Antonette opened the study door. Brian sat with his back to the door and didn’t hear her enter. After a few seconds, Antonette coughed softly and smiled innocently at Brian, trying to pretend she’d come in by accident, “Sorry, I must have made a mistake.”
Brian was reading a book. He turned his chair and looked at the door. His frown showed his displeasure at being disturbed.
Wasn’t she Diana’s friend?
Brian felt surprised by her visit and smiled slightly. Though it was not a happy smile, it was still a smile.
It gave Antonette enough encouragement to continue to go after him.
She acted even more timidly and shyly and said, “Mr. William. I am sorry for bothering you.”
She must be one of those girls that put Diana in trouble in the restaurant. Brian hadn’t come to her to find it yet. Now she showed up by herself.
“It doesn’t matter.” Saying that Brian stood up. His voice was even colder than his smile.
Seeing Brian walk toward her, Antonette felt excited and nervous.
Was he finally interested in her?!
Antonette lowered her head and glanced at Brian as he stepped closer. Her eyes were glued to Brian. “Mr. William, what can I do for you?” she said in a slightly panicked tone.
Brian smiled sarcastically. He was about to speak when he saw Diana come up the stairs.
Antonette shivered suddenly as if she couldn’t control herself. She screamed and fell on Brian’s body.
Brian felt like he was touching something dirty. He frowned at Antonette and tried to push her away. At this time, a loud sound came from the corridor.
From Diana’s angle, it looked like Brian was hugging Antonette. Diana was so shocked that she dropped the bowl she was carrying, and it smashed on the floor.
Brian didn’t expect Diana would react like that. Though she stood in the shadow, Brian could still see her shocked and sorrowful face and was deeply touched by it. He changed his thoughts and didn’t push Antonette away. Instead, he helped her to stand up like a gentleman.
Brian wore a gentle expression and looked down at Antonette. “Where were you going? This is my house. I can tell you where to go.”
Antonette thought Brian was attracted by her charms. She tried to hold back, laughing, and replied gently, “I want to go to the washroom.”
“Over there.” Brian gestured to show her the way.
When Brian turned back to see Diana, she had already gone. Only the broken bowl and its contents were left on the floor. Brian smiled happily. He should have tried to make her jealous a long time ago.
Diana prepared the concoction again and brought it back up, acting as nothing happened.
Brian was chatting with Antonette. And they seemed to have a lot to talk about.
Antonette saw Diana approaching but didn’t want to waste time greeting her. Her eyes were fixed on Brian. Whatever he said, Antonette laughed happily, as if it was the funniest thing she’d ever heard. Brian showed astonishing patience. He talked with Antonette and laughed. As for Diana, she was waiting for him like a servant.
“Here it is, boss.” Putting the medicine before him, Diana stood aside and waited for Brian to finish.
Brian couldn’t hold himself anymore and drank the concoction. Fuck! He almost spat it out. It was super bitter! Brian felt his tongue swelling in reaction to the herbs. It was hard for him to say anything clearly now.
Antonette thought her plan had been a big success. For now, she wanted to leave something for Brian to desire; men are fond of the chasing game. She took the chance and said goodbye to Brian.
Having seen enough of Diana’s frustrated expression, Brian thought it was time to end the game with Antonette. But he said in a gentle way, “Shall I walk you out?”
“No, it’s OK, I know you’re busy.” Antonette’s eyes sparkled.
“Well. Diana, please see Miss White out for me.” Brian asked to walk her to the door out of manners. He was happy that Antonette refused his offer. But he couldn’t resist adding one last remark, “Come again whenever you like.”
Antonette’s excitement was dampened. She had hoped that Brian would invite her to stay for dinner.
But Brian said nothing more. So, she could only follow Diana to leave.
Brian suddenly wondered if he had excessively flattered Antonette with what he’d done. Although he wanted to stimulate Diana’s jealousy, he didn’t need to treat Antonette so nicely.
Antonette, on the other hand, thought Brian was sweeter than honey. She flashed him back a charming smile.
Diana was still in shock. Didn’t Brian dislike making friends with ordinary people? When did he begin to act like normal people?
What Diana didn’t realize about that incident was that Antonette hadn’t taken Brian’s words as a simple courtesy between host and guest. Antonette would later use Brian’s words to become a frequent visitor of the villa.
But Antonette was still jealous of Diana for one thing. Diana was driven there in Brian’s personal car; while she had to go on her own.
The next day, Antonette waited for the time when Ken picked up Diana. As Diana was about to get in the car, Antonette ran out from the corner of the street.
She panted heavily as if she had run a long way. “Diana! Your books for the exam! You left them again.”
“Thank you. Did you come a long way? Antonette, thank you so much!” Diana looked at her gratefully.
It was the weekend. Antonette’s family lived in a place near Brian’s house. Seeing Antonette was tired from her run, Diana said, “Ken, could we please drive Antonette home on the way?”
Antonette panted deliberately and looked at Ken with an expectant expression.
Ken gazed at Antonette through his sunglasses. He had noticed that there was no sweat on her face when she ran into them. Her makeup had been recently applied and was well kept. What’s more, Antonette was wearing high heels that were almost ten centimeters tall. There was no way she had run to meet them.
Ken thought the girl standing before him was anything but a good girl. However, his boss liked Diana; he couldn’t refuse her words. Opening the car door, Ken said coldly, “Please, Miss White.”
Antonette, however, didn’t want them to send her back home. Her plan was to visit Brian’s house.
In the car, Antonette held Diana’s fingers to make her come closer. Diana turned her head and thought how pleasant Antonette’s smile was.
“Diana, do you like Mr. William?” Antonette whispered.
Diana was shocked. There was somebody else in the car; how could Antonette ask her such a question? Shaking her head, Diana replied quietly, “No. Why would I like that jerk?”
“I am not trying to steal your man. If you are fond of him, just say.” Antonette held Diana’s arm. They sat closely, like two best friends.
“No. I don’t care who wants that jerk. I don’t like him.” Diana had persuaded herself of this a long time ago, so she said it even without thinking.
“You rushed to send me home. I thought you were jealous of Brian talking with me.” Antonette set the trap and waited for Diana to fall for it.
“Come with me to Brian’s house, and we can see if I’d be jealous of you or not,” Diana said jokingly.
Antonette jumped on Diana’s joke offer and insisted on testing the theory. Thus she stayed in the car all the way to Brian’s villa.
Though Diana came to the villa specifically to treat Brian, he was not always at home when she arrived; she often had to wait for him.
Diana put his mixture on the stove to keep it warm, then turned to talk to Antonette.
Antonette had prepared many notes from their college classes and told Diana they were helpful for her to prepare for the examination. Diana was grateful for her assistance and read them carefully.
Seeing Diana was immersed in her notes, Antonette saw her chance. “Diana, I’m just going to the bathroom…”
Concentrating on her study, Diana waved vaguely at Antonette.
Antonette closed the door of the bedroom and smiled elatedly.
Diana had lived in the villa for weeks. As such, the servants now viewed her as their master.
In Antonette’s mind, if she wanted to have a place in this house, she must show those servants that she was the real master, not Diana.
The servants were drinking and chatting downstairs. In the villa, Brian was the master. Ken could also order them. And Diana treated them as her friends. So, they often worked in quite an easy atmosphere.
Antonette, however, viewed herself in quite a high regard. She walked downstairs, holding the handrail, and made a loud sound, deliberately to attract the servants’ attention.
She walked like a master of the house. Several senior servants heard her footsteps and thought they sounded remarkably similar to the footsteps of previous masters.
Their current master, Brian William, might not have been easygoing, but he never criticized them. Being very occupied at work, he was quite busy and didn’t have time to order them around.
The butler, Mr. Carson, was nice too. So, the servants just needed to do their job, and life was good.
They looked up the stairs at Antonette.
“Without a master to watch you, you are all slacking off now. Right?” Antonette looked down at them and began ordering them around like she was some kind of royalty.
The servants don’t know who this woman was. But they had gotten used to listening to orders. Confused, they stood there in silence until Mr. Carson asked them to go and finish their tasks.