“I can let you go out to work, but not unconditionally,” Hamish said. “You still need to prepare breakfast and dinner every day for me, and make it according to my taste as before.”
She knew Hamish would have demands. “What if I don’t agree?” Elisa asked.
“Then you can forget about going out,” Hamish said clearly. He knew it would take more than a day or two to tame the rebellious Elisa now.
“You know I can easily do that,” Hamish said. To some extent, a lawless man like Hamish really could, unless she also bankrupted him like he did to her. But the chances of that were slim.
“If you want someone to cook for you, why don’t you just ask Lila? I saw at dinner last time that she suited your taste very well. Why don’t you let her cook?”
Hamish spoke lightly, “I’m tired of the taste and want something new. Just do as I say, or I’ll lock you up again like last time if you act up.”
She was nearly dead anyway. But being locked up would likely drive her crazier.
Elisa mocked, “You’re so picky.”
“Will you do it or not?” Hamish intensified his tone.
“I’ll do it. As long as I can go out, cooking two meals a day is nothing, not to mention Hamish might get tired of my cooking in a few days like he did with Lila’s.”
Elisa still had hope then. As long as she was alive, she would always look forward to tomorrow’s sun.
When they arrived in North Bankshire, Hamish parked the car and carried Elisa out.
As soon as Elisa entered the door, she saw the dumplings scattered all over the living room floor, undoubtedly the result of Hamish’s great anger.
With her injured knee, she moved clumsily. Hamish didn’t seem like the type to clean up either, and the broken glass and blood upstairs were probably still there too.
Elisa limped over to grab the phone, intending to call the cleaning service downstairs, but as she dialed, Hamish came down the stairs after changing and asked her, “Who are you calling?”
His gaze was as if staring at a cat stealing food or a cheating wife. Elisa was disgusted by his stare and explained, “The house is too dirty so I’m calling a cleaning service.”
“I’ve already hired a housekeeper. She’ll be here soon,” Hamish said.
Hearing that, Elisa immediately hung up the phone.
She sat on the sofa for a while, staring blankly at a book with nothing to do. Around 4 pm, the servant Hamish had called arrived.
She was a woman in her forties, plain and ordinary in appearance. But her gaze, Elisa couldn’t help feeling the housekeeper Hamish had hired looked at her with ill intent, though it could’ve been her imagination.
“Mr. Burns, Miss Powell,” the woman greeted with a nod.
“Mrs. Gordon, you’ll be staying in the caretaker’s room downstairs from now on. Just clean up whenever the house gets dirty, and only prepare lunch each day,” Hamish instructed.
Having worked as a housekeeper for years, Mrs. Gordon was familiar with the routine but was surprised to hear she didn’t need to prepare breakfast or dinner.
“Then who will make breakfast and dinner?”
“Someone will take care of it. You just help out,” Hamish said, eyeing Elisa as he spoke. Of course, Mrs. Gordon understood right away.
She smiled and nodded, “I see.”
Mrs. Gordon brought her luggage to the caretaker’s room and tidied up briefly before coming out to clean the house, starting from the lower level and working upstairs. Fortunately the villa wasn’t too big, or cleaning it alone would’ve been exhausting.
“I need to go upstairs,” Elisa said, glancing at Hamish and lifting her knee wrapped in gauze, making her intent clear.
“You’re not very polite, are you?” Hamish commented, though he still leaned down to pick Elisa up.
With his muscular build of broad shoulders, narrow waist and long legs, being held in Hamish’s arms felt very secure.
Upstairs, Elisa immediately searched for her phone. Finding it, she started looking for jobs, setting aside her previous identity as the CEO of Powell Group. With her education, she could easily find a job.
Elisa browsed a few companies, only wanting a relaxed environment for passing time now. She didn’t care about salary or benefits. After compiling a resume, she applied to several companies.
Meanwhile, Hamish watched unabashedly nearby. After Elisa applied to a few companies, he took out his phone and texted Tobias not to let any company in Bankshire hire Elisa.
Oblivious, Elisa had just submitted her resume when Hamish sabotaged her efforts.
Glancing at the time, she saw it was 6pm already.
“Go make dinner,” she heard suddenly, startling her. She turned to see Hamish sitting on the sofa with his arm resting on the armrest, sleeves rolled up exposing his toned forearms. He had clearly been sitting there for some time without her noticing at all while busy with resumes.
“Why are you still here? Shouldn’t you be at the hospital with Lila?” Elisa asked, her tone thick with disgust.