Riley had waited all night for Mrs Miller's call. She had waited so long that she fell asleep waiting. Mrs Miller had a lot of explanations to give. Like why the 'fake' résumé wasn't what was uploaded. Mrs Miller had sent her a file containing the fake résumé, apparently, what Mr Nathaniel said wasn't what she had memorized from the résumé.
Riley had knew from the start that many things were not right in this mission. The undercover training for her that was never arranged, the team she had never met, appropriate information she had never received… and how the heck was she supposed to relay the activities happening down here to the detective sergeant! What had she gotten herself into!
---
"Good morning Barry," Riley greeted the butler. She was now in a maid's uniform –the signature black and white gown, apron–
"Ah Miss Knox, You're right on time. Here," He handed her a hard covered book "These are the young miss' daily activities. You have a lot of job to do as her new nanny…"
"Alright, I'll…um…go through it," The size of the book was shocking "Oh and please, call me Riley,"
"Miss Knox," It was as if Barry's voice got deeper by the second
"Barry, I told you…" She turned to see a different person "Oh…um…um…Mr Nathaniel…sorry Marcello…I mean, Mr Marcello…Good morning."
Nathaniel kept a blank look and waited for her to stop stuttering "You will clean the master bedroom today. Melanie did a number on it and she would be punished. I expect the room properly arranged before I come back,"
Riley nodded like a doll with a broken neck. Gosh, why was she so nervous around that man.
"Barry," Nathaniel called out to his butler as he was about to enter his car. Barry who was at the door, as he heard his name, came closer to hear what his boss wanted to say.
"Keep a close eye on that maid. I don't really trust her. I assigned her to arrange my room today, monitor her."
"Yes Boss,"
"And change that uniform she's wearing, it's too short"
Honestly, it was at the same length with others but Riley had longer legs, making it go up her knees a bit. It was still modest though. Barry didn't have time to ask questions as his Boss's car sped away immediately he finished talking.
---
You are not permitted to ever wake me up.
I eat what I want to eat, not what you say.
My daily activities are planned by me, or my dad. Not you.
You are to obey my EVERY order.
"What the heck," Riley blurted out as she read through the book Barry gave her, "Who does she think she is, Queen Elizabeth?!"
--- [The Verdant Plate] ---
It was another busy morning at the Verdant Plate. One of those busy mornings that caused Skylar to lose her nuts and scream at annoying customers. Don't blame her, the pressure was just too much.
"Good morning sir, can I get your order?" Skylar took on her usual waitress' politeness.
"Yes. I would like to have a cup of coffee," The man said. From his tone, you could tell he was not british.
"Which of them; flat white, cappuccino, latte…" Skylar had a feeling that this would be one of those annoying customers she hated.
"Do you have normal coffee?" Aha!
"Are you new on planet earth? There is no kind of coffee called normal coffee,"
"You don't have to be rude, I just asked a question."
"I'm not being rude, I was answering your question…"
"By asking another question?"
"Are you going to place an order or what?"
"Just give me anyone,"
Skylar sighed within her "One latte coming up,"
--- [Back at the mansion] ---
"Here's your breakfast Young Miss" Riley served Melanie her breakfast. Apparently it was one of the perks of being Melanie's nanny.
Melanie took one look at the food and frowned "What's this,"
"It's the oat and crackers you said you wanted to eat. I made the oat," Riley replied. Her legs had started aching her from standing too much.
"Is this edible?" Melanie took a bit in her spoon and poured it back into the plate.
The urge to slap this little princess was much but she swallowed it in. "Yes Young Miss," Riley half smiled.
Melanie finally took a spoon. "Hmm. You can leave"
---
"NANNY!"
That was how Melanie kept calling her every two minutes. She had been so busy that she had lunch at 3:00pm when Melanie decided to have her afternoon siesta. Her whole body ached her down to the bone. And this was only day one!
"Miss Knox, you haven't cleaned the Master's bedroom yet…" Barry reminded.
"Thanks for the reminder Barry, I'll do that now,"
"No you wouldn't," Guess who just woke up from her siesta "I have something important to do. I was also instructed to do it by my dad. You would oversee it,"
Oh sacred lotus grant me the grace not to injure this wicked one in front of… "Yes Young Miss" Riley replied with a half smile.
---
Riley watched as Melanie scribbled an apology on a bunch of papers. "Are you almost done Young Miss?" Riley groaned. Gravity wasn't doing much good to her legs.
"That would be the last time you would ask me that question! I was asked by my dad to write 'I WILL NOT SCATTER MY FATHER'S ROOM AGAIN. DADDY I'M SORRY' a million times on these papers. I have to get it done before he comes back,"
"In case you've forgotten, he also gave me a bit of work to do," Riley chimed in.
"I'm sure he wouldn't mind you not doing it. Besides, you can do that within 5 minutes…"
And in that brief moment, she saw the shadow of her death.
---
"Welcome home Boss," Barry greeted and took his master's suitcase and overcoat.
"Did you find anything unusual about the maid?" Nathaniel asked
"No," Barry didn't want to get Riley into trouble. The poor thing had been busy all day, and had just began cleaning the master's bedroom a few minutes ago.
"Alright, how's Melanie?" Nathaniel didn't bother much because he had been watching footages from the cameras in the house. He knew Riley had just begun cleaning the room a few minutes ago.
"She's sleeping,"
"That's a first. Good work today Barry, You can go and rest,"
"Thank you Boss," Barry went to drop his master's items in his study, and Nathaniel took the elevator to his room.