~
“Oh, you’re here. This is my daughter, Mia who I already told you about.”the queen said and urged her to come sit beside her.
“Y.. you.. your daughter?”Ralph stammered, befuddled.
His eyes traveled over to me with a frown.
He probably wasn’t expecting to see me there.
“Of course. Why?. You’ve met before?”the Queen asked.
“Oh, of course not. Your… daughter is pretty.”he took his eyes away from me.
Juliet moved slowly to the seat and sat down while fumbling with her phone.
“Why are you standing there like that?”the queen scowled at me.
I gulped hard before surging forward to place the tray on the table.
I uncap it and poured some in the glass cup.
My hands were shaky as I proffered it to him.
He didn’t collect it from me and I looked up at him.
He brows were raised at me.
“Have this.”I whispered within gritted teeth.
“I see your maid lack some etiquette. You should bow politely when you’re offering someone a drink and you should always add “Here is your drink, sir/ma.”he said.
I glared hard at him.
Is he joking with me right now?
“I’m sorry about that, like I said, she is new here. And, what are you still doing?, go ahead and apologize right now!”
I dug my teeth hard on my bottom lip.
“I’m…. sorry.”
“Where’s the *sir?*”I could swear he is camouflaging a smile behind that stern look.
“S…. sir.”I breathed out.
“By the way,”he turned to the queen.
“I kind of like your maid. Can I take her?”
“No!”I shouted.
They all looked at me and I chuckled nervously.
“I.. what I mean to say is.. working here.. as a maid has always been my dream so.. I.. now that I’m here.. I feel happy and don’t wanna leave.”I gave a wry smile.
Ralph smirks at me.
He collected the drink from me with a “okay.”
He took a sip with his eyes glued to me.
I turned to the queen.
“I would take me my leave now.”I bowed.
“Huh?, not so fast.”he said abruptly.
“Help me take my bag to the car. I’m almost done here.”
I looked down and saw a briefcase beside him.
Since when did he started carrying that?
Oh, well. This should be fun.
“Miss?, would you like to take that for him because you too actually look perfect for each other and you might want to get to know more about each other.”I grinned.
Her eyes popped out of their sockets.
“What?”she tried to act like she was fine.
“It seems you really wanna get fired. How dare you pass on the work you were requested to do to my daughter?”
“I thought she…”
“Get out!”
I bowed and nabbed the briefcase from the couch and hurried out.
I laughed when I got out.
You are soon going to get totally screwed, Juliet.
“Hey, new maid.”I heard his voice behind me.
I stopped walking and stared back at him.
He got to where I was and scoffed.
“A maid?. I absolutely didn’t see that coming.”
“I should actually knock out your head, don’t you think?. How dare you order me around?”
We began walking side by side.
“Oh, of course, that’s a given. You’re a maid, aren’t you?”
“Sheesh. You really wanna die tonight, don’t you?. You seem to have your will ready.”
He chuckled.
We got to his car and he told me to get in.
“Why?”
“Just get in. Do you really have to ask about the reason?”
“Of course. I’m at work.”
“I understand. So, get in.”
“You mentioned about having something to do, is this it?”he inquired immediately I got inside the car.
I gave a nod.
“I won’t ask you what that stuff is about.”he said.
I looked over at him.
“But, I do have a confession to make.”he locked eyes with me.
“Huh?”
“I… now and here is not the best time to tell you this. Can… you meet me, maybe somewhere cushy, tomorrow?”
“You know…”
“Yeah, I know. You’re at work but I’m sure you will always have a free time. So, why don’t you meet with me during that period.”
His voice was soft and so were his eyes.
The atmosphere in the car turned awkward and I stared away.
“I’ll try.”I replied.
“Don’t try, come. You have to.”his eyes were pleading when I glanced at them.
“Okay.”I chuckled.
“Thanks. I’ll text you the address.”he smiles.
I unlocked the door, ready to hop out when he called me again.
“Your number.”he stretched out his phone to me.
“It’s the regular.”I said.
“Huh?, then why does it not always connect?”
“I only switched my phone on once in a while.”
“I see. I will see you tomorrow.”
I tried getting off but he stopped me yet again.
I rolled my eyes.
“Wha..”I haven’t complete my statement when he placed his hand on the seat I was sitting on for support as he leans out and gave me a soft peck on my left cheek.
★
Juliet Pov.
I went to my room under the disguise that I was feeling tired.
When I got to my from, I dialed Kelvin’s number in rage.
What the hell?
What was that?
“Why was Ralph here?”I asked as soon as the line got connected.
“Ralph?”he asked in a tone of surprise.
I walked around in the room, restlessly.
“You said all would be fine then why the hell was he here?, what’s going on?”
“I.. I don’t know. Did he found you out?”
“Yes, no, I don’t know. The queen was the one that summon him.”
“Then, that should be it. He probably doesn’t know you’re there, he was just there for the queen so put your mind at rest.”
“Don’t.. fucking tell me that. He doesn’t know I’m here?, but he knows that now!”
“C’mon, you’re better than this. You’re a professional in this field. Just find something to say. Tell him you were an orphan and you just found out recently that you’re the queen’s daughter.”
I pulled my hair while trying to be facile with my anger.
“Your concern shouldn’t be about him but about her.”he said.
“Her??”
“Yes. The new maid, Aysel shouldn’t be in the house you’re right now. Actually, she was once our girl before she fled here and she took active part in the switching of the babies and she knows very well that the queen’s baby is a boy.
With her there, you’re not safe. Get rid of her quickly before things go berserk.”
I batted my lashes.
Aysel?
“I don’t know any maid with that name.”
“She probably changed her name as expected. I’ll send her picture to you right now.”
“Good. I will tell mum about this and have her wipe out.”
“Mum?. She is not your mum.”
I scoffed before hanging up.
*
The Boss’s pov.
“That went smooth.”I breathed out.
“Things are finally going our way. I think it’s better we don’t get ourself involved in this. Nice. We will have them take each other out.”
I laughed and downed my whiskey.
“Keep an eye out, just in case.”I instructed and Kelvin nodded.