Chapter 8 Bbmr Eight

• The sound of footsteps echoed along the marble hallway of the grand Barack family mansion. Elise walked slowly behind Will, the bespectacled man in a neat suit who always seemed like Mr. Abraham’s shadow. This morning, Elise’s duties grew heavier with new instructions delivered directly by her employer.
• “So, as Mr. Abraham stated, starting today, you’ll be responsible for Mr. Reiner’s morning needs,” Will explained, handing her a sheet of paper.
• Elise hesitated as she took the paper. Her eyes scanned the list of instructions written in neat lines:
• 1. Work attire must be prepared in his room by 6 a.m.
• 2. A glass of water should be placed on the nightstand.
• 3. The AC must be set to 24 degrees, no cooler.
• 4. No noise should be made that could wake Mr. Reiner.
• 5. Breakfast must be ready on the dining table after he wakes up.
• 6. Do not enter the room without permission once he is awake.
• 7. The room’s aroma must change daily, as per the provided scents.
• Elise sighed deeply. “The rules… are very detailed,” she murmured.
• Her eyes moved back to the paper, reading the next section:
• Note: (After Mr. Reiner returns from work)
• 1. Prepare his preferred drink.
• 2. Follow him to his room in case he needs anything.
• 3. Obey all his instructions.
• Elise winced bitterly. Her main job was supposed to be assisting Mr. Abraham, so why was she being assigned to Mr. Reiner?
• Will adjusted his glasses, looking at Elise with a serious expression. “Mr. Reiner values discipline. Make no mistakes. Greta will assist you if you need additional guidance.”
• The mention of Greta made Elise uneasy. Greta, a senior servant in the house, had a reputation for disliking her presence.
• “Understood. I’ll do my best to follow everything,” Elise replied softly with a nod.
• Will glanced at his watch. “Good. I expect you to handle this well starting tomorrow. I need to leave now.”
• As Will walked away, silence enveloped the corridor. Elise stared at the paper in her hands, feeling a sense of pressure from the long list.
• “So, you’re the new servant assigned that special task?”
• The sharp voice made Elise turn around. Standing behind her was Greta, hands on her hips, her face full of disdain. Greta’s uniform was immaculate, but even her neatness could not compare to Elise’s understated charm, which seemed to outshine naturally.
• “I’m just following Mr. Abraham’s orders,” Elise answered politely.
• Greta scoffed. “Of course, you’re just following orders. But do you know? I’ve been taking care of Mr. Reiner for a year, and now you’re suddenly here to take over my job. Who do you think you are?”
• Elise stayed silent, trying to remain calm despite her rising frustration. “I’m sorry if this makes you uncomfortable, but I never asked for this task.”
• “Never asked?” Greta stepped closer, her voice low and mocking. “Maybe not in words, but your appearance says otherwise. Look at you. You don’t even look like a servant. Everyone knows you attract the attention of every man in this house, including Mr. Reiner!”
• Elise gasped. The accusation hit hard. “That’s not true,” she said softly.
• She wore the same uniform as the other servants, so why would Greta think otherwise?
• “Oh, not true? Let’s see,” Greta sneered before storming off, leaving Elise struggling to regain her composure.
• ---
• Elise stood hesitantly in front of Reiner’s bedroom door. Her breath felt heavy as she recalled the list of rules Will had given her. No noise—those two words echoed in her mind.
• Taking a deep breath, Elise slowly opened the door. The hinges creaked softly, making her pause for a moment, listening for any sign of Reiner waking up. The room was dark, with thick black curtains covering the large windows.
• Elise’s footsteps felt heavy as she stepped onto the plush carpet. She moved to the nightstand beside the bed and carefully placed a glass of water there. For a moment, her gaze fell on Reiner’s sleeping figure. His face looked calm, yet even in slumber, there was an air of authority that was impossible to ignore. Elise swallowed hard and quickly turned her eyes away.
• She moved toward the dressing area on the other side of the room. Opening the large wardrobe filled with Reiner’s work attire, she selected a gray suit with a matching tie and neatly hung it on a rack near the bathroom door.
• Elise then entered the bathroom, placing fresh towels on the shelf and turning on a small aromatherapy device in the corner. The calming scent of lavender began to fill the air, soothing her nerves slightly.
• But when she reached for a shampoo bottle to arrange it on the rack, it slipped from her hand and fell onto the tiled floor with a loud clatter.
• Elise froze. Her body stiffened as she glanced out of the bathroom cautiously. On the bed, Reiner stirred. Elise held her breath, praying he wouldn’t wake up. Thankfully, he only shifted slightly before settling back into stillness. She exhaled in relief.
• After ensuring everything was fine, Elise quickly gathered the fallen bottle and hastened to finish her tasks, picking up scattered laundry to put into a basket.
• As she bent down, her back to the room, she didn’t notice a pair of eyes watching her intently. Reiner was now standing near the bathroom door, observing her closely.
• “Hey, Doll.”
• The deep baritone startled Elise, making her drop the laundry basket. Its contents spilled onto the floor. She spun around quickly, her eyes widening as she saw Reiner standing just a few steps away, shirtless, his hair tousled.
• “What are you doing here?” he asked coldly. “Who gave you permission to enter?”
• Elise swallowed hard, her heart pounding. “I… I’m taking over Greta’s duties now,” she stammered.
• Reiner narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing her with an intensity that made her uncomfortable. “You know the rules, don’t you?”
• Elise nodded. “Y-yes, I do.”
• “Then why was there a noise that woke me up?”
• Elise lowered her head, her hands clenched at the sides of her skirt. “I’m sorry, sir. It was an accident. I dropped something.”
• Reiner stepped closer, making Elise take a step back. The distance between them grew smaller, and Elise could feel the weight of his presence. “Sorry isn’t enough. Such small accidents shouldn’t happen again. Understood?”
• “Yes, sir,” Elise whispered.
• Reiner stared at her for a moment longer before waving a hand toward the door. “Leave.”
• Elise hurriedly picked up the laundry basket and walked quickly to the door, relief flooding her as she exited the room. But just as she was about to leave, she heard a low voice behind her.
• “Doll seems like a fitting nickname for you.”
• Elise turned slightly, but Reiner was already walking back to the bed, a small, meaningful smile playing on his lips.
• Elise stepped out with bated breath, her heart still racing. She wasn’t sure how she felt—relieved, embarrassed, or annoyed by Reiner’s behavior that left her so unnerved.
• ---