1 She and The Butler (1)

In some cases, the way she stared into space was a pretty common thing. But then again, as she walked around her desk in her office with frowns looked deeper than an ocean, everyone knew not to mess up with her. She suddenly stops doing her thing. The mess she made to her room —papers all over the place— she chuckled and threw herself into the sofa. Eyes closed, still had an urge to throw something at the wall.

She never felt devastated. She felt her world crumbling in front of her. How she kept her cool appearance was beyond imagination. Again, she let out a sigh.

She needed to work things out.

She snatches the document from her desk. Opening the door in a hurry. At least, after that document and all shitty things came after it finally ends, she can take her time for herself.

"Guess what? Your face won't get you anywhere. Look at those faces. So sour."

She stopped. The voice that belongs to Lillian —we can say, her sister— trying to get her attention and make her grumble.

Of all the time? Why now?

She changed her expression, that fake bitchy smile appear in no time. Her sister chuckled, seems amazed by that. She didn't take her sister's mood down.

"Now you remember how to talk with your sister, huh?"

Her remarks made Lillian laugh ironically.

"Of course, Lil' sis. I can feel there is some kind of poison in this room and its moving."

Oh, the audacity. She knew it means her.

"and the smell! Ugh..."

Rolling her eyes was the most appropriate way to express her feeling. She stared at her sister who kept her expression annoying. The next seconds, they started giggling. It was the sister's thing. Weird, but acceptable.

After a few moments, she took another deep breath.

"Honestly," she took a long pause to make Lillian listen to her.

"I want you to take care of this document. I can't stand that old hag."

Now her sister laughing but she didn't feel annoyed. She proud of herself finally can curse that old hag.

"You know that I can take care of it right?" Lillian suggests may be tempting.

She shrugs. In a way, she didn't doubt Lillian. She is amazing. But even she couldn't handle that bundle of misery. She couldn't imagine Lillian get all the hate from that lowly creature.

"Nah. You can't handle it."

"Or, you could ask Emma."

"Hell no! She is The pure one. No can do."

Another deep breath before misery came.

"Gotta go. Make sure everyone doing their job. I'm not gonna back to the office."

Lillian gives her a thumbs up. Oh, how she wishes everything gonna be easy.

***

Can her day become any worse than this?

That old hag wants to make her life miserable. Late to the appointment, too late, make her mood went downhill. If she could, she would throw that damned document into the trashcan near her. But she needed the money. She sighs and again, wait patiently like a dog waiting for its owner.

"Are you Kate McCallen?"

Hearing her name being called, she looked up and found a young man standing near her table. Wearing a nice suit and his hair neatly combed.

"Yes, that's me."

Her eyebrows go up slightly upon seeing that man offering a handshake for her.

"I believe you were waiting for Mrs. Linda, yes?"

She stands up and mindlessly accepting the handshake. She noticed how his hand moved, reaching her hand and shaking it in a firm manner but in the gentlemen's way.

"Yes. I am waiting for her. Sorry, who are you again?"

"William. I'm afraid Mrs. Linda couldn't come to meet you. She had another errand."

Hell yeah! She had another errand! Yes, of course! I knew it!

She obviously could contact her and told her that she couldn't come! For God Sake!

Deep breath, Kate.

You must remain calm.

"I see. Thank you."

She didn't know what to do now. That man just standing there and staring at her with that extremely polite expression. The expression that looked like only a professional butler could pull off.

"I am sorry, did Mrs. Linda leave a document for me?"

He blinked and for some reason, she just wants to bury her head in a pillow and scream.

"She is not."

Of course, she wasn't. She grunted to herself. Feeling dumb enough just by asking that.

"Well then, if you'll excuse me."

She stands up and gathers her document. She wanted to leave that place immediately. William —as he called himself by that name, staring into her and finally open up his mouth again.

"I will escort you." He said in a hurry.

Now, since when someone followed her like a pet? So strange. That man followed her like a puppy made her uneasy. Her father used to hire someone to protect her. But it was in the past, she didn't need protection from her father anymore.

"Oh no, it's okay. I can walk myself out. Nothing to worry."

She promised herself to enjoy some fine wine with a warm bubble bath and a historical romance book that she bought a few weeks ago. Whatever happens now, she gonna leave it there.