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š Chapter 7 ā Whispers in the Kitchen
The next morning, the house was buzzing.
Guests from the night before were still lounging around the patio, waiting for brunch. Laughter echoed through the halls, but Esi felt detached ā like she was walking through a stage play she no longer believed in.
She tied her apron over a plain dress and entered the kitchen. She wasn't there to impress. She had questions.
The kitchen smelled of fried plantains and pepper soup. The maids moved like clockwork ā chopping, stirring, plating ā but Esi spotted Akoto, the older maid from before, wiping down a tray.
"Need help with anything?" Esi asked.
Akoto gave her a half-smile. "You don't need to be in here, madam."
"I want to be," Esi said. "I'm tired of sitting pretty."
That made Akoto pause.
Esi lowered her voice. "You've worked here a long time, haven't you?"
Akoto nodded slowly. "Since the last Mrs. Agyeman."
"Ama."
Akoto froze for a second. "Yes. Ama."
"I read her journal," Esi said softly. "I know she didn't just leave."
Akoto didn't respond, just kept wiping.
"I'm not trying to cause trouble," Esi added. "But I deserve to know what I walked into."
Akoto finally met her eyes. "You didn't walk in. You were brought in ā just like Ama."
Esi's heart beat faster. "So what happened to her?"
Akoto hesitated. Then, in a whisper, she said,
"She wanted to follow her dreams,she wanted to be free buh...
Esi swallowed hard. "And then?"
Akoto glanced over her shoulder, making sure no one was listening.
She disappearedĀ
Before Esi could say more, footsteps approached. Akoto grabbed a bowl of eggs and turned away.
"Careful, madam," she said under her breath.
"Some truths here are better whispered. And someā¦ not at all."