Story: Miss Cassandra Fellows. Chapters 9-10.

by Jackie J

Chapter 9.

Following the meeting with Doctor Jenkins Cassie was back at work in the restaurant steaming off the griddle plates and cleaning the ovens ready for the week ahead. Whilst she laboured Cassies mind could not help reflecting on the questions Miss had asked her. She was still confused what it was all about. The calculation’s, ratio’s, percentages? She had no problem with those, or so she thought, but were they relevant for a maid? She knew everything about her rota and work at Temples and maids work in general. Surely that is what Miss really wanted to know how good a maid she was, like Miss Lockwood had told her she must be. The games at the end were familiar, she had done something similar before, with Miss, matching words and pretending to be someone else, but it was already a little foggy in her mind. That was over now, she had work to finish and rubber gloved, Cassie continued scrubbing at the caked-on grime from inside the ovens.

Thursday of Cassandra’s second full week a maid at Temples and the thoughts of high finance and the life- style enjoyed by Miss Cassandra Fellows continued to be unconsciously and effectively suppressed by the industrious and willing maid Cassie. Kept busy with her work and being constantly reminded by Mr Roberts, and indeed all the other staff at Temples, what a good maid she was, there was little capacity or scope for thoughts of other than what she was, who she was.

Cassandra Fellows had been convinced to and willingly embraced her maid persona under the pretence of Evelyn Lockwood’s scheme to remove the conflict with her inner maid. With Maid Cassie exposed, Cassandra’s maid was to be contained, isolated, and separated from the troubled Executive. Cassandra would then free to continue her executive career unfettered, the interfering and debilitating maid persona banished to be buried deep within the darkest recesses of her mind, or so Cassandra had assumed.

What Casandra did not realise, could not have foreseen at the time she was manipulated into naively agreeing to participate in the subterfuge, that with her inner maid released without constraint and with relentless encouragement, fuelled by long held subconscious desires for her subjugation, to be aproned beyond recourse, the outcome would be quite different. Each day that passed was consolidating her mental paradox. It was not the maid persona that was being manipulated and driven from her conscious mind, but Cassandra the executive.

Maid Cassie, no longer suppressed and controlled to be released only at the will and on a whim of the executive Miss Cassandra Fellows, had flooded into, and was controlling all conscious thoughts, every thought of the Temples willing maid.

Evelyn’s suspicious had been confirmed cross referencing the details she had received from Sir Philip with Cassandra’s diary.  Cassie had unknowingly influenced Miss Fellows judgement and the “Episodes” had been more recent and more frequent. The poor woman, unknown to her, had no doubt been on the cusp of transition from executive to maid long before coming to Temples. 

Along with professional pride, in the success of the techniques she had pioneered at Temples to expose Miss Fellows, there was a hint of sympathy for Cassandra, but only a hint. There was something exquisitely perverse and pleasurable seeing this accomplished and outwardly successful executive, especially one so pretty and well groomed, stripping herself of her finery and so willingly accepting to be put to work a common maid and cleaner.

Evelyn sat back in her chair and laughed at herself, was she getting obsessed with Miss Fellows, the whole Cassie thing? She had exposed the woman to be a weak link in her client’s company, halted and prevented further financial losses, like Sandra had said, surely it was job done and Temples would of course be paid handsomely for what they had achieved. Another period of evaluation for Miss Fellows to remain at Temples had been agreed with Sir Philip and Evelyn was becoming increasingly intrigued to know just how consumed Cassandra had become by her inner maid Cassie. Outwardly no one would ever think to question that the serving maid or overalled cleaner busy at its work was other than what it was. Cassie had been accepted by all the staff at Temples for the maid she was and there had been no indication by the maid herself to dispel her lowly tag.

With what Sir Philp had discovered from the historic contracts review he had already reconsidered his plans to promote Miss Fellows it was all about damage limitation now, how was he going to keep all this under wraps? He needed this problem with Miss Fellows to just “Go away.” But how?

An anxious Sir Philip had been on the telephone to Evelyn. He had forwarded the information that Evelyn had requested and confirmed he had received a response to his email from Miss Fellows agreeing to return to Temples but needed to see Evelyn urgently to discuss Miss Fellows with her. He had grave concerns about what had been revealed and the effect it would have on the business if it became public knowledge. He needed Evelyn’s help. Evelyn was hopeful that she could dissuaded Sir Philip from visiting until Cassandra’s evaluations were completed but he seemed quite adamant.

“Give me another week Sir Philip, I have something in mind that, if I am correct, will solve all your problems.”

On Evelyn’s instructions, Sandra had prepared a short promotional film for Evelyn to view.  Sandra pushed the memory stick into Evelyn’s computer, and both looked up at the large screen.

In recent weeks Evelyn and Sandra had only seen and become familiar with Cassie at her work about the centre. Seeing Miss Fellows, as she was when she arrived at Temples and through her evaluations, brought home the drastic difference in physical appearance between the assured confident executive and Temples maid. The glasses of course and the clothing, the hair, the makeup but more than this. the radical change in demeanour. Confident heeled strides, head aloft shoulders back full of grace replaced with a more shuffled gait, not overly so but slightly stooped, and a readily lowered gaze. Pretty she remained, for a maid that is.

More revealing, Than the disparity in appearance and demeanour, and more relevant to future clients the evaluations of Miss Fellows, prior to and following an identified episode, her mental paradox. Then the evaluations of Cassie?

Both sat silent for a few minutes before Evelyn spoke.

“An excellent piece of work Sandra, the charts the profiles and your clinical voice over, it’s just perfect. I have some financials I have pulled from the information Sir Philip sent me that we can add. We will obviously have to take out the Hobson Lloyd reference and most probably that it is Miss Fellows. Hopefully, that will placate Sir Philip, and allow us to run this.

Sandra smirked.

“Thank you, Evelyn.”

Evelyn swivelled in her chair reaching for then opening Miss Fellows file on her desk before adding the financial detail she had received from Sir Philip and the cross references from Cassandra’s diary.

“Take this Sandra, get everything updated for our final report. I have a meeting with our maid on Monday which should be interesting to say the least. If all goes well, and I suspect it will, Sir Philip will be most grateful and that sickly excuse for a maid Betty will be able to convalesce at her leisure.”

The new maid had been employed for over two weeks and a meeting with management was quite normal following a probationary period. Given Betty, the maid who was employed at Temples, would not be returning as planned, having had a relapse, John was hoping Miss Lockwood would be wanting to keep Cassie on and that she would want to stay. Cassie was an excellent maid and his reports to Miss Lockwood reflected just that.

Cassie was nervous about seeing Miss Lockwood and stood in front of Mr Roberts, ready to leave, smoothed down the skirts of her dress and fussed with her Apron.

“Do I look alright Mr Roberts this apron is clean.”

John smiled stepping forward and adjusted his maids lace headband to reassure his maid.

“Perfect Cassie now you run along to see Miss Lockwood.”

Having knocked on Miss Lockwood’s office door Cassie entered and curtsied.

“You wanted to see me Miss?”

Evelyn had everything prepared and stared at the entering maid seeing little pretence in what curtsied before her, she had read Mr Roberts reports, seen Cassie at work, watched her interview with Dr Jenkins but this was the first time, since she had Miss Fellows trade her designer suits for her Miss Tutteridge maid’s uniform, that she had met personally with Temples new maid.

“Yes, take a seat, here by my desk.”

Cassie sat looking at Miss Lockwood with an attentive and questioning expression unsure why she had been called.

“Almost three weeks since Miss Fellows brought you here to be our maid at Temples, and we need to discuss a few things, don’t we? Do you think Miss Fellows would be pleased with you Cassie, with your work, how you have settled in?

Miss Fellows, mentioned in the third person, as it was at the outset for Temples maid, did not challenge Cassie’s delusional existence. A closed mind accepting the contradiction of separation. It was Miss Fellows who brought her to Temples wasn’t it?

 Cassie meekly lowered her gaze. She was a good maid Mr Roberts was always telling her that.

“Yes, Miss.”

The tone for the meeting was set with that one question and Cassandra Fellows reply. How deeply had Miss Fellows desires become habituated in the mind of the pretty and nervous maid sat before her. Evelyn was about to find out.

Evelyn looked into Cassie's eyes.

“You seem very happy here at Temples being a maid, my maid, do you think we will see Miss Fellows again Cassie, would Cassie want to see Miss Fellows again?”

Cassie, held in the gaze of Miss Lockwood, momentarily looked to the floor then looked back at Evelyn. Her answer was honest though conflicted. Cassie was happy at Temples, happy being a maid, Miss Lockwood’s maid. Cassandra, Miss Fellows, and all she was had been growing more distant by the day, seldom thoughts of that life crossing the busy maid’s mind. Why, she was unsure, but the maid knew, that if Miss Fellows returned, she could not be a maid, she wanted to be a maid, she was a maid, Temples maid. The contradiction and mental conflict showed on Cassie’s face and within the hesitation of her words.

“I, I, I don’t, don’t know Miss.”

Evelyn could sense the mental struggle and continued confident that what remained of Cassandra Fellows would need little encouragement or inducement to consolidate her new life, that of a maid, Temples maid.

“Well Cassie, Mr Roberts sends me glowing reports of your work and given that you have proved to be such a good maid, I have decided to keep you. You are to remain here at Temples, its maid and cleaner, on a permeant basis. So, I think we both know it is most unlikely that we will see or hear from Miss Fellows ever again don’t we. That is what Cassie wants isn’t it, to be my maid, Temples maid?

Cassie had a distant look in her eyes, was this not what Cassandra had only dared dream of, to offer up her total capitulation to her secret desires. For her part time pretence to become her reality, to be truly aproned and subjugated, for her life to become that of a common maid, forsaking all that went before. Cassandra had fought a mental battle of resistance to such exquisite thought, but Cassie had no such resistance, she was the realised manifestation of all those desires. With the flames fanned for her self-prophesised demise, her softly spoken response was a continuation and consolidation of Cassie’s mental suppression of the Cassandra Fellows she was. A persona that was being overwhelmed and insidiously consumed by the maid of her desires.  

“Yes, Miss.”

Evelyn opened a file on her desk and placed three documents in front of Cassie.

“Good girl Cassie, of course that is what you want, so we need to make your appointment at Temples official don’t we? Sign these and then you can return to your duties. The first one you will have to sign for Miss Fellows, in her absence, you remember her signature don’t you, and these two you will sign in your name Cassie, Cassie Jones.”

Evelyn offered her pen across the desk.

Was Miss Cassandra Fellow’s the European Contracts Director of Hobson and Lloyd really going to disavow and disown all she was and sign herself into a life of servitude, to become nothing more than a maid and cleaner at Temples?

Possessed by her nurtured persona, her implicit self- deceit was boundless, and the answer could only ever be an emphatic yes. With pen in hand Cassie only glanced at the text, with little consideration, and did not hesitate to sign the documents as instructed by Miss Lockwood.

Evelyn smirked returning the signed letter of Miss Fellows and one copy of the maid’s contract into her file, handing Cassie her copy.

“Very good Cassie, take this and go back to your work, you may tell Mr Roberts that you will be staying with us and give him your contract, I am sure he will be pleased.”

 Cassie paused by the door and curtsied. She had been unnecessarily worried and nervous about her meeting with Miss Lockwood. Miss had been kind telling her what a good maid she was, so good she had been employed on a permeant basis at Temples, her contract for Mr Roberts in her apron pocket. 

“Thank you. Miss.”

 

Chapter 10

 

John was finishing his telephone call from Miss Lockwood when Cassie, having returned from her meeting, knocked on his door and entered. A polite curtsy Cassie held out the contract she had received from Miss Lockwood.

“From Miss Lockwood Mr Roberts.”

“Thank you, Cassie, Miss Lockwood just rang to inform me that you are staying with us and this is your contract is it, I will keep this safe in your file. Well don’t just stand there, back to work girl, you will have some catching up to do.”

Another bobbed curtsy and she was gone.

John smiled putting the contract away in Cassies file. Miss Lockwood had informed John that Betty would not be returning and Cassie Jones was to replace her on a permanent basis. He was to clear out Betty’s things and organise temples uniforms for Cassie. John was pleased that Betty would not be coming back, she was alright as a maid but not like Cassie. Betty was a fat lump and always complaining, found the work demeaning and hated the way the staff and delegates looked down on her treating her with disdain and she always seemed to look scruffy. Cassie never complained she enjoyed her work and the more awkward and demanding the delegates she could not do enough for them and she always kept herself smart.

Another week and on Wednesday all of Betty’s things had gone the closet now filled with Cassie own new uniforms that had been delivered the previous afternoon. The smart black Tutteridge worsted dresses replaced by a grey lower quality cotton fabric with white lapels. Cassie's name embroidered on the breast, much more in keeping with a commercial cleaner come maid than the higher end domestic maid’s apparel that she was used to. The tie round aprons trimmed with black piping rather than lace as were the disposable card caps. As if to reinforce her now permanent status the label’s inside the dresses were embossed “Property of Temples”. If any respect offered to Temples maid could ever be lowered, the new uniform Cassie now wore, had that effect. There was something about the Miss Tutteridge uniform, it’s obvious high-quality fabric, tailored cut and lace trimming proclaiming a degree of class, but the Temples uniform was more functional and utilitarian and dressed what was obviously within, a skivvy and domestic drone. Cassie's dresses being of cotton and easy laundered, the overalls were now reserved for the grimiest of tasks and she wore cheap polyester tabards for the lighter of the commercial cleaning.

The uniform she now wore may have been of a lower mark, but Cassie wore it with no less pride. If Cassie needed any further reinforcement and confirmation of her role and status, and of course its permanency, then adopting, and now being adorned in the Temples uniform did just that. Cassandra Fellows self -delusion was morphing into a reality that would require significant and lengthy remedial therapy to redress. And where would any cry for such redemption come from? Certainly not from behind the mental walls building around the maid’s persona that was Cassie Jones.

The final report on Miss Cassandra Fellows was ready and sat on Evelyn’s desk in its leather-bound client’s presentation folder. Outwardly impressive but the contents even more remarkable. A VIP delegate arriving at Temples for what was thought a routine evaluation prior to a significant promotion, to head up the North American operations of the prestigious global facilitators, Hobson and Lloyd. The report should have been a complimentary resume of a successful senior executive’s time at Temples, a passport to career advancement.

The contents somewhat different, a detailed log of Miss Cassandra Fellows weakness exposed by the revolutionary techniques introduced and employed by Miss Evelyn Lockwood and her team at Temples. The ambiguities of the tests, the identification of Dissociative Identity Disorder, the involuntary mental paradox, the isolation of the roots of the mental paradox, the fostering, indulging, and embedding of the ghosting persona, the alignment of “Episodes” with suspected historical performance and finally the eye watering estimation of historic fiscal disparity. The file no less than a prima facia case against the latent, revealed, and now contained source of the significant and embarrassing lost opportunities of historic profitability, at Hobson and Lloyd.

The source, that was the confident executive Cassandra Fellows, could not have been more securely contained. Through its willing and encouraged self- delusional entrapment, being dumbed, and numbed into its desired, adopted and consolidating persona. That of a common maid, Temples maid, Cassie Jones.

It was late morning on Friday, and it was unusual for delegates to arrive at this time. There was something familiar about the matronly lady accompanying the smartly dressed gentleman approaching the reception, but Cassie’s repressed mind paid them no heed wheeling the scrubber and polisher back into its locker. She was more concerned that the pair had walked over her freshly polished tiles.

The receptionist smiled at the approaching couple.

“Mrs Wilson and Sir Philip from Hobson and Lloyd to see Miss Lockwood.”

Their wait in reception was short and a smiling Evelyn pushed through the door from the academic area and smiled.

“Sir Philip, Mrs Wilson, how nice to see you do come through.”

Sandra was waiting in the main meeting room when they entered and was introduced by Evelyn.

“This is Doctor Jenkins she is our lead analyst; Dr Jenkins prepared the report on your Miss Fellows that I know you are both be anxious to review.”

Introductory formalities over they seated themselves around the large meeting room table. Evelyn sat at the head of the table and passed the leather- bound report to Sir Philip with a copy to Mrs Wilson. 

“I suggest that Doctor Jenkins delivers her presentation before we consider the final report a copy of which you have in front of you.”

Sir Philip looked questioningly at Evelyn.

“Miss Fellows, she is still here at Temples, isn’t she? Is she not joining us?

Evelyn smiled.

“Yes, she is still at Temples, but will not be joining us just yet, I think it best that you are made fully aware of the situation with Miss Fellows before she joins us.”

Sandra’s presentation was professional, methodical, and analytical as it was clinical. A chronological tabulation leading from suspicion, investigation to conclusions unearthed by the developed techniques employed at Temples.

Sir Philip and Mrs Wilson had sat through the presentation mesmerised by its revelations. Cassandra Fellows of all people, but the facts spoke for themselves. 

Evelyn thanked Sandra for the presentation who took her seat back at the table and Evelyn then led Sir Philip and Mrs Wilson through the detail of the prepared report.

Sir Philip sat uneasy in his chair viewing Temples extrapolation of the financial losses that had been masked by Cassandra Fellows otherwise successful career to date. A career that had brought her to the threshold of one of the most senior positions in the company.

“Dissociative Identity Disorder, Mental Paradox, I have never heard of such a thing, two people, two personalities, one suppressing the other, all this time. This cannot get out, no one must know, if this goes public, I hate to think of the damage it will cause. This could be a disaster for us, I do not know this Miss Fellows, that is why I asked Mrs Wilson to accompany me today. Mary heads up the European HR for Hobson and Lloyd, she recruited her, and Miss Fellows name was top of the list when this promotion came up. Well Mary what do you make of all this?

Mary had always admired Cassandra Fellows, she had been one of her most successful acquisitions for Hobson and Lloyd, or so she had thought?  Extremely numerate, articulate, results driven but Mary, like many among the staff at Hobson and Lloyd, harboured a jealous streak for the European contracts director. Jealous of her looks and style her sophistication she was like a model, turning heads strutting the corridors in her designer suits and heels, never a hair out of place. Knowing now, that behind that haughty and confident persona was a weak and malleable submissive with a desire for its subjugation, to be a maid, in fact had been moonlighting, being a maid. Mary could not help but find it both intriguing and even more so amusing. Miss Fellows had obviously kept her inner most desires a well-kept secret, but no longer it would seem. Miss Fellows wanting to be put to work a maid, how exquisite.

“Well, I am amazed, hard for me to understand, to take all this in Sir Philip. Miss Fellows previous evaluations, including the last visit here to Temples, indicated nothing like this but, from the presentation, the report, the facts and figures, afflicted by this Dissociative Identity Disorder her “Mental Paradox” it would seem Miss Fellows was not all that she appeared to be. Moonlighting for this Miss Tutteridge agency, wanting to be a maid, to live the life of a maid, fascinating. According to what Dr Jenkins just told us, Miss Fellows agreed and accepted to actually be aproned here at Temples to be put to work a common maid and moreover remains so. I would have thought some form of treatment would be required rather than exploiting the poor woman’s latent desires for servitude. You imply there are two avenues to take Miss Lockwood, perhaps you would care to enlighten us?”

Evelyn opened a second file on the table and looked to Sir Philip.

“You mentioned in your phone call, when you first became aware of what Miss Fellows had been responsible for, having studied the low margin contracts, you wanted this problem to “Just go away”. Again, today you have become concerned about the risk of the damage the exposure of Miss Fellows would bring to Hobson and Lloyd, so I am mindful of that.”

“The question you raise of treatment Mrs Wilson. We indulged Miss Fellows to fulfil her inner cravings and yes, in her full knowledge, that we were aware who she was, Miss Fellows accepted to be aproned and put to work a maid here at Temples and to be treated as such. This to seek triggers of reversal to control her possession, to date unfortunately there have been none.

What we did not anticipate, was the effect of being free from the enduring deadlock of control, that of discovery, which had served Miss Fellows well in keeping her maid within in check. Being released from such inhibitions, the maid within Miss Fellows flourished, taking control, consolidating the mental paradox. The persona being suppressed no longer that of the maid but the executive. 

We believe that Miss Fellows had unknowingly lived with the disorder for years probably back to her childhood and no doubt reconciled her desires to be nothing more than a fetish. From the diary we obtained, Miss Fellows sought and found opportunities to live out, what she would think, her fantasies, little knowing the truth behind her cravings for her subjugation. Miss Fellows successful executive persona being firmly in charge or so it would seem.

 Unknown to Miss Fellows, that control was not as firm as she believed, and hence the spasmodic occurrence of the mental paradox’s, during her negotiations for Hobson and Lloyd. An unknown trigger of contradiction bringing her weak submissive persona to the forefront of her mind, a persona that would disappear with the same stealth it appeared. Miss Fellows blissfully unaware of her actions whilst befuddled by her maid within.

The two alternatives I propose, avenues as a company that you could pursue.

A program of regressive therapy, to return her to who she was, what she was. This could be fraught, and I suspect would prove lengthy and costly. Even following such treatment there would no guarantee that she would still not be inclined to the episodes that have already cost your company.  Would you really want Miss Fellows back in your company in an executive role, indeed any responsible role?

The alternative. Let the paradox run its course until, with continued encouragement, her transition from executive too maid is complete. No triggers of reversal have yet been found and over time, without such a trigger, I am convinced she will recall and know nothing of who she was only what she is, the maid that she would become, what she had desired to be. The Miss Cassandra Fellows that was, would, in your words Sir Philip simply “Just go away.”

 Mrs Wilson showed a degree of concern at what was being inferred to be the preferred option. Cassandra Fellows to remain at Temples, its maid?

“I cannot believe what you are proposing to cast Miss Fellows into obscurity, a working maid? We surely cannot consider that we must get her help, surely?”

Sir Philip on the other hand, with damage limitation on his mind, saw the appeal of the proposal.

“Mary please, let us not be hasty here, Miss Fellows is responsible for significant losses to the company, all be it without her knowledge, and she has been working outside the business being a maid.”

Sir Philip did not get where he was without knowing how to manipulate people to his will.

“Something you may want to consider Mary, is your own part in this, after all it was you who hired Miss Fellows and recommended her for this promotion. if this became public knowledge, well your judgement would surely be brought into question, perhaps something you would want to avoid?”

Sir Philips words having the desired effect, Mary resigning herself to the inevitable.

“Well, I am not comfortable with this, but you make your point Sir Philip so what next Miss Lockwood.”

Evelyn passed copies of Miss Fellows resignation letter she had Cassandra unknowingly sign following their meeting.

“I thought you may be minded to follow this course and I had this prepared, all for the best I think.”

The letter a glowing endorsement for Temples and its staff thanking them for their efforts and procedures in identifying areas of concern in her work. That on reflection of the findings it would not be right to continue in her current role at Hobson and Lloyd. A closing apology for the potential financial losses that she may have been responsible for and wishing the company well for the future. The keys to the apartment and the company vehicle to be returned in the coming weeks when she can organise alternative accommodation. Cassandra’s signature at the foot of the letter.

Sir Philip smiled.

“She wrote this, signed it willingly?”

Evelyn closed her folder.

“She signed the letter yes, as you can see, that is her signature Mrs Wilson is it not?

Mrs Wilson stared at the letter of resignation; it was Cassandra’s distinctive signature. The ground had been well prepared by Miss Lockwood. Cassandra Fellows was indeed going to “Go away” and Mary was going to be implicit in its endorsement.

“Yes, it is Miss Lockwood and in view of the circumstances something we will no doubt have to accept.”

Evelyn stood from her chair.

“Good, like I say, all for the best I feel, now I have organised a light lunch for us I will have it brought through.”

I short telephone call summoned the refreshments which soon arrived.

Cassie had been well briefed by Mr Roberts about Miss Lockwood’s very important visitors. She must impress Miss Lockwood’s guests, be at her best and show them what a good maid she was.

Wheeling her trolley into the board room Cassie stood back and curtsied.

“Your refreshments, should I lay the plates Miss?”

Evelyn looked at the expression on Mrs Wilsons face and smirked.

“Yes, put everything on the side table.”

Any doubts that lingered, concerning the presentation and detailed report on Miss Fellows were dispelled. Mary watched in amazement whilst the maid placed the food and beverages on the table then turning, looking directly at her with no recognition, before bobbing another curtsy.

“All prepared Miss, is that all?”

Evelyn walked over to the table for a cursory inspection.

“Yes, this is fine, you may go, you will be called to clear away.”

“Thank you, Miss.”

Another curtsy and the maid was gone.

Mary sat staring at the door through which the maid had left whilst Sir Philip strolled over to the perfectly displayed lunch.

“I guess it will be some time before your new maid, this Cassandra Fellows, can perform her duties so well”

Evelyn and Sandra smiled to each other when Mary spoke.

“Sir Philip, that was Cassandra Fellows.”

 

Epilogue.

 

Cassandra Fellows fate was sealed following the meeting of Sir Philip with Miss Lockwood. The resignation of Miss Fellows had been a shock to staff at Hobson and Lloyd. Mrs Wilson explaining that the reason for Cassandra’s sudden departure, being that she was disappointed at being overlooked for the promotion she was in line for. With Cassandra Fellows actual letter of resignation secreted away in confidential files, secured behind the secretive veils of data protection, afforded to past employees, who was to question this motivation.

Over the months that followed, Cassandra continued her decent into her desired life of servitude. The untapped sharp mind, of the once executive, slowly and steadily being dulled and numbed by the mundane monotony of her servile existence. The thick rimmed glasses had been dispensed with but had left Temples maid with an obvious squint, lost forever the bright sparkling made up eyes that had once characterised the pretty belle of Hobson and Lloyd.

With Cassandra’s squint, her hair now practically and neatly trimmed, a no longer pampered complexion, to be polite, having acquired a natural look, plus the extra few pounds added, her mental deterioration was being closely mirrored with that of her nurtured plain and dowdy appearance. One may however still consider Cassie pretty, for a working cleaner and maid that is, and after all, without ambition to the contrary, to be beyond such status, that is what she was, all she was.

Any anticipated divergence of Cassandra, from her chosen path leading to her total subjugation, proved unfounded. There was some discussion with Mr Roberts during the early months, concerning the strange and reoccurring dreams that Cassie had raised with him. John having placated his troubled maid, she should not be worried by such dreams and imaginings, of actually being a delegate at Temples. No matter how real the dreams seemed she had to accept, and of course did, just how ridiculous that would be. It was only natural, she saw the highly educated, smartly dressed delegates every day, why should a mere maid not have such fanciful imaginings. Such dreams of lost ambitions faded over time along with any other conflicting thoughts of an existence above the status of who she was, Temples maid.

Evelyn had long since tired of her pet project it had been interesting but with Sir Philips refusal to allow the use of the promotional presentation, that Doctor Jenkins had put together, having Cassandra Fellows remain at temples could be considered an unwelcome burden. A burden it would be but for the fact that Temples maid was financed by Sir Philip at Hobson and Lloyd along with a regular non-disclosure fee. But more than the financial aspect, Cassie was indeed an excellent maid. Temples was kept immaculate and the delegates often commented on the service they received from Temples ever attentive and polite maid. 

A year had passed, and Mary Wilson was still haunted by what had been done with and to Miss Cassandra Fellows and more importantly, her part in what she still believed was a despicable act.  The owner of Temples had been most persuasive convincing Sir Philip to leave Cassandra in the maid persona she had long sought. Should she have been, could she have been more forceful, about getting treatment for the afflicted executive? That question played on her mind but what choice did she have but to go along with what the chairman decided.

 Temples had continued to be used by Hobson and Lloyd, why not, they were the best in their field. Mary's visit to Temples that afternoon had again served to stir the guilt and remorse for what she had been party to.  No matter how Mary tried to reconcile that it was what Cassandra had wanted, remembering her as she was, and seeing her now, as it had on her previous but purposely infrequent, although necessary visits to Temples, filled her with feelings regret and sadness. On leaving that day however those feelings were eased perhaps it had been for the best after all.

With the programs and fees agreed for the coming year, for the attendees from Hobson and Lloyd, Evelyn and Marys meeting concluded. Mary, even after all this time, was still uneasy at what would now inevitably follow. Evelyn smiled seeing the awkward embarrassment evident in Mary whilst Cassie entered the room, curtsied, and served them with tea and biscuits.  It had been six months since Mary's last visit to Temples. The maid still retained its squint which appeared to have become habitual, and much broader at the hip. With its neat short hair style and coarser complexion, still with minimal makeup, there was little that remained in the maid’s appearance that one would associate with someone above its rank and certainly not the sophisticated fashion-conscious, elegant woman it had been. 

Evelyn had no conscience for the self-inflicted, although encouraged fate of Miss Fellows but knew Mary, even after all this time, retained unreconciled feelings of guilt for what had been done. Mary needed to know she had nothing to be ashamed of, this maid was just Cassie now. The maid having no recollection of who she once was or what she once was, there was nothing left of the Cassandra Fellows that Mary had known.

Having served Miss Lockwood and her visitor Cassie was preparing her trolly to leave.

“Cassie, this is Mrs Wilson from Hobson and Lloyd one of our major clients she thinks you may know her, do you?”

Cassie looked at Mary nervous and a little embarrassed with a weak smile, how could she possibly know this lady?

“No Miss.”

Evelyn turned to Mary then back to Cassie.

“I thought not, that’s all Cassie, off you go.”

A slightly confused Cassie wheeled her trolly out of Miss Lockwood’s office and back to her work.

“There Mary, Cassie is oblivious to who you are, who she was, or what she was, she is a mere maid and content to be such, what she always wanted. You have nothing to reproach yourself for this was all of her own making. Trust me, at some point this would have happened to her and who knows how much further damage she could have caused to Hobson and Lloyd.

Mary sipped on her tea, the maid had looked right at her, there was not a hint of recognition in her sullen eyes. Evelyn was right she should forget Cassandra Fellows, and of course she did. 

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