropa could feel the nervousness in her belly, and she swallowed loudly.
Meeting new people always made her nervous.
Taking a deep breath, she gathered her courage.
