CHAPTER FIVE

Chloe's POV

I decided to act like I knew nothing about what was going on. I called the castle keeper whose name is Mrs. Dora in to arrange the office for me. I still left some of the books and records on the shelf intact as I wanted to find time to read them.

After the place had been set up for use, I asked her to bring me a list of all the workers in the castle and their contract of payment. I wanted to know how everyone of them was paid. I didn't give her a chance to convince me otherwise.

She left with a frown on her face but I was pretty determined to end their game once and for all. I have a lot of shits to deal with and the earlier I deal with this part of the shit the better.

When she came with the list, she brought me a cup of coffee with it which I accepted with a smile and a thank you. I told her she could take her leave.

Immediately she left, I took the coffee to the adjoining bathroom and poured it in the sink. I wasn't going to die yet. I came to sit down at the table and I read through the list. I discovered there were sixty two people on the list.

About twenty four of them were employed just before the death of grand dad; twenty out of the remaining thirty eight were employed after the death of grand dad. Only eighteen were hired by grand dad himself. The wages of those that were employed around the time of grand dad's death received higher wages than the eighteen hired by him.

In fact, they all had higher qualifications than the rest yet they got the least payment. I read through the records and saw that the wages rule was just been revised not too long ago.

The people that supposedly quitted due to family issues were much. Why would they all have family issues at the same time? Well played, I wasn't just going to sit still and let them play me like some foolish bimbo after poisoning my grand dad. I will pay them back in folds. I called Mrs. Dora's office and told her I needed her in my office.

"Mrs. Dora, I noticed many workers left after the death of grandfather and many were immediately brought in to replace them. Why is that?" I asked her immediately she came in.

"Oh! I thought it was stated in the records. They left due to family issues." She answered me without thinking too long.

"Yes I noticed that. But I find it appalling that they all had to leave at once due to some family issues. Were they all from the same family?"

"We found it quiet surprising too. But it was their choice so there wasn't much we could do. We had to find people to replace them immediately."

"How did you find replacements for them so quickly? Did they submit their resignation letter weeks before quitting?" I was forcing myself to remain calm at this point as I didn't want to ruin the show so soon.

"It was funny too but there are a lot of people in town looking for job."

"Okay. But what help was rendered to them when they were quitting?"

"Actually Miss Chloe, you seem to be forgetting an important fact here. We are not a charity organization. I don't quite understand what you mean by helping them since it was family issues." She looked like some angry bird at this point and I didn't care a bit since this was the reaction I was hoping to draw from her.

"I know for certain that this isn't a charity organization. What I meant by help was did they get paid for their work fully before letting them go? You should calm down. Is there something I said wrong?" she calmed down and her face was flushed by now.

"Oh! Sorry miss. I just didn't get the question right. Yes they were paid for their silence…no I mean efforts." She hiccupped.

"Okay then. I will like to have a personal interview with all the current workers.

We need to reshuffle them. Remove the ones that are necessary and employ new ones. I would be having exams in a few days time so I think the interview should be in two days time. Inform the workers and place placards outside. We need to go on large scale again. Can we schedule the time tomorrow morning. I am famished." I concluded by placing my palms on the table.

"Yes miss. I will inform them. Shall I tell the kitchen you will be having dinner downstairs or up here?"

"I will have it downstairs. Thanks."

She left and I was grinning at myself. She was definitely boiling inside at this point. I don't give a damn though. My stomach rumbled and I stood up instantly to eat.

Since I didn't trust the kitchen workers not to be in league with Mrs. Dora, I decided to invite everyone to dinner. I am not supposed to be scared but I really don't want to die through poison.

"Mrs. Dora?" I called out with a voice loud enough so she could hear me.

"Yes miss."

"I had liked to invite everyone to dinner if they can make. I would appreciate it."

"Okay. I will inform them."

She left off calling everyone for dinner. It's a little bit early for dinner though but I love it this way if there weren't problems to deal with. Soon enough, the workers were walking in one after the other. Some looking stressed than the others. I guess not all of them were actually working. I needed to address that issue on time. They were all greeting me when they came in and I returned their greetings with nods of my own.

"Welcome everyone. Since today is my first day of living here, I decided to have an early dinner with you to appreciate your efforts alongside Mrs. Dora. So please let's dig in while forgetting about work for some minutes."

Some of them were grinning while some were chattering and others were clapping. I scoffed in my mind as I knew I was playing my own games with them. I know it's not actually right but what can I do?

We sat round the long dining table with me sitting at the head of the table. The menu was quiet a simple but a delicious meal. After the meal, I allowed everyone to take an early rest but that was after Mrs. Dora announced the interview coming up. She deliberately announced it at the table so I could hear their grumblings but I was filled with grumblings of my own to have space for that. I wave them off politely. I took a stroll outside to allow proper digestion before deciding to have an early night rest. I was on my way to my room when I heard Mrs. Dora speaking to someone in whispers.

"I don't know what she is planning. I can't read her. Give me more time, I need to figure her out so she wouldn't be a problem to us if we act."

Hmm …I see they can't come up with a proper plan yet. Well, let's see who to beats whom. I didn't stay to hear the rest.

I think I need to get myself a spy in the castle but then spies could also turn out to be my greatness weakness later like we've always watch in movies. I will think about it again later. I went to bed and I slept properly that night. I think the real me will get a chance to survive here.