Plump as Fish

Ria Zhang went to the kitchen. The smell from the garlic being fried reached her nose even when she was still at the living room. The apartment was small for Sierra Co's standards. But this was big enough for Ria Zhang.

The living room was devoid of luxury. Just a leather sofa and a flat screen TV accentuated the room. There was even no flower vase in sight. She furrowed her brows. She thought Sierra Co has a trust fund? How come her apartment was hollow?

She pushed the kitchen door. Sierra Co's personal maids were nowhere to be found. However, the table was already set. There was only one plate at the table, a glass and a pair of spoon and fork.

She crossed her arms. Where did they go? She pulled a chair and sat.

After a while, the hushed voices of the two maids reached her ears.

"Goodness, my large intestines started to eat the small ones," the tall maid said.

The plump maid scrunched her face. "What about me? I'm starting to lose my beloved fats!"

Ria Zhang continued to listen to their rants. It was a good whole three minutes before they noticed her.

Both straightened their backs but didn't say anything. She pointed at them.

"Give me five," she said.

Both maids looked at each other before glancing at their hands.

"Five squat rush."

"Eh?"

"Don't tell me you don't know it?" she inclined her head.

The two maids shuddered. Of course, they knew it. They used to watch their Young Master did squat rush as punishment from the Old Master Co.

"At the count of five, do it. If not, I will multiply them twice. Do you hear me?"

"Ma'am, yes, Ma'am!" They imitated how Stan Co answered way back then. They bended their knees and started counting.

"One!"

"Two!"

"Three!"

The plump one's legs buckled. But she must persevere. Who knows what their Young Miss would do if she cannot finish it.

"Four!"

The tall one gave the woman beside her a sideway glance. You must endure it! She secretly cheered on her friend. Young Miss Co was not someone to mess up with.

"Five!"

The plump one was catching her breath while the tall maid was quite good at it. No bead of sweat was even visible.

"You!" Ria Zhang pointed her finger towards the tall one. "State your name."

The brain cells of the maid could not cope hence she just stared at her Young Miss for 30 seconds.

"State your name unless you want another five squat rush," Ria Zhang said. With that, she totally became the antagonist against her personal maids.

"I'm Lulu, Young Miss. At your service," Lulu said. They can only respond to their Young Miss who became more vicious after the scandal.

Ria Zhang nodded. So the plump one was Danni. "So, where's my breakfast?"

"I will reheat it, Young Miss," Danni went towards the table and picked up the omelette. A trace of hesitation flashed through her eyes as she went to the kitchen counter. She kept glancing at Lulu. However, Lulu lowered her head.

"Lulu, add another two plates on the table."

"Yes, Young Miss," she pulled a kitchen cabinet and brought out two plates as ordered by 'Sierra Co.'

After three minutes, Danni put the plate with an omelette back on the table. It was just good enough for one person.

"We don't have food?" she glanced at the two of them.

"Erm, you haven't replenished the funds, Young Miss. You were busy chasing -"

Lulu elbowed Danni's fats around her abdomen. "Ouch!" she hissed.

"I am busy chasing after that Marvin Kang jerk?" she continued Danni's sentence. She shrugged before picking up her fork and spoon. Ria Zhang cut the omelette into three parts.

She pointed on the chairs. "Sit."

Lulu and Danni followed their Young Miss' order.

Ria Zhang put one part of omelette on her plate before she pushed it towards them. "Eat."

She knew that the two maids were hungry, thanks to her. She might be vicious but she do not violate worker's rights.

Lulu waved her hand in front of her. "Young Miss -"

Ria Zhang put down the spoon and fork. Her eyes bored into the two women in front of her. She pressed her lips. From now on, she will be Sierra Co. But all that she will do, she will do it the way Ria Zhang do it.

"I am the boss. Whatever I say, it goes. That is rule in capital R. No one can break it but me," she paused. "Do you understand me?"

The two maids lowered their heads. "Yes, Young Miss."

"Good. Now, if you don't want to me, you also have a choice. But -"

"But you will fire us?" Danni cut her. Her shoulders went stiff.

Ria Zhang raised an eyebrow. "Of course not. Unless you plan to kill me, I don't think whatever you do against my wishes merit being fired."

She put rice on her plate before raising her head again. "I'll just double the squat rush," she smiled. Her eyes were dancing with excitement.

Both maids widened their eyes. Their Young Miss became the devil incarnate. It was that Marvin Kang's fault!

"Okay, let's eat. Then after, we'll go to the supermarket to buy some groceries," she put a mouthful of rice with omelette in her mouth.

The maids just stared at Ria Zhang. Have mercy on them, please?

"Why aren't you eating?" Ria Zhang asked them when she noticed the weird looks they were trading. She thought they think that she was a glutton. "I'm not a glutton. I'm just really hungry," she felt the need to explain.

Danni slowly reached out for a fork and spoon. She was really hungry too. Lulu also reached out for the utensils. Ria Zhang happily nodded before scratching her neck.

It was Lulu who first noticed the redness of the neck of their Young Miss. Then it spread to her face. Sierra Co's allergy was not really severe aside from the swelling of her face. As long as she will drink meds, it will go away.

"Why is it hot?" Ria Zhang stopped eating. Why she was itching all over? Her eyes widened. Don't tell her Sierra Co has an allergy to eggs?

"Y-Young Miss -"

Looking at the two maids, Ria Zhang clenched her fists. So Lulu and Danni just watched her ate something which was not good for her. She pointed at the wall. "Stand up and face the wall," she ordered.

The two looked at her with hesitation.

Ria Zhang felt the heat spreading across her ears. What if Sierra Co's allergy was fatal? So she's going to die again? No. She will not allow it until she made Marvin Kang and Kara Lu groveled on her feet.

"At the count of five, if you haven't face the wall yet, I'll make the two of you run five laps!"

Her voice bounced back inside the kitchen. Danni and Lulu scrambled from their seats and stood facing the wall.

"You will not move from there unless I say so," Ria Zhang pushed her seat back, standing up. She left the kitchen and went inside the bathroom.

Her knees buckled when her reflection on the mirror greeted her.

Pinching her cheeks, Ria Zhang groaned. She looked plump like a puffer fish.