8 Hands to yourself (2)

"Why was I stuck cleaning windows that we already cleaned last night? Mavis is going to see fire when she dies. Nothing but fire," Annalise muttered, angrily cleaning the windows. 

When she finally did a good job and pleased one of the Callahans, Mavis was upset with her, and stuck her with cleaning the windows again. Why? Mavis claimed the terrible weather in the night had blown debris all over the windows.

Annalise went as close as she could to the window for her eyes to inspect that glass which was perfectly fine.

"If she keeps this up, she'll see fire when she's alive," said Annalise.

Sensing someone was near, Annalise looked to her right where Connor stood. As if her day wasn't going bad already, she had to deal with him now.

"Feisty little thing, aren't you?" Connor asked, walking toward Annalise slowly so he could continue to enjoy her full appearance. What would it take for the wind to blow to show off the flesh hidden behind her dress? 'Rafael needs to order the maids to wear shorter dresses,' he thought.

'Annoying little thing, aren't you?' Annalise thought. She wanted to say it to Connor, but she did not wish to receive a complaint so early in the day.

Annalise stepped down from the chair to start cleaning the lower windows.

"Why did you step down? Afraid of me? You have no reason to be," Connor promised. He hoped no one had filled her head with lies. "I wouldn't push you off the chair."

"We should be more concerned about me throwing it at you," Annalise mumbled. She could not get what Cara said out of her head. She wanted to open one of the windows and dangle Connor out of it while he apologized to all the maids he inappropriately touched. It wouldn't be a good enough punishment, but it would be a good start.

It didn't matter that Connor had done nothing to her. Besides, seeing that he was here to bother her meant she was his next target. Connor picked the right person today.

"I didn't hear you," Connor said, taking a little step closer to hear her better. "I hope no one has gotten in your head about me. You shouldn't judge someone based on what someone else said. Where are you from?" He asked after a long pause. She should consider herself lucky to capture his attention.

"I don't like telling that information to a stranger. I would be setting myself up for danger if I did that. Wouldn't I?" Annalise looked at Connor as she moved the bucket of soap water she was using to clean the windows with.

"You would. Smart girl. I like that. Your employer trusts me so you can to-"

'That is like I am walking in town and a stranger approached me saying, the baker trusts me so you can let me walk you home. I'm not telling you where I am from. I am tempted to tell you where you can go," Annalise smiled. "Unless you intend to help me clean the windows, please leave me be."

"I would love to help you, but I was not born to be cleaning windows. What I can help you with is taking you somewhere you don't have to be cleaning windows. Would you like to come with me?" Connor asked.

"You're not doing a good job at trying not to sound like a creep. I take it my job will include warming your bed? I must respectfully decline. Now, I would like to get back to my job. The more I speak to you the more at risk I am to lose my job-"

"You're a little too full of yourself for a maid," Connor grabbed her hand to make her look at him.

Annalise sighed."I am trying to not get in trouble," she yanked her hand away from Connor's grip. "Keep your hands to yourself or I will," she bit her lip. She could not tell him that she would break his hands.

Connor stumbled forward, surprised by her strength. She was quite the interesting little lady, but he could not let what she did go. He reached out to grab her again and this time, she would not be able to get away from him so easily. "Be glad I am talking-"

Annalise swung the wet rag she was using to clean the windows with, to slap Connor's face. It did the job of stopping him from approaching her since he stopped, and looked at her with a wide-eyed expression as if not believing she had the guts to smack him, before touching his face where water came out of the rag. "I said, keep your hands to yourself before I break them. I am not interested in you. I'd love to teach you a lesson in place of your mother, but I have a window to clean."

Annalise looked behind Connor at someone quickly approaching where they were.

"You-"

"Connor!" Rafael interrupted the argument between the two. He had a bad feeling about Connor and came to look for him. It was no surprise to find him with Annalise after Connor was asking about her not long ago. He came just in time to see Connor positioning his hand as if to smack Annalise. "Why are you raising your hand at my servant?"

"She slapped me in the face with a filthy rag," Connor glared at Annalise. He made the mistake of licking his lips and tasting the water she was using.

Annalise wasn't the slightest bit surprised that he left out why she did it. "I told him-"

"I told you to not get involved with my maids. Whatever you did, you had it coming," Rafael said, putting himself in between Annalise and Connor before something more could happen. "It is time you leave."

Connor looked behind Rafael at Annalise who stuck out her tongue at him. "You!" Connor pointed a finger at her. "I have known you for years. You're going to pick her over me? She slapped me with a rag," Connor said, still in disbelief. "I will not let this slide."

"Connor, leave my home before you find yourself thrown out of it. I have no time to deal with you pestering a maid," Rafael said.

Connor clenched his fists, disappointed with Rafael's choice. He would have taken Rafael's side if their roles were reversed. He turned to leave, but this wasn't over. Connor would see Annalise again whether it be here in Rafael's home or on the road. All the maids left at some point when they had a day to themselves.

Annalise watched Connor storm off like a big baby. She didn't think Rafael would side with her against someone he knew. She wondered if he knew what Connor did with the maids.

"Is it hard for you to stay out of trouble?" Rafael asked, looking at the rag in her hands.

"Trouble has a way of coming to me, young master. Regardless of what you think, I did not want to be alone with him. I heard there is no point in complaining about Connor's behaviour toward us as nothing gets done so it is best to avoid him. The others say you are not aware of it. I don't want to think ill of everyone's hero," said Annalise.

Rafael picked up on the sarcasm in her voice, like she thought otherwise about him being a hero. He did not care to find out why. Rafael did not go around calling himself a hero. "I know some of the maids tend to date Connor and the other knights, but I wasn't aware that anyone who felt uncomfortable around him was not able to make complaints. I will look into it. Get back to work."

"Yes, young master," Annalise sweetly replied with a smile. It fell when Rafael turned his back on her.