8

The sky had turned an orange shade, with the midday sun slowly retreating into a cloud, signaling the end of work for me.

Not that I was done with my chores or anything, but the day having come to an end got me feeling so excited.

Truly, the day had been tiring--Dusting, vacuuming, washing and the list went on and on.

Mary and Tara were in the kitchen preparing a meal for the family.

The usual,

While the Williams' all came out of their respective rooms, making their way to the dining room, prepared to have dinner as a family.

I must say, it was quite admirable for every one of them obeying and turning up to the dining hall to have dinner with the rest of the family.

I heard Ms Tara yelling out for Denna and I, while she in turn had the dishes laid on a tray.

The first figure I came across the moment I stepped into the dining area, was Mrs Williams, sat by her husband while Tyler and Logan joined them afterwards, then followed Dylan, Derrick and David.

"Where's Ashley and Cameron?" I heard the voice of Mrs Williams call.

"I'm starving?" David said out loud, banging his hands on the table in the process.

His sudden act resulted in Mrs Williams snapping at him, and yelling for him to go fetch his manners where he left them.

Denna soon walked in with trays of food, motioning for me to help her out.

Bowls of meal were lined up with different assortments, along with dessert laid on the table, and by the orders of Ms Tara, I began filling a little bowl with iced blocks, and then handing it over to Denna.

Oh, a lot I still had to learn. Like conveying dishes from the kitchen to the dining area, without having any spill.

My eyes rested on Denna who was busy arranging the table effortlessly, stacking meals on top another like a pro.

Mr and Mrs Williams didn't even bother taking a glance at us, as they were both engrossed in a conversation talking about business, while the triplets waited patiently to be served.

The faint sound of feet shuffling and drawing closer, seemingly grabbed my attention, causing me to look up, and just as I did, I saw the figure Cameron trying to sneak past the dining area with the girl who was with him yesterday.

"Going somewhere, Cameron?" Mrs Williams called from over this side of the room.

At the mention of his name, I turned uneasy.

Shutting my eyes immediately, silently praying he would leave, without coming over here, but at the time I had my eyes opened, he still remained where he was, with the girl clinging onto his arms, like a toddler to its plaything.

He took a halt, focusing his gaze on his mother.

"I didn't notice you guys there." He replied.

Turning around to leave at once, but was stopped immediately by the deafening voice of Mr Williams.

"We're about to eat. Come join us."

"Dad- " Cameron tried interjecting

"Savannah can join us too" Tyler spoke from nowhere, eyes resting on the girl with Cameron.

He winked at her, then shifted to Cameron, perhaps waiting for his reaction.

Cameron who seemed unfazed by that, ignored him then turned his gaze to his dad.

At that moment, the door to the living room pushed open, and in walked a guy, body a bit buff, hair dark, hands stylishly resting in his side pockets.

I remembered his name-- Jordan.

"What's happening people?" He spoke, pulling a seat out.

"Hurry up, Cameron. We're about to say the Lord's prayer." Mrs Williams called out.

Cameron who was clearly getting exhausted at pleading with his parents just to let him go, soon gave up, having decided they just wouldn't give in to his requests.

He turned around to face Savannah, leaning closer to her, whispering into her ears and then planting a kiss on her lips.

The girl in turn soon had her hands on him, returning and deepening the kiss.

"I love this." Derrick uttered, eyes lighting in amusement, while watching the duo share a moment.

I watched them from where I stood, kissing and groping each other. For a moment I felt slightly uncomfortable at the sight in front of me, no reason as to why.

"Cameron!" Mrs Williams snapped at once, her voice distracting them, but not for too long, as Cameron gave the girl one last kiss then turned away.

Savannah bade good bye to the 'Williams', her smile near leaving her face, and soon enough she left the mansion.

My eyes followed the figure of Cameron as he walked over to the dining room, taking a seat right beside Jordan.

He still didn't notice me standing by the corner of the dining room, trying so hard to remain unnoticed.

It was so uncomfortable with him being there.

I hurriedly served the food and was just about to leave, when I spun around, crashing into someone.

A shriek escaped my lips as the tray in my hands dropped to the floor, spilling all of the food on the person's clothes.

This for sure caused everyone stopping whatever they were doing and then gaining interest at my figure.

But through all that, Cameron still had his head bent low, perhaps unbothered about the whole noise around him.

Finally having a look up, I saw his jaw twitching the moment his gaze rested on me.

"What the fuck is wrong with you!" A raging Ashley spat at me,  yelling aloud as she got buried with food.

"I'm so sorry." I muttered while trying to brush the food off her body, but it only worsened the stains, earning me another outburst from the girl.

"Get the fuck away from me!"

"language! Young lady." Mrs Williams called after her, as she proceeded out of the dining area, going upstairs, perhaps to have a change of clothes.

Tyler and Logan were caught in a row of laughter, bumping their fists together, while Ashley stormed away.

I could feel someone's gaze watching me, boring into my skin, while I quietly picked the food off the floor.

Looking up slowly, I was met with a set of eyes belonging to the boy who probably hates me.

His face remained expressionless, while he stared on at me.

Still, I couldn't tell if his eyes were blue or grey, not like it mattered now at this very moment, but it was only curiosity.

"Who's she?" I heard the low voice of Jordan utter while I slowly made my way out, not wanting to embarrass myself more.

Oh lord...

"She's the new maid"

"She's really young, isn't she?"

"Poor child seems to be going through a lot" I heard Mrs Williams tell.

I soon returned into the dining room with another tray of food, trying to make up for the mess I caused earlier on.

The same time I stepped out of the kitchen was the same time Ashley came walking down the stairs with changed clothes, but still had on her angry expression.

She took a seat immediately, staring at the dishes laid in front of her.

I placed a bowl of food on the table, and just then, I noticed Ashley glaring at me from where she sat. Eyeing my figure endlessly, while I gulped afterwards, avoiding her gaze.

Once done with all I had to do, I waited in the dining room just as Miss Tara had instructed me.

"I saw Savannah going out as I drove in" Ashley uttered, grabbing her cutleries.

"Not gonna lie" she chewed quietly, her words coming out muffled.

"I don't like her at all" She took a long pause, having a gulp of water, and then resuming her speech.

"She acts like she owns the school even though we all know who does."

"You know you're talking about my girlfriend right? At least acknowledge the fact that I'm sat right here." Cameron spoke out of nowhere, his eyes resting onwards at Ashley.

"Puh-leazzzze!" Ashley drawled.

"She is only dating you cause of the name"

"Everyone in school knows she's dating you for popularity, Cam"

"The bitch so wishes to climb the social ladder, work her way through and overthrow me...

But tell your little girlfriend that that's not how things work. I still stand as Ashley Williams, daughter to Richard and Sarah Williams. And it's gonna take her eternity if she thinks she can be anywhere close to me."

Tyler and Logan rolled their eyes eyes at her statement, watching her speak with much poise and grace.

"Mom?" Logan finally spoke, throwing Ashley's utterance to a corner.

"Yes?"

"The party I informed you about the other day, is happening tonight. And Jordan has agreed to go to the party with us"

"What Party? I also wanna go." Ashley said to him.

"You're not going anywhere with us." Tyler said out immediately.

"Why?" She asked

"Cause it's you, Ashley. We don't want you tagging along. That's why." Logan added.

"We don't need a crowded party" Tyler said to her

"What's a party if it's not crowded?" Cameron muttered in a low voice while poking at his food.

"It's A gathering." Dylan responded.

Cameron looked up at him at once, his brows furrowed

"That was a rhetorical question. You weren't supposed to answer."

"But you were asking a question." Dylan replied

"No. It was....

"Never mind" He finally gave up trying to explain what a rhetorical question was.

"I think there's something else" Ashley began, her eyes shifting from Logan to Tyler.

"You don't want me going with you, cause you lot are going there to do illegal things." She spoke with a grin on that perfect face of hers.

"What illegal things?" Mr Williams called out immediately, eyes resting on the boys.

"Dad, we're not doing anything illegal. We're just going there to have fun." Tyler replied, while sending a glare Ashley's way.

"Then let me come with you."

"No!" Tyler and Logan called together.

I watched them all from where I stood, engaging in yet another argument.

"The fact that you guys are twins doesn't mean you should annoy us by talking together and screaming loud. We can all hear you perfectly." Jordan said to them.

He was the only one who didn't seem caught in a brawl of words like the rest, he was a lot more mature, and seemed comfortable being around with, unlike Cameron, who for some reason got my nerves fiddling.

"If you guys have nothing to hide, let Ashley go with you." Mr Williams said.

"Dad, you keep doing this . She can't go with us." Tyler said at once

"She WILL go with you, and that's final." Mr Williams snapped

"Thanks Dad!" Ashley called out, a smile growing on her lips.

"That reminds me. Your mom and I also won't be around tonight. We're going on a business meeting. A very important one." Mr Williams said.

"At night?" Jordan asked

"Yes."

"If Jordan and Ashley are accompanying you guys to the party, someone has to stay and watch Dylan, Derrick and David." Mr Williams said

"Well, Cameron will be here." Tyler said.

"I'm not babysitting anyone. I'm gonna be busy with Savannah." His voice boomed.

My eyes rested on him as he spoke, while his gaze remained on his food.

Mrs Williams soon turned to look at him, her lips parting open a little.

"Just so you know, I don't want some girl in my house, late at night doing God-knows-what." She called in a serious tone.

A smirk grew on Cameron's lips at her utterance, his eyes shifting up to look at her.

"Right now, Cameron can NOT be relied on. Someone has to be here to watch my babies. Else, there will be no party"

Mrs Williams said at once

"We're not babies, mom. We're eleven. We can take care of ourselves." Dylan uttered in a muffled tone, filling his mouth with Food.

"Speak for yourself." Derrick said.

"This is what I'm talking about." Mrs Williams interjected, watching the triplets argue.

"Well, ask the Lady Tara to stay with them." Tyler suggested

"She has a family to be with" Mrs Williams replied.

For a moment, the woman fell silent, and suddenly her gaze fell on me, eyes boring at my figure.

I looked back at her wondering the reason for her stares, then turned my face away, out of respect.

"Nia?" I heard her call

"Could you please stay with them till we return?" She asked.

I didn't know what to say. I had to see my mom, talk to her and embrace her.

I had to know she was okay.

My eyes suddenly shifted to Logan who was over there looking at me.

The stares he gave me seemed like he was pleading for me to agree staying over.

His eyes narrowed at my figure, while he awaited an answer from me.

"Yes ma'am." I replied quietly.

"Thank you!"

Logan exclaimed, giving a sigh of relief.

"What? Not her." Cameron's voice came out a bit high and raspy.

He turned to his mom, looking at her as he spoke.

"If she's staying, I have to leave also" I heard him say

Hearing what he said hurt me. I don't know why, but it did.

"You're going nowhere. I can't leave a stranger alone with them. No offense Nia" Mrs Williams called to me.

"You're staying here." She spoke in a stern voice, all of her words directed at Cameron.

He got up annoyed, then walked out of the dining room, while my gaze followed his figure, watching as he proceeded further away.