Chapter 6

• "Oh!" Miranda rubbed her sleepy eyes, wishing she could have more wonderful dreams. However, when her big brown eyes fell on the wall clock in her room, Miranda gasped, "Oh my goodness! 10 am."
• Well, it was Saturday, but Miranda knew that Lady Loretta often relied on her to make her tea and attend to her other needs.
• Rushing out of bed without a second thought, Miranda quickly ran out of her maid's room, rushing past Juliet, who shook her head with disgust.
• Juliet was two years older than Miranda and a single mother, but she hid this from the Luis family.
• Juliet had gotten the opportunity to work in the Luis family home after she was kicked out of her parents' home. Her parents were rich, but Juliet couldn't identify the man who had gotten her pregnant, as she fell pregnant out of wedlock, which was against her parents' standards.
• Juliet had a one-night stand with a mysterious man, and she knew if she saw him again, she would identify him, but it had been five years, and she still hadn't seen him.
• The man was a young guy then, and Juliet doubted he was even twenty years old. She didn't bother searching for him, as she knew he wouldn't accept her.
• They were only having fun, and now she had to work as a maid to cater to her four-year-old son's needs.
• Her son was with her parents, but they refused to sponsor her needs after she had given birth and told her to go ahead and work as an adult, since she now longed for adult pleasures. She should be able to take care of her son, who was the result of her foolishness.
• Juliet was also fair-skinned and beautiful like Miranda, but she didn't like Miranda, maybe because she liked the housemaster and wanted him to notice her.
• Derrick was 25 years old, and Juliet was 24. She wished she was a little younger and not a single mom; then she would have tried her chances with him.
• However, remembering her four-year-old son at home, Juliet exited Miranda's room and walked out to the kitchen to continue her work.
• ~~~
• "Miranda, what happened with Melody last night? Did you fight with her?" Lady Loretta was seated on a pristine white couch in the living room as she questioned Miranda. She couldn't just drop the topic like Derrick had asked her to.
• Lady Loretta had banned all her maids from fighting in her home. She knew that females often grew jealous of each other, and if she didn't place that ban, then maybe there would be a report of murder in her mansion.
• "I am sorry, Ma. The lady slapped me again after Master Derrick and his guest left us upstairs. She slapped me twice and hit my head, and I could only defend myself," Miranda said, with her head lowered to the ground.
• Miranda wasn't used to telling lies, and that was what earned Lady Loretta's trust.
• "But you are aware that fighting is not allowed here. Why did you not report Melody to the guards? That's why they're around to guard you all and ensure that there is peace in the mansion. You should have told one of the guards to bounce her out. I did not like either your actions or Melody's actions last night. That behavior is never allowed here; did I make myself clear to you?" Lady Loretta was annoyed, and before Miranda could respond, they heard footsteps on the staircase.
• Staring to her right and behind her, Miranda spotted Derrick standing on the top of the stairs.
• Derrick wore a white shirt and black pants paired with black slippers. He wasn't going to the office, as it was Saturday and the weekend.
• "Mother, what's going on here again?" Derrick pretended like he didn't spot Miranda.
• Seeing Miranda again, kneeling before his mother with her head bent low, her blonde hair scattered and covering part of her face and neck, Derrick could only remember seeing her náked the previous night. He wanted her, but he immediately kicked the crazy thoughts away.
• "Good morning, Son. It's Miranda. I know that you are not familiar with any of my maids, but it troubled me that she got into a fight last night, and if this matter isn't addressed, then the rest of the maids will start thinking of fighting here too." Lady Loretta complained, just as the rest of the maids in the living room greeted Derrick. "Good morning, Sir."
• "Hmm, then we should fire her. A maid shouldn't be causing any of us stress," Derrick said, not wanting to state the underlying meaning behind his words. But Miranda quickly pleaded, "Please, Ma. I am sorry; I promise not to fight here again. I don't have anywhere to go, and I really need my job to survive, please."
• Derrick's eyes darkened. With the way Miranda was pleading with his mother in her soft, feminine voice, he knew that his mother would fall for her charm.
• Derrick didn't want to report what Miranda had done to him the previous night, as he had slept so late and woke up late as well, making him miss his morning exercise.
• Silence ensued in the living room as the other maids waited for Miranda to be fired. They equally didn't like Miranda. Miranda was very beautiful, and she taunted them with her beauty, strutting with pride and wearing seductive outfits in the mansion, as the maids didn't have a particular uniform.
• "Hmm, Derrick, I would have considered firing Miranda like you said, but I like her. I just like having her service around me. I love how she speaks and how she carries out her duty here. However, it still amazes me that she is violent, as I never saw that attitude in her when I hired her. I only saw a bobbling girl that was eager to work and with her big shining brown eyes."
• Derrick frowned, his face turning stoic as he stood in front of his mother. He wanted to take a stroll outside and didn't want to think about Miranda again.
• If his mother claimed to like Miranda, then sacking her would only make his mother feel sad.
• "So, what do you want to do with her now, Mom?" Derrick finally asked his mother. He added, "I don't like her service here and would rather prefer you send her away before she causes more damage than good."
• "No, my son. It's good to have a forgiving heart. I have no issues with Miranda, and I would not allow a third party to come between me and my maids. They are my children, so I will spare the rod and correct her."
• "Miranda." Lady Loretta's eyes fell back on Miranda.
• "Let today be the last day that you are reported fighting in my home. If I get another report that you did something wrong or you hurt anyone, then you will use the exit gate. Is that understood?" Lady Loretta's eyes weren't smiling.
• Miranda nodded her head like an obedient puppy and replied, "Yes, Mother."
• "Good. You may leave us. And why are you still in your nightgown? Did you forget about your services here, or are you just waking up now?" Lady Loretta's eyes searched Miranda's body suspiciously.
• "I am sorry, Ma. Because of the cold last night, I found it hard to sleep, after regretting my actions too," Miranda said.
• Others would think Miranda was speaking about the slap with the guest, but she was speaking about her encounter with Derrick.
• Derrick's fist clenched. He couldn't believe that Miranda would be bold enough to speak to his mother and lie again.
• Why was she testing his patience and taking him for a fool?
• "It's okay, then. You shouldn't make the same mistake twice. That would show that you have repented, so desist from fighting or hurting anyone's feelings, okay?" Lady Loretta spoke in a calm demeanor as she lovingly looked at Miranda.
• "Okay, Ma. Thank you for forgiving me," Miranda said.
• "Yes. Go and prepare my breakfast. You should know how to do it best, and don't waste my time. I have been waiting for you to come out of your room before I sent Juliet. Go now," Lady Loretta dismissed Miranda, while her gaze shifted back to her son, who was silently strolling away and not pleased with her actions of forgiving their maid.