When the two maids heard what Leonardo said, their faces changed from red to pale. They were picked from among the best; how could Leonardo call them ugly?
While the two of them still felt indignant, Ava came over. “Can’t you hear what the young master said?”
One quick-witted maid retorted, “Young Master, it is Mr. Emerson Sr. who hired us. By sending us away, don’t you think it’s a sign of disrespect toward him?”
Summer could not help but glance up at the speaking maid. She had noticed on the first day that most of the maids were no doubt pretty but having an uncouth temperament. But this particular maid did not look like a maid at all.
“What is your name?” Summer asked curiously.
The maid glanced at Summer. There was fleeting scorn in her eyes, but Summer’s feminine intuition had sensed it. She knew this girl was not an ordinary maid.
Leonardo’s expression hardened, apparently not too happy with the maid’s response.
Before Leonardo flew off the handle, Summer said, “Since it was Grandpa doing the selection, you should have known your place as a maid. By refusing to answer my question, it seems that you’re disrespecting my grandpa.”
Summer knew it was not that this maid disrespected Grandpa Emerson, it was just that the maid despised her. Since yesterday, this maid had shown particular interest in Leonardo. She was not so sure in the beginning, but now it seemed that the girl was most likely coming after Leonardo.
The girl had an extraordinary temperament with a well-shaped body and a skin that did not make for a manual job. Apparently, she was here for Leonardo. It was just that it was not known if this was the intention of Grandpa Emerson or she manipulated her way here.
The maid retorted again. “What are you talking about? I very much respect Mr. Emerson Sr. for sure!”
Summer leaned back in the chair. “I’m thirsty. Pour me a glass of water.”
The maid gritted her teeth, as if thinking very hard and trying to contain her temper, and went to fetch Summer water.
Leonardo’s brows were knitted together. He was apparently thinking what Summer was thinking.
The maid came back out. Unlike the arrogance of a while ago, she put the glass of water in front of Summer respectfully. “Water, Mrs. Emerson.”
Leonardo looked at the maid, face darkening. “Mrs. Emerson is asking for your name. Do you understand her?”
The maid’s expression hardened and bowed her head. “Eliza Austin.”
“Beautiful name.” Summer took the glass and swirled it in her hand. “If I am not mistaken, the surname of the top executive of Hoover City TV Station is Austin, too.”
Eliza looked up slightly, appearing a little haughty. “He is my dad.”
Summer smiled and looked over at Leonardo. “How could Grandpa take the daughter of the top executive of a TV station as our maid?”
She spoke slowly and softly as if she was complaining and pretending, which sounded quite weird to Leonardo, who just responded with an “Mm” without looking at her.
“Perhaps the rich family girl wants to experience the hardship of the ordinary working people. If this is the case, maybe you can do a good turn and let her stay.”
Summer turned to look at Eliza. “Miss Austin, I presume you have signed a contract to work as a maid for the Emerson family?”
Since the revelation of Leonardo’s identity, countless socialites had been head over heels trying to approach him. But he seldom appeared in public. He was absent from major events and business dinners.
Eliza was one such socialite, but she was luckier than the others in that she had made herself work as a maid in Leonardo’s house.
Growing up as the only child in the family and pampered by her parents, Eliza swallowed her pride to work in the mansion. But she could not stand it anymore.
At first she was confident that her beauty would catch Leonardo’s attention. But he seemed to have not seen her. And what infuriated her was that he said she was ugly. But she was prepared to give up just yet.
Fighting back her temper, she said, “Yes, it is.”
“Then I hope Miss Austin could abide by the contract and do what you are supposed to do.”
Summer tilted her head and smiled, her beautiful cat eyes gleaming.
One thing she could not fathom was what Eliza was thinking; her sense of decency must have gone to the dogs. She could understand that Leonardo was good-looking and popular with women.
Eliza coveting her husband was entirely natural. But knowing that Leonardo was married, yet still trying to seduce him was beyond her.
How could Eliza not know that Summer was trying to embarrass her? But she could find a word to respond.
Summer looked at her, face serious as she corrected Eliza. “Address me as Mrs. Emerson from now on.”
Eliza instinctively looked over at Leonardo. But he did not even look at her, just leaning over to refill Summer’s bowl. “You should eat more,” he exhorted.
Eliza felt a little frustrated at first but quickly regained her fighting spirit. She could not see what was so great about Summer. Looks wise, she was ordinary.
Family background-wise, it was less than ideal. Temperament-wise, she was demanding—she had asked Leonardo to go out to buy her fried shrimps.
Sooner or later, Leonardo would be fed up with this demanding woman with no virtue. By then, she would appear before him as a soft, gentle, and kind woman. No way Leonardo could resist her. After all, most men like nice women.
With this thinking in mind, Eliza calmed down. Nodding her head slightly, she politely said, “Yes, Mrs. Emerson.”
There was a fleeting sneer in Summer’s eyes. Leonardo had lived up to his charm; a rich family’s girl was willing to work as a maid so she could get close to him. Summer thought she would have lost her appetite because of this. But she did not. Instead, she polished off most of the food on the table, more than what Leonardo could eat.
Elated to see her ravenous appetite, Leonardo asked gently, “Do you want some fruits as dessert?”
Summer had wanted to say no, but when the sweet fruits came to mind, she swallowed and changed her mind. “Send it to the room.”
Leonardo could see her little internal struggle. His lips curled up in a smile as he turned to tell Ava, “Could you please send some fruits upstairs afterward, Ava?”