Chapter 6

I opened my eyes, looked around, and Quickly, I sit up. I must have fallen asleep. I look at the guard opposite me, he is busy reading a book.

The car came to a roundabout and stopped. Huh? "Are we there already?"

"Yes," He replied, putting his book away.

"That was fast," I mumbled rubbing my eyes.

"No. It was an hour and a half drive."

"Ooh," I say, picking up my handbag.

I stepped from the black limousine, gaping at the enormous mansion that set beyond the sidewalk.

Finally regaining control of my body, I blink and take one step to the side.

"Come on." One of the men said.

I walk slowly towards them, glancing in every direction.

On the grasses, spaced accordingly and lined right beside the sidewalk, they were numerous small, round, and transparent objects- I swipe my feet over one of them- they were stuck to the ground. Probably for lights at night.

I look back. At the middle of the roundabout was a large circular fountain. Water spurted from the top, plunging gently towards the crystal blue pool beneath it, causing ripples to form and disappear.

I notice those same round lights were lined around the part of the lawn that was not taken up by the fountain. The thoughts of being outside at night caused me to giggle a bit. I looked around to see if anyone was watching.

The guards were already at the door with my luggage, I walk-run to meet up with them.

I got closer to the building. The white coating of the paint gave the four-story building more charm. The rooftops were peaked, slanting down at uneven angles. They were various vast windows but a minor one at the very top of the house, maybe an attic window.

Some of the windows had long curtains hanging on the other side of them and drawn so that the sunlight could stream through.

I walk up a few steps and came to the steel, reinforced, white; dual door. It opened even before the guard knocked and a pretty, young woman's face appeared. As soon as she saw us, her lips extended into a broad smile.

What a welcoming woman. I studied her attractive visuals as she spoke to the men. Long, blond and curly hair, thin eyebrows, pure warm blue eyes pointed nose, full lips, an oval-shaped face.

Wasn't her hair suppose to be in a bun. She must be a nanny from what she was wearing- a white and cyan-colored knitted apron.- or maybe a cook. How could such a pretty young lady waste her life here as being a nanny... Would I even mind being a nanny here? I chuckled. I stared at the apron, how does she wash it? It was incredibly neat, unlike the few knitted clothing I have. The more you wash knitted stuff, the rougher they become. It must have taken a lot of time to make. The length of the short apron made me wonder what she was wearing because the rest of her legs were bare.

"Hello, welcome to Maryland. How was your trip?"

Huh? She was looking directly at me. Oh me! "It was good, thank you." I smile a little.

She looks me up and down and clasped her hands turning quickly to the guards. She was wearing shorts- SHORTS? What a stylish housekeeper.

I steal a glance into the house, I could tell it was bright in there.

Smiling, she takes my green bag from one of the guards and gestures for me to come in. The other guard hands me my suitcase.

I take an exciting step into the stunning house as the lady exits to speak with the men.

There were two massive flights of stairs at both ends of the room that led up in a curve to the other floors of the house. In the middle of the room, a big chandelier hung from the ceiling.

I saw a reflection of myself on the dark porcelain floor. Even though it was daytime outside, the house was lighted by various lights, most especially the chandelier. The white walls glowed from the reflection of the lights.

The room alone was like five times the size of all the bedrooms put together at our house in Chicago...was this the parlor? I don't see any chairs.

"So you are?"

I turn." I'm Sophie."

"Ooh! Same as my grandmother...okay, you can call me Martha."

"Okay."

"I'll take you to your room, come along."

We walk up the stairs on the left side of the room. Martha stops at the third floor and turns to walk towards a long hallway.

Right at the center of the hallway, there is another chandelier but it was a bit smaller and longer than the previous one. The walls of the hallway were also white.

We walked past four doors and then Martha stops at the fifth one. The dark-colored door had little carvings of heart on it.

Martha opened the door and gestured for me to go in first. I eagerly entered the room and look around.

"Ooh my gosh," I whisper. I turn back to Martha and meet her beaming face, she smiles a lot. Maybe that's the secret of her beauty.

I walk into the large rectangular room. There was a full-size bed in the middle, it had matching dark brown and cream-colored bedside tables at each side and two large windows. The windows had dark brown curtains that were drawn back, lightning up the room naturally. The curtains touched the ceiling and reached the floors.

I glance to the side, the wall opposite the bed was covered in a 3D stone wallpaper and had a door at each end. The wallpapers were so realistic, I felt like I could pick one of those stones. I look in the opposite direction where I was standing, there was a long cream-colored thin desk with a matching dark brown seat.

The room was very simple, yet amazing.

"Here."

I turn and walk towards Martha to take my bag.

"Thank you."

"You're highly welcome dear. I want you to freshen up, arrange your things, take a shower, and come down for lunch when you're done."

It was like telling me to come down and get lost. Well, who doesn't like adventures."okay, thank you."

She goes out and shut the door quietly. I pause for some seconds and then turn around.

"Eeeeeeeeeee!!" Hope I wasn't too loud. I drop my bag, dance towards the other door at my side, and push it open.

"Wooah!" I walk into the rough floored bathroom. It was impossible to slip and fall here unless 'unlucky' is what describes you.

A white sparkling toilet sat by the side of the entrance door, it had a window beside it. Opposite me at the end of the room was a transparent hinged single door that completed the enclosure of a rectangular space. Inside, was a shower. A long flat surface was carved into the wall and on it were a few bottles that contained some liquid substances.

In the middle of the lighted room was a white bathtub, it had two tall taps at the head. Each of the two walls opposite each other had three small side-by-side windows high up.

I walk slowly into the shower room, touching everything on my way that I could lay my hands on. Picking up one of the bottles, I run my thumb through the marked-out words. "Strawberry sweet." I turn the back of the bottle and read what it said.

"For use, as a mild skin cleanser, the beautifully fragranced liquid will leave your hands hygienically clean, moisturizer, and rejuvenated."

That was already enough information, I press some into my hands and rub my palms together. It foamed so I walk out to wash my hands and exit the bathroom.

I skip over to the door at the other end of the room.

"Oh!" A walk-in closet. The first thing I notice was the furry feeling under my feet, a white furry carpet covered the floor of the room. There were clothes racks, hangers, and various empty shelves.

No windows, good! I could scream if I wanted to. I walk out of the long room and jump on the bed.

"Comfy!" I place my hand on the cream duvet, it was so soft.

I notice something on the floor opposite the bed, It looked like a speaker. Walking towards it I kneel and run my hand through it. I picked up the remote on the top and press a button that had on written on it.

It makes a loud signal sound and I switch it off. The speaker was so loud...

"hhm."

I walk towards the door where I left my bag and dig for my phone. I turn on the speaker and quickly connect my phone. I go to my music app and tap the first song on the playlists, tossing my phone to the bed I stand up ready to dance.

The music was extremely loud but it didn't matter. The people here were far too kind to bother.

I spread my arms over my head and bring it down, breathe in, out, and begin to express myself through my movement.

Just before my favorite part of the song, I bend a little and leap, do some hand movements, and spin-

I froze in fright at who I saw at the door, it was like my spirit jumped out of my body. I quickly rush and turn the speaker off.

Hands folded and weight on one hip, a beautiful, slim, and elderly woman stood at the door, with a serious face. I couldn't help but run my eyes through her. She had trimmed blond hair that was shoulder length, her sharp large eyes Pierced into my soul even though they were slightly closed. I admired her smooth face and thin lips, it fitted perfectly.

She wore a white suit and heels to match. On her ears were a golden pair of earrings and a watch, she had on a bright red lipstick that surprisingly made me think of Blood. Should I apologize, did I disturb her-

"I am miss Rodriguez, quite certain you have presumably heard about me at home." She says walking up to me and extending her hands.

Geez! You don't have to be so formal, you are ruth and jerry's grandmother for God's sake. I wish I could say that out loud.

I take her hands and smile even though she wasn't smiling. "I'm-"

"Sophie west," She interrupted, tilting her head at the 'west' part.

Hhm...meaning?

"I'm sorry I wasn't able to pick you up, my flight was delayed."

"No problem," I nod.

"Good. I know you might be exhausted, so I expect you to come downstairs and eat, hence you can take a nap after we finalize our discussion. Have you taken a bath?"

"No."

She frowns." Didn't Martha tell you to take a bath?"

Did she? No, she didn't." Yeah, she did...I think." I say slowly.

"...make sure you do that and come downstairs afterward." With that, she walks out for the room.